Poland Travel Itinerary
Poland is totally underrated! Because of this, there aren’t the crowds of tourists you’d expect in places like Italy or France. In popular cities like Krakow and Gdansk, you may find crowds but once you hit the open road Poland is peaceful and quiet.
We recommend to rent a car in Poland through Sunny Cars with free cancellation and insurance included. Book your rental car here.
The two main airports are Warsaw and Krakow, so depending on which airport you are flying into you may want to alter this 2-week Poland itinerary.
Alternative route: The itinerary starts and ends in Warsaw. However, if Krakow is your starting point, you can follow this loop: Krakow > Wroclaw > Gdansk > Warsaw > Zalipie > Krakow
Spend the night in Warsaw exploring the old town squares, the city markets, and the surprising creative hipster neighborhood!
Where to Stay in Warsaw
The old town in Warsaw is the best area to stay, as it situates you close to all the historical sites and top things to do in the city. You can also search for hotels in the Srodmiescie district.
Tip: Another great area to stay is in the newer zone of Warsaw. We stayed here on our trip – at Hotel Metropol.
Zalipie painted village – One of the best things to do in Poland
On your way from Warsaw to Krakow, make a stop at the hidden gem of Poland: Zalipie painted village! The village is a little off the direct route but is well worth the journey.
For years, the women of the village have painted everything with floral patterns, from walls and doors to garden sheds and fences. The village is a must-see to get some great photos and to better understand the unique folk culture of Poland.
Getting here: From Warsaw to Zalipie, the journey by car takes 3.5 hours.
Day 3-5: Krakow – Best of the Poland Travel Guide
Krakow is the most popular city in Poland, and for a good reason! It is known for its charming cobblestone squares and streets, incredible restaurants, yearly Christmas markets, and historic neighborhoods.
Here’s: how to spend 3 days in Krakow!
Most importantly of all, it is known for its close proximity to Auschwitz – one of the largest Nazi concentration camps where over a million Jews lost their lives. We highly recommend setting aside one of your days in Krakow to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Additionally, visit the Wieliczka Salt Mines and discover the huge underground chambers over 300 km in size!
Where to Stay in Krakow
Krakow’s old town is the most popular area to stay in. However, hotels are generally more affordable outside the old city walls.
Alternatively, stay in the hipster neighborhood of Kazimierz – one of the best areas for art galleries and vintage stores!
Warsaw to Krakow: Driving directly to Krakow from Warsaw takes 3.5 hours, however, we recommend making a stop in Zalipie painted village. From Zalipie to Krakow the drive is 1.5 hours.
Public transport: There are also direct fast trains leaving Warsaw to Krakow daily that take 2.5 hours or take the bus in 4 hours. (Search here for trains to Krakow)
The small old town itself is also beautiful, in true Polish style, with its colored grand townhouses, cobbled squares, and incredible cathedrals. What’s more, it lies close to Książ Castle in Poland and the incredible Adrspach-Teplice park in the Czech Republic!
Read: Wroclaw city trip guide
Krakow to Wroclaw: 3 hours driving. Alternatively, there is also a 4-hour direct train.
Where to Stay in Wroclaw
Wroclaw is a fairly small city, so you can stay in most places and be close to all the best things to do. For the best of everything, stay in the Old Town, where all the most beautiful buildings are located.
Day 8-10: Poznan or Lodz
Break up your journey up north to Gdansk with a stop at either Poznan or Lodz. Both cities are a 2.5-hour drive from Wroclaw.
We recommend to rent a car in Poland through Sunny Cars with free cancellation and insurance included. Book your rental car here.
Poznan
Poznan has one of Poland’s postcard-perfect town squares, including a beautiful town hall. See the town hall’s clock at noon to see two mechanical goats headbutt each other twelve times. This city is the perfect example of the old and new Poland.
Lodz
Alternatively, visit Lodz, a city that is still a bit hidden from tourism. Former factories in the city now house delicious restaurants and hipster bars. The industrial look goes well with the stunning street art pieces that are spread throughout the city.
On top of that, allow yourself one full day to explore the countryside around Gdansk. For example, the beautiful Sopot beach, the stunning Kepa Redlowska National Park, and the circular fortress at the mouth of the Vistula River.
Discover: all the best things to do in Gdansk!
Getting to Gdansk: It’s a long drive from Poznan or Lodz to Gdansk of about 4 hours. If you don’t have a car, there are trains departing from both cities towards Gdansk.
Where to Stay in Gdansk
Stay anywhere inside the Old Town to soak up the charming atmosphere of the historical city and be close to all the top things to do in Gdansk.
Day 14: Ending your Poland Road Trip
Beforehand, check if you have the option to fly back home from Gdansk (Check here). Gdansk has a limited selection of international flights. If you don’t have that option, head back to Warsaw for your flight, which takes 4 hours by car or 3.5 hours by train.
Costs of Traveling in Poland
Traveling in Poland is really cheap! Direct trains can cost anything between 15-30 USD, and buses for a fraction of that price. Food and drink are particularly cheap, with a traditional Polish meal of Pierogi costing as little as 4 USD!
How to Get Around Poland
Getting around Poland is really easy, with great public transport connections that are very reasonably priced. However, the distances between cities are long, so it’s worth renting a car so you can explore off-the-beaten-path destinations on your Poland travel route.
We recommend to rent a car in Poland through Sunny Cars with free cancellation and insurance included. Book your rental car here.
Best Time to Visit Poland
The spring between March and June is a great time to visit Poland. The temperatures are pleasant, and the flowers are in bloom, so you can drive through beautiful green countryside full of wildflowers.
June is a wonderful time to come if you want to also witness the famous Zalipie painted cottage competition!
Christmas Markets in Poland
Poland is also famous for its cold, snowy winters and amazing Christmas markets. Visiting in December is a really special time, as you can see the variation of Christmas traditions from town to town, stunning twinkling lights, and frozen lakes.
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- Find Hotels via Booking.com
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- Find Flights to Poland via Skyscanner
- Get a Travel Insurance via Heymondo
- Book Tours & Attractions via Viator
- Book a Bus/Train/Transfer via 12Go
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Hi Hannah and Nick!
Thank you for presenting my home country so beautifully! <3.
I haven't been to a few cities myself, so this post is super useful!
If you ever back to Poland – would also recommend to check out the Masuria District (Lakes), Tatra Mountains, Bledow Desert and Lower Silesia district.
Forever love your content guys! Great job! Keep it going :)
Take care!
Hi Aleksandra, ah, fantastic recommendations! We hope to be able to return and explore more of Poland!