Best Things To Do in Poland (2-week Travel Guide)

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.

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.

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Day 1-2: Warsaw

Prepare to be blown away by unexpected Warsaw! Despite the mass bombings during World War II, the city has a rebuild colorful old town, as well as younger, more cosmopolitan areas with street art and a neon museum.

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Spend the night in Warsaw exploring the old town squares, the city markets, and the surprising creative hipster neighborhood!

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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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Day 6-7: Wroclaw

Wroclaw, pronounced ‘vrots-wahf’, is a city that’s full of quirky sights, traditions, and stories. From hunting the gnomes hidden all around the city to watch the famous lamplighter, there is always a different and exciting activity on offer here.

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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!

Krakow to Wroclaw: 3 hours driving. Alternatively, there is also a 4-hour direct train.

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Day 11-13: Gdansk

Gdansk, situated in the very north of Poland, is the perfect city to close of your Poland travel itinerary. It’s probably the most colorful of all the Polish cities so far, with its endless rows of rainbow-colored mansions and ornate carvings.

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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.

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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.

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 is particularly cheap, with a traditional Polish meal of Pierogi costing as little as 4 USD!

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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.

Best Time to Visit Poland

The spring between March-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.