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

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

Poland is creative, artsy, and colorful, with beautifully preserved traditions and buildings and friendly locals. That’s right, Poland is often overlooked as a travel destination, stereotyped as boring, grey, and industrial, however, that’s far from true! Rent a car and drive around Poland exploring its epic national parks, cities full of candy-colored mansions, beautiful sandy beaches, and folk art villages. Enjoy following this Poland travel route.

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.

krakow Old Town Main Square

Day 1-2: Warsaw

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

warsaw poland travel guide

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.

poland must visit zalipie painted village

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

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.

krakow things to do Église Saint Joseph

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!

victims Auschwitz Birkenau
krakow poland city trip guide

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 watching the famous lamplighter, there is always a different and exciting activity on offer here.

Wroclaw Poland Ultimate City Trip

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.

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.

poland Ksiaz Castle

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.

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.

colored houses europe
(Photos are not from Poznan or Lodz)

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.

best cafe wroclaw

Day 11-13: Gdansk

Gdansk, situated in the very north of Poland, is the perfect city to close 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.

gdansk poland travel guide

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.

best things to do gdansk Kepa Redlowska

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!

Costs of Traveling in Poland

Travel on a budget in Poland, from $340 − $450 USD weekly per person, mid-range $630 − $1390 USD, and high-end from $1380 − $1990 USD. However, costs depend on factors like accommodation, transportation, and activities. We did not include flights. Check flight prices here

* Average daily costs
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accommodation poland

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 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.

Best
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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.

01/12/2023 https://www.saltinourhair.com/poland/poland-travel-guide/
Blog comments (2)

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  • Aleksandra

    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!

    • Salt in our Hair

      Hi Aleksandra, ah, fantastic recommendations! We hope to be able to return and explore more of Poland!

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