Poland is easily one of my favorite countries in Europe. After road-tripping from the Baltic coast to the Tatra mountains, I can’t believe more people aren’t shouting about this place! The country serves up everything from fairytale castles that look better in real life to mountain lakes that could pass for the Alps (minus the crowds and prices).
These are the most beautiful places to visit in Poland that left me shocked. From pastel coastal towns to peaks that look like they belong in Switzerland, these 12 spots prove why Poland deserves way more hype than it gets. And yes, I’m still thinking about the pierogi!
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👉 My Favorite Tour in Poland
#1 tip to save money on your trip to Poland
Let’s first cover some quick tips that will save you time and money on your Polish adventure.
- FLYING: If you haven’t already, I HIGHLY recommend signing up for Scott’s Cheap Flights (now called Going). Last summer, I flew to Krakow for just $400 roundtrip thanks to their email alerts. The premium and elite version are even better!
- Food: Save by buying meals or ingredients from supermarkets like Biedronka, Lidl, and Zabka. Local milk bars (bar mleczny) offer traditional Polish dishes at incredibly low prices. Many restaurants offer fixed-price lunch specials (zestaw dnia) for 20-30 PLN ($5-7) including soup and a main course.
- Transport: I recommend getting a 72-hour public transport pass in cities like Kraków, Warsaw, and Wrocław. For intercity travel, book your PKP Intercity tickets through intercity.pl at least a week ahead – I’ve found first-class seats for less than last-minute second-class fares! Download Bolt for efficient and cheap taxi rides.
Poland is one of Central Europe’s most budget-friendly destinations. With these money-saving strategies, you can explore this fascinating country at an even better value. Now, without further ado, let’s jump into the best places to visit in Poland:
1. Warsaw
- 📍 Location: Masovian Voivodeship, Central Poland
- 🏆 Best For: History buffs 🏛️, city lovers 🏙️, cultural explorers 🎭
- 📸 Top Experiences: Walking the Royal Route, visiting POLIN Museum, relaxing in Łazienki Park
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: May to September for warm weather and outdoor festivals ☀️
- 🏨 Where to Stay: PURO Warszawa Centrum – Modern design hotel with rooftop terrace in the city center
Warsaw is a city that surprises you the more you explore it. The Old Town may look centuries old, but it was carefully rebuilt after World War II and now stands as a UNESCO site with colorful townhouses and cobbled streets. It’s the kind of place where each alley feels like a quiet piece of resistance and revival.
You can start your day walking the Royal Route, a stretch of historic buildings and palaces connecting major landmarks. Stop by Łazienki Park to chill under shady trees, catch an outdoor Chopin concert, or spot peacocks roaming free.
If you’re after something deeper, head to the POLIN Museum or the Warsaw Uprising Museum. Each offers emotional, detailed stories that show the city’s strength. At night, rooftop bars and jazz clubs shift the energy. Warsaw is layered, vibrant, and always moving forward while honoring its past.
2. Krakow
- 📍 Location: Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Southern Poland
- 🏆 Best For: Architecture lovers 🏰, foodies 🥟, history seekers 📚
- 📸 Top Experiences: Exploring Main Market Square, touring Wawel Castle, visiting Kazimierz District
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: April to June for sunny days and fewer crowds 🌸
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Hotel Unicus Palace – Stylish hotel steps from Krakow’s Main Market Square
Krakow blends medieval elegance with lived-in charm, making it one of Poland’s most captivating cities. The Main Market Square feels straight out of a fantasy novel, complete with horse-drawn carriages and the towering spires of St. Mary’s Basilica. Nearby, Wawel Castle overlooks the Vistula River with centuries of royal history behind its walls.
Down the hill, the Kazimierz district mixes Jewish heritage with street art, indie cafes, and pierogi joints tucked into old courtyards. The energy here is casual and cool, with vintage stores and murals at every turn.
For something deeper, you can take a day trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau or descend into the underground world of Wieliczka Salt Mine. Back in town, it’s easy to spend evenings people-watching over hot mulled wine or sampling Polish desserts from a bakery. Krakow has range and heart, and you’ll feel it everywhere you go.
- For mountain adventures just 2 hours away: 12 Stunning Destinations in Zakopane
3. Gdańsk
- 📍 Location: Pomeranian Voivodeship, Northern Poland
- 🏆 Best For: Coastal explorers 🌊, history fans 🏛️, city photographers 📷
- 📸 Top Experiences: Strolling down Długi Targ, climbing St. Mary’s Church, visiting European Solidarity Centre
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: June to August for sunshine and waterfront walks 🌞
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Radisson Hotel & Suites Gdańsk – Elegant stay right on the river near Old Town
Gdańsk delivers the full fairy tale vibe without the usual tourist crush. The old town is packed with pastel facades, Dutch-style rooftops, and cobbled streets that lead to waterfront cafes and historic monuments. It’s the kind of place where your camera stays in your hand all day.
Długi Targ, the main street, is lined with colorful merchant houses and capped with Neptune’s Fountain, one of the city’s most iconic symbols. From there, it’s a short walk to St. Mary’s Church where you can climb the tower for incredible views of the red rooftops below.
Gdańsk also has depth. The European Solidarity Centre tells the story of Poland’s modern democracy movement in a way that’s immersive and emotional. If you’re craving beach time, head to nearby Sopot for sandy shores and the longest wooden pier in Europe. Gdańsk is a strong blend of beauty and soul.
4. Białowieża Forest
- 📍 Location: Podlaskie Voivodeship, Eastern Poland
- 🏆 Best For: Wildlife watchers 🦌, nature lovers 🌲, hikers 🚶
- 📸 Top Experiences: Spotting European bison, walking ancient trails, exploring the strict reserve with a guide
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: May to October for clear trails and peak wildlife sightings 🌳
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Białowieski Hotel – Forest-side stay with spa facilities and direct access to nature trails
Białowieża Forest is one of the oldest and most untouched woodlands in Europe. It’s the kind of place where you feel like the trees are watching you back. The forest straddles the Poland-Belarus border and is home to the endangered European bison, which roam freely through the dense greenery.
Most trails are easy to follow, and if you’re lucky, you’ll see deer, wild boars, or rare birds. To access the strict reserve section, you’ll need a guide as these tours offer deeper insight into the area’s ecological importance and ancient roots.
The village of Białowieża has a laid-back feel with wooden houses, cozy cafes, and local museums. It’s the kind of destination where everything slows down. Nature is pretty much the main event, and the forest wraps around you like a quiet, living museum of biodiversity.
5. Wieliczka Salt Mine
- 📍 Location: Lesser Poland Voivodeship, near Kraków
- 🏆 Best For: Underground explorers ⛏️, history lovers 📖, unique experience seekers 🎒
- 📸 Top Experiences: Visiting St. Kinga’s Chapel, walking the salt tunnels, seeing the underground lakes
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: Year-round for stable underground temperatures and guided access 🌡️
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Grand Sal Hotel – Elegant hotel located just steps from the mine entrance
Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of Poland’s most surreal attractions. Located just outside Kraków, this underground maze stretches for hundreds of kilometers and hides salt-sculpted art, chapels, and even an underground lake. It’s like a cathedral carved straight into the earth.
The highlight is definitely St. Kinga’s Chapel, a vast room decorated with chandeliers, carvings, and walls made entirely of salt. Guided tours bring you through chambers with sculptures, historical displays, and softly lit pathways that feel part museum, part fantasy.
The mine’s history goes back to the 13th century and shows how salt shaped the region’s economy and culture. It’s surprisingly peaceful below ground, with consistent temperatures and a calm atmosphere. Whether you’re into architecture, geology, or just want to see something out of the ordinary, this place delivers.
- Continue your Lesser Poland journey: 12 Beautiful Places in Zakopane
6. Auschwitz Concentration Camp
- 📍 Location: Oświęcim, Lesser Poland Voivodeship
- 🏆 Best For: History learners 🕯️, reflective travelers 🧠, museum visitors 🏛️
- 📸 Top Experiences: Touring Auschwitz I and Birkenau, viewing exhibits of personal artifacts, walking the memorial grounds
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: March to November for better weather and full access to outdoor exhibits 🌤️
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Hotel Imperiale – Simple and respectful lodging within walking distance of the memorial site
Auschwitz is one of the most powerful places to visit in Europe. Walking through the gates of Auschwitz I, you’re immediately confronted with the weight of history. Barbed wire, guard towers, and preserved barracks give visitors a raw look into one of the darkest periods of the 20th century.
The museum displays personal items left behind by victims, including shoes, suitcases, and photos. These everyday objects humanize the incomprehensible scale of the Holocaust. Birkenau, located just a few minutes away, expands the story with rows of wooden huts and the haunting remnants of the gas chambers.
It’s not an easy visit, but it’s necessary. Guided tours provide important context and ensure that the stories of the victims are never forgotten. Auschwitz is a sobering reminder of what happens when hate goes unchecked, and a place to reflect on the value of memory.
7. Zalipie
- 📍 Location: Tarnów County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship
- 🏆 Best For: Folk art lovers 🎨, culture explorers 🏡, Instagrammers 📷
- 📸 Top Experiences: Visiting painted cottages, touring House of the Painter, walking through the village paths
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: May to September for sunny weather and fresh floral displays 🌼
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Hotel Tarnovia – Comfortable city hotel with easy access to Zalipie by car
Zalipie is one of Poland’s most charming and colorful villages. Nearly every cottage, fence, and well is covered in hand-painted floral designs that brighten up even the quietest corners. It all began over a century ago when locals started painting over soot stains on their walls with vibrant patterns.
Today, the tradition continues through annual competitions and community pride. The House of the Painter, once home to artist Felicja Curyłowa, now functions as a small museum where you can learn about the folk art behind the flowers.
Visitors can stroll through the village at their own pace, taking in the painted homes and gardens that make it feel like a real-life fairy tale. It’s an easy day trip from Tarnów and offers a peaceful, photo-worthy break from the usual tourist circuit. Zalipie is creativity in its most wholesome and welcoming form.
8. Upside-down House in Szymbark
- 📍 Location: Pomeranian Voivodeship, Northern Poland
- 🏆 Best For: Offbeat travelers 🌀, families with kids 👨👩👧, culture explorers 🎭
- 📸 Top Experiences: Walking through the upside-down house, visiting the open-air museum, seeing the world’s longest plank
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: May to September for good weather and full museum access ☀️
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Hotel Kiston – Modern countryside hotel with pool and peaceful surroundings near Szymbark
The Upside-down House in Szymbark is one of Poland’s quirkiest attractions. Built as a statement on political and social change, the entire wooden structure is flipped on its roof, furniture and all. Once inside, your sense of balance goes wild as you walk on ceilings and tilt through doorways.
It’s fun and weird in the best way. Visitors of all ages get a kick out of the disorienting rooms, and the outside looks like something from a cartoon village. Beyond the house, the Centre for Education and Region Promotion has exhibits on Kashubian culture, old bunkers, and even a Soviet train.
One of the cooler features is the world’s longest wooden plank, which stretches across the park. If you’re looking for a road trip stop that’s unexpected and full of character, this spot delivers in a big way.
9. Tatra Mountains
- 📍 Location: Tatra County, Southern Poland
- 🏆 Best For: Hikers 🥾, nature photographers 📸, snow lovers 🎿
- 📸 Top Experiences: Hiking to Morskie Oko, riding the Kasprowy Wierch cable car, exploring Zakopane town
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: June to September for hiking or December to February for skiing ❄️
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Aries Hotel & Spa – Alpine-style hotel in Zakopane with mountain views and heated pools
The Tatra Mountains feel like stepping into a different side of Poland. Towering peaks, clear alpine lakes, and pine-covered trails give this region a wild and refreshing edge. Zakopane is the main town and serves as your base for adventure, filled with wooden chalets, cozy cafes, and local cheese stalls.
The hike to Morskie Oko, a crystal-clear lake surrounded by cliffs, is one of the country’s most iconic nature experiences. For easier views, take the cable car up Kasprowy Wierch and gaze across both Poland and Slovakia from the summit.
In winter, the Tatras transform into Poland’s top ski destination. Slopes come alive with snowboards, skis, and steaming mugs of hot chocolate afterward. The region also has a deep highlander culture, reflected in the food, music, and architecture. It’s nature with personality and a solid dose of adrenaline.
- Read my full guide: 12 Picture-Perfect Places in Zakopane
10. Malbork Castle
- 📍 Location: Pomeranian Voivodeship, Northern Poland
- 🏆 Best For: Castle lovers 🏰, history fans 🏯, medieval buffs ⚔️
- 📸 Top Experiences: Touring the Grand Master’s Palace, walking the outer walls, exploring the knight’s hall
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: May to September for guided tours and fair weather 🏞️
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Hotel Centrum Malbork – Central hotel just a short walk from the castle entrance
Malbork Castle is the largest brick fortress in the world and an absolute must for anyone into medieval history. Built in the 13th century by the Teutonic Knights, the complex feels like a real-life fantasy set with towers, drawbridges, and giant halls that stretch for miles.
A guided tour is worth it to catch details you’d miss on your own. You’ll see collections of armor, Gothic sculptures, and a massive dining hall once used by knights. The views from the upper levels are stunning, especially around sunset when the castle glows red against the river.
Malbork is easy to reach from Gdańsk, making it a solid day trip or overnight stop. It’s one of those places that feels larger than life in person, and the scale alone makes it unforgettable. History here is loud, bold, and still very much alive.
11. Sopot
- 📍 Location: Pomeranian Voivodeship, Northern Poland
- 🏆 Best For: Beachgoers 🏖️, summer partiers 🎉, couples on holiday 💑
- 📸 Top Experiences: Walking the Sopot Pier, relaxing on the beach, exploring Monte Cassino Street
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: June to August for warm weather and seaside events 🌊
- 🏨 Where to Stay: Sopot Marriott Resort & Spa – Relaxed beachfront hotel with a rooftop pool and Baltic views
Sopot is Poland’s go-to coastal escape, especially in summer when the beaches fill with locals and visitors soaking up the Baltic sun. Its biggest draw is the Sopot Pier, the longest wooden pier in Europe, which stretches far out into the sea with ocean breezes and full panoramic views.
Monte Cassino Street runs through the heart of the town, packed with cafes, gelato stands, and live performers creating a lively boardwalk feel. By day, it’s all about swimming, sunbathing, and sipping cold drinks in the sand.
At night, Sopot transforms into a nightlife hub with beach clubs, live music, and sunset bars lining the shore. It’s the kind of place that does both chill and hype really well, depending on your mood. If you’re in northern Poland during summer, this is where you want to be.
12. Łódź
- 📍 Location: Łódź Voivodeship, Central Poland
- 🏆 Best For: Creative travelers 🎨, city explorers 🧳, street art fans 🖌️
- 📸 Top Experiences: Walking Piotrkowska Street, exploring Manufaktura, visiting EC1 and the Museum of Cinematography
- 📅 Best Time to Visit: April to October for walking tours and outdoor events 🎭
- 🏨 Where to Stay: PURO Łódź Centrum – Sleek hotel with local art and rooftop lounge near all the action
Łódź (pronounced “woodge”) has gone from factory town to creative hotspot without losing its raw edge. Old warehouses now house trendy galleries, cool cafes, and tech hubs, especially around Manufaktura, a giant red-brick complex turned culture and shopping center.
Piotrkowska Street, one of the longest commercial streets in Europe, is the city’s main strip. You’ll find colorful murals, hip boutiques, and indie coffee shops that give it a laid-back but artsy vibe. The street art scene here is strong, with massive murals wrapped around buildings throughout the city.
Film lovers should definitely check out the Museum of Cinematography, located in a former palace, or visit EC1, an old power station turned science and culture center. Łódź may not be the first place on your list, but it’s the kind of city that surprises you once you’re in it.
