6 Cities to Visit in Poland
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When I was deciding where to go from Berlin, I opened Google Maps and it hit me how close I was to Poland. My first introduction to Polish culture was in high school through a good friend, Monica, who came from a Polish family. I had fond memories of us at Portland’s Polish festival every summer, watching the traditional dances and eating pierogis and potato pancakes. Going to see this country in person for the first time ended up being a no-brainer. Thankfully the train system is easy and accessible here in Europe, so I bought a ticket and within 24 hours was in Poznán, Poland.
I loved Poland so much. The architecture and food kept my heart happy and full for the two weeks I ended up staying. I visited 6 of the main cities in Poland, and each one had a bit of something special to offer.
Poznán
This was the perfect place to start my Polish adventure. It’s a small city and easy to get around, so although I felt the fearful excitement of stepping off the train in a country I’d never been before, it was easy to learn the ropes and get comfortable here. The best part of Poznán was by far the old town square. The square provided me with a first sight of the dreamy Eastern European colorful architecture which I’d dreamt about for ages.
I also could not miss the croissant museum experience while in this city. It was a fun and silly display of the makings and origin of the St. Martin’s croissant, a regional delicacy, and was a favorite tourist activity in Poznán.
Gdańsk
Gdańsk was the second stop on my adventure in Poland, and even by the end of my trip, it remained at the top of my favorites list. The type of tall colorful buildings seen in Poznán were quadrupled. It was hard not to run into any jaw-dropping architectural views when adventuring down the many side streets of Old Town.
I took a day trip from here up to Sopot to touch the waters of the Baltic Sea for the first time. The train ticket to get there from Gdańsk was around one dollar, and entirely worth the quick ride.
Another highlight in this city was the WWII Museum, providing a detailed look at WWII in this region of Northern Poland.
Although the winter weather was cold and windy, I loved the five days I spent in Gdańsk. It was G-dank.
Warsaw
Next, I went to the capital city for the weekend. I stayed in a hostel where I met some wonderful friends and reunited with a pal I had met while teaching English in Chongqing. The old town here was also beautiful, and I took a tour of the castle to see gorgeous artwork and learn a bit of Warsaw history.
Łódź
My visit to Łódź (pronounced ‘woodge’ was short but so sweet. My friend Milena and her baby who hosted me in London were home in Łódź visiting her mother. She convinced me to come for the afternoon and celebrate Valentine’s Day over lunch with them. It was wonderful to see Milena in her hometown and catch up from the last time we were together in London two weeks prior. Łódź is an industrial city, so the main attraction is the long retail street on which we stopped for food.
Katowice
I spent the remaining four days of my trip in Katowice, taking day trips from here and staying with a connection from that same Polish friend from high school. It’s possible I had met Maggie, my host in Katowice, once or twice at the Polish festivals. Regardless, it had still been years, and yet I was treated like a lifelong friend. I was so grateful for the connection, warm company, and welcoming nature I was met with here.
Katowice itself is another industrial city. There is no “old town square” or quintessential Eastern European architecture, but it is the hub of the Silesian region and has a rich mining history. The Silesian Museum is free on Tuesdays and is full of both history and art exhibits. Besides the museum, my second favorite Katowice destination was Vinoteka, a small underground wine bar with homemade wines poured by tap and consumed easily, being the smoothest wine I’ve possibly ever tasted.
Kraków
The final city I visited in Poland was Kraków, and officially stands as my second favorite Polish destination. There is something to see everywhere you look here. It’s hard not to fall in love with the gorgeous buildings, the grand St. Mary’s Basilica, and a castle sitting above the riverside.
Two important places to visit just outside of Kraków are the Wieliczka Salt Mines and Auschwitz-Birkenau Camp. Each spot holds tours in multiple languages. Although you can visit Auschwitz without booking a tour, I’d highly recommend signing up for one during your visit as the site is quite large and there’s a lot of important history here you do not want to miss.
General Poland travel advice –
It’s a very affordable destination, from food to lodging!
Taking the train between cities is easy and cheap.
Eat pierogi, Zurek soup, and potato pancakes.
Visit museums and continue learning about WWII.
Almost all places in Poland are cashless, but you’ll want to take out a bit of cash anyways to leave tips for your servers/tour guides!
I hope you enjoy your trip to Poland as much as I did. In the meantime, let me know if there are any questions you have about traveling through this beautiful country in the comments below!
