Things to do in Poland

25 things to do in Poland

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Explore the underground chambers of Wieliczka Salt Mine

  Descend into a labyrinth of saline galleries, chapels, and lakes carved entirely from salt, highlighted by the stunning St. Kinga's Chapel with its salt chandeliers.

  Wieliczka

• Walk through Kraków's Main Market Square and Cloth Hall

  Stroll Europe's largest medieval square, ringed by historic townhouses, where the Renaissance Sukiennice (Cloth Hall) buzzes with amber and souvenir stalls.

  Kraków

• Reflect at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum

  Walk through the preserved gas chambers, barracks, and railway ramp of the former Nazi concentration and extermination camp, paying homage to the victims.

  Oświęcim

• Admire the wooden altarpiece in St. Mary's Basilica, Kraków

  Enter this brick Gothic church to witness Veit Stoss's magnificent 15th-century altarpiece, and listen for the hourly bugle call from the taller tower.

  Kraków

• Wander the meticulously rebuilt Warsaw Old Town

  Marvel at the post-war reconstruction of cobbled streets and colourful burgher houses enclosing the Royal Castle Square, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

  Warsaw

• Experience the Warsaw Uprising Museum's interactive exhibits

  Walk through a recreation of wartime sewers, view a full-scale B-24 Liberator bomber, and feel the city's heroic 1944 insurrection against Nazi occupation.

  Warsaw

• Hike to the emerald Morskie Oko lake in the Tatra Mountains

  Trek through pine forest to a crystal-clear glacial lake encircled by towering peaks, with a rustic mountain hut serving hot tea and szarlotka.

  Tatra National Park

• Cruise the interconnected lakes of the Masurian Lake District

  Board a boat in Giżycko to glide across Lake Śniardwy and the canals, stopping at sleepy islands and waterfront cafés in a sail‑speckled paradise.

  Giżycko

• Stroll the Long Market and Neptune Fountain in Gdańsk

  Follow the Royal Route past ornate Flemish‑style façades, ending at the bronze sea‑god fountain, with amber shops and the medieval crane gate nearby.

  Gdańsk

• Tour the colossal brick Malbork Castle

  Cross the drawbridge into the world's largest castle by area, a red‑brick Teutonic Knights' fortress with vast courtyards, grand refectories, and a chapel cloister.

  Malbork

• Eat pierogi at a traditional milk bar in Warsaw

  Queue with locals at Bar Prasowy for cheap, hearty plates of freshly boiled pierogi ruskie, nostalgic cabbage rolls, and kompot served in a no‑frills cafeteria.

  Warsaw

• Explore the nightlife of Kraków's Kazimierz district

  Formerly the Jewish Quarter, this warren of cobbled lanes fills after dark with cellar bars, vodkaria, and indie music venues inside pre‑war tenements.

  Kraków

• Discover the Renaissance ideal town of Zamość

  Stand in the Great Market Square surrounded by perfect Renaissance arcaded burgher houses and the towering town hall, a hidden gem of UNESCO harmony.

  Zamość

• Walk among European bison in Białowieża Forest

  Enter Europe's last primeval lowland forest to spot wild bison, wolves, and towering ancient oaks on a guided tour through the strictly protected reserve.

  Białowieża

• Visit the reconstructed Royal Castle of Warsaw

  Tour the royal apartments, throne room, and Canaletto paintings inside a national symbol blown up during WWII and rebuilt brick by brick.

  Warsaw

• Walk the wooden pier and sandy beach in Sopot

  Stroll the longest wooden pier in Europe, flanked by the Baltic Sea, then relax on soft sand with views of the Grand Hotel, a Belle Époque icon.

  Sopot

• See Copernicus's house and the Gothic Old Town of Toruń

  Touch the original 15th‑century tower where astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus was born, then lose yourself in the medieval streets renowned for gingerbread.

  Toruń

• Kayak the gentle Krutynia River through the Pisz Forest

  Paddle a clean waterway winding under overhanging trees, past lily‑covered lakes and wooden mills, a classic Masurian river trail for all skill levels.

  Krutynia (near Krutyń)

• Climb the tower of Wrocław Cathedral for the city panorama

  Ascend the neo‑Gothic towers of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist on Ostrów Tumski island, rewarding you with a sweeping red‑roofs view of the Odra River.

  Wrocław

• Sample oscypek smoked cheese on Zakopane's Krupówki Street

  Taste the spindle‑shaped ewe's milk cheese, grilled and served with cranberry, from village stalls while surrounded by wooden Górale highland architecture.

  Zakopane

• Venture into the Nazi‑era 'Riese' underground complex

  Explore a secret network of damp tunnels and giant caverns in the Owl Mountains, built by forced labour and still shrouded in mystery.

  Osówka (Walim)

• Attend a free open‑air Chopin concert in Łazienki Park

  Settle by the composer's art nouveau monument on a Sunday afternoon, listening to live piano recitals under majestic chestnut trees.

  Warsaw

• Hike through the post‑glacial landscape of Wielkopolski National Park

  Follow trails between turquoise kettle lakes, pine‑clad moraine hills, and sudden erratic boulders, just a short trip from Poznań.

  near Poznań

• Discover street art and indie culture at OFF Piotrkowska in Łódź

  Wander the creative hub carved from a former cotton mill yard, filled with murals, design studios, craft beer bars, and weekend food markets.

  Łódź

• Sip a żubrówka‑apple 'tatanka' at a Warsaw shot bar

  Step into Pijalnia Wódki i Piwa on Nowy Świat, order the iconic bison‑grass vodka mixed with apple juice, and soak in the no‑standing‑on‑ceremony vibe.

  Warsaw