Places to Visit in Poland

List of Places to Visit in Poland

Ruled under different kingdoms, Poland has a unique history obvious from its medieval architecture, castles, historical buildings and remnants of a devastating past. With no dearth of monuments, national parks, rivers and mountains, here are some of the best places to visit in Poland:

• Warsaw
• Krakow
• Wrocław
• Gdańsk
• Torun

Being a part of the Schengen region, don’t forget to apply for an appropriate visa for Poland. To ensure overall safety, buy the right international travel insurance plan for Poland before leaving for your trip.

Warsaw – The Reconstructed Capital

Poland's capital practically rose from the ashes of destruction. By the end of the Second World War, almost 85% of the city was destroyed. The immense restoration work and mending that took place afterwards will make tourists doubt the carnage; with numerous monuments and museums narrating these horrifying accounts. There are several royal properties as well as newly reconstructed buildings that were entirely wiped out 70 years ago.

Some of the most remarkable sights include the Royal Route, famous for having some of the best historic landmarks of Warsaw in line. The route consists of several palaces, churches, parks, townhouses and palaces including a few Royal residences. It also consists of the Lazienki Park, Warsaw's largest park spread over 76 hectares with several pavilions, amphitheatre, promenades, orangeries, palaces and other monuments.

The Old Town, Warsaw's commercial centre was completely destroyed during the war but was immediately rebuilt as it had been. If you want to get deeper into Warsaw's as well as Poland's history, head to the POLIN Museum of History of Polish Jews, the Warsaw Uprising Museum, and the National Museum. Other significant places to visit in Poland include the restored Royal Castle, the Copernicus Science Centre, the Wilanow Palace, and the St. Anne's Church built in 1454 famous for its Baroque design.

Krakow – Most Well-Preserved Polish City

One of the oldest cities, Krakow attracts a lot of visitors because of its stunning medieval architecture and has been deemed as a UNESCO World Heritage City.  The city has been inhabited as early as the 7th century and managed to remain unscathed from the WWII destruction. Thus, the city's Old Town and other old landmarks are well-preserved thanks to their historic significance. The Old Town is full of quaint shops and atmospheric cafes, with old cellars and Gothic vaults. The Main Square of Krakow is also one of the oldest and largest Medieval squares in Europe and has some historical monuments of interest including St. Mary Basilica, the Cloth Hall and several townhouses.

The Old Jewish Quarter and the 13th-century Wavel Castle, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites are in this city making it one of the most important cities to visit in Poland. The city is also known for its urban parks, especially the 21 hectares wide Planty Park from the 19th century. For hiking or biking, you can head to the Lasek Wolski Forest, a few minutes from the city centre. Krakow also has 28 must-see museums with some of the best period furniture, tapestries, jewels and weapons from the 15th century. Krakow is especially a centre for day trips to several important spots located outside the city.

Other significant places include the Kazimierz, the Franciscan Church, concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Tatra Mountains, Tatra National Park and the world's oldest operating salt mine in Wieliczka. If you're interested in history, you will get several chances to visit some important landmarks that shaped history, including the famous Schindler's Factory that helped save over 1,000 Jews. The Krakow Historical Museum also has accounts of Schindler's book accounts, his 'list' of survivors and a wider exhibit from the second world war. These include reconstructed ghetto dwellings, the underground tunnels used during the Polish Resistance and some genuine artefacts from the 40s.

Wrocław – Capital of Culture

This Polish city has in fact been a part of eight different kingdoms before it became a part of Poland; the city was once a part of the Kingdom of Bohemia then Prussia and later Germany before becoming a part of Poland in 1945. Thus, Wroclaw City Museum is the best place to start exploring this city and its 1,000 years of history. If you want Holocaust and Second World War specific history then head to Lubomirski Museum. You will find out important details about the Nazi invasion, the Soviet Union and more WW II events, making Wroclaw one of the most essential places to visit in Poland.

For sightseeing, head to its 13th-century Main Market Square, Wroclaw's oldest area. This area has some of Poland's most important landmarks, including the Old Town Hall and St. Elizabeth's Church. There is also the Pan Tadeusz Museum dedicated to Polish customs.

One of the best things to do in Wroclaw is to travel around the city on their iconic open-top historic buses for city tours. Also famous as Poland’s Venice, Wroclaw is crossed by over 100 bridges over different arms of the Oder River. Important historical landmarks here include the 10th-century Cathedral Island, the reputable Wroclaw University founded in 1702. The university is famous for its lush Baroque Hall and its ceiling fresco and the portraits of its founding fathers. Also head to the Royal Palace, the residence of each Prussian King who added their own touches to this building.

The city also has the largest fountain in Poland, the UNESCO listed Wroclaw Fountain. Head to the Szczytnicki Park which was laid out in 1783 and has been a stunning expanse attracting poets and nature lovers since its conception. The city also has Poland's largest model railway, spread over 430 meters of tracks and has extremely detailed miniatures and landmarks.

Gdańsk – The seaside Beauty

Home to Poland's main seaport, Gdansk is often neglected in the list of places to visit in Poland. Under Germans, this city was called Danzig and was heavily reconstructed after the Second World War. This beautiful seaside city is an ancient city with some of the most important attractions of Poland. Gdansk has some beautifully preserved parts sating back to the 17th century, such as the Prison Tower, the City Gates, historical merchant houses along with its Dlugi Targ.

The city is also famous for having the largest brick church in the world, St. Mary's Church. The view from the top of this church after climbing 408 steps is among the best experiences in Gdansk. Other impressive places include Mariacka Street which has some of the oldest architecture of Gdansk and amazing restaurants and cafes. You can also shop here for souvenirs and gifts. You can also go for day trips from Gdansk, popular ones being a visit to the Malbork Castle, and beaches in Gdynia. Other landmarks of interest include the Museum of the Second World War, St. Catherine's Church Tower, the waterfront near the Motlawa River, Bar Mleczny Neptun and the beautiful Neptune Fountain.

Torun – Birthplace of Nicolaus Copernicus

Dating back to the 8th century, Torun is among the oldest and most popular places to visit in Poland. Known to the world as the place of birth of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, Torun was saved from the destruction of the Second World War which kept its medieval attractions intact. You can visit its medieval Central Marketplace along with several 16th-century wood-beam buildings. One of these has been converted to the house-museum of Nicolaus Copernicus and is among the most popular sites here. This museum is a part of the Old Quarter and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will also find the ruins of the 13th century Teutonic Castle here. Other points of interest include the Muzeum Piernika, Medieval Walls, Cosmopolis Fountain, Torun Cathedral and more.

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