A vastly underrated country, the opportunities for travelers in Poland abound – there’s fantastic skiing and great hiking in the mountainous south, plus some of the wildest scenery in Europe just begging to be explored. Add to that the delightful and historic towns of Gdansk, Krakow and Zamosc, the Great Malsurian Lakes and the wilds of Bialowieza National Park, and you have a destination that’s as gripping as they come.
The modern, fast-paced capital city of Warsaw has undergone an immense transformation in recent years. Following its almost total destruction in World War II, the former home of the most notorious ghetto in wartime Europe is now an upbeat and progressive place, a heady mix of Soviet-era monoliths and contemporary new constructions. Yet the biggest draw in Poland is the town of Krakow, known as the royal capital of Poland and home to some of the best architectural marvels that the country has to offer.
Smiling Faces – Poland’s Greatest Treasure
The Polish people are a proud, fiercely independent race, and they have a huge respect for some of their most famous sons and daughters. Lodz, an old textile city, has never forgotten its famous film director sons Roman Polanski and Krystztof Kieslowski. Torua is proud to be the birthplace of the famous astronomer Nicholas Copernicus, while Warsaw natives Frederick Chopin and Marie Curie are equally revered.
Gdansk, sitting on the Baltic coast, is the country’s biggest port and something of a boomtown right now. It’s also where the famous Solidarity Movement originated under Poland’s most famous son of all – Lech Walesa, who did more than anyone else to bring about the end of communism in the country.
Poland’s Incomparable Countryside
Outside of its city, Poland’s natural beauty is quite simply extraordinary. Visitors will be surprised to discover a whole host of pleasant beaches along the Baltic coast, while there’s nowhere better to get lost than the Slowinski National Park, which encompasses, vast forests, muddy bogs and wildlife galore. For outdoor enthusiasts, particularly the boating kind, the Great Malsurian Lakes represents an astonishing, romantic playground, made up of dozens of pristine freshwater lakes, surrounded by dense woodland.
Further south, other highlights include the Krakow-Wielun region, which is known for its limestone caves and its medieval castles, while the Carpathian Mountains in the furthest south reaches of the country are perhaps the most beautiful of all Poland’s offerings.
Budget for one week: More than 500 Euro
Taxes and gratuities: Gratuity is recommended
Local currency: Złoty
Spoken language and/or official language: Polish
Area: 312,685 km2 (120,696.41 sq mi)
Population: 38,186,860
Sanitary requirements: You can drink tap water most places in Poland
Major cities: Warsaw, Kraków, Łódź, Wrocław, Poznań, Gdańsk.
Main images courtesy Wikipedia.
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