I want to show you some of my favorite places in the enchanting country of Poland. So here is my Polish Top 10. Poland is home to some of the world’s most stunning landscapes. From Gdansk’s medieval old town to the towering Tatra mountains. Poland has so much to offer.
1. Krakow
Let’s start this article off in the city of Krakow. This may be one of my favorite cities in Poland. Located in the south of the country, Krakow was founded back in the 7th century, so you best believe it’s full of beautiful history and architecture. One of the most impressive sights is the Wawel Royal Castle. It was built during the 14th century and was the first UNESCO world heritage site. It features architectural styles from the medieval renaissance and baroque periods, Such a beautiful building.
From the castle, you can take a short walk to the main square. It dates back to the 13th century and it’s the largest medieval town square in all of Europe, which is pretty crazy. It’s fascinating to think of all the history that took place here. In the corner of the square is Saint Mary’s Basilica, which was built back in the 14th century and is a perfect example of Polish Gothic Architecture.
Another interesting feature of Krakow is the Kosciuszko Mound. It’s an artificial hill that was modeled after other prehistoric mounds in the city. It was built in 1823 to commemorate the national hero named Tadeusz Kosciuszko. The mound is 112 feet high and there’s a serpentine path that takes you to the top to enjoy panoramic views of Krakow and the Vistula river.
2. Tatra mountains
After Krakow, we’re going to head to the Tatra mountains. Located about a two hours drive from Krakow. The Tatras are a stunning mountain range that straddles the polish and Slovakian border. The best town to access the Tatras is Zakopane. Located right at the base of the mountains. Zakopane is the starting place for your mountain adventures. During the wintertime. Zakopane is an ideal place to go skiing and in the summer months, it’s a prime place to start your hike into the mountains.
3. Morskie Oko lake
One of the most impressive places in the Tatras is the Morskie Oko lake. To get there you can take a bus from Zakopane to the base of the Morskie Oko hike and then make the 16-kilometer round trip hike to the scenic lake. What a phenomenal view! The Tatras are: the smallest alpine mountain range in Europe and are home to plenty of wildlife. Such as the Eurasian brown bear. I just love how the Tatras look. They just have such a unique jagged. Look at them.
If you’re into WW2 history, you can visit the Memorial of Auschwitz Concentration camps. Located about an hour's drive from Krakow. Auschwitz is infamously known to be one of the most horrific Nazi concentration camps. Over 1.1 million people died, here. One of my favorite books, I’ve ever read, is called “The Auschwitz Escape” and it tells the story of how two prisoners made the daring escape from the concentration camp.
4. Sopot
After we’re going to head up to northern Poland to visit Sopot. Located right on the Baltic Sea, Sopot was established in the 8th century and grew as a commercial trade post & Fishing village. Over the centuries Sopot faced adversity as it was abandoned, burned, and rebuilt. But in the early 19th century, Sopot started to gain popularity thanks to its spa and public baths, and it quickly became a holiday resort. Town. Today, Sopot is a thriving tourist attraction. While you’re there, you can take a walk on Europe’s longest wooden, pier or you can enjoy the swans and endless sandy coastline. Now I understand what it’s nicknamed, the Polish riviera.
5. Gdansk
After the spot we’re going to head over to neighboring Gdansk Located just a 15 minutes drive from Sopot Gdansk is one of Poland’s oldest cities, with a fascinating history, with periods of polish Prussian and German rule. The earliest mention of Gdansk was in 997 and during the middle ages, Gdansk grew as an important seaport and shipbuilding town. It rose to be the wealthiest and largest city in Poland until Warsaw’s rapid growth in the 18th century. Sadly, a majority of Gdansk was destroyed during world war 2. Today, Gdansk is one of Poland’s most beautiful cities. I can’t believe how beautiful its Old Town is. It’s full of perfectly placed houses that seem to go on forever. I love how the canal runs right along with the old town, it's full of ships and gives the city such fun vibes.
6. Malbork Castle
While you’re there you can explore the streets of the old town or take a walk down the canal. What an incredible city Just an hour’s drive from Gdansk in the Malbork Castle. Located in the town of Malbork on the river nougat. This castle is the largest in the world by land area. It was built in the 13th century by the Teutonic Knights, who were German Catholic Crusaders. As the number of knights grew so did the castle, which encloses an area of 52 acres, It’s, just crazy to think people were able to build such buildings. Back then, Like Gdansk, more than half of Malbork castle was destroyed during WW2. Built. Thankfully, it has been rebuilt to its former glory
7. Masurian Lake
After Malbork Castle was going to head over to the Masurian Lake District located in northeastern Poland. This lake district is the most visited in all of central Europe and is home to over 2000 lakes. There are, so many beautiful towns to explore in the region and it’s a prime place to go sailing and other water activities. I can’t think of a better place to go on a hot polish summer day. Aside from the lakes, the area is full of beautiful forests, perfect for hiking and exploring. Mazury is a hidden gem that deserves a visit.
8. Pieniny National Park
Another scenic place for nature lovers is the Pieniny National Park. Located in both southern Poland and northern Slovakia. Pieniny is one of the smallest and oldest national parks in all of Poland. I think this is such a beautiful area. The river runs right through it and acts as a border between Poland and Slovakia. It's home to many animal species such as the Eurasian lynx. One of my favorite features of the mountains is the Three Crowns. It’s made up of 5 sharp limestone peaks that create quite the sight. Another beautiful nearby spot is the Niedzica Castle. This 14th-century castle is located just a few minutes away from the park. What a beautiful area.
9. Wroclaw
After we’re going to head over to the beautiful city of Wroclaw. It’s such a tricky pronunciation. Located in western Poland about a three hours drive from Krakow. Wroclaw is such a charming historical city, It's home to one of the most beautiful market squares in Europe. It's lined with elegant townhouses and cobblestone streets. Wroclaw also has one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Poland. It was originally built in 1272, but has been damaged and rebuilt several times throughout the centuries. I love its double spires, It’s impossible to beat Europe’s churches.
10. Warsaw
For our final destination, we’re going to head to Warsaw located on the Vistula River in East, Central Poland. Warsaw is the capital and largest city in the country. Warsaw began to grow in the 16th century when the capital was moved there from Krakow. It was called the Paris of the North, but Warsaw was damaged extensively during world war 2, with over 85 % of its buildings in ruins. Today, its bustling capital, with a population of 1.8 million. One of my favorite buildings is the Palace of culture and Science. At 778 feet tall, it’s the 5th tallest building in the EU. The crowning feature of the city is Warsaw’s Old town. It was established during the 13th century and is full of history and medieval architecture. Like the main part of the city. The old town was almost destroyed during world war 2, but it was miraculously restored and was made a world heritage site in 1980. When you’re there, you can explore the square and marvel at all the history that took place in this medieval old town.
Well, that is it for my Poland Top 10.