A historical country, Poland has around 14 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is full of surprises. The cities, such as Gdansk, Krakow, and Warsaw are teeming with treasures, whereas you can also find wondrous waterways, wooded forests and craggy mountains to be explored outside the urban areas. Whether you enjoy getting lost in history, enjoying some drinks, or exploring wildlife in the countryside, Poland has something to offer to everyone. It is the perfect destination for architecture lovers and history buffs and the cities are humming with energy. Some of the top things you should do in Poland are:
- Explore the wonder of Krakow
A city of arresting history, spectacular cuisine, and stunning architecture, Krakow offers a unique atmosphere that’s beyond compare. This one-time capital has a lot of fascinating secrets and you can uncover them by taking a tour of the Krakow Ghetto, the Jewish Quarter (Kazimierz), and the Old Town. While the rest of the country has seen a lot of physical wartime construction, there is one standout exception in the form of the Rynek Glowny.
This is the largest medieval town square in Europe that remains intact even today. However, the city also has some scars to show for its wounds in the form of memorials and dedicated monuments all over the city. The large metal chairs found in the Ghetto Heroes Square are the most haunting, as each of them represents the lost soul of a thousand Krakow Jews.
- Understand the wisdom of Warsaw
The world-class museums in Warsaw offer an engaging and accessible education about the country’s history. You will come across an immersive portrayal of the events related to the tragic uprising of the city in 1944 against the Germans in the Warsaw Rising Museum. In addition, the history of the Jewish people in Poland dating back 1000 years can be found in the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews. You can take your time at these high-tech venues for absorbing the events of a harrowing history through a captivating array of video, light, and sound.
- Do what the locals do in the cities
When you visit Poland, you can check out the culture of its urban centers closely, along with the day-to-day life of the people. The ridesharing options, variety of restaurants, and the amount of green space will definitely be pleasing. You can have fun and unwind the same way as the local people. The Poles love partying, so you can go clubbing in Krakow’s Kazimierz district or Poznan, Wroclaw. In Warsaw, you can go out for a stroll and get some beverages at the Vistula riverside or go to the Royal Lazienki Park to attend a free Chopin concert on Sunday.
- Try out some vodka
Poles are known for their love of vodka and joining in with the locals is one of the best things to do when you are venturing abroad. Clear vodkas, such as Belvedere and the top-shelf Wyborowa, are drunk neat, and icy, but Poles also enjoy experimenting. You can try out Zubrowka, which is a rye-flavored vodka that’s flavored with bison grass hailing from Bialowieza, and you can make it more palatable by mixing it with apple juice. A sweet, cherry-flavored option is Wisniowka, which is quite easy to indulge in. An amber-colored, sweetish concoction that’s good for the stomach and spiced with nutmeg is Zoladkowa Gorzka.
- Dive into the deliciousness of Polish food
Polish cooking involves some novel pairings that have made the cuisine fabulous over the years. Onions, apples, and mushrooms picked fresh from the forest, along with buckwheat and beetroot, there is a meaty hero with seasonings and side dishes. The menu also includes filling soups, such as barszcz (borscht) and zurec (rye sour soup), along with dumplings (pierogi), which are served fried or boiled with fillings that range from duck meat to plain cheese.
If you are not in the mood for hearty goose and beef dishes boasting gherkins and sauerkraut, you can find numerous international options in Poland as well. In fact, the urban centers also have special dietary cafes. The array of delicious and fresh salads is the most impressive, but you should definitely try out zapiekanki, which is an open-faced sandwich.
- Get lost in the city of Gdansk
You will not find a more handsome seaport than the city of Gdansk that’s located on the Baltic. The enchanting grounds of Malbork Castle and Old Town’s mesmerizing streets are enough to attract you for a visit, but the aesthetics are just the tipping point. It was during the Middle Ages that the city prospered and developed as a trade link between Poland and the rest of the world. Even in recent history, Gdansk has played an outsized role, as it serves as a prominent symbol of resistance to the Germans and Soviets both in 1939 and 1980, respectively. You can find spectacular depictions of these notable events through a visit to the interactive European Solidarity Centre and the Museum of WWII.
- Visit the national parks for reconnecting with nature
There are a number of national parks in Poland, with many classified as a World Heritage Site or a Biosphere Reserve. These protected and preserved swaths of land can be found across the country and have some amazing wonders that you can marvel at. You can find the largest, old-growth, and original forest of Europe in the Bialowieza National Park. Likewise, there are also various reserves of one of the national animals of Poland i.e. the European bison.
On the Pomeranian coast, you can also visit the Slowinski National Park, which is well-known for its shifting dunes and mostly comprises shallow lakes. It is an excellent habitat for supporting more than 250 bird species. There are medieval castles, extensive meadows, and mysterious rock formations that you can also explore.
Apart from these, you can also check out the Carpathian Mountains or sail the Great Masurian lakes for having a fun and adventurous time in Poland.
