17 Best Places to Visit in Poland For Your Bucket List

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Are you looking for the ultimate Poland bucket list? If you love picturesque architecture, medieval cities, forests and quaint European town squares, great food and good value, Poland has you covered. The country is large and diverse, with plenty to offer visitors. It is also one of our favourite places to visit!

We share the best places to visit in Poland including the best cities in Poland to add to your travel itinerary and some of the must-see attractions in Poland too!

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Poland Bucket List: The Best Places To Visit In Poland

Poland is one of those underrated European destinations that deserve so much more recognition.

Yes, we are a little biased with the fact that Simon’s parents are from Poland, but it really is such a wonderful place to visit. Easily one of our favourites!

Affordable, a perfect mix of history, nature and culture. And amazing food!

Plan your Poland itinerary by adding these best places to visit in Poland. We have put together two lists to help you plan your visit, including the best cities to visit in Poland and the best attractions in Poland since they are all well worth their own mention!

Best Cities To Visit In Poland

If you have time to explore Poland, you can easily visit several Polish cities and explore the very different parts of this beautiful country.

From medieval old towns to cities along rivers and the Baltic coastline, Poland is a surprising country that is easy to fall in love with!

1. Krakow

Krakow is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Poland. It is a beautiful medieval city with plenty of things to see and do.

The main square, Rynek Glowny, is Europe’s largest medieval town square and is a great place to start your exploration of the city

Krakow’s Old Town is filled to the brim with historic sites, including the impressive Gothic-style Wawel Castle. You will also enjoy exploring the medieval town walls or doing a spot of shopping at the Cloth Market in the town square.

There are also many museums and galleries to visit in Krakow, including the National Museum.

Krakow is also the best major city to stay in when visiting places such as Auschwitz – Birkenau concentration camp or taking a tour through Wieliczka Salt Mine.

2. Warsaw

Warsaw is an impressive capital city, and Poland’s largest city, with the perfect mix of modern architecture mixed with medieval charm and extensive history.

With Warsaw’s Old Town suffering severe destruction during WWII, you will be impressed to see its restored form. With more than 85% destroyed, it was an incredible show of determination by the Polish people to rebuild.

While some may be surprised to see the sprawling size and development of the city, Warsaw offers great opportunities for a big city stay while still being within close proximity to a historical centre.

Start your exploration of Warsaw in the Old Town, which is full of beautiful buildings, including the Royal Castle. Then, head to the New Town to see some of Warsaw’s more modern architecture and lively atmosphere.

Warsaw is a great city to visit with kids with so many family attractions and fun things to do.

With exceptional museums, including the well-designed Warsaw Rising Museum, huge shopping complexes and beautiful palaces, Warsaw really does have it all covered.

Make sure you make time to visit the Royal residences – The Royal Castle, Wilanow Palace and our personal favourite, Lazienki Palace “Palace on the Isle”, with its beautiful waterfront position within Lazienki Gardens.

And if visiting with kids, you will find plenty of fun things to do with kids in Warsaw too.

3. Wroclaw

Wroclaw is a charming city located in southwestern Poland. It is one of the largest cities in the country with a population of over 630,000 people.

The city is known for its picturesque Market Square which is lined with beautiful historic buildings and home to the iconic dwarfs scattered around the square and throughout the city.

Wroclaw is also famous for being one of the greenest cities in Europe with over 100 parks and green spaces.

Some of the top things to see and do in Wroclaw include visiting Market Square, exploring one of the many museums, such as the Panorama of Racławicka, or taking a boat trip on the Oder River.

4. Gdansk

Gdansk is one of Poland’s most popular tourist destinations, located on the Baltic coast.

When you think of Poland, beaches and seaports don’t necessarily come to mind, which is why Gdansk is one of the best places to visit in Poland.

Situated in the north of Poland, Gdansk is a port city on the Baltic Coast. Another example of exceptional reconstruction exists within Gdansk’s Main Town, also damaged during WWII.

The brightly coloured buildings and river views make Gdansk a beautiful city to stroll through, especially along Royal Way, with all the grandest sites along which Polish kings once paraded during their city visits.

It is also worth taking a day trip to Malbork Castle and the museum, around 1.5 hours by train from Gdansk.

5. Torun

Torun is a beautiful medieval city located in central Poland. It is best known as the birthplace of Nicolaus Copernicus, who was born in 1473 in the Old Town.

The Old Town of Torun is one of the best-preserved medieval towns in Europe and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Old Town Square (Rynek Staromiejski) is small but beautiful.

When visiting Torun, be sure to walk along the Royal Route, admire the Gothic architecture of the Town Hall and visit the Copernicus House Museum.

Other top things to see and do in Torun include visiting one of its many churches, and of course, seeing the Leaning Tower of Toruń. The historic tower now houses a tavern.

Poznań is located on the Warta River in Western Poland and is one of the oldest and most historic cities in Poland.

Poznan is also known for being a university city with many students attending its many universities.

Some of the top things to see and do in Poznan include visiting the Old Market Square and exploring one of the many museums. You also can’t miss the town hall clock with mechanical goats that butt heads upon noon each day.

Poznan is also home to a number of historic churches, such as the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul, and the Church of St. Stanislaus.

8. Białystok

Białystok is the largest city in northeastern Poland and is a good base for exploring the region. What is particularly appealing is that it isn’t as typically on the tourist route, making it a great city to enjoy everyday Polish living.

The city has a number of interesting sights, such as the Branicki Palace and the Orthodox Church of Saints Peter and Paul.

Białystok is also home to a number of parks, such as the Białystok City Park, which is perfect for a summer stroll or picnic. It’s also a perfect city for exploring the Bialwisza forest, one of the last remaining primeval forests in Europe.

Check out our guide for the best things to do in Bialystok.

9. Gdynia

Gdynia is a seaside resort town located on the Baltic coast, about 30 minutes from Gdansk by train.

Gydnia is Poland’s largest seaport town has grown from a small fishing village to an essential part of Poland’s industry.

It is a great place to enjoy the beach, as well as many of the parks and gardens. The town also has an interesting maritime history with a number of museums worth visiting, such as the Polish Navy Museum.

10. Sopot

Sopot is a popular seaside resort town located just south of Gdynia. Sopot is known for its long wooden pier, one of the longest in Europe, as well as being home to the annual Sopot International Song Festival.

The town is also home to a number of parks and gardens, perfect for a summer stroll. And don’t miss the crazy Crooked House!

The best way to visit Sopot is by making a day of it by visiting all 3 of the Tri-Cities in one day – Sopot, Gdynia and of course, Gdansk.

Travel Insurance: Make sure you don’t leave home without travel insurance. Trust us, it’s one of those things you don’t want to skip, especially when travelling with kids. Check out SafetyWing to make sure you’re covered!

Best Poland Tourist Attractions

While you can easily plan your visit around the best cities in Poland, some of the top attractions sit beyond those city areas, taking you into some of the smaller and lesser-known cities and regions of Poland. These tourist attractions in Poland are not to be missed!

The Bialowieża Forest is one of the last remaining primeval forests in Europe and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is definitely a must-see in Poland.

The forest is located on the border of Poland and Belarus and is home to a number of rare animals, such as bison, lynx, and elk.

There is a wildlife sanctuary, learning centre and a number of walking trails that you can explore. The Bialowieża Forest is a great place to get away from the city and enjoy nature.

There are some accommodation options nearby Bialowieza National Park, however, you can also visit by taking a day trip from Bialystok instead.

The Slowinski Sand Dunes are located in the Slowinski National Park, about a 3-hour drive from Gdansk.

The dunes are the tallest moving sand dunes in Europe and are a beautiful natural phenomenon. The dunes move around 10 metres each year, shifting over time from the winds

The resort city of Łeba is found at the entrance of Slowinski National Park and is a perfect spot to spend the night if you plan on exploring the area for a day. They offer horseback riding experiences on the sand for a memorable time in Poland.

16. Tatra National Park

The Tatra Mountains are located in southern Poland on the border of Slovakia. The mountains are a popular spot for hiking in summer or spring and skiing or winter sports in the winter.

Kasprowy Wierch is the highest peak in the Polish Tatras and can be reached by a cable car not far from Zakopane. From the top, there are breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains.

Or take the funicular up to Mt Gubalowka for some great views of Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains.

The Tatra Mountains area is a great day trip from Krakow if you’re looking to get out of the city and enjoy nature. Or spend a few days in beautiful Zakopane instead.

This area is, of course, one of the best places in Poland for winter activities such as skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and more.

Have you been to Poland? Share your favourite place in the comments.

Check out our other posts on Poland for more detailed info on this amazing country!

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