Poland

Poland is what happens when a country has an extraordinary amount to offer but the rest of the world has not caught up yet. Most travellers fly into Krakow for a weekend, maybe visit Auschwitz, and leave thinking they have seen Poland. They have barely scratched the surface.

The country has medieval old towns that rival Prague and Bruges. It has one of the most moving and important WWII historical sites on earth. It has a Baltic Sea coastline with long sandy beaches and resort towns. It has mountain hiking in the Tatras that feels like the Swiss Alps at a fraction of the cost. It has a food scene that has evolved dramatically from the pierogi-and-vodka stereotype into something genuinely exciting, with Warsaw now home to several Michelin-starred restaurants alongside traditional milk bars where a full meal costs $5.

The real advantage of Poland for travellers is the value. Your money goes dramatically further here than in Germany, France, or the UK. A comfortable mid-range trip in Poland costs roughly what a budget trip costs in Western Europe. A budget trip in Poland costs almost nothing by European standards. This does not mean quality is lower. Hotels are modern, trains are improving rapidly, cities are clean and well-maintained, and the cultural offering is world-class. You simply pay less for all of it.

English is widely spoken in cities and tourist areas, particularly by younger Poles. The country is in the EU and the Schengen Area, making border crossings seamless. It uses its own currency (Zloty, not Euro), which keeps prices lower than Eurozone neighbours.

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When to go

Summer (June to August) is the warmest period with temperatures between 20-30C (68-86F) and the longest days. This is the best time for outdoor activities, the Baltic coast, and the Tatra mountains. It is also the busiest tourist season, though “busy” in Poland is nothing compared to Western Europe. Krakow and Warsaw see the most visitors but rarely feel overwhelmed.

Spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October) are ideal for city trips. Mild temperatures, fewer tourists, and autumn brings beautiful colours to the forests and mountains. May in particular is excellent: warm enough for outdoor dining, uncrowded, and prices are still low.

Christmas market season (December) transforms the old town squares. Krakow, Wroclaw, and Gdansk have particularly atmospheric markets with mulled wine, local crafts, and traditional food. Cold but worth it.

Winter (January to March) is cold, often below freezing, with short days and grey skies. However, it is the cheapest time to visit, crowds are virtually nonexistent, and cities like Krakow and Warsaw have a moody, atmospheric beauty in the snow. The Tatra mountains offer skiing at Zakopane, Poland’s winter sports capital, at prices far below alpine resorts.

How much it costs

Poland is one of the best-value destinations in Europe. While prices have risen in recent years (particularly in Krakow and Warsaw tourist zones), it remains significantly cheaper than Western Europe across every category.

Budget ($30-55 USD/day): Hostel dorms cost $8-15 per night in most cities. Milk bars (bary mleczne) are government-subsidised canteens serving traditional Polish food. A full meal (soup, main course, drink) costs $5-7. Supermarket groceries are exceptionally cheap: bread under $1, a dozen eggs for $1.20, local beer for $1-2. City buses and trams cost $0.80-1.50 per ride with day passes at $3-5. Free walking tours run daily in Krakow, Warsaw, Gdansk, and Wroclaw. At this level you eat well, sleep comfortably, and see everything.

Mid-range ($60-120 USD/day): Three-star hotels and modern apartments cost $40-80 per night. Restaurant meals run $10-20 for a main course with drinks. Second-class train tickets between major cities (Warsaw to Krakow, Warsaw to Gdansk) cost $10-30. Museum entry fees are $5-15. Guided tours of Auschwitz or the Wieliczka Salt Mine cost $25-50. At this level you live very comfortably by any European standard.

Comfortable ($150-300+ USD/day): Five-star hotels in Warsaw and Krakow cost $100-250+ per night. Fine dining at Michelin-level restaurants costs $50-100+ per person. First-class train tickets, private tours, and premium experiences fit here. Even at the luxury level, Poland is notably cheaper than equivalent experiences in Italy, Spain, or France.

Key value tip: The milk bar (bar mleczny) is Poland’s secret weapon for budget travellers. These cafeteria-style restaurants serve traditional Polish food at subsidised prices. They were created during the communist era to provide affordable meals for workers, and many still operate today. The food is hearty, authentic, and absurdly cheap. Menus are often in Polish only, but pointing works fine.

Where to go

Krakow is the country’s most popular destination and it deserves every bit of the attention. The Main Market Square (Rynek Glowny) is the largest medieval square in Europe, surrounded by townhouses, cafes, and the stunning St. Mary’s Basilica with its famous trumpeter playing hourly from the tower. Wawel Castle and Cathedral sit on a hill above the Vistula River. The Kazimierz district (the former Jewish quarter) has transformed into Krakow’s most vibrant neighbourhood with bars, restaurants, galleries, and street art. The Oskar Schindler Factory is now an excellent museum covering Krakow under Nazi occupation. Three days minimum for the city itself, plus day trips.

Auschwitz-Birkenau is 70km west of Krakow and is one of the most important historical sites in the world. The former Nazi concentration and extermination camp is preserved as a memorial and museum. It is free to enter, though guided tours ($25-40) are strongly recommended and often required during peak season (book well in advance). This is a heavy, emotional experience but an essential one. Allow a full day.

Warsaw was almost completely destroyed in WWII and rebuilt from the rubble. The reconstructed Old Town is UNESCO-listed specifically because the act of rebuilding it was considered a cultural achievement. The city has emerged as a modern, forward-looking capital with excellent museums (the Warsaw Rising Museum and the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews are both outstanding), a thriving food scene, and a skyline that mixes communist-era concrete with gleaming modern towers. Warsaw does not have Krakow’s immediate charm but rewards those who give it time. Two to three days.

Gdansk on the Baltic coast is beautiful and criminally overlooked. The colourful merchant houses along Long Market, the enormous Gothic Brick Church of St. Mary, and the European Solidarity Centre (documenting the Solidarity movement that helped end communism in Europe) make it one of Poland’s most rewarding cities. The nearby resort towns of Sopot (pier and beach bars) and Gdynia (port city with a naval museum) form a “Tri-City” that is easily explored by local train. Two to three days.

Wroclaw in the southwest has over 100 bridges, a stunning market square, and a quirky tradition of small bronze dwarf statues hidden throughout the city (over 300 of them). It is a university city with a youthful energy, good nightlife, and fewer tourists than Krakow or Warsaw. The Centennial Hall is UNESCO-listed. Two days.

The Tatra Mountains along the southern border with Slovakia offer genuine alpine hiking at budget prices. Zakopane is the main resort town and base for trails. The Morskie Oko lake hike is the most famous walk (about 4 hours return). In winter, Zakopane offers downhill skiing and cross-country trails at a fraction of the cost of the Alps.

The Wieliczka Salt Mine outside Krakow is a UNESCO-listed underground world of chapels, chambers, and sculptures carved entirely from salt, reaching 327 metres deep. The main tourist route takes about 2.5-3 hours. Book in advance during summer. Guided tours cost $25-35.

What to skip

The Wieliczka Salt Mine is impressive but takes half a day including transport from Krakow. If you only have three days for Krakow and its surroundings, prioritise Auschwitz over the salt mine. If you have four or more days, do both.

Zakopane in summer is overcrowded with domestic tourists, particularly on weekends. The Tatra mountains are far more enjoyable in spring, early autumn, or winter. If you visit in July or August, go on weekdays and start hikes early.

Organised package tours of Poland that bus you between cities at speed. The country’s train and bus connections are easy to navigate independently, and travelling at your own pace lets you linger in places that deserve more than a two-hour stop.

Expecting Poland to feel like “Eastern Europe” in the outdated sense. Polish cities are modern, clean, and well-maintained. The infrastructure is excellent. The stereotype of post-communist bleakness has not been accurate for decades.

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Must-do experiences

Walk through Auschwitz-Birkenau. It is not easy and it is not entertainment. But standing in the place where over a million people were murdered is one of the most profound experiences you can have as a traveller. Book a guided tour in advance.

Eat at a milk bar. Order zurek (sour rye soup), pierogi (dumplings with various fillings), and schabowy (breaded pork cutlet). Point at the menu if needed. Sit with locals. Pay $5-7 for a full meal. Understand that this is Polish food at its most honest.

Explore Kazimierz in Krakow at night. The former Jewish quarter is now the city’s best neighbourhood for bars and restaurants. Alchemia is one of the most atmospheric bars in Europe: dark, candlelit, and packed with locals. The street food and late-night dining options are excellent.

Walk the reconstructed Old Town in Warsaw. Understanding that virtually everything you see was rebuilt from photographs and paintings after WWII’s near-total destruction makes the experience far more powerful than a typical European old town stroll. The story is the attraction.

Visit the European Solidarity Centre in Gdansk. The museum documenting the Solidarity trade union movement and the fall of communism in Poland is one of the best museums in Europe. It tells a story that changed the world and it tells it brilliantly. Even if you have no prior interest in the topic, you will leave having learned something important.

Hike to Morskie Oko in the Tatra Mountains. A well-maintained trail through forest leads to a stunning mountain lake surrounded by peaks. The walk is about 9km each way on a wide path (suitable for most fitness levels). Horse-drawn carts can take you part of the way for a small fee. Go early to beat the crowds.

Practical tips

Visa: Poland is in the Schengen Area. Most Western passport holders get visa-free entry for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. No advance application needed.

Currency: Polish Zloty (PLN). Poland is in the EU but does not use the Euro. ATMs are widely available. Credit cards are accepted in most hotels, restaurants, and shops, but smaller vendors, milk bars, and rural businesses may be cash only. Always pay in PLN, not EUR. If a shop or restaurant offers to charge you in EUR or your home currency, decline. Their exchange rate will be worse.

Transport: Trains are the best way to travel between major cities. PKP Intercity runs express services (Warsaw to Krakow in 2.5 hours for $10-30, Warsaw to Gdansk in 2.5 hours for around $15-35). Book on intercity.pl or at stations. FlixBus runs cheap intercity buses (slower but 20-40% cheaper than trains). City public transport (buses and trams) is modern and affordable at $0.80-1.50 per ride. Uber and Bolt work in all major cities. BlaBlaCar ridesharing is popular for intercity travel.

Language: Polish is the national language and it is not easy to read or pronounce for English speakers. However, English is widely spoken in cities and tourist areas, especially by younger Poles. In rural areas and among older generations, English is limited. Learning “dziekuje” (thank you, pronounced jen-KOO-yeh) and “prosze” (please, pronounced PRO-sheh) will get you far.

Tipping: Not mandatory but appreciated. In restaurants, round up the bill or add 10% for good service. Tell the server the total amount rather than leaving cash on the table.

Safety: Poland is very safe for tourists. Violent crime is rare. Standard precautions for pickpocketing in crowded tourist areas apply (particularly Krakow’s Main Square and public transport). The nightlife districts in Krakow and Warsaw are lively but safe. Scams targeting tourists are rare compared to many European cities.

Connectivity: WiFi is excellent in hotels, cafes, and restaurants. Poland has strong 4G/5G mobile coverage. Prepaid SIM cards from Play, Orange, or T-Mobile are available at airports, convenience stores, and phone shops for very cheap rates. eSIM options also work well.

Sundays: Many shops are closed on Sundays by law (with some exceptions for the first and last Sunday of each month). Restaurants, cafes, tourist attractions, and convenience stores at petrol stations remain open. Plan shopping accordingly.

Planning your trip

1 week: Krakow (3-4 days including Auschwitz and optionally the salt mine), train to Warsaw (2-3 days). This covers Poland’s two essential cities and its most important historical site.

10 days: Krakow (3 days + Auschwitz), train to Wroclaw (2 days), train to Warsaw (2-3 days), train to Gdansk (2-3 days). A comprehensive loop hitting four distinct cities.

2 weeks: The full route above with extra time for the Tatra Mountains (2-3 days from Krakow), or adding Poznan, Torun, or the Masurian Lakes in the northeast. Two weeks lets you see Poland’s full range from mountains to coast to modern capital.

Combining with neighbours: Poland connects easily to Germany (Berlin to Warsaw or Berlin to Krakow by train or bus), the Czech Republic (Krakow to Prague), and the Baltic States (Gdansk northward). A Berlin-Warsaw-Krakow-Prague route is one of the best budget itineraries in Central Europe.

More destinations like Poland

If Poland’s combination of history, value, and culture appeals to you, the Czech Republic (particularly Prague and Cesky Krumlov) offers similar value with a more touristy feel. Germany to the west has comparable cultural depth but at higher prices. Turkey offers a similar “incredible value for the quality” dynamic in a completely different setting. For WWII history specifically, the Netherlands (Anne Frank House) and Germany (Berlin) are natural companions.

Use our search tools to compare flights and hotels across all of these destinations.

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