Poland can be explored through a wide range of interests: dishes found throughout the country, museums in Kraków and Gdańsk, or landscapes and activities in the national parks. To help plan your stay, start by deciding which themes you want it to revolve around.
Polish cuisine: dumplings, stews and sweets
Pierogi are small dumplings with many possible fillings. Savory versions may contain potatoes and cheese, cabbage and mushrooms, meat or vegetables; sweet ones are filled with quark or fruit. They are found throughout Poland. Bigos is another dish worth knowing: sometimes translated as hunter’s stew, it combines sauerkraut, various kinds of meat and a range of spices. In Poznań, pyry z gzikiem is a local staple: a dish of boiled potatoes served with quark seasoned with cream and chives, onions or radishes.
Other dishes showcase different kinds of home cooking. Kopytka are elongated dumplings served with meat sauces or stews, or simply eaten with sugar and melted butter. Polish potato pancakes are usually served with savory accompaniments; in some regions, they are also eaten with sweet cream and sugar. Polish broth is served with homemade noodles. Among Poland’s best-known desserts are cheesecake, poppy seed cake and apple pie. Poppy seed cake is particularly often eaten at Christmas and Easter. These differences offer a tangible insight into regional associations and traditional eating habits, not into the offerings of any particular restaurant.
National parks and landscapes
Depending on the park, Poland’s national parks offer opportunities for secluded hikes, wildlife watching in natural habitats and learning about the country’s history. In the Biebrza Valley, Biebrzański National Park protects extensive marshland and peat bogs. They cover 59,223 hectares. Another regional example is Góry Stołowe National Park, which covers 63 km². Szczeliniec Wielki features a rock labyrinth, while Skalniak is home to the Błędne Skały labyrinth.
Those interested in getting out on the water will find a different kind of scenery on the Dunajec. Traditional raft and kayak trips offer views of rock pinnacles and peaks, steep rock faces, and escarpments hundreds of metres high that descend to the river. In the Wigry region, the Czarna Hańcza is a well-known canoeing route in Poland, connected to the Augustów Canal. By contrast, Kaszubska Marszruta is all about cycling: four cycle routes, totalling 160 kilometres, follow purpose-built trails through coniferous and deciduous forests, hills, valleys, lakes and rivers in Chojnice County. These are clearly different ways to experience the landscape; check local conditions before setting out on a specific trip.
Museums, urban history and music
The Jewish district of Kazimierz in Kraków has a cemetery dating from the 16th century and seven synagogues, one of which now houses the Jewish Museum. Gdańsk also offers several historical points of interest. The European Solidarity Centre in Gdańsk is an interactive museum about the Polish people’s aspirations for freedom. Gdańsk’s medieval Crane Gate, once Europe’s largest harbour crane, is now part of a museum. The Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk houses one of the world’s largest exhibitions on the war.
In summer, free piano concerts are held every Sunday at the Fryderyk Chopin Monument in a park in Warsaw. If you would like to include a concert in your trip, check the latest dates in advance. This means cultural history, an interactive museum, a major historical exhibition and a seasonal music programme can all feature as distinct highlights, without requiring one city to cater to every interest.
Planning your trip and choosing a focus
Intercity Express trains connect major cities in Poland, but do not stop at smaller stations. For a short trip, it can therefore help to prioritise between urban history, cuisine and outdoor activities. The examples mentioned range from museums in Gdańsk and Kraków to parks, cycle routes and river routes in different parts of Poland; they do not automatically form a single itinerary. For individual national parks, also check the rules in force, and for specific trips, check the relevant operating details.
Discover more destinations: Greater Poland, Świętokrzyskie, Subcarpathia, Lesser Poland, Kuyavian-Pomeranian, Lubusz, Łódź, Lublin, Masovia, Warmian-Masurian, Opole, Podlaskie, Pomerania, Silesia, West Pomerania, Lower Silesia.
