Poland
Some of Europe's best-preserved old towns sit alongside sobering 20th-century history in Poland. Kraków's market square and Wawel castle, the rebuilt merchant houses of Gdańsk, the rock-salt chapels of Wieliczka and the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial anchor most trips, while the Tatras offer serious hiking. Fast trains and cheap, hearty food make it excellent value.
Overview
Poland stretches from Baltic beaches in the north to the granite Tatra peaks on the Slovak border, but most first trips concentrate on the south. Kraków, which escaped wartime destruction, makes a natural base for Auschwitz-Birkenau, Wieliczka and Zakopane. Fast trains link it with Warsaw, whose old town was rebuilt from rubble after 1945 and is now UNESCO-listed, and on to Gdańsk on the Baltic. With more time, add Wrocław's bridges and market square, the vast Gothic Malbork Castle, or Białowieża's primeval forest and its European bison.
Poland offers excellent value: a hearty lunch at a milk bar costs a few pounds, trains are cheap and good hotels are priced well below western Europe's. Kraków gets crowded in summer and with weekend stag parties, so midweek visits are calmer, while Gdańsk and the coast fill up in July and August. Winters are cold but bring Christmas markets and skiing near Zakopane. The country suits history lovers, city-breakers, food fans and hikers. First-timers are often surprised by Warsaw's modern skyline and by how much Polish cooking offers beyond pierogi.
Map of Poland
Top 5 highlights
- 1Architecture
Kraków's Old Town and Wawel
Rynek Główny, one of Europe's largest medieval squares, centres on the Cloth Hall and St Mary's Basilica, where a trumpeter sounds the hejnał every hour. A short walk south, Wawel's castle and cathedral hold the tombs of Polish kings.
- 2History
Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum
At the former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp, where about 1.1 million people were murdered, a memorial and museum now bear witness. Allow at least three and a half hours to see both Auschwitz I and Birkenau.
- 3Architecture
Gdańsk Main Town
Tall merchant houses, rebuilt after 1945, line Long Street and the Long Market down to the medieval crane on the Motława River. The European Solidarity Centre and the Museum of the Second World War tell the city's 20th-century story.
- 4History
Wieliczka Salt Mine
Over seven centuries miners carved chapels, statues and even chandeliers from rock salt. The tourist route descends to about 135 m and includes the vast underground St Kinga's Chapel; the mine is about 30 minutes from Kraków.
- 5Nature
Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains
Poland's only alpine range rises above Zakopane, a resort known for wooden highland villas and grilled cheese. Hike to the lake of Morskie Oko or ride the cable car up Kasprowy Wierch; summer trails are busy, so start early.
Biggest cities
Warsaw
The reconstructed old town is only part of the story: the Warsaw Rising Museum, the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews and the Praga district make two days worthwhile.
Katowice
Hub of the Upper Silesian conurbation, Katowice has reinvented its coal heritage with the Silesian Museum in a former mine and the NOSPR concert hall; nearby Nikiszowiec is a red-brick miners' estate.
Kraków
Poland's royal capital deserves three days or more, with day trips to Auschwitz and Wieliczka; base yourself in the old town or Kazimierz, the former Jewish quarter now full of cafés and bars.
Ranked by urban-area population where available. Figures are rounded estimates, and sources define city limits differently, so rankings of similar-sized cities can vary.
When to go to Poland
Best time: May–Sep.
Average climate in Warsaw
Festivals & events
- Mar–AprWielkanoc (Easter)
On Holy Saturday, families carry decorated baskets of eggs, bread and sausage to church to be blessed; on Easter Monday, Śmigus-dyngus turns streets into good-natured water fights.
- Jun–JulJewish Culture Festival
Held in Kraków's Kazimierz district every summer since 1988, with klezmer and cantorial music, workshops and talks, ending in a large open-air concert on Szeroka Street.
- Jul–AugSt Dominic's Fair
Gdańsk's Jarmark św. Dominika, first held in 1260, fills the Main Town for about three weeks from late July with antiques, crafts, food stalls and street performers.
How much does Poland cost?
Estimates per person per day, excluding flights. Prices vary by season and city.
Food to try
Pierogi
Half-moon dumplings, boiled or fried, filled with potato and curd cheese (ruskie), sauerkraut and mushroom, or meat; summer brings sweet blueberry versions.
Żurek
A tangy soup of fermented rye flour with white sausage and a halved boiled egg, traditional at Easter and sometimes served in a hollowed-out bread loaf.
Oscypek
Smoked, spindle-shaped sheep's cheese from the Tatra highlands, protected by EU designation; buy it grilled with cranberry jam from stalls in Zakopane.
Getting around
PKP Intercity's fast trains, including Pendolinos, link Warsaw with Kraków and Gdańsk in around two and a half to three hours; book on the Intercity website or app for reserved seats. Regional trains and FlixBus fill the gaps, and minibuses run frequently between Kraków and Zakopane. Cities have good tram networks, and the Jakdojade app plans routes and sells tickets. Bolt and Uber are cheap and widely used.
Practical information
- Plugs & voltage
- CE230V — bring a UK-to-C/E adapter
- Emergency numbers
Source: FCDO “Getting help”
- Dialling code
- +48
- Time zone
- UTC+1 (standard time)
- Tap water
- Generally safe to drink
- Driving
- On the right
- Tipping
- Leave about 10% in restaurants for good service. Saying 'dziękuję' as you hand over money signals that you don't want any change back.
- Etiquette
- Greet shop staff with 'dzień dobry', remove shoes in homes and give flowers in odd numbers. Be respectful at memorial sites, and never describe the Nazi German camps as 'Polish camps'.
- Main airports
- Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW), Warsaw; Kraków John Paul II International Airport (KRK), Kraków; Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport (GDN), Gdańsk
Visas & entry for Poland
Shown for a British passport.
No visa needed
You can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes Poland, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This applies if you travel: as a tourist; to visit family or friends; to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events; for short-term studies or training.
The requirements for working in Poland are different.
From the UK government's FCDO entry requirements for British passport holders — read the full page for passport validity, permits and exceptions.
Health & vaccinations
- Recommended for most travellers
- Tetanus
- Sometimes advised — depends on your trip, activities and health
- RabiesTick-borne encephalitis
- Yellow fever certificate
- No yellow fever certificate is required to enter.
- Malaria
- No malaria risk
Source: TravelHealthPro (National Travel Health Network and Centre), checked 21 October 2026. This is a summary, not medical advice.
Public holidays in Poland
The next 12 months. Banks, offices and some sights may close, and transport and hotels get busy around these dates.
| Sun 1 Nov 2026 | All Saints' Day |
| Wed 11 Nov 2026 | National Independence Day |
| Thu 24 Dec 2026 | Christmas Eve |
| Fri 25 Dec 2026 | Christmas Day |
| Sat 26 Dec 2026 | Second Day of Christmas |
| Fri 1 Jan 2027 | New Year's Day |
| Wed 6 Jan 2027 | Epiphany |
| Sun 28 Mar 2027 | Easter Sunday |
| Mon 29 Mar 2027 | Easter Monday |
| Sat 1 May 2027 | National Day |
| Mon 3 May 2027 | National Day of the Third of May |
| Sun 16 May 2027 | Pentecost |
| Thu 27 May 2027 | Corpus Christi |
| Sun 15 Aug 2027 | Assumption Day |
National holidays only. Dates based on lunar calendars can move by a day or two depending on official announcements.
Useful phrases in Polish
| English | Polish | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Dzień dobry | jen DOB-ri |
| Thank you | Dziękuję | jen-KOO-yeh |
| Please | Proszę | PRO-sheh |
| Excuse me | Przepraszam | psheh-PRA-sham |
| How much is this? | Ile to kosztuje? | EE-leh toh kosh-TOO-yeh |
Know before you go
- Most shops, including supermarkets, close on Sundays under Poland's trading restrictions; stock up on Saturday, though petrol-station shops and small kiosks usually stay open.
- Reserve Auschwitz-Birkenau entry well ahead through the museum's official website, visit.auschwitz.org; entry slots are limited and summer guided tours sell out.
- Pay in złoty rather than euros, decline card terminals or ATMs offering to charge you in pounds, and avoid stand-alone Euronet cash machines, whose fees and rates are poor.
Poland travel FAQs
When is the best time to visit Poland?
The best time to visit Poland is generally May–Sep. Peak months are May, June, July, August and September. Average highs in Warsaw range from 1°C to 25°C across the year.
How much does a trip to Poland cost per day?
Roughly £40 a day on a tight budget, £90 mid-range and £180+ for comfortable travel, per person including accommodation, food and local transport. Flights are extra.
What currency is used in Poland?
Polish złoty (PLN).
What plug type does Poland use?
Type C and E sockets at 230V. UK visitors need a travel adapter — UK Type G plugs will not fit.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Poland?
Traffic drives on the right in Poland, unlike the UK.
Is tap water safe to drink in Poland?
Generally safe to drink.
Do I need a visa for Poland?
For British passport holders, the FCDO says: You can travel without a visa to the Schengen area, which includes Poland, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Entry rules change, so check the official FCDO entry requirements for Poland before you travel: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/poland/entry-requirements
What vaccinations do I need for Poland?
TravelHealthPro recommends Tetanus for most travellers, with Rabies and Tick-borne encephalitis sometimes advised depending on your trip. Make sure routine UK vaccinations are up to date and see a travel health professional 6–8 weeks before you go.
