Ultimate Poland Travel Guide for your First Visit

About– Poland Travel Guide for First Visit

Poland is an East European country located near the Baltic Sea. Poland is the perfect mixture of East and West Europe, from it’s medieval times architecture to the modern buildings in Warsaw, Rogation Palace to the fun and happening night life in Poznan, Warsaw and Krakow.

The capital of Poland is Warsaw and Polish is the official language. English and German are spoken also. I found Krakow had a large number of international students and English was spoken widely.

Best times to visit are from March- May and between September and November. July and August are usually the peak seasons for tourists and the warmest months. Winters can get brutal, as low as -20C (brrr).

Where to Stay

If you are looking to stay in one of the major city, I recommend Warsaw, Poznan, Gdansk, Krakow and Wroclaw. Each city has something unique to offer to everyone and are easily accessible. Check out Poland’s Official travel site for options to stay here. Airbnb also has some great options, whether you are looking to stay central in the city or somewhere on the mountains in Zakopane, click here.

Getting Around

By Plane: Air travel might be the fastest way if you are trying to get to the other side of the country. Poland has a total of 13 airports (national and international). If you are flying from USA and Asia, I found flights to Warsaw were the most economical, if from Europe, Poznan,  Gdansk and Krakow had some inexpensive options too.

By Train: Prices of train tickets depend on the kind of train and the length of the journey. The railway system in Poland is reliable for the most part. Click here to find out the train schedules and ticketing.

By Bus: Travelling via a bus is another great option in Poland for both inter-Europe travel or within the country. Some of the bus companies for inter-Europe travel are Eurolines, Eurobus, Orbis Transport, Euro-Trans, etc. Click here to find out more about the bus system.

What to Do– Poland Travel Guide for First Visit

During your visit to Poland, you will not run out of options of things to do. I loved visiting the palaces and the markets.

Poznan is known for it’s Renaissance style buildings in Old Market Square and the Town Hall towers where the heads of 2 small goats collide everyday at noon.

Gdansk is located by the Baltic Coast and is part of the Tricity. It is known for it’s long sandy beaches and amber!

Krakow, located on the Southern side of Poland near the Czech Republic border, is famous for it’s medieval core and Jewish quarter. Don’t forget to visit the Wawel Castly and Rynek Glowny, Europe’s largest market square.

Where to Eat– Poland Travel Guide for First Visit

If you haven’t had pierogi (Polish dumpling), you haven’t been to Poland. No trip is complete without tasting the local cuisine in my opinion. Polish cuisine is one of my personal favorites and will soon be yours too, trust me! The Old Market Square has several tiny restaurants that are almost underground, however, their unique decor and delicious foods make them unforgettable. Here are my top recommendations:

Bazar 1838– Polish cuisine, you must try the baked duck dumpling.

Location: ul. Paderewskiego 8  61-770 Poznan

Toga Restaurant: This restaurant’s menu changes with seasons. It offers Polish and East European cuisine. Try one of the soups!

Location: Plac Wolności 13, Poznan

Nolita Restaurant: Elegant interiors, extensive wine list and delicious foods makes Nolita is a must visit if you are in Warsaw. A great fine dining option for a special occasion, it is one of the best restaurant in Warsaw.

Location: ul. Wilcza 46 Warszawa (Warsaw)

Stolica: A perfect place to have lunch outdoors in summer, a great option while you visit Old Town. You can also enjoy live music every Friday and Saturday night at 6:00 PM in the summer.

Location: ul. Szeroki Dunaj 1/3 Stare Miasto

Rada Miasta Food & Wine: Head over to Gdansk for some great food and wine as the name suggests. The tapas style small dishes were my favorite part of a lovely dinner with friends.

Location: ul. Korzenna 33/35  80-381 Gdańsk

Gruzinskie Chaczapuri: This was probably my favorite restaurant in Poland. A perfect blend of Georgian and Polish cuisines, I was pleasantly surprised as it was my first time tasting Georgian food. Highly recommended if you are visiting Krakow.

Location: ul. Grodzka 3 Krakow

Hopefully you find this guide helpful and are able to make your way to exploring Poland. The country is such a beautiful blend of East and West Europe and one of the few inexpensive destinations.

Have you been to any of these cities? What was your experience? Do you have any cities to add? Tell me about it in the comments!

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