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The Republic of Poland, an old proud nation at the heart of Central Europe, is called home by approximately 38.4 million residents living within its 120,728 square-mile territory. This nation roughly the size of the state of New Mexico offers an incredible diversity of landscapes, from the snow-capped peaks of the Carpathian range to the clear blue waters of the Masurian Lake District and the sandy shores of the Baltic Sea. Its friendly people, tasty foods and budget-friendly prices make it a land well worth exploration, particularly for those in search of an alternative to crowded and pricey west European tourist hotspots. But where to go and what to see? This list of ten spectacular sights from castles to caverns, sands to statues might be just enough to convince you it’s high time to patch together your very own grand tour of Poland!
Natural wonder
Morskie Oko, or Eye of the Sea as it’s known in English, is a pristine mountain lake found high in the Tatra Mountains of southern Poland. Its name harks back to an ancient legend that held the lake was connected to the sea by means of an underground passage. Surrounded by towering mountain peaks and a pine forest, the stunning locale was dear to the heart of Pope John Paul II. This jewel of the Tatra National Park can be visited by means of a two-hour hike from the nearest highway, and buses run to the trail’s starting point from the nearby city of Zakopane. The five-mile uphill path is broad and paved, but for those less sure on their feet, a horse-drawn cart makes a speedier option to the top. Opt to hike around the lake, or just admire it from the shore. The hostel right next to the lake serves cold beer and tasty snacks, and just one bite of their apple pie will make you fall in love with it.
Medieval splendor
Malbork Castle is a vast brick, Gothic-style castle found in the north of the country. The castle secures its spot on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites on the basis of its unique style and its importance within the Teutonic Order, in which German communities of military monks carried out crusades against pagans and Christians alike. What’s considered the world’s largest castle in terms of total surface area was completed in 1406 and has been renovated many times since. It’s lauded as a supreme example of restoration and conservation techniques. Plan ample time to visit both inside and out. The castle, located at Starościńska 1, 82-200 Malbork, is easily visited as a day trip from the port city of Gdansk.
Forest primeval
The Bialowieza Forest in northeastern Poland is another one of the country’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Human intervention has been kept to a minimum here for the past 9,000 years or so, making the area, much of which is a national park, a unique biosphere for plants and animals alike. In addition to the fox, stoat, elk and otter that make their homes here is found the mighty European bison, the continent’s heaviest mammal. Explore on your own, or leave the planning to a competent tour operator specializing in wilderness safaris. This forest some 150 miles from Warsaw can be reached from the capital within four hours of driving time.
Unexpected underground: a disused mining site might not sound like the most interesting type of place to visit, but when you descend into the 700-year-old Wieliczka Salt Mine, you can’t help but be pleasantly surprised. Exploration of these vast premises by means of a guided tour reveals intricate salt carvings and chandeliers, bizarre formations, an underground lake and a roomy chapel dedicated to St. Kinga, patron saint of miners. The miner’s route tour turns tourists into workers of yore, who are made to search for salt, test for methane gas and complete a variety of tasks by lamplight. The mine, at Daniłowicza 10, 32-020 Wieliczka, is just a short hop from Krakow.
Mysterious movements
The Słowiński National Park along the Baltic seacoast offers the phenomenon of sand dunes that just can’t seem to stay in one place. As a result of the winds that blow steadily through the area, the dunes of Łeba shift more than 30 feet landward each year. Some claim an entire village has been swallowed up these shifting sands. Even though you won’t see the dunes move on an afternoon’s visit, the pretty sight of blue sea and white sands is sure to set you to rights. Be prepared to walk some three miles to reach the dunes. The national park’s official address is Bohaterów Warszawy 1A, 76-214 Smołdzino.
Perfectly preserved
Toruń was one of the few Polish cities to have escaped devastation during World War II. Sitting prettily alongside the Vistula River, its handsome Old Town bristles with watchtowers, walls and granaries, testaments to the city’s importance as a trading center and member of the Hanseatic League. Don’t-miss sights include the stunning Town Hall, Leaning Tower, family home of the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus and the ruins of a 13th century Teutonic Knight’s Castle. No visit to Toruń is complete without sampling its famous gingerbread, prepared in accordance with a recipe that’s been jealously guarded for centuries.
A saintly monument
In 2010, the small town of Swiebodzin in western Poland erected what town officials claimed to be the world’s tallest Jesus statue in the entire world, topping even the famous Christ of Rio de Janiero in Brazil. “Christ the King” towers majestically over the surrounding countryside. Tallest image of Jesus or not, the 118-foot figure topped with a golden crown is certainly impressive. Driving to the statue from the German city of Frankfurt an der Oder will take you roughly an hour. The address of the statue is Sulechowska, 66-200 Świebodzin.
A rainbow row of houses
Many an ancient market square is blessed with architectural gems, but what sets Poznan’s central square apart from others is the vivid color scheme of a long row of its buildings. The embellished facades of the green, red, blue and brown merchant houses brighten the landscape whatever the season, but a visit in the summer, when the outdoor cafes and beer gardens are in full swing, is hard to top. If you’re anywhere near the square’s Town Hall around noon, don’t miss the chance to watch two mechanical goats bash horns, a ritual they’ve been carrying out for more than 100 years without having declared a winner.
Unique wooden churches
Scattered throughout the Małopolska region in the country’s south is a magnificent collection of timber constructions, including over 150 Catholic and Orthodox churches. The delightful ensembles, along with other wooden remnants of rural life in the region, can be explored by slow travel along the Wooden Architecture Route. Six themed routes covering nearly 1000 miles is a lot of ground to cover, so be sure to hone in on the four churches that made it onto UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage List: the Parish Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Binarowa, the Parish Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Dębno Podhalańskie, St. Leonard’s Church in Lipnica Murowana and the Filial Church of St. Philip and St. Jacob in Sękowa.
A stand-out square
Back in 2007, a popular Polish newspaper invited the public to help in the curation of a list of The Seven Wonders of Poland. A pool of more than 400 national monuments was honed to 27 entrants and whittled further down to the seven victorious entries, which were announced in September of that same year. Krakow’s market square could hardly miss inclusion on any list of Poland’s superlatives. The Rynek Główny , the largest square in all Europe, is a sweeping space of churches and townhouses, museums and souvenir shops. Its center is bisected by the Renaissance-style Cloth Hall, a reminder of the city’s medieval glory as a hub for trade. The Gothic towers of St. Mary's Basilica keep watch upon the action below, where people dine in outdoor cafes and rides in horse-drawn carriages tempt hopeless romantics.
What’s the most impressive landmark you’ve discovered to date in your exploration of the beautiful country of Poland?
