Poland sits next to Germany, which is renowned for its history, architecture, and glorious palaces, but there are some great places to visit in Poland before you die, too. So despite the fact that it’s not really a country where travelers flock to compare to its neighbors, we will do our best to illuminate some of the most incredible spots here.
It’s probably no surprise to know that Poland is hundreds of years old, and contains a vast amount of historic landmarks and relics, for example the Niedzica Castle, which guests don’t merely stare at from outside and inside, but get to dress up in period clothes and eat using their hands, as people in the old times did. Or the fantastical Moszna Castle, situated in Upper Silesia in the village of Moszna, which rivals Germany’s Neuschwanstein Castle for its Disney-like appearance and gorgeous design.
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If you’re a fan of historical figures, then you must visit the Copernicus Monument in Warsaw in honor of the world-famous astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, and then head over to the historical city of Torun to see Copernicus’ original house. If you love architecture, then Poland has many brilliant examples of Romanesque and Gothic designs, namely Krakow’s St. Mary’s Basilica, Warsaw’s Grand Theatre, Gdansk’s Old Town buildings, the cream-colored Royal Castle in Lublin, the elegant Palace on the Water in the Royal Baths Park in Warsaw, and the Holy Trinity Church in Warsaw, which was inspired by the Roman Pantheon.
Europe is a very safe continent, perhaps the safest in the world, and after you’re done exploring the underrated beauty of Poland, head over to Croatia and explore the best places to visit in Croatia before you die.
This country is home to a few UNESCO World Heritage sites, some of which are in the list below. Let’s take a close look at the places to visit in Poland before you die.
7. Krakow
The Old Town is the first of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in this list. There are so many historic churches within the area, wherein an archbishop called Karol Wojtyla eventually became elevated to become the head of the Catholic Church (Pope John Paul II). If churches are not in your interest, the Old Town boasts a castle (Wawel Castle), and historic buildings built from the 14th to 16th centuries.
6. Zamosc
Another city in Poland where the Old Town is part of the UNESCO World Heritage list. Originally founded in the late 16th century by Jan Zamoyski, the town was designed with Italian Renaissance-like elements, making almost every building picture perfect. The town itself is very safe and easy to walk around in.
5. Gdansk
First settled in the first century, this city has a lot of history attached to it. Much of the historic places have been destroyed as an aftereffect of World War II, but it was rebuilt and is comparably beautiful to its state before its destruction. It’s very easy to get around in using the public transportation, or by walking. You can walk through the Long Lane, which was originally built during the Middle Ages, where various fountains, cobblestoned streets, and lovely facades can be seen, which you wouldn’t think have been reconstructions.
4. Warsaw
The capital city, is also the biggest and most famous city in Poland. It is a very safe place to visit, despite the history with the uprisings that happened (think Warsaw Uprising in the 1940s). The Old Town is a must see (then again, most old towns on this list are), and is home to a big Royal Palace. You can actually walk around and find yourself lost amongst its streets.
3. Lublin
Located east of Warsaw, and with its geographic location close to Belarus and the Ukraine it’ll be next to impossible to not want to stop over and at least see what it has to offer. Another castle, Lublin Castle, towers over its Old Town, making it an ideal place to go have a gander and enjoy the day out. It’s also home to the Crown Tribunal, a very important building in Polish politics in the 16th century. The city is also a site of various events like the Multicultural Fair, making it a very tolerant, and exciting event.
2. Torun
The birthplace of the famous scientist Nicolaus Copernicus, Torun is a lovely historical city with many ancient buildings dating back 700 years, including the beautiful Gothic Town Hall. One of the oldest cities in Poland, Torun also contains a memorable Old Town landmark called the Old Town Market. Fittingly, given the fact that it’s the birthplace of such a famous scientist as Copernicus, the city has a planetarium as well as the second largest radio telescope in Central Europe.
And, the best place to visit in Poland before you die is: Poznan
Home to over half a million people, Poznan is not only one of the biggest and oldest cities in Poland, it’s also economically stable, beautiful and very interesting. One of the greatest landmarks in Poznan is the Imperial Castle, a large and charming Neo-Romanesque construction. The Poznan City Hall is a historic and unique building, known not only for its very lovely exterior, but also for the daily display of fighting boats, performed around the clock to cheering crowds of local and tourists.
These cities are just the tip of the iceberg. Relatively almost everything on the list encompasses the best places in Poland before you die.
