Poland Travel Guide to Top Tourist Attractions
Not only does Poland promise to wow tourists with UNESCO World Heritage Sites but also with magnificent, rugged coastlines, mountains, national parks, including surprising natural wonders like the oldest salt mine in the world.
On account of its medieval architecture, troubling WWll history, plus several villages which appear to have gotten frozen in time, Poland makes the ideal destination for both architecture lovers and history buffs. Moreover, Poland's cities are buzzing with the vitality of culture and art, and the visitor can choose any as a superb starting point to discover the treasures that the country conceals.
Whether you're seeking nature, art, or history, or a little of all three, plan your trip with my Poland travel guide to find top tourist attractions in Poland.
1) Wieliczka Salt Mine. The Wieliczka salt mine which dates back to 13th century, is just as vital for the local residents now as it was 100s of years ago, except for another reason: despite being some of the world's oldest as well as longest-functioning salt mines, its commercial operations ended in 1996, switching its focus completely, and since transformed into an artistic attraction.
The Wieliczka Salt Mine today is home to neat corridors, 4 chapels, and statues, which are all carved out from rock salt walls. The mine's first passageways and shafts, going as far below as 327 meters, have been reopened and now allow tourists to explore chambers and pits, touring past all sorts of statues and alongside incredible architectural wonders. Arriving at the depths of the mine, a hidden lake glimmers against the walls, lighted by candles.
The central attraction of the mine happens to be the chapel of St. Kinga, a chamber standing 12 meters tall where everything, such as the furniture and the elaborate chandeliers, are built of salt. The tour resumes to the Erazm Baracz Chamber, and here you'll see a lake which rivals even the Dead Sea as being more salty, and terminates at a museum which educates on salt mining and explains what life was like in the mines.
2) Auschwitz-Birkenau Camps. Without doubt, both the Auschwitz 1 and Auschwitz 11-Birkenau concentration camps are highlights of a very different type. Situated only one hour west of Krakow, these camps showcase a sobering peek into the past.
During the years 1942 and 1944, more than 900,000 Jews came to the camps from usually German-occupied nations. Moreover, Roma, political prisoners, and other ethnicities were forced here. Still more sobering is the fact that everyone arriving here, less than 10% survived their stay.
As the war ended, and Russian soldiers progressed into Poland, the Nazis hastily destroyed the crematoria and gas chambers as to erase this dark chapter from the history pages before running off. In spite of destroying and burning down a portion of the camp, today several buildings remain standing.
Only with a guided tour can anyone explore the camps that include more than 300 barracks, numerous other structures and crematoriums.
3) Warsaw Old Market Place. As the oldest part of Warsaw, dating as far back as the 13th century, is the Old Town Market Place. Though the Nazis destroyed 85% of this area during WWll, it has since successfully been restored and now appears precisely like it did before the vast destruction.
A mixture from medieval architecture, Gothic, colorful Renaissance structures, to merchant homes all coexist at the heart of Warsaw, its most popular square. The 19th-century bronze-made statue of a mermaid wielding a sword, symbolizing Warsaw from the medieval era, survived the war as it stands, as if defiantly, at the square.
Now, the Market Square is lined with several restaurants, cafes, street art sellers, and souvenir stalls. You'll find the Historical Museum of Warsaw here, where you can browse through an enormous art collection as well as look through the city's and country's history.
Only a few steps away, you may pay homage to the most famous author that Poland produced by visiting the Adam Mickiewicz Museum of Literature.
4) Malbork Castle. The Teutonic knights originally built this castle in the 13th century. Though the castle began as a modest fortification, it grew and grew throughout the following centuries and inevitably turned into a massive building. Despite once the biggest Gothic structure in all Europe, Malbork Castle still remains the largest castle in respect to land size in the world.
Now, the castle, with several of its rooms wonderfully preserved, has a different function, serving as a museum. Enjoy highlights such as a fine collection of weapons and armor, a medieval kitchen with a 6-meter-broad fireplace, and in a tower discover a knight's private toilet.
Moreover, the castle houses various exhibits that include one displaying the entire conservation process utilized in restoring the castle.
5) Lazienki Park. Covering 76 hectares that include the city center, makes Lazienki Park a sizable and one of the biggest urban parks in Poland. Lazienki began as only a baths park for the nobility in the 17th century. But today, sitting on the isle the palace is open to everyone, including the gardens surrounding it.
A fine classical theater isle stage, a few smaller palaces and buildings serving as galleries or museums, and a Classicist temple dedicated to the worship of the goddess Diana are arranged in the gardens.
In addition, a big statue of classical composer Frederic Chopin stands tall on the park's grounds. The Germans deliberately destroyed it as they came invading Poland in WWll, but was reconstructed by 1958 with the great help of the original mold. Each Sunday afternoon, visitors can now enjoy free piano concerts that are performed near the statue.
