Poland Holiday Travel Guide

Poland is probably not on your radar as a holiday destination in Europe, but it should be! Full disclosure here: Poland was the nicest surprise for me in Europe. I had little expectations and was blown away with the colorful towns, delicious food, kind people and overall holiday spirit.

I decided to travel to Poland during December because of a last-minute flight deal and because I wanted to check another European country off of my list. After exploring Poland, I wish I had come to explore this charming country sooner and made my trip longer because it has so much to offer and is a lot less touristic than other European destinations. I cannot recommend Poland enough and I hope that this guide inspires you to visit two of my favorite Polish cities: Wroclaw and Kraków.

WROCLAW

Wroclaw is a candy-colored gem of a town. It is small in size, but it is full of buildings covered in vibrant hues and is one of the most colorful places that I’ve traveled to in Europe. Wroclaw makes for a great one or two day trip as a stop along your European or Polish tour.

WHAT TO DO

STROLL AROUND MARKET SQAURE & THE OLD TOWN

The Market Square is the central feature in Wroclaw’s Old Town. This medieval square is one of the largest in Europe, lined with restaurants and shops in pastel-colored buildings. Much of the square was destroyed in WWII, but thankfully, it was rebuilt to its colorful glory of today. Take some time to walk around the square and peruse the side streets of the Old Town.

CELEBRATE AT THE CHRISTMAS MARKET

If you didn’t already know, I LOVE a good Christmas market. During the holidays, the Christmas market in Wroclaw is set around the beautifully-decorated Market Square and is filled with stalls selling mulled wine, Polish holiday specialties (pierogis, yum!), traditional gifts and fun activities. For such a small town, it was great to see how festive the Christmas market was! This one should definitely be on your list.

HAVE A PASTRY IN A PINK VELVET PATISSERIE

Cukiernia Nanan is a pink pastry heaven located in the center of Wroclaw’s Old Town. The pastries here are gorgeous AND delicious, plus you get to enjoy them in the very luxe pink velvet interior – it felt like I was sitting in a jewelry box! This is a perfect spot for an afternoon pick-me-up.

WHERE TO DINE

Start your day with Brunch at Dinette. Try traditional Polish food at Konspira or Pierogarnia Stary Mlyn – Polish food is amazing during the cold months, trust me! If you’re wanting more international fare, get a taste of Asia at Umami Dumpling & Pasta Bar or grab Italian food at Iggy Pizza or Pinola.

KRAKÓW

Kraków is the second largest city in Poland and also one of the oldest, famed for its medieval city center and lively Jewish quarter. Kraków is one of the historical, cultural and artistic centers of Poland and is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. If you’ve never heard of this city, it should definitely be added to your list!

WHAT TO DO

VISIT ST. MARY’S BASILICA & WALK AROUND THE OLD TOWN

St. Mary’s Basilica is the central feature of the city, located in the main Market Square in the Old Town. This gothic church has a stunning interior that is full of color and details. After visiting St. Mary’s, walk around the Market Square and check out The Cloth Hall, which is an arcade located directly across from the church lined with shops selling local goods and some touristy souvenirs. During the holidays, the Market Square if filled with a Christmas market with all of the best local specialities! From here, explore the quaint side streets of the old town surrounding the market square.

Photo Tip: For a great shot of St. Mary’s Basilica, head to Floriańska Street (pictured above)

CHECK OUT THE VIEW FROM ABOVE

Climb to the top of the Town Hall Tower in the center of Market Square and take in the 360° views of the town below. Entrance to the tower costs only around $2 USD.

EXPLORE WAWEL CASTLE & CATHEDRAL

Perched on the hillside just past the Old Town center, the Wawel Castle & Cathedral is a museum complex that elegantly portrays the tumultuous history of Poland throughout the different additions to the complex and the combination of architectural styles, which are representative of the different rulers throughout history. Travel Tip: The tickets to the Castle & Cathedral must be purchased separately

WALK TO THE HIP JEWISH QUARTER & TAKE IN THE HISTORY

Kazimierz is the historical Jewish Quarter in Krakow and was a thriving neighborhood before the tragedy of WWII. Today, Kazimierz stands as a symbol of this history and is the center for Jewish culture and community in Kraków. The neighborhood is home to many cool cafés, restaurants, shops and cultural centers that explore creativity and the revitalization of the Jewish culture in this area. Grab a bite to eat at Mleczarnia or drinks at the Singer Cafe where the tables are fitted with vintage Singer sewing machines!

WHERE TO DINE

Kraków has some great dining options for every type of eater. Start the morning off right in the pretty pink Cafe Camelot (their shakshuka is amazing!) or treat yourself to the ultimate junk food indulgence with Mr. Pancake Krakow. Try traditional Polish food at Pierwszy Stopień, Szara Ges, Nakryto or Kuchnia Polska Gaska (their specialty is goose!) For a taste outside of Poland, try Italian at Boccanera Restaurant or Asian fusion at Tao Restaurant and Club.

WHERE TO STAY

Both Wroclaw and Kraków have some great options to stay and because the local currency exchange is so favorable, you can opt to stay somewhere really luxe and it won’t break the bank! Check out some of my favorites below:

WROCLAW

KRAKÓW

TRAVEL TIPS

The currency in Poland is the Polish Zloty and the exchange rate is a veryyy good if you are coming from the Eurozone or the United States. This means that you will get more bang for your buck and can stay at nicer hotels, eat more fine dining and still save some money compared to other European destinations. Definitely a bonus to consider when traveling here!

Also to be noted that getting around Poland is not as easy as traveling in other European countries. The railroad system is not as efficient and can take a lot longer in between destinations due to the prevalence of regional trains that make lots of stops. Between Wroclaw and Kraków, the train ride on the Intercity Express took around 3.5 hours whereas the bus took around 4 hours, so it really depends if you are looking to cut costs and what destinations you plan on visiting.