Things to do in Poland - 30 sights and experiences

What to see and do in Poland? From glorious sandy beaches and beautiful cities to historic sights and unusual experiences, this beautiful and interesting country has it all. Find out all our top tips here.

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Things to do in Poland - our top tips

We have travelled in Poland many times. In fact, we've been there so many times that we've lost count. The very first visit was made by me (Helena) during a train journey in Eastern Europe in 1996.

Since then, we have returned to Poland several times, usually by motorhome, but sometimes by plane or car. Once, we even travelled around the Baltic coast of Poland on a sailing boat.

1. Sunbathing and swimming on the Baltic coast

One of the most popular things to do in Poland is sunbathe and swim. The country has a long, beautiful Baltic coastline with fantastic sandy beaches. You can sunbathe and swim in Sopot, Łeba, Kołobrzeg, the Hel Peninsula and lots of other smaller seaside resorts between Świnoujście and Gdansk. Holiday hotels and campsites can be found all along the coast.

2. Holidays in Sopot

Sopot is a holiday gem on the Polish Baltic coast. Here you can enjoy long beautiful sandy beaches, nice parks, cosy restaurants and lots of places selling waffles and ice cream. Places you won't want to miss include the Grand Hotel, the long pier Molo and the crooked house Krzywy domek.

3. Be fascinated by the flying sand dunes in Słowiński National Park

In the vicinity of the holiday resort of Łeba you will find something as special as aerial sand dunes. The dunes, which can reach a height of over 40 metres and move up to 10 metres per year, are located within the Słowiński National Park. Many tourists find their way here because of the fine beaches and because of various tourist attractions in the area.

4. Surfing on the Hel Peninsula headland

The Hel Peninsula is a tongue of land almost 35 kilometres long and between 100 metres and three kilometres wide. The headland is lined with long, beautiful sandy beaches, both on the inner and outer sides. There are many campsites here and it is very popular for both swimming and surfing.

5. Cycling on the island of Usedom

Did you know that Usedom is an island, shared by Germany and Poland? On the German side, there are spa towns such as Ahlbeck and Heringsdorf. On the Polish side, the harbour town of Swinoujscie is one of them. In Swinoujscie you can sunbathe and swim, stroll in parks and visit historic forts. You can also take a bike ride - to Germany.

6. Experience Szczecin by the Oder Lagoon

Szczecin is a lovely city located in the north-west of Poland, next to the Oder Lagoon. We sailed here once, and it was an experience in itself. That time we also got to experience a festival with lots of fireworks. Attractions in the city include the Mieczysława Karłowicza Concert Hall, the Statue of Liberty and Szczecin Castle.

7. discover the Hanseatic city of Gdansk

One thing we can definitely recommend doing in Poland is visiting Gdansk. This former Hanseatic city is perhaps one of the most beautiful cities in the country. Just strolling around is nice and there is also a wide range of historical sights, museums and restaurants. Among other things, we can recommend a visit to the interesting Museum of the Second World War.

8. Have fun at St Dominic's Market in Gdansk

St Dominic's market is Poland's largest cultural event organised outdoors. The tradition was created by Pope Alexander IV in 1260, which means the market has a history of over 750 years. You can expect plenty of stalls selling crafts, arts, delicacies, food and various performances. The market usually runs from late July to mid-August each year.

9. Be impressed by the historic Malbork Castle

Malbork Castle is located in the Polish town of the same name, less than an hour south-east of Gdansk by car. Built by the Teutonic Knights in the 14th century, the castle is the largest brick building in Europe. This is a really powerful castle and a very interesting historical sight. An exciting thing to do in Poland!

10. Visit Copernicus' birthplace Torun

Torun is a beautiful and historically interesting small town, beautifully situated on the Vistula River. This city, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has a lot to offer. Here you can see the house where astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus was born in the 15th century. Don't miss out on the city's famous gingerbread, which has been baked here since the 14th century.

11. Learn about history in Poznan

Poznan is known for its beautiful square and fairytale town hall - an incredible Renaissance building from the 16th century. The city is also known for its delicious St Martin croissants, which can only be made by certified producers. In addition, there are plenty of memorials, which tell the story of various dramatic eras in history, not least the Second World War.

12. Be cultural in the city of Łódź

In the past, Łódź was a successful city in the textile industry, but when this industry was outcompeted by Asian businesses, the city was hit by unemployment. Łódź long had a reputation as a dull working-class city, but today it is a cultural and exciting city filled with museums, cultural centres, architecture, street art, hotels, restaurants and outdoor events.

13. Counting dwarf statues in Wroclaw

Wroclaw is a beautiful city filled with colourful houses, lively outdoor cafés and historic settings. A different thing to do in Poland is to go in search of all the little statues of dwarfs that are everywhere in the city. No one knows how many dwarfs there are today, but there is talk of 300 or 400. The dwarfs are just everywhere and are originally a memory of the opposition to the communist regime, which has since evolved.

14. Canoeing in Wroclaw

Wroclaw is a wonderful city in many ways, and if you want to experience it in a new way, try canoeing on the Oder River, right in the centre of town. We'll never forget this canoeing trip, we promise!

15. Book a weekend in Warsaw

The capital of Poland is Warsaw and has a lot to offer. You can experience the Old Town, the Palace of Culture, boat trips on the Vistula River and the beautiful park Łazienki Park. Famous museums include, among others The Warsaw Rising Museum and Polin, which tells the story of Polish Jewry. At Christmas time, the city also organises a nice Christmas market.

16. Feel the wings of history in Krakow

Krakow is a historically exciting city, which is also full of charming alleys and cosy restaurants. Among the places you do not want to miss to visit, we can mention the Old Town with the mighty Hall of Clothes, Wawel Hill with the Royal Palace and the Jewish Quarter Kazimierz.

17. Step into the salt mine in Wieliczka

Just south of Krakow is the smaller town of Wieliczka, which is famous for its salt mine. The mine, which is no longer in use, is both Poland's largest and oldest. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a very popular tourist destination. Over a million people visit the Wieliczka salt mine every year.

18. Make sure you never forget Auschwitz

Just outside Krakow you will also find the two resorts of Auschwitz (Oświęcim) and Birkenau (Brzezinka), which today are known for the concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau from 1940. This visitor centre reminds us of the Holocaust during the Second World War and the incomprehensible cruelty of the human race.

19. Visit World War II memorials

There are also many other memorials in Poland that tell the story of World War II, in addition to Auschwitz-Birkenau. In Warsaw, you can visit The Warsaw Rising Museum and Polin. In Gdansk you can visit Museum of the Second World War, which tells the story of wartime in a very poignant way. In Łódź you can visit the railway station Radegast, which was used to deport Jews.

20. Hiking in Zakopane

Zakopane is the highest city in Poland, and is a place that many people visit for various nature experiences, both in summer and winter. In the summer, you can go hiking in the beautiful landscape. Don't miss out on the special and beautiful wooden houses!

21. Skiing in the Tatra Mountains

A slightly different thing to do in Poland is to go skiing. No, it may not be so common among Swedes, but it can definitely be done in the Tatra Mountains. Zakopane is a popular ski resort that attracts many skiers, mainly from Poland and neighbouring countries, during the winter months.

22. See wild mink in the Bialowieza Forest

The Bialowieza Forest is a wild primeval forest that stretches between Poland and Belarus. Parts of the forest are now a national park to protect its biodiversity. It is home to a wide variety of wildlife, the most impressive of which is the bison, or European bison as it is also known. You can see bison in the national park with a guide, as well as in protected reserves. Did we see bison? Yes, one came wandering into our campsite...!

23. Boating on the Masurian Lakes

The Masurian Lakes in Poland are not so well known among Swedish tourists, but they offer a holiday paradise nonetheless. This region, in the north-east of the country, has around 3,000 lakes and various waterways connecting them. When we were here, we camped in the holiday resort of Mikolajki and went on a boat trip from here. A wonderful experience!

24. Admire Polish castles

There are many beautiful castles and fortresses in Poland, and you can read about several of them at Polish Tourist Office. Some are historical attractions and others offer experiences such as accommodation or food. We can recommend visits to the beautiful castles Kozlowka and Baranov Sandomierski.

25. See the Unesco city of Zamosc 

Visiting the city of Zamosc is one thing we have left to do in Poland. Zamosc is the best-preserved Renaissance city in all of Poland, with beautiful fortified houses, numerous churches and an impressive town hall. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a magnificent cultural and historical example of a European Renaissance city from the 16th and 17th centuries.

26. Tasting Polish food

Polish food is often hearty and rather stodgy, but it is also often well cooked and delicious. Some traditional dishes you might like to try include soup zurek, pierogi (steamed pies) and golonka (pork leg). Duck is also commonly eaten, and fish is popular along the coast, especially halibut (halibut). When it comes to fast food, you can also try zapiekanka - a kind of oblong pizza-like bread with, for example, mushrooms, cheese and ketchup.

27. Cosy up at one of the many Polish Christmas markets

If you're travelling in December, you might want to experience one of Poland's many cosy and well-decorated Christmas markets. Popular Christmas markets can be found in Gdansk, Krakow, Poznan, Wroclaw and Warsaw.

28. Shopping for Polish souvenirs

One of the things you might like to do in Poland is go shopping. There's plenty to choose from, from shopping centres to smaller shops and markets. For example, if you want to buy typical souvenirs, you can go for amber, handicrafts, woollen clothes, gingerbread from Torun or Polish vodka in the form of Żubrówka or Wyborowa.

29. Enjoy a spa in Poland

If you're a spa lover, you'll find plenty of opportunities in Poland. Spa hotels and resorts can be found both in big cities and in more rural settings.

30. camping with a motorhome, caravan or tent

If you like camping, whether in a motorhome, caravan or tent, Poland is a great country for you. Even if you want to stay in a cabin on a campsite, you've found the right place. Camping is very popular in Poland, and there are plenty of campsites. So-called "caravan parks" are not as widespread as in Germany, for example, although they are starting to appear here and there.

Any other suggestions for things to do in Poland?

Do you have any other suggestions for things to see and do in Poland? Please leave a comment in the comments section!

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