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Poland Travel Guide

Last Updated: April 18, 2024

Poland is one of the most underrated destinations in Europe . With its incredible history and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, cheap food, world-class museums, wild nightlife, and plentiful nature, Poland is a budget-travel paradise. It has everything you’ll find in Western Europe — but for half the price and with half the crowds!

Most travelers visit Krakow or spend a day or two in Warsaw before departing to a neighboring country. While that’s better than nothing, Poland has so much more to offer.

From beautiful parks to medieval cities to cheap beer to rugged coastlines, you can spend weeks here and still only scratch the surface.

Best of all, there are far fewer tourists here than elsewhere in Europe so it’s easy to have a more local, more authentic experience.

Use this travel guide to Poland to plan your trip, save money, and make the most of your time in this budget-travel paradise!

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Poland

Click Here for City Guides

Top 5 things to see and do in poland.

1. Visit Auschwitz

Auschwitz-Birkenau is the site of a former concentration camp used by the Nazis during World War II. Approximately 1.3 million people were sent here and an astounding 1.1 million of them were killed. When the camp was liberated in 1945, there were just 7,000 people there, many of whom were incredibly ill or sick. A visit here is sobering but shouldn’t be missed. Wear comfortable shoes as there is a lot of walking and keep in mind you’re allowed to take photographs but be considerate that this is a somber place. Admission is free, but the experience is much more meaningful with a guide who can provide context. Expect to pay around 550 PLN for a guide.

2. Explore Krakow

Krakow is a student city and one of the biggest tourist destinations in the country (people love coming here to party). This city is beautiful, inexpensive, and is filled with plenty to do. Be sure to check out the castle, the nearby salt mines, and underground ruins. The Christmas market in December is amazing too!

3. See Wroclaw

Wroclaw is one of Poland’s lesser-known destinations. Home to some amazing architecture, this small city is beautiful, inexpensive, and free of crowds. Be sure to see the Raclawice Panorama, which depicts the Battle of Raclawice that took place during the Kosciuszko Uprising in the 1790s.

4. Wander through Bialowieza National Park

This national park on the Belarus border contains the last remains of a primeval forest that once covered most of Europe. Today, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve, and remarkably, the only place where European bison still live in the wild. Bialowieza National Park is the oldest in Poland. Stretching 105 square kilometers (40 square miles), it’s thriving with biological diversity. Visitors can hike, walk, and bike in nature and you can also try unique local cuisine from Bialowieza, which is influenced by nearby Belarus and Ukraine. Some local favorites include Pielmieni meat dumplings, Mrowisko sweet cakes, and Zubr (bison) beer. Admission is 16 PLN. If you want a guide, expect to pay around 250 PLN.

5. Discover Warsaw

Explore the old and new towns, see the castle, binge on pierogis, and visit the city’s amazing museums that highlight the struggles of the Warsaw Uprising and the ghettoization of the Jews during World War II. Be sure to spend time wandering Warsaw’s Old Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with history, art, culture, and science. Savor a hearty Polish meal at one of the many ‘milk bars’ and check out Hala Koszyki, a funky food market hall with nearly 20 different eateries and many tasty offerings.

Other Things to See and Do in Poland

1. take a free walking tour.

One of the best things you can do when you arrive in a new destination is take a walking tour. It’s a great way to get the lay of the land and learn about the culture, people, and history of the destination. Walkative offers free tours in Warsaw, Krakow, Gdansk, Poznan, and a few other cities around the country. These tours provide much more insight than any guidebook. Just be sure to tip your guides at the end!

2. Tour the Szczecin underground tunnels

These concrete tunnels lie beneath the city of Szczecin in northwest Poland (near the border with Germany). The tunnels were designated as a bomb shelter in the 1940s and then used as a fallout shelter during the Cold War. Located 17 meters (56 feet) below ground, here you can see artifacts from World War II and learn how the shelter was used during the war. You’ll also learn how the tunnels were reinforced during the Cold War to survive a nuclear attack. Tours last around an hour and admission is 38 PLN. It can get cold in the tunnels so bring a sweater.

3. Visit a national park

Poland has 23 different national parks. Ojcowski National Park (near Krakow) is a small park filled with stunning caves and castles while Slowinski National Park (on the Baltic Coast), Biebrzanski, Narwianski, and Poleski National Parks (all located in the northeast) offer great bird watching. Bialowieza National Park (near Belarus) is where you can see Europe’s only wild bison. They’re a great way to get away from the crowds and stretch your legs, especially in the summer when the weather is nice, or in the fall when the leaves are changing. There are usually lodges and campgrounds near each park as well if you want to disconnect for a few days.

4. Explore Wawel Castle

This site in Krakow is one of the best-preserved medieval castles in all of Poland. Castles here are rare as most were mostly destroyed over the years (the vast majority of which being destroyed during World War II). Built in the 13th century under the order of King Casimir III, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to an art museum that has medieval tapestries, the former Polish crown jewels, and Ottoman Empire treasures. Admission ranges from 5-46 PLN depending on what you want to see. On Mondays in the summer, free tickets are available for the Crown Treasury and Armory. There are seasonal discounts from September to October as well for the Dragon’s Den, Sandomierska Tower, and The Lost Wawel archeological exhibition, and The Church of St. Gereon.

5. Visit the Wooden Churches

Tucked away in the southeastern corner of the country, The Wooden Churches of Southern Lesser Poland consists of six Roman Catholic churches that reflect various periods of religious architecture in Poland: from Medieval to Gothic, Rococo, Baroque, as well as the occasional onion dome and Greek cross. Dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries, the interiors of these UNESCO churches were intricately painted and carved by hand, with every inch of the church a veritable work of art. Dress appropriately when visiting as these are sites of religious worship.

6. Tour the Wieliczka Salt Mine

This mine produced table salt and was first used in the 13th century. It became one of Krakow’s main industries and was in use until 2007. Today, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can marvel over the cavernous chambers, statues, chapels, chandeliers, and cathedrals — all carved out of salt and stone by the miners. The mines reach depths of over 300 meters (984 feet) and are also home to contemporary works of art. The mine is just 13 kilometers (8 miles) outside the city. Admission is 109 PLN.

7. Stroll through Gdansk

Formerly known as Danzig, Gdansk is a beautiful coastal city in northern Poland. Much of the city was rebuilt after World War II but you can still find plenty of history here. Be sure to spend some time wandering the old town and checking out the local markets and small artisan shops. And don’t miss the Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the city’s towering 16th-century gothic church. There’s also an excellent World War II museum here too.

8. Admire Kalwaria Zebrzydowska

Located an hour from Krakow, this Catholic monastery dates back to the 17th century. Built in the Mannerist (Late Renaissance) architectural style, it was declared a UNESCO Heritage Site in 1999. Surrounding the monastery are over 5 kilometers (3 miles) of pilgrimage routes and 42 chapels and churches which have been in regular use for over 400 years. Tours are free (though they must be booked in advance) and last around an hour. Donations are welcome.

9. Head to Lublin

Lublin is eastern Poland’s main city. It was an important trading and military center during the Middle Ages. It developed its own architectural style at the end of the 16th century, which has become known as the Lublin Renaissance as rulers here brought in many Italian architects to expand the city. Be sure to visit the castle, the monastery, and the old town (which is sometimes called “Little Krakow” owing to its similarities with Krakow’s old town). There’s also the sobering State Museum that illuminates the atrocities of the death camps of World War II.

10. See the world’s tallest pope statue

Located 2.5 hours south of Warsaw in Czestochowa, this statue of Pope John Paul II (who was born in Poland) stands 13.8 meters (42 feet) tall and is made of fiberglass. There really isn’t much else to see here but it makes for a quirky photo op if you’re in the area!

11. Visit the Exploseum

This abandoned Nazi explosive plant, founded by Alfred Nobel (the inventor of dynamite), is now a museum open to the public. Here visitors learn about Alfred Nobel, his company, what life was like for Polish residents during the German occupation, weapons used during the war, as well as modern weapons of war. It’s an interesting and eye-opening museum. Tucked away in Bydgoszcz (3 hours north of Warsaw), the museum takes 1-2 hours to explore. Admission is 17 PLN and includes a guide. Children under 6 are not allowed to enter.

12. Visit the Churches of Peace

These are the biggest timber-framed churches in Europe. Located in Jawor and Swidnica (near Wroclaw), they were built in the mid-17th century and were the first Lutheran churches constructed in Roman Catholic Poland. Since the churches were not Catholic, they were only allowed to be built from wood and could not have steeples or bells (Lutherans were not allowed to construct stone churches that could compete with the dominant religion). Today they are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Admission is 12 PLN and an audio tour is available. Just be sure to dress appropriately.

13. See the World War II Museum in Gdansk

The Museum of the Second World War opened in 2008 and is one of the best museums in the country. It’s an immersive experience that really opens your eyes to the death and destruction that the war unleashed — in Poland and beyond. In addition to the weapons, clothing, letters, and maps there is an entire recreated street to give you a palpable sense of what it would have been like to live through the worst of the war. Admission 25 PLN. For an extra 2 PLN, you can also see their temporary expositions.

14. Explore the Tatra Mountains

This mountain range, part of the Carpathian Mountains, is located near the border of Poland and Slovakia. It’s here where you’ll find Tatra National Park (a protected UNESCO site), a great destination for hiking. Spanning over 200 square kilometers (77 square miles), there are plenty of day hikes available ranging from 2-12 hours. While you can’t camp in the park, there are mountain huts if you book in advance (they cost 35-70 PLN per night depending on where you stay). Make sure you check the weather before you go and bring ample water and sunscreen for your hike.

15. Take in the Warsaw Rising Museum

This museum is a tribute to the people of Warsaw who fought and died for Polish independence. Opened in 2004, the museum is home to hundreds of artifacts from the uprising of 1944, when Polish citizens rebelled against German occupation. The uprising lasted 63 days and was the largest resistance movement during World War II. Some 15,000 members of the Polish resistance were killed, as well as 2,000-17,000 German troops. There are weapons, clothing, letters, and interactive films that shed light on one of the most important events in Polish history. Admission is 25 PLN.

16. Tour Schlinder’s Factory

Oskar Schindler was a German industrialist who saved over 1,200 Jews during the war. His story was made famous by Steven Spielberg’s 1993 film, Schindler’s List . Located in his actual factory in Krakow, this museum offers a thorough trip through the history of World War II, highlighting how he saved so many people during the war while bankrupting himself in the process. Admission starts at 10 PLN or 72 PLN for a guided tour. There are a number of limited free tickets on Mondays.

  For more information on specific cities in Poland, check out these guides:

• Krakow Travel Guide
• Warsaw Travel Guide

Poland Travel Costs

Accommodation – A bed in a dorm with 8-10 beds costs 55-95 PLN per night. Private rooms cost 120-200 PLN. Free Wi-Fi is standard and most hostels also have self-catering facilities. Free breakfast is available at many hostels too.

Budget two-star hotels start at 150-275 PLN per night. Free Wi-Fi is common and many hotels also include a simple free breakfast as well. For a three-star hotel, expect to pay at least 300-500 PLN.

Airbnb is available throughout the country with private rooms starting at 75 PLN per night while entire homes/apartments cost at least 100 PLN. Prices are usually double these numbers, however, so be sure to book early to find the best deals.

There are plenty of campgrounds throughout the country for those traveling with a tent. Expect to pay around 40 PLN per night for a basic tent plot for two people without electricity. Wild camping is tolerated if you’re in the mountains and as long as you are not in a national park (camping in national parks is strictly prohibited in Poland).

Food – Polish meals are quite hearty, usually containing potatoes, meat (pork and chicken), and seasonal produce like beets or cabbage. Stews and soups (like borscht, a beet soup) are popular and can be found at most local restaurants. Pierogis are also a common staple and can be found everywhere for cheap. For some traditional Polish food, try beef tongue or pork knuckles. The country also has lots of traditional desserts too, like paczki (a Polish donut) and makowiec (poppy-seed cake).

Most cheap meals of traditional cuisine (served at local restaurants called bar mleczny or “milk bars”) cost around 35 PLN. For a three-course meal with a drink and table service, expect to pay around 75 PLN. Fast food (think McDonald’s) costs 25 PLN for a combo meal.

A large pizza costs around 25-30 PLN while Chinese food costs around 15-20 PLN. Zapiekanki , a popular Polish street snack that’s like a pizza on a baguette, costs 5-6 PLN.

Beer costs 8-12 PLN, while a glass of wine is a minimum of 12 PLN. A latte or cappuccino is around 11 PLN. Bottled water is 5 PLN.

If you buy your own groceries and cook your meals, expect to pay around 150-165 PLN per week for basic staples like pasta, rice, seasonal vegetables, and some meat. Local markets are the cheapest places to buy fresh produce. Biedronka is a cheap grocery store that’s everywhere.

Backpacking Poland Suggested Budgets

On a backpacker budget of 175 PLN per day, you can stay in a hostel dorm, cook all your meals, limit your drinking, take public transportation to get around, and do some cheap activities like free walking tours and visiting the free museums. If you plan on drinking, add 10-20 PLN to your budget per day.

On a mid-range budget of 330 PLN per day, you can stay in a private Airbnb or private hostel room, eat out for most meals at cheap milk bars, enjoy a couple of drinks, take the occasional taxi to get around, and do more paid activities like visiting the Uprising Museum or taking a tour of Auschwitz.

On a “luxury” budget of 600 PLN or more per day, you can stay in a hotel, eat out anywhere you want, drink more, rent a car to get around, and do whatever guided tours and activities you want. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages — some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in PLN.

Poland Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

Poland is a very affordable country so there aren’t too many tips out there to help you save. You won’t be spending a lot of money anyways unless you go out of your way to spend money. That being said, there are still a few extra ways you can save money while you visit Poland:

• Eat at milk bars – You’ll get a taste of Poland at a mleczny (milk bars). Hearty pierogis, homemade soups, plenty of meat, and a local beer usually cost around 30 PLN. While they are a no-frills choice, the food is tasty and filling.
• Get a tourist card – Certain cities, like Krakow and Warsaw, offer tourist cards that provide unlimited public transportation and free or discounted museum access. If you plan to see lots of sites, be sure to go to the local tourism office and pick up one of these cards. They usually cost 100-160 PLN.
• Take advantage of train specials – Poland has various special train tickets that can save you money during your visit. For example, the Weekend Ticket ( Bilet Weekendowy ) is available for several train lines and lasts from Friday night at 7pm to Monday at 6am and allows for unlimited trips within Poland. It’s a great way to see the country if you need to cover a lot of ground in a short time!
• Watch your drinking – Cities like Krakow are known for their parties, pub crawls, and long nights out. These can add up quickly, so watch how much you drink. Start off by grabbing your favorite drinks from a grocery store first whenever possible. You’ll save a ton that way.
• Take a free walking tour – Free tours from companies like Walkative can be found in Poland’s larger cities. They are a great way to explore the city while learning about the history, culture, and architecture. Just be sure to tip!
• Use ridesharing apps – Ridesharing apps like BlaBlaCar are a great way to get around the country for cheap. You simply download the app, find someone looking for passengers, pay a small fee, and go! Everyone is rated and verified, and it’s usually more convenient (and cheaper) than other forms of transportation. For travel within a city, use Uber. It’s cheaper than the local taxis.
• Stay with a local – While accommodation is not expensive in Poland, Couchsurfing is a great way to lower your accommodation costs. Not only will you save money by getting a free place to stay but you’ll also be able to make a local friend and get insider knowledge about the country.
• Bike share – For 10 PLN, you can register for Vetrulio, a bike-rental company in Warsaw. After you sign up, bike use is free for 20 minutes, making it essentially free to bounce around the city during your visit. After 20 minutes (up to the first hour) it’s just 1 PLN and then 3 PLN for the next hour.
• Bring a water bottle – The tap water in Poland is safe to drink so bring a reusable water bottle to save money and reduce your plastic use. LifeStraw is my go-to brand as their bottles have built in filters to ensure your water is always clean and safe.

Where to Stay in Poland

Accommodation in Poland is very affordable. Even if you don’t want to do the whole hostel thing, you can find really comfortable and inexpensive hotels throughout the country. Here are some of my favorite places to stay in Poland:

• Oki Doki Old Town (Warsaw)
• Warsaw Centrum Hostel (Warsaw)
• Greg and Tom Hostel (Krakow)
• Let’s Rock (Krakow)
• Slowgate Hostel (Gdansk)
• Mleczarnia Hostel (Wroclaw)

How to Get Around Poland

Public transportation – Buses and trams are the most common ways to get around in each city. Only Warsaw has a subway system. Public buses and trams cost around 3-5 PLN for a one-way ride, depending on how far you go. For a single-day pass, expect prices to start at 15 PLN per person. In Warsaw, a three-day public transportation pass starts at 36 PLN.

Bus – Poland has an extensive bus network so you can easily travel around the entire country by bus if you’re on a budget. Flixbus (and its partner company, Polski Bus) are the best options as they have comfortable buses for affordable prices. For example, the 4-hour journey from Warsaw to Krakow costs around 44 PLN while the 7-hour ride to Gdansk from Warsaw costs around 50 PLN.

The buses have bathrooms, electrical outlets, and Wi-Fi, making them a good choice for budget travelers.

Train – While trains aren’t as cheap as buses, they’re a good option for long-distance trips. There are several different companies operating trains here with a variety of train types. The three most important to travelers are the ExpressInterCity Premium (EIP), ExpressInterCity (EIC), and InterCity (IC).

The EIP trains are fast and operate between major cities. They have first-class and second-class seats and reservations are mandatory. These are the newest trains and have a dining car if you’re looking to eat during your trip. They can be pricey if you book on the day, so try to book in advance for the best prices.

EIC trains also run between major cities but are a little slower. They are still perfectly safe and comfortable, with a dining car and business class seats available. Since the services aren’t as great, the prices here are lower than on EIP trains. There are first- and second-class seats as well.

IC trains are the cheapest of the three but also the slowest as they make more stops. They have basic amenities such as power outlets.

InterRegio (IR) trains are another option as they stop in most medium-sized cities. There are no first-class or seat reservations here, so they can be a bit busier and sometimes won’t have space for luggage. But they are affordable!

The train from Warsaw to Gdansk costs around 175 PLN and takes around 2.5 hours while the 2-hour train from Warsaw to Krakow is just 50 PLN.

To find routes and prices for trains around Europe, use Trainline .

Flying – Flying around Poland is relatively cheap thanks to budget airlines like Ryanair. From Warsaw, you can get to pretty much any city in the country for under 325 PLN, round trip.

For example, Warsaw to Krakow takes just under an hour and costs 280 PLN while Warsaw to Gdansk takes an hour and costs 180 PLN.

It’s also easy to get to/from Poland via plane as Wizz and Ryanair fly all over the continent. You can find flights for as little as 50 PLN to destinations all around Europe if you book early and are flexible.

Rideshare – BlaBlaCar is the best ride-sharing option for intercity travel. It’s cheap and fast, and drivers are verified and have reviews so it’s quite safe. Just make sure you have flexible plans as drivers are often late or change their plans entirely.

Car rental – Car rentals start at 75 PLN per day for a multi-day rental. Drivers must have had their license for at least one year and an International Driving Permit (IDP) is required for citizens of certain countries.

For the best car rental prices, use Discover Cars .

When to Go to Poland

The best (and most popular) time to visit Poland is during the summer, from June to August. Temperatures are hot and rain is infrequent. Expect daily highs between 17-25°C (63-77°F) during this time (and a 1-3 degree difference between Gdansk in the north to Krakow in the south).

The summer is also the busiest time of the year for tourism, though and you’ll only really notice it in the main tourist cities (such as Warsaw and Krakow).

The shoulder season of late April-May and September-October are great times to visit as well, with temperatures ranging from 5-15°C (41-59°F). You’ll beat the crowd and have much milder temperatures. There’s more rain in the spring but you’ll get the stunning autumn colors in the fall which makes for a scenic backdrop to your trip.

Winter in Poland can be quite cold, with temperatures dropping to around -1°C (30°F) during the day and -5°C (23°F) overnight. Snow is common, which can affect conditions if you’re traveling by car. In short, I wouldn’t recommend a winter visit unless you plan on going skiing or taking part in other winter activities such as visiting the Christmas markets.

How to Stay Safe in Poland

Poland is a very safe country. The risk of theft or getting pickpocketed is much lower here than it is in other parts of Europe. Of course, you should always keep your valuables secure and out of sight when riding public transportation and while you’re in popular tourist areas.

Taxi scams are rare, but always make sure your driver is using the meter. If they aren’t, ask them to stop and find a taxi that will. To avoid fake taxis, have your hotel/hostel staff call a taxi for you to ensure you aren’t scammed.

ATM skimming (when criminals attach a covert device to an ATM that can steal your information) can occur here, so always make sure you use verified ATMs. If you can, go into the bank to withdraw your money (as opposed to using outdoor ATMs, which are easier to tamper with).

If you’re worried about getting ripped off, you can read about common travel scams to avoid here .

Solo female travelers should generally feel safe here, however, the standard precautions apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone at night intoxicated, etc.).

If you rent a vehicle here, don’t leave any valuables in it overnight. Break-ins are rare but it’s better to be safe than sorry.

If you experience an emergency, dial 112 for assistance.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Poland Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• HostelPass – This new card gives you up to 20% off hostels throughout Europe. It’s a great way to save money. They’re constantly adding new hostels too. I’ve always wanted something like this and glad it finallt exists.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• The Man in Seat 61 – This website is the ultimate guide to train travel anywhere in the world. They have the most comprehensive information on routes, times, prices, and train conditions. If you are planning a long train journey or some epic train trip, consult this site.
• Rome2Rio – This website allows you to see how to get from point A to point B the best and cheapest way possible. It will give you all the bus, train, plane, or boat routes that can get you there as well as how much they cost.
• FlixBus – Flixbus has routes between 20 European countries with prices starting as low 5 EUR! Their buses include WiFi, electrical outlets, a free checked bag.
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!
• BlaBlaCar – BlaBlaCar is a ridesharing website that lets you share rides with vetted local drivers by pitching in for gas. You simply request a seat, they approve, and off you go! It’s a cheaper and more interesting way to travel than by bus or train!

Poland Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on Europe travel and continue planning your trip:

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The Perfect 7-Day Croatia Itinerary

The 6 Best Hotels in Copenhagen

The 6 Best Hotels in Florence

The 7 Best Hotels in Madrid

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Poland Itinerary | 3 of the Best Poland Itineraries for Amazing 7 Days to 14 Days Trips to Poland

• April 2, 2021

Table of Contents

Poland: a country of extremely rich history, vibrant culture, fantastic architecture, and breathtaking nature. It is always a pleasure roaming through its cities, absorbing its many offerings. The best way to do so is via multi-city itineraries. If you are wondering which itinerary may suit you the best, we have compiled a list of the three best itineraries, depending on the time you have at hand.

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• 1 Month in Europe: 3 of the Best One Month Europe Itinerary Ideas You Will Love
• 10 Days in Italy | 5 of The Best Itinerary Ideas for an Amazing 10 Days in Italy
• 2 Days in Dublin Itinerary: How to Make the Most of Your 2 Days in Dublin

1. 7-Day Poland Itinerary: Krakow – Czestochowa – Warsaw

Begin your one-week Poland itinerary from Krakow , the ancient capital of Poland, and now one of the most important cities in the country. Known for its rich history, exhilarating nightlife, and outdoor adventure opportunities, it is a key destination you must explore during your trip to Poland. You should plan to spend at least three days here to be able to witness it properly. Be sure to see its UNESCO-attested Market Square , the hub of buzzing activity and gorgeous architecture. If you are looking for more phenomenal architectural exhibits, The Sukiennice , St Mary’s Basilica , and Barbican are a few of the key destinations you should visit.

The next stop in your one-week Poland itinerary is Czestochowa , also regarded as one of Poland’s holiest cities. The two days you spend here should be dedicated to exploring its breadths of sites with artistic and religious significance, like the Jasana Gora Monastery , the Black Madonna painting , and the Holy Virgin Mary Avenue . You may be religious or not, you will come to love the breathtaking atmosphere of this city. While you are at the Jasna Gora Monastery, remember to climb up its tower to enjoy stunning panoramic views of the city. You will not regret it!

Warsaw is where your one-week Poland itinerary ends. And to be honest, there is no better way to do the deed. Warsaw, the present capital of Poland, is known for its indestructibility, for it has repeatedly risen from the ashes of war like a phoenix. It is a symbol of resilience and steadfastness, something which can be felt in its atmosphere. Most notable attractions in the city include Old Town , the Royal Route , and Castle Square . Other than these, make a note to visit POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews , which takes you through the community’s ups and downs.

Travel Resources for Planning the Best 7 Days in Poland:

Find the  best flights ,  train tickets , rail passes , or  rent a car  for your trip to Krakow, Czestochowa, and Warsaw . Also, find the list of the  best hotels in   Krakow , Czestochowa , and Warsaw to stay in. Need more ideas to add to your one-week or 7-day Poland itinerary? Find  top attractions and things to do in  Krakow, Czestochowa, and Warsaw in addition to what already mentioned  here .

2. 10-Day Poland Itinerary: Wroclaw – Lodz – Poznan

Dedicate the first three days of your ten-day Poland itinerary to Wroclaw , a peaceful and serene location not yet flooded by international visitors. Therefore, you will find it emanating lovely and authentic Polish vibes, which is always a plus.

The city is full of stunning architecture, like Rynek , featuring colorful, shapely buildings and Old Town Hall , with its attractive Gothic displays. You should also visit the Wroclaw Cathedral and the Centennial Hall , two very notable points in the city.

From Wroclaw, you should head towards Lodz , once the industrial hub of Poland, and today, mostly shunned by visitors in favor of more popular Polish towns. However, most people fail to realize that Lodz is the perfect spot for you if you are into public parks, history, and shopping. Mickiewicz Park is one of the country’s best public parks, allowing you excellent opportunities to sunbathe, have picnics, and sit by a large lake. If you feel like exploring some architecture, Karl Scheibler Chapel and Alexander Nevsky Cathedral are fantastic options. Plan to spend approximately three days here before you embark on your journey to Poznan.

Poznan forms the last stop of your ten-days in Poland itinerary, and gladly so. This is where you shall rest for some while, relax your muscles, and get back on track, for there is an endless number of attractions waiting to be explored. From Renaissance-style buildings to historical museums to interesting public parks, the city has it all. The city’s Old Town, Citadel Park, and Lake Malta are a few of the most popular sites in the city, so be sure to visit them!

Travel Resources for Planning the Best 10 Days in Poland:

Find the  best flights ,  train tickets , rail passes , or  rent a car  for your trip to  Wroclaw, Lodz, and Poznan . Also, find the list of the  best hotels in  Wroclaw, Lodz, and Poznan to stay in. Need more ideas to add to your one-week or 10-day Poland itinerary? Find  top attractions and things to do in  Wroclaw , Lodz , and Poznan in addition to what already mentioned  here .

3. 14-Day Poland Itinerary: Tatra Mountains – Ojcow – Lublin – Bialowieza – Gdansk

A two-week itinerary to Poland is the perfect chance for you to explore sites you could have chosen to overlook otherwise due to time constraints. But if you have fourteen days, it is an excellent idea to begin your journey from the lush and gorgeous Tatra Mountains , which are full of opportunities and fun things to do. You can go sightseeing, eco-tours, participate in extreme sports, explore its nature and wildlife, among other things. One of the best experiences you can have here is staying in its huts, which are cozy, charming, and rustic – perfect spots that add to your experience.

After spending four exhilarating days of your two-week itinerary to Poland in the Tatra Mountains , you should head to your next stop – Ojcow. People often misjudge Ojcow’s potential due to its small size, without realizing its unique potential. Home to Ojcow National park , which is the site of many cave systems, over a thousand flora species, incredible rock formations, valleys, and deep ravines, it is a natural spectacle that you must not miss.

From Ojcow, you should get to Lublin , which is home to fantastic and must-see sites like the Lublin Castle, Chapel of the Holy Trinity, and the Majdanek State Museum . Each of its popular attractions has an immense historical value attached to it, making visiting them an all-so-important task. For example, the Majdanek State Museum was the site of inhuman violence against Jews and contain remains of the last concentration camp in the city. While you are here, ditch public transportation and explore the city on your feet. You will love the experience.

Bialowieza is the second last stop in your two-week Poland itinerary and another amazing destination for you to explore. It is a beautiful little village with an eclectic mix of Polish, Belarusian, and Russian history and culture. It is a destination you will want to go to if you want to escape the homogeneity of modern civilizations. Enjoy meals to die for in one of the oldest surviving restaurants in the area, Stoczek 1929, or sit by its lake and enjoy peace or head to the Bialowieza National Park to witness its glorious bison. You would also want to explore its museums, art galleries, and churches, for they have a lot of artistic and cultural value.

Gdansk marks the end of your itinerary, and by this time, you must be exhausted and fresh at the same time. It is understandable, for Poland is like that! Till now, you have traveled through cities and towns that have yet been spared from mass attention. Therefore, stepping into the shoes of throngs of visitors is a necessity. Roam through Poland’s principal seaport and learn about the city’s rich history and heritage. Visit its cathedrals, medieval ports, cafes, and streets, and you will find yourself falling deeper in love with Poland with each passing second.

Travel Resources for Planning the Best 14 Days in Poland:

Find the  best flights ,  train tickets , rail passes , or  rent a car  for your trip to the Tatra Mountains, Ojcow, Lublin, Bialowieza, and Gdansk . Also, find the list of the  best hotels in  Tatra Mountains , Ojcow , Lublin , Bialowieza , and Gdansk to stay in. Need more ideas to add to your one-week or 14-day Poland itinerary? Find  top attractions and things to do in  Tatra Mountains, Ojcow, Lublin, Bialowieza, and Gdansk in addition to what already mentioned  here .

Video Guide: 3 Amazing Itineraries for 7-14 Days in Poland

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Travel Resources for Planning a multi-city trip to Poland

To make planning a trip to Poland easier, we included some of our recommended travel resources below. You can search and find the best flights, transportation options, hotels to stay in, tours/activities, and things you can do in each destination during your trip to Poland.

Agoda : Search thousands of destinations around the world & quickly compare prices to find amazing deals on the best flights.

CheapOAir : You can find airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars, and vacation packages all on one site!

Kiwi.com : What we like about Kiwi is the fact that they are able to create combinations of flight, train, and bus tickets and offer them in a single itinerary. Also, Kiwi has what they called “ Nomad ” which helps you find the best way of visiting multiple destinations, saving you time and money.

JetRadar : You can search and compare airfares from 726 airlines and dozens of travel agencies and systems.

Agoda : Agoda is one of the world’s largest online travel accommodation platforms with a network of over 2,000,000 vacation rentals and hotels worldwide.

Hotellook : They have more than 250,000 hotels in 205 countries, working with data from more than 10 online booking systems, such as Booking.com, Agoda.com, Hotels.com, Expedia, and others.

Transportations:  

Airport Transfers :  KiwiTaxi ,  Viator

Train :  EuRail ,  Trainline  or  RailEurope  

Bus :  Flixbus : Very affordable (as low as $6) and convenient way to transfer between cities in Europe.

Car Rentals :  AutoEurope ,  EconomyBookings ,  or   GetTransfer  (transfers & car rentals with a personal driver)

Bike Rental :  BikesBooking  (Bikes & scooter rentals) 

Transportation Comparison :  Omio  (search, compare, and book tickets for buses, trains, and flights all in one site)

Tours & Activities :

TakeWalks  (WalkofItaly): This is our favorite site for walking tours & day trips.

Tiqets : Great site for entrance tickets. It offers directly bookable, instantly available, and completely mobile tickets for museums, shows, and attractions all over the world.

Musement : They have good activities and tours in Italy and Spain, also many great day trips you can choose from.

GetYourGuide : A large number of tours, excursions, and other travel activities

Viator : The largest one. It has everything from tours, attractions, shore excursions, and private guides in over 2,700 destinations worldwide. It also has many transportations and transfers options and some unique experiences we didn’t find anywhere else.

Need help planning a trip to Poland ?

Want to plan a trip to Poland but don’t know where to begin? If you find this type of trip planning to be too complicated to plan on your own, we’re here to help!

At  MultiCityTrips , multi-destination travel and complicated itineraries such as a multi-city trip to Poland are our specialties.  Contact us  today to learn more about how one of our experienced travel experts/destination specialists can  personalize your multi-city vacations   at the best price.

Don’t want to start from scratch and need some trip inspiration? Check out our  marketplace  for customizable pre-designed packages available right now for many amazing destinations.

To learn more about how our process of trip planning works in detail, please see our “ How It Works ” page or check out our video on  “How to Plan a Multi-City Trip to Europe in  5 Easy Steps”   here.

Have questions for us?  Schedule a FREE Call  with us here or contact one of the travel experts/destination specialists at  [email protected] , call/text us at  (888)223-2316  today.

Private Travel Coaching & Consulting Call

Want to plan and book your upcoming trip yourself? If this is your first time traveling to any of the European destinations or you are new to multi-city, multi-country travel but prefer to manage every part of your trip on your own, this option is for you! 

For just  $150 per hour , our destination expert can answer any questions you might have as you plan and book your dream trip. From assisting with route planning, and destination selection, recommending the best areas or places to stay, the best transportation options, things to do and see, saving tips and so much more! 

Ready to plan your trip with our help? Book your private coaching session with our destination expert now and we’ll confirm your appointment within 24 hours!

More Travel Inspiration & Guides

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7 of the Best Spanish Islands You Will Love

Travel resources for planning your own trip.

To make planning your European trip on your own easier, in addition to what already mentioned in our travel guide, we included some of our recommended travel resources below. You can search and find the best flights, transportation options, hotels to stay in, tours/activities, and things you can do in any destination using these travel resources:

European River Cruises:

Uniworld River Cruises : The world’s best and most awarded luxury river cruise line—offers itineraries in spectacular destinations throughout Europe, Russia, Egypt, Asia, and Peru. The company’s European fleet features luxurious ships with an average capacity of 120 guests, the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the river cruise industry, enticing shore excursions, world-class gourmet cuisine, impeccable hospitality, and numerous other all-inclusive benefits.

Pre- and Post-cruise/Tour Extensions:  Uniworld curated pre-and post-cruise/tour extensions make it easy to add a few days to the front or back end of your trip while leaving the planning to them

The packages include a variety of hotel options, transfers, and a dedicated destination expert to escort you along the way.

Airport Transfers & Transportations:  

Airport Transfers: GetTransfer offers both airport transfers & car rentals with a personal driver. Other airport transfer options are KiwiTaxi and Viator.

Train :  EuroRail ,  Trainline ,  or  RailEurope are all great sites for train tickets as well as Rail Passes if you would like to add more flexibility to your trip. They are good for most trains throughout Europe. For trains in Italy, we like and recommend ItaliaRail . As for Portugal, you will need to go to the official website for Comboios de Portugal (the Portuguese train company) to book your train tickets when traveling in Portugal.

CarRentals :  AutoEurope ,  EconomyBookings ,  or   GetTransfer  (transfers & car rentals with a personal driver)

Bike Rental :  BikesBooking is a great site for bikes & scooter rentals

Travel Insurance:

Travel Guard :  Their comprehensive travel insurance programs, starting at $30, include per-trip & annual plans, coverage for trip cancellation , trip interruption, trip delay, medical expenses, baggage loss & more! Travel Guard provides 24/7-customer service with a personal touch through its World Service Center.

DISCLAIMER : Links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service with the links, MultiCityTrips may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you.

Trip by Travel Experts

Need help planning a trip and find the best vacation package for your multi-city trip to Europe? If you find this type of trip planning to be too complicated to plan on your own, we’re here to help!

At  MultiCityTrips , multi-city, multi-country European vacations, and complicated itineraries are our specialties. Contact us today to learn more about how one of our experienced travel experts/destination specialists can personalize an amazing multi-city trip to your dream destinations in Europe.

Ready for a trip? Check out our planning options and get in touch with us today!

Featured Pre-Designed Packages

These air-inclusive, pre-designed multi-city European vacation packages can be personalized to suit your needs!

6 Nights/ 7 Days Signature Escape to Munich and Zurich

6 Nights/ 7 Days Signature Escape to Athens and Istanbul

6 Nights/7 Days Signature Escape to Paris and Rome

Schedule a FREE Consultation

Not sure or can’t decide which planning option is right for you? Schedule a free 30-minute call with one of our travel experts to discuss your travel needs today!

Time in Poland now

• Tokyo 12:35AM
• Beijing 11:35PM
• Paris 05:35PM
• London 04:35PM
• Los Angeles 08:35AM

Time zone info for Poland

• From 27 October 2024: UTC +1 / Central European Time (CET)
• The time in Poland is normally 6 hours ahead of the time in New York, but because these time zones don't share the same start and end times for daylight saving time, the time in Poland can for a short while be 5 hours ahead of the time in New York.
• The IANA time zone identifier for Poland is Europe/Warsaw.

Time difference from Poland

Poland on the map.

• Continent: Europe
• Area: 312,685 km²
• Capital: Warsaw
• Currency: Zloty (PLN)
• Calling code: +48
• Internet top level domain: .pl
• Latitude: 52.00. Longitude: 20.00
• Population: 37,979,000

Annual average temperatures for Poland 1901-2021

The 25 largest cities in poland.

The Ultimate 7 to 10 Days in Poland Itinerary

Last Updated on October 25, 2023

by Maggie Turansky

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. That means if you click a link and make a purchase, we may make a small commission. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see our privacy policy.

Planning a Poland itinerary can be a bit overwhelming when you consider both the vastness of this Central European nation and all of the incredible places to visit. From the Baltic Sea to the north to the High Tatras to the south and everything in between, Poland is filled with fascinating, beautiful and historic places to see and things to do.

Spending 7 to 10 days in Poland is a great way to see a good portion of the country, visit some of the more popular tourist sites and cities and even venture a bit away from the typical visitor’s trail. So if you’re interested in planning a trip to this fascinating European nation, then hopefully this route through Poland will help guide you into mapping out the ideal itinerary for you!

Table of Contents

How Many Days in Poland?

Before figuring out where to go and what to do while you’re there, many visitors wonder how many days to spend in Poland in order to get a good feel for the country, see a diverse range of places and not use too much precious holiday time.

In general, if you want to plan an entire route through the country are are interested in visiting more than one or two cities, then plan to spend at least 7 days in Poland. Seeing Poland in one week can be a bit rushed, but you will still be able to visit a variety of places and get a real feeling for the nation.

If you have more time, then 10 days in Poland is really ideal. This will allow you to visit even more destinations and also get quite a holistic view of the country.

Seeing Poland in 10 days is great if you have the time because you are able to see the capital and spend time in Krakow while also being able to head all the way up to the Baltic coast.

Getting To & Around Poland

Poland is a massive country located in Central Europe and there are lots of ways to arrive here depending on how you plan to travel. Most major cities in Poland, for instance, have international airports with plenty of connections to other cities in Europe and beyond.

The largest and highest traffic in Poland is Warsaw Chopin airport, which makes Warsaw a logical starting point for your trip to this country – especially if plan to travel to Poland from further afield.

Poland is, however, easily reached overland from neighbouring countries. There are both bus and train connections to major Polish cities from all of the bordering countries so if you’re tacking on a trip through Poland as part of a larger trip in Central Europe or Eastern Europe itinerary , it’s very easy to do this. You can view schedules here.

It can also be tough to figure out how to get around Poland once you’re there. The itinerary outlined below can be done entirely using public transit and it’s definitely not essential to hire a car. In fact, it can often prove to be more of a hindrance when you factor in trying to find parking in dense, pedestrianised city centres.

Poland has an extensive bus and train network that easily connects major cities and localities. And once you’re in said cities, most are quite easily navigable on foot. Otherwise, Polish cities have great public transport networks that are simple to use should you need them.

7 to 10 Days Poland Itinerary

Day 1 – warsaw.

Begin your time in Poland by exploring its capital city. Warsaw was largely destroyed during World War II, however, the old town was meticulously reconstructed to maintain its former grandeur and it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Spend your first day in Warsaw exploring the old town and the historic Royal Castle. Here, you can learn a lot about Polish history and enjoy a range of beautiful architectural styles. It also can be worth taking a walking tour of the old own to get a bit more historical context.

The Royal Castle is one of the restored historic buildings in the old town of Warsaw and was once the official residence of the Polish royals. Today it’s a large complex with lots to explore.

One of the highlights is definitely heading to the top of the observation tower where you can get beautiful, panoramic views of the Old Town and the city as a whole. This is absolutely one of the best things to do in Warsaw as you’re exploring the historic centre.

Aside from the castle, in the Old Town, you can also take in the beautiful cathedral and simply get lost in the gorgeous, cobbled streets. It’s a great introduction to Warsaw and to Poland as a whole.

Where to Stay in Warsaw

Hotel Reytan – Mid-range visitors beginning their trip to Poland will love this 3-star hotel in the centre of the city. They have a range of great rooms available and a good location for exploring Warsaw.

Hotel Polonia Palace – This luxury hotel is perfect for travellers looking for an upmarket stay in Warsaw. They have plenty of plush amenities and a great location for seeing the highlights of the city

GO Apartments – These fully furnished apartments are a great option for those who want their own flat while visiting Warsaw. There are several apartments to choose from and all are well-located in the capital.

Oki Doki Old Town Hostel – This hostel is a great option for those travelling on a budget in Warsaw. They have a range of dorms and private rooms along with a good social atmosphere to enjoy.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more Warsaw hotels!

Day 2 – Warsaw

Spend day 2 getting to know Warsaw just a little bit better – perhaps by spending a bit of time in some museums, lounging in some of the city’s green spaces or taking in a cool district away from the old town.

Consider taking the time to visit the Warsaw Uprising Museum where you can learn about Polish resistance to Nazi Germany during the Second World War. This is a great museum where you can spend a few hours. It’s worth noting that this museum is not about the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, which was a different event in the city.

You can also choose to chill out in Lazienki Royal Park which is one of the largest green spaces in the Polish Capital. This is especially nice to visit in the warmer months when everyone wants to take advantage of the nice weather. Foodies should consider  taking a pierogi cooking class  or  a food tour  to learn more about Polish cuisine!

And if you want to venture a bit from the beaten tourist trail, consider heading to the cool Praga district located across the Vistula River. This is a hip and gentrifying neighbourhood which has a lot of interesting places to visit.

Day 3 – Krakow

On day three, get an early start and head south from Warsaw to charming Krakow – one of the most popular and best places to visit in Poland. There are several direct trains daily between these two cities and you can expect the journey to take around 2.5 hours.

Once you’re in Krakow, spend your first day exploring its beautiful Old Town either independently or by joining a walking tour.

Krakow is one of the few major Polish cities that wasn’t destroyed during World War Two and, therefore, retains all of its historic charm and hasn’t had to have the reconstruction that cities like Warsaw had to.

Along with enjoying the gorgeous Old Town, make sure to head to Wawel Castle, as well. This historic castle is packed with history and it is the perfect place to explore.

End your day by gorging yourself on one of Poland’s favourite cheap eats – pierogi! Or you can try and seek out a classic milk bar, where you can get traditional food at very low prices.

Where to Stay in Krakow

Q Hotel Kraków – This mid-range hotel is a good choice for those looking for a central and comfortable hotel in Krakow. They have a range of good rooms and also breakfast available in the mornings.

PURO Krakow Kazimierz – This is a great luxury option for those looking for a plush stay in Krakow. They have a range of trendy rooms and plenty of cool amenities along with a central location.

Mundo Hostel – Perfect for budget travellers and those after a social atmosphere, this highly-rated hostel has both private rooms and dorms available along with common areas and social activities.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more Krakow hotels!

Day 4 – Krakow

Spend your second day in Krakow taking the time to dig a bit deeper in the city and heading outside of the Old Town to the cool Kazimierz district.

This was the old Jewish quarter of Krakow and there is a large amount of Jewish history here. Today, however, it is quite a cool area with a lot of hip cafes, shops, bars and restaurants to check out.

You can also opt to visit Oskar Schindler’s factory. Well-known from the Spielberg movie Schindler’s List , here you can learn about the history of this factory and the countless Jewish lives that were saved when they were employed here.

Of course, no visit to Krakow is complete without taking the time to stroll through Planty Park, a beautiful green space in the centre of Krakow. It’s the perfect place to unwind and enjoy the vibes of the city in a beautiful location.

Day 5 – Krakow

Spending three nights in Krakow will also give you the opportunity to head out on a day trip from this historic city.

For those who are interested, one option is to visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp. Located only a bit away from the centre of Krakow, this is a harrowing and sobering experience that can really put into perspective the horrors of the Holocaust. It should not be visited lightly.

To visit Auschwitz, you can get there independently via either local bus or train and join a guided tour once there, however, it is generally recommended to book this in advance. Alternatively, you can also book a guided day tour from Krakow, which can be a lot easier. Expect to spend several hours at the museum.

Another popular option for a day trip is to the Wieliczka Salt Mine. This is a fascinating place to visit within easy reach of the Polish city. These stunning salt mines are home to an underground chapel and are filled with ornate decorations and statues that are entirely carved by salt.

Again, visitors can get to the mines from Krakow independently via both local bus and train and you can join a group tour once you are there.

Alternatively, you can join an organised day trip and not have to worry about transport. Either way, make sure to bring a jacket as it can be chilly once down in the mines!

Day 6 – Wroclaw

Get another early start on the morning of your sixth day and hop on a train to the beautiful city of Wroclaw – the journey should take about 3 hours.

Located to the west of Krakow and the capital of the Lower Silesia region, Wroclaw is Poland’s fourth-largest city and it is an absolute joy to explore – it also sees only a fraction of the visitors compared to Warsaw or Krakow .

As quite a small city, you can see a good portion of the highlights within the confines of a day so once you arrive, it’s time to hit the town and start exploring! Wroclaw is a fascinating city that is set upon a network of islands on the Oder River and a lot of your day will be spent criss-crossing over lovely footbridges and taking in some pretty island parks and historic places.

Begin your exploration of Wroclaw in the Market Square before wandering around some other areas of the historic centre. As you explore, keep an eye out for the little gnome statues you will see dotted around the city – these are iconic to exploring Wroclaw!

Make sure to climb the tower of St Elizabeth’s Church to get great views over the city, visit the Wroclaw Market Hall and indulge in some local produce before wandering over to Cathedral Island – the oldest area of the city.

Where to Stay in Wroclaw

Europeum Hotel – This hotel in the old town is a good place for mid-range visitors to Wroclaw. There are plenty of chic rooms available along with breakfast on offer in the mornings.

PURO Wrocław Stare Miasto   –   Centrally located in the old town, this hotel is an excellent luxury option in Wroclaw. Along with a range of lovely rooms, there is a great breakfast and other amenities for guests.

Grampa’s Hostel   – This cool hostel is perfect for those looking for a budget or social stay in Wroclaw. They have good common areas and clean facilities along with a trendy location.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more Wroclaw hotels!

Day 7 – Poznan

Day 7 is where you have a choice – no matter if you’re only spending a week in Poland or if you’re following the 10-day itinerary, consider heading to lovely Poznan on your seventh day.

For those who are only planning a one-week itinerary, then you can easily visit Poznan as a day trip from Wroclaw – it’s only about 1.5 hours on the train and the old town and city centre is so small and compact that you can easily see all of the highlights within the confines of a few hours.

For those spending 10 days in Poland, then plan to spend the night in Poznan. It makes for a great place to break up the journey onto Gdansk (our final stop) and it’s very much worth visiting – it’s just that lovely!

Once you’ve arrived in Poznan, spend your time wandering around the historic old town. Like many cities in Poland, there is a delightful main square, plenty of interesting museums where you can learn about the history – such as the Museum of the Wielkopolska Uprising and the Poznan Uprising Museum. You can also visit gorgeous churches like the Poznan Fara and a royal castle. There are also some great places to eat and beautiful parks – such as Citadel Park – to visit.

Much like Wroclaw, there is also a Cathedral Island in Poznan which is home to the city’s Gothic cathedral and is a small island in the Warta River.

Where to Stay in Poznan

B&B Hotel Poznan Old Town – This is a great mid-range hotel in the old town of historic Poznan. They have breakfast in the mornings and an unbeatable location for exploring the city.

PURO Poznan Stare Miasto – Luxury travellers will love this trendy hotel in Poznan’s Old Town. There are plenty of chic rooms along with a great location and plush amenities for guests to enjoy.

Platinum Apartments Aparthotel – This aparthotel is a good choice for travellers wanting a flat when visiting Poznan. There are several different apartments to choose from along with a great location for exploring the city.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more Poznan hotels!

Day 8 – Gdansk

For those with 10 days to spend in Poland, make the final destination of your itinerary the historic port city of Gdansk . Located on the Baltic in Northern Poland, Gdansk is a delightful city to visit and a highlight on any trip to this lovely nation.

This is another day where it’s best to get an early start as the train takes about 3 hours from Poznan. Once you arrive in Gdansk, hit the ground running and take the time to start exploring the beautiful historic centre of the city.

Start at the Long Market, which is the main square in Gdansk. There are a lot of beautiful buildings here and it is absolutely charming to explore. Make sure to head to St Mary’s Church and climb to the top of the bell tower to get incredible views over the city.

Then, wander along the banks of the Motlawa River where there are plenty of open-air cafes and bars where you can enjoy a drink while people-watching.

Better yet, take a cruise of the Motlawa and enjoy the historic sites and cityscape of Gdansk from a different vantage point!

Where to Stay in Gdansk

Celestin Residence – This mid-range hotel is located in a central part of Gdansk and is perfect for seeing the highlights of the city. There are lots of different rooms to choose from to suit all kinds of visitors.

PURO Gdańsk Stare Miasto – Luxury visitors will love this modern hotel. There is a great, central location, chic rooms to choose from and plush amenities on offer to guests.

Dom & House – These apartments are a good choice for those after a furnished flat during their time in Gdansk. They have a range of apartments on offer and plenty of other great perks on the property.

Hostel Mamas & Papas – If you’re looking for a good hostel option, this one if a great choice. They have a number of room options and good common areas to meet other travellers.

Not quite what you’re looking for? Click here to browse more Gdansk hotels!

Day 9 – Gdansk

Spend your first full day in Gdansk digging deeper in the city and taking in some of its famous museums.

The most famous museum in Gdansk is undoubtedly the Museum of the Second World War. Here, plan to spend a few hours learning about the history of World War Two, taking in some artefacts and understanding the impacts of the war on the world today.

Another popular museum to visit in Gdansk is the Amber Museum. This one is a bit more lighthearted than the WWII museum and it highlights Gdansk’s historic importance as a trading post for amber.

And for those who are interested in learning a bit more about Gdansk and Poland as a whole under the communist regime, then consider heading to the European Solidarity Centre, which is another fascinating museum that you could spend a couple of hours in.

Day 10 – Gdansk

On your final day, it’s a great time to take a day trip from Gdansk. There are a few options available depending on what you’re interested in.

First off, you could opt to visit what claims to be le largest castle in the world – the UNESCO-listed Malbork Castle. A gorgeous 13-century fortification that was once home to the Teutonic Knights, this is located within easy reach of Gdansk and is perfect for those who are fans of beautiful European castles as this one is particularly impressive!

It is possible to visit Malbork via train from Gdansk if you want to go independently, however, there are also organised tours available.

Another great option is to visit the nearby town of Gdynia, also located on the Baltic. There are lots of fascinating museums to visit in Gdynia – including the Naval Museum and the Museum of Emigration. If the weather is fine, you could also simply spend your time lounging on the gorgeous, white sand beach.

Gdynia is easily reached via train from Gdansk and it’s definitely worth heading over there if this little city interests you.

This is an excellent way to end your Poland trip. From Gdansk, you can easily get a train to Warsaw and head out of the country from there. Otherwise, there is also an airport in Gdansk that does have routes to several different destinations across Europe and beyond.

Have More Time?

If you have more time to spend, then you could opt to spend a bit more time in Poland itself. Obviously, there are plenty of other cities and regions to visit in Poland beyond what we’ve covered in this itinerary such as Zakopane in the Tatra Mountains, Lodz in Central Poland or Katowice near Krakow.

You could also continue on from Poland after your tenth day. From Gdansk, it can be worth heading into Lithuania and exploring the beautiful Baltic Countries.

Alternatively, you could head west into Germany or south to visit the Czech Republic . The options really are endless as this region has so much to offer visitors.

Planning the perfect Poland itinerary is no easy task when you consider just how much there is to see and do in this beautiful country. From historic cities to imposing castles, Poland is a wonderful destination that is truly a joy to explore.

Are you planning to visit Poland? Have any questions about this itinerary? Let us know in the comments!

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About Maggie Turansky

Maggie is a co-founder and writer for The World Was Here First. Originally from the US, she has lived in five different countries and has travelled to dozens more, both solo and with her partner, Michael. She particularly loves exploring Spain and spending time in the Caucasus and the Baltics. Read more about Maggie

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When to visit Kraków, where festivals take place all year long

Jul 25, 2022 • 6 min read

Snowy winters in Kraków are cold but awfully photogenic © Matt Munro / Lonely Planet Magazine

Poland ’s liveliest city appeals at any time of year.

Most attractions in Kraków  stay open year-round and events take place every single month. In April, May, September and October, mild temperatures and reduced crowds make for a lovely weekend getaway . Summers are jam-packed with festivals (and visitors), while a dusting of snow makes the city wonderfully photogenic during searingly cold winters. 

Here’s our season-by-season, month-by-month guide for when to visit Kraków.

High season (June–August) is best for festivals 

Hot days, long daylight hours and balmy summer nights mean that Kraków bustles with visitors in summertime, particularly during July and August. It’s an excellent time to take your kids to the hands-on Stanisław Lem’s Garden of Experiments , for a stroll around the Zoological Gardens or to watch the swans in Krakówski Park . Alternatively, head underground into the Wieliczka Salt Mine or use the pools and waterslides of Park Wodny to seek respite from the heat. This is Kraków’s busiest season, so expect accommodation prices to shoot up correspondingly.

Shoulder season (April–May and September–October) is best for sightseeing  

Spring flowers bring a burst of color to Kraków’s tree-lined streets and boulevards, while mild May days mean it’s warm enough to bring a packed lunch to the banks of the Vistula River or the picnic tables of Grazyna Park. Late spring and early autumn, when the leaves change color, is the loveliest time to stroll around Old Town and Kazimierz, since it’s warm without being sweltering, and accommodation prices are reasonable. It’s also a good time to explore Kraków’s cultural offerings, since crowds are thinner.

Low season (November–February) is best for photography and budget travel 

Prices drop during the winter months when visitors are few, which makes it an excellent time for budget travelers to visit. It doesn’t snow here all winter (some days you may experience icy winds and freezing rain instead) but if you’re a photographer, you won’t want to miss Kraków’s castle and other Old Town monuments with a dusting of sparkling white. You’ll be able to explore Kraków’s many museums without being jostled by crowds, and seasonal ice rinks spring up in Jordan Park and elsewhere. In December, twinkling lights add festive cheer to the Kraków Christmas market.

January is for snowy panoramas

While most nationals use January to get over Christmas hangovers, in Kraków the party’s just getting started. New Year’s Day marks the start of the carnival season that lasts until Shrove Tuesday and is marked by feverish festivities in the city’s many clubs. Typically, January also brings the heaviest snowfall of the year.

Key events : Opera Rara , Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity

In February, overeat

Another cold and snowy month, February sees Kraków residents (Catholic or not) fill up on Polish doughnut balls with rose jam filling on Fat Thursday, before partying till dawn on Shrove Tuesday. February also sees sea-shanty-singing groups from all over dropping anchor in Kraków, while lovers of drum ’n’ bass head for the nearby Tatra Mountains to ski and/or dance to the likes of Nero and Ghostface Killah.   

Key events : Shanties , Fat Thursday, Ostatki (Shrove Tuesday), SnowFest

Celebrate Easter in March

The days are warming up, snow is melting and spring flowers are popping up. Lent sees numerous ceremonies held in Kraków’s churches, culminating in special services over Holy Week. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a hooded procession by the Brothers of the Good Death from the Basilica of the Virgin Mary every Friday during Lent. Watch out on Easter Monday: splashing water over one another is a local tradition.

Key events : Easter, Chocolate Festival, Early Music Days, Kraków Cello Spring

April brings medieval festivities and art

The weather is still brisk, but even occasional April showers are not enough to dampen the enthusiasm of jousting and fencing participants at the Rekawka medieval fair on Krakus Mound . Dozens of contemporary art exhibitions transform the city during Art Week.  

Key events : Rekawka Traditional Medieval Fair, Krakers (Kraków Art Week) , Kraków Festival of Comics

May is for holy processions and student celebrations 

Warm and sunny with ever-longer daylight hours, May sees local students dressing up in outlandish disguises to wreak havoc in the Old Town for a week. Poland’s faithful follow the relics of Poland’s patron saints from the Wawel Cathedral , while the Lajkonik Parade brings lighthearted pageantry, led by a bearded Tatar.  

Key events : Constitution Day, Saint Stanislaw’s Procession, Juwenalia , Lajkonik Parade, Film Music Festival

Celebrate Midsummer in June

Flower wreaths with candles float down Vistula River for the exuberant Midsummer celebrations while Kraków rocks out into the long summer night at a concert venue opposite Wawel Castle. Ten days of Jewish arts, music and film kick off in Kazimierz .   

Key events : Wianki (Midsummer Festival), Jewish Culture Festival , Kraków Film Festival , Ephemera Festival

July is all about festivals

This is Kraków’s hottest and rainiest month, so bring your waterproof gear. The rain doesn’t deter most visitors, however, so expect high accommodation prices, particularly during the popular Kraków Jazz Festival.

Key events : Jewish Culture Festival, International Festival of Street Theatre , Kraków Jazz Festival

Enjoy classical music with a side of pierogi in August

Expect another hot and rainy month, with temperatures an average of 77°F (25°C). String quartets, violinists, organists and choirs perform for a cosmopolitan crowd as part of a classical music festival in Old Kraków. Village artisans and countryside entertainers set up shop on Główny Rynek (Main Square), while Maly Rynek fills up with pierogi stalls.

Key events : Kraków Folk Fair, Music in Old Kraków , Pierogi Festival

Take it easy in September 

As summer crowds depart and accommodation prices fall, the weather remains a balmy 68°F (20°F). It’s a quiet month event-wise, but it’s a wonderful time to wander around the city just as the leaves begin to change color.   

Key events : Veganmania, Fermentation Festival

Expect literature, experimental art and music in October

Brisk days shouldn’t deter you from visiting just as fall reveals its splendor and the trees are in their full autumnal glory. Cold nights are ideal for heading indoors and partaking in offbeat music and literary events.

Key events : Unsound, Conrad Festival

November lets you commune with the dead

As the days get colder, Kraków sees its first snowfall of the season and mournful strains of jazz provide musical accompaniment to the gathering darkness. Locals head for the cemeteries on November 1 – All Saints’ Day – to light candles on the graves of relatives and deck them out with fresh flowers.    

Key events : All Saints’ Day, Andzejki, Kraków Jazz Autumn

December is all about Christmas markets 

It’s cold and snowy, but the Old Town’s main square is aglow with lights from the Christmas market, where you can admire the elaborate “Christmas cribs” (or Nativity scenes). On New Year’s Eve, accommodation prices soar and Kraków’s Old Town and main square get swamped by tens of thousands of revelers counting down to the new year.  

Key events : Mikolaj, Kraków Christmas Crib Competition, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve

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Festivals & Events

Jul 1, 2024 • 10 min read

An extremely thorough guide to getting the most out of this Central European country, any month of the year.

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Visit Poland

Hospitality

Traditional hospitality has always been and continues to be associated with our beautiful country, which is open to tourists. This very Polish hospitality is legendary and dates back to the period of Sarmatia, nobleman’s manors and feasting. Accepting every traveler under their roof was a matter of common courtesy. The well-known proverb “Guest at home, God at home” reflects this Polish hospitality. Those words spoken at the beginning of a visit signify the joy of welcoming a guest in one’s house. Today our guests can experience it both in big-city hotels, picturesquely located manors and palaces and in the idyllic surroundings of agro-tourism farms or rural vineyards. Our hospitality is also inevitably linked to our tasty cuisine. Tempting proposals for getting to know Poland through the prism of table delights can be found in the offer of Polish culinary routes . They cover the whole country and lead among tourist attractions: historical cities, museums, castles, national parks, sanctuaries, underground routes, recreational facilities. Along with the culinary delights, all these attractions make up the charm of the local routes. Whether in the mountains or by the sea, on plains, uplands or among lakes, the magic of flavors and tastes spreads its power, according to the proverb “through the stomach to the heart”, which takes on a new meaning on a culinary trail.

Sightseeing

Poland is a country with a long tradition of over a thousand years and a turbulent history. This is evidenced by the remaining numerous monuments of settlement, defensive, sacral or industrial architecture. The multitude and variety of those sights attract visitors who are kindly and professionally welcomed.

And there is something for everyone! There are numerous castles, palaces and mansions , mostly surrounded by historic and beautifully maintained gardens . Naturally, it is worth starting your adventure with castles and palaces from the most famous, largest, entered to the UNESCO list, or having great significance for the cultural and historical heritage of our country. And those will certainly be among them: The Wawel Royal Castle, the Royal Castle in Warsaw, the Książ Castle and the Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork.

The high number of religious monuments scattered throughout the country, including Europe’s famous sanctuaries such as Jasna Góra [Luminous Mount] in Częstochowa , will interest not only pilgrims but also lovers of beautiful architecture and ornaments from many eras.

There are also archaeological sites (e.g., the Archaeological Museum in Biskupin, the Slavs and Vikings Center in Wolin, the Ethnographic Park in Sanok and the Ethnographic Park in Tokarnia ), mighty forts and fortifications erected for military purposes (e.g., Srebrna Góra, Modlin, Międzyrzecki Rejon Umocniony [Międzyrzecz Fortified Region]), monuments of technology and industry (including the UNESCO-listed salt mines in Wieliczka and Bochnia ), wooden architecture (The Wooden Architecture Route in Małopolska, Podkarpacie and Silesia) create a rich array of opportunities to visit our country.

They have been created throughout history, under different conditions, often as a result of the clash of influences between Western European and Eastern cultures. Today, those historical sites are offered to our guests as attractions or products of special value. Some serve as museums, and some are used directly to serve visitors as hotels or conference centers.

And what will a nature -loving tourist see? — — national parks , over 120 landscape parks , numerous urban parks and gardens , and those embedded in the landscape of small towns, villages and green areas. The tourist will see coastal and mountain, lowland and upland landscapes; they will see rivers, ponds and lakes, forests, woods and primeval forests …

There is a lot to see in Poland and every tourist will find something special for themselves!

Since its beginnings, Poland has been at the center of Europe – at the crossroads of different cultures. Therefore, here you will learn about multicultural and diverse traditions, historical monuments and interesting history. In terms of those resources, Poland is competitive on the European tourism market as it has many valued assets in the form of sites and events of high historical value – a testimony of Polish and European history, flourishing culture and arts.

Discover the rich history and cultural heritage of a country in the center of Europe through as many as 17 sites from Poland entered to the UNESCO World Heritage List. And the venues and sites are very diverse, with something for everyone. Among them there are castles, historical centers, mines, parks …

Apart from the historical centers of Kraków and Toruń , with their fascinating authentic medieval buildings, Warsaw’s Old Town occupies a special place in our heritage. Appreciated by the UNESCO commission as it was completely rebuilt after the destruction of World War II. Among the Polish Old Towns on the UNESCO list you will also find the Renaissance „Padua of the North”, i.e. Zamość .

One of Poland’s very attractive tourist regions – the Małopolska province – is rich in as many as 5 sites entered to the UNESCO list. Among them, apart from the already mentioned Old Town in Kraków within the old walls, Wawel Hill and the Kazimierz and Stradom districts , the region can also boast the world-famous Royal Salt Mines in Wieliczka and Bochnia, or the wooden churches of Małopolska. Not only wooden churches are among the UNESCO sites in Poland, but also wooden Orthodox churches in the Polish and Ukrainian Carpathian region .

The Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork is also on the UNESCO list in Poland as a unique architectural work on a global scale whose bold and innovative technical solutions were later used in other strongholds.

The Centennial Hall in Wrocław was also included in this noble group of our country’s sites due to the „revolutionary” use of reinforced concrete as the cover with the largest span in the world. Not far from Wrocław you can visit the extraordinary Churches of Peace in Jawor and Świdnica with their impressive interiors decorated with magnificent polychromes. If you head further west towards the German border, you will find yourself in Muskau Park , a German-Polish cross-border facility and the largest English-style park in Poland and Germany.

Additionally, Poland’s cultural heritage assets include those listed by UNESCO in recent years: Lead, silver and zinc ore mine in Tarnowskie Góry (in 2017) and Krzemionka region of prehistoric striped flint mining (in 2019).

In our country, you will also find two natural heritage assets listed by UNESCO. These include the ancient, more than 500-year-old Białowieża Forest as a Polish-Belarusian transboundary site and the recently inscribed (in 2021) Ancient and Primordial Beech Forests of the Carpathians and other European regions.

Polish roads will take you to interesting places connected with local customs and unusual traditions. The most important of these is … Polish hospitality! You will experience it, especially in the Polish countryside, where, in addition to well-organized and well-equipped agro-tourism farms, you will find beautiful landscapes, the cultural and culinary richness of the regions and a multitude of traditional and local products.

In the picturesque village of Koniaków , located in the south of Poland in the Silesian Province, you can see and buy unusual lace clothing … The village owes its uniqueness to the two-hundred-year-old, yet still alive, tradition of crocheting lace wonders. The mesh products from Koniaków have become so famous that everyone wants to own one. Tiny flowers, fanciful leaves, delicate buds … Dresses, shawls, tablecloths, napkins, or curtains are standard. But when lace makers received orders for lingerie, a lace war broke out. Although lace from altars worn under skirts still causes controversy, there are wonders on offer from Koniaków lace makers with such names as: „Subtle Heart” or „Swan Grace”.

The folklore of Łowicz is an interesting example of unusual traditions and costumes. Łowicz – a small town in the Łódzkie Province, is known for its colorful folk culture, including costumes, dialect, dance, music, festivals and Łowicz handicrafts, such as cut-outs and spiders made of colorful paper. The Łowicz costume is one of the richest and most attractive Polish folk costumes, still worn today. The beauty of the Łowicz costume was used in the fashions of other regions. The feast of Corpus Christi is celebrated exceptionally beautifully in Łowicz with a colorful procession in which the folk costume of Łowicz will catch everyone’s eye.

Of course, festive customs are most closely associated with Polish tradition. Polish Easter is traditionally accompanied by many colorful events and tourist attractions. In Poland in particular, Easter is unique, having been part of our tradition and culture for centuries. Those include Easter markets, fairs and markets, colorful processions accompanying Palm Sunday and the associated competitions for the prettiest or largest Easter palm, Easter festivals, Easter egg painting workshops, and cheerful games traditionally associated with Easter Monday. The blessing of food in colorfully decorated baskets on Easter Saturday is undoubtedly an extremely attractive tradition. Christmas in the Polish way, on the other hand, means a Christmas tree sparkling with different colors, fragrant gingerbread and Christmas carols. Unique gifts, beautiful Christmas decorations or the wonderful smells of Christmas dishes are just some of the attractions we can find at fairs that spring up before Christmas in central locations in Polish cities and towns. The Christmas fairs have become real hits, loved by tourists and locals alike.

Get inspired by those unique traditions, travel to Poland and explore many other unusual places, where you will find rich folklore and hospitable locals.

Theatrical performances, film screenings, festivals and concerts, which are a real treat for music lovers, exhibitions of paintings, posters, photographs, which will delight art connoisseurs, and to top it off, wherever you go there is fantastic historical architecture. In Poland, even the most demanding tourist will experience sublime moments and pleasurable sensations that they will not forget after returning home.

For our guests, Poland offers a wide range of places where culture can be fully experienced through the sensations of admiring art (numerous museums and galleries, e.g., n ational museums in large cities ) or music (e.g., Chopin concerts in Warsaw’s Royal Łazienki Park ).

In addition, well-known music festivals and concerts (e.g. „ Orange Warsaw Festival”, „Open’er Festival Gdynia”, „Misteria Paschalia” in Kraków ), unique re-enactments and historical shows (e.g. the re-enactment of the Battle of Grunwald, the open-air show „Eagle and Cross”, „The Siege of Malbork”, „Storming of Zamość Fortress „), amazing light events and spectacular shows (e.g. festivals of light : „Light Move Festival” in Łódź and „Bella Skyway Festival” in Toruń ), fairs and international cultural events—all this is organized in Poland—a country in the center of Europe with an interesting history and a rich cultural heritage of diverse traditions.

Everyone will find a perfect event for themselves!

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Sentinel Falls (about 2,000 feet) Flows: approximately March through June, with peak flow in May.

This waterfall is located on the south side of Yosemite Valley, just west of Sentinel Rock. It is comprised of multiple cascades, which range in height from 50 - 500 feet.

You can see this waterfall from areas along Southside Drive near the Sentinel Beach Picnic Area, and near the Four Mile Trailhead. Alternatively, you can view it from across Yosemite Valley near Leidig Meadow, or while hiking the Upper Yosemite Fall Trail.

Ribbon Fall (1,612 feet) Flows: approximately March through June, with peak flow in May.

You can see Ribbon Fall from the road as you drive into Yosemite Valley, just beyond the turn for Bridalveil Fall (parking is available in turnouts).

Horsetail Fall (1,000 feet) Flows: approximately December through April.

Horsetail Fall is famous for appearing to be on fire when it reflects the orange glow of sunset in mid- to late-February. It falls off of the east side of El Capitan and is best seen from just east of El Capitan.

To see Horsetail Fall, park at the El Capitan picnic area (on Northside Drive west of Yosemite Valley Lodge) or in turnouts just east of the picnic area. You can see the waterfall from the road.

Bridalveil Fall (620 feet) Flows: all year, with peak flow in May.

This is often the first waterfall visitors see when entering Yosemite Valley. In spring, it thunders; during the rest of the year, look for its characteristic light, swaying flow.

You can see Bridalveil Fall from near the tunnels on the Wawona Road (Highway 41) or Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120) and from a signed parking lot on your way into Yosemite Valley. You can walk to the base via a short but steep (up to 24% slope) trail in just a few minutes.

Nevada Fall (594 feet) Flows: all year, with peak flow in late May.

You can see Nevada Fall (from a distance) at Glacier Point. The road to Glacier Point is open approximately late May through sometime in November. A wheelchair-accessible trail is available to the viewpoint when the road is open.

You can also hike beyond Vernal Fall to Nevada Fall on a steep trail ( see a list of Valley day hikes ).

Vernal Fall (317 feet) Flows: all year, though by mid to late summer, it narrows and separates into one, two, or three falls as water flows decrease; peaks in late May.

You can see Vernal Fall (from a distance) at Glacier Point. The road to Glacier Point is open approximately late May through sometime in November. A wheelchair-accessible trail is available to the viewpoint when the road is open.

You can also hike to Vernal Fall on a steep trail ( see a list of Valley day hikes ).

Illilouette Fall (370 feet) Flows: all year, with peak flow in late May.

While many hikers notice this waterfall as they're hiking toward Vernal Fall, the best place to see it is on the Panorama Trail, a few miles from Glacier Point ( see a list of Valley day hikes ). This waterfall is not visible from any road; it's only visible by hiking on steep trails.

Wapama Falls (1,400 feet) Flows: all year, with peak flow in May.

Relatively few people visit Hetch Hetchy Valley to see this roaring waterfall. In some springs, the water from this fall flows over the footbridges near its base.

You can see this waterfall from the parking lot at O’Shaughnessy Dam or you can hike on an uneven trail to near its base ( see a list of Hetch Hetchy day hikes ).

Chilnualna Falls (about 2,200 feet) Flows: all year, with peak flow in May

This waterfall, located in Wawona, hides behind twists and turns in the rock; it's impossible to see the entire fall at the same time.

You can't see this waterfall from a road; the only way to see the fall is to hike to its top via a steep trail ( see a list of Wawona day hikes ).

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Home News Highlights Spotlights The AP Interview: East Timor’s president says the pope’s visit isn’t time to dwell on past sins

The AP Interview: East Timor’s president says the pope’s visit isn’t time to dwell on past sins

President of East Timor José Ramos-Horta speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the Presidential Palace in Dili, East Timor, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati)

DILI, East Timor (AP) — The president of East Timor sees Pope Francis’ upcoming visit as a prime opportunity to promote  Asia’s youngest country  on the world stage, not a time to confront the  legacy of abuse  by influential members of the clergy in the deeply Catholic nation.

During an interview Wednesday with The Associated Press, President José Ramos-Horta also predicted progress soon on a  major energy project with Australia , and urged China and the United States to act as “benevolent superpowers” as they compete for influence in the Southeast Asian country.

The 74-year-old former independence fighter and Nobel laureate  returned to the presidency  in 2022 with campaign pledges that included tackling poverty, creating jobs and improving political stability.

Francis is due to arrive Monday in the impoverished and youthful nation of 1.3 million people, also known as Timor-Leste,  following visits to Indonesia  and Papua New Guinea. Walls are still being dabbed with fresh paint and banners and billboards seemingly everywhere have been hoisted to welcome the pope.

An estimated 700,000 people are expected to participate in a papal Mass the following day in the seaside capital, Dili, and many others are likely to line the streets try to catch a glimpse of the pope.

The visit is a “reward” for the depth of faith shown by Timorese, some 98% of whom identify as Catholic, and recognition of the progress toward peace the country has shown in recent years, Ramos-Horta said.

There’s another benefit for the little-known nation, a former Portuguese colony wedged between Indonesia and Australia: “The pope’s visit is the biggest, the best marketing anyone can aspire to to promote the country, to put the country on the tourist map,” he said.

The visit comes just days after the president and  Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão , a fellow former resistance leader, hosted  United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres  to mark the  25th anniversary of a U.N.-backed referendum  that led to East Timor’s independence from neighboring Indonesia in 2002.

It will be the first time Pope Francis has encountered the Timorese faithful since the Vatican acknowledged in 2022 that Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo, another hero in the country’s struggle for independence, had sexually abused young boys.

Meanwhile, a popular American missionary priest revered for his role saving lives in the liberation fight, Richard Daschbach, is  serving a 12-year sentence in a Timorese prison  for molesting disadvantaged girls.

The pope has met with abuse victims in other countries, but it’s not clear if he will do so or address the matter publicly in East Timor.

Belo and Ramos-Horta shared the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts toward “a just and peaceful solution to the conflict in East Timor,” which was deeply scarred by a brutal Indonesian occupation and bloody liberation struggle that followed the country’s break from Portugal in 1975.

Both men still command respect, alongside other independence heroes, given their and the church’s resistance to the occupation, in which as many as 200,000 people were killed. Many Timorese doubt or are willing to look past the serious charges involving Belo, who was  secretly sanctioned by the church  and is banned from voluntary contact with minors.

“We leave it entirely to the pope and the people around him on how to manage this,” Ramos-Horta said when asked whether Francis should address the history of sex abuse during his visit, adding that he knows that “the Vatican takes it seriously.”

“What is a concept of justice is fairness. People, yes, continue to deeply respect Bishop Belo for his courage, his contribution to their struggle. He sheltered people, he saved people and people don’t just forget that … or castigate him, ostracize him,” the president said.

No further condemnation is needed because the Vatican has already taken action, Ramos-Horta said. Having the pope raise the matter during his visit “would be like trying someone twice.”

East Timor struggles with high levels of unemployment and malnutrition, and 42% of the population lives below the national poverty line. Nearly two-thirds of the country’s citizens are under 30 years old, making youth job creation a high priority.

The oil and gas industry is the bedrock of the economy and the main source of government revenues. But a major offshore site is tapped out and the country needs new reserves to come online to fill the gap.

Ramos-Horta said he is hopeful a breakthrough could come “very soon,” possibly in the next three months, on plans for the exploration of a natural gas field that is key to East Timor’s financial future.

Development of the promising offshore Greater Sunrise gas field, shared between Australia and East Timor, has been stalled for more than two decades — mainly over the question of which country the fuel should be piped to.

Australia’s Woodside Energy, which has the largest stake in the project after East Timor’s national oil company, said in response to questions Wednesday that the companies and governments “have continued to make progress” on various aspects of the negotiations.

It added that it remains committed to developing the field if “there is fiscal and regulatory certainty necessary for a commercially viable development to proceed.”

Timorese officials believe that piping gas into their country would deliver more benefits for their people despite the added logistical challenges. That remains the aim, Ramos-Horta said, adding that any alternative would have to be “a very persuasive proposal.”

The presidential palace where the interview took place and several other key government buildings were constructed with help from China, which wants to  deepen its influence among Pacific island nations .

China is one of East Timor’s top trading partners. In 2023, the two countries boosted their ties by reaching a “comprehensive strategic partnership.”

“I understand the suspicion on the part of the United States, their fears, in relation to China,” he said. “But I do not see China as a threat to anyone,” he added later.

Ramos-Horta said he welcomed Beijing’s help in areas such as improving agriculture, water management and food security, but saw “no need” for closer security ties with China.

He did, however, highlight the positive role played by the United States Peace Corps in East Timor and said he would welcome additional help from U.S. military engineers on the ground. U.S. Navy Seabees construction personnel are continuously based in East Timor, building and renovating schools and clinics.

“The U.S. might fear China. We don’t fear (them) and we don’t fear also the U.S. I see the two superpowers as benevolent superpowers. Or they should be benevolent superpowers,” he said.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s  collaboration  with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

By Adam Schreck

SEPT. 4, 2024

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In Deciding When to Sentence Trump, Judge Faces ‘Impossible’ Task

Justice Juan M. Merchan has tried to treat Donald J. Trump like the hundreds of other defendants whose fates he has decided. But his decision could alter American history.

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By Ben Protess Jesse McKinley and William K. Rashbaum

As Donald J. Trump’s criminal trial wrapped up in May, one of his lawyers wanted to give the jury unusual instructions that would have made it harder to convict him. A special case warranted special rules, the lawyer argued, and the first prosecution of a former American president was “obviously an extraordinarily important case.”

The judge, Justice Juan M. Merchan, was unmoved. “What you’re asking me to do is change the law, and I’m not going to do that,” he said.

Justice Merchan has made a steadfast effort to approach the landmark case no differently than hundreds of others he has overseen. But more than three months after a Manhattan jury convicted Mr. Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying records to cover up a sex scandal , the veteran judge faces his greatest predicament: He must decide whether to sentence Mr. Trump as planned on Sept. 18 or wait until after Election Day, as Mr. Trump has requested .

Justice Merchan has already agreed to delay the sentencing once, and his upcoming decision — which will be made in the heat of a presidential campaign that has pitted Mr. Trump against Vice President Kamala Harris — will reverberate well beyond his Lower Manhattan courtroom.

The decision could influence not only the election, but American politics for years to come. And it will almost certainly subject Justice Merchan to partisan second-guessing at a time when the nation’s faith in the judiciary has been shaken by the Supreme Court’s decisions on abortion, guns and other issues, as well as revelations about some of its justices’ own political entanglements.

“The judge is in an impossible situation, and one that doesn’t lend itself to easy comparisons,” said Charles Geyh, a law professor at Indiana University Bloomington who specializes in judicial conduct and ethics, adding that Justice Merchan’s decision would carry “historical implications.”

While Mr. Trump has already been deemed a felon, if Justice Merchan postpones his sentencing until after the Nov. 5 election, the American people will vote without knowing whether Mr. Trump will spend time behind bars.

A delay would also reward the stalling tactics Mr. Trump has deployed throughout the case, and feed the very impression the judge has labored to dispel — that the former president is above the law.

Yet if Justice Merchan, a moderate Democrat who was once a registered Republican, imposes a sentence just seven weeks before Election Day, Mr. Trump will no doubt accuse him of trying to tip the campaign in favor of Ms. Harris.

Some of Justice Merchan’s colleagues, while acknowledging his quandary, predicted he would tune out the political noise and issue a reasoned decision. They noted that the judge had maintained his usual drama-averse demeanor while presiding over the trial, even as Mr. Trump attacked him and his family, falsely claiming they were members of a Democratic cabal.

“Whatever decision Judge Merchan makes will not only be the right decision, it will be driven by nothing other than that which occurred in the context of this case,” said Jill Konviser, a retired judge who has known Justice Merchan for more than 15 years.

“Donald Trump will be treated fairly,” she added. “Of that, I am 100 percent sure.”

Mr. Geyh was similarly impressed by Justice Merchan’s composure during the trial, and anticipated a measured approach to the sentencing.

“Within some quarters of the judiciary, there is the possibility of a judge running screaming from the room, and sort of seeking the least difficult way out,” he said. “But I don’t think that this guy is showing signs of that.”

After finalizing Mr. Trump’s sentencing date, Justice Merchan faces still more delicate decisions. The judge has promised to rule this month on Mr. Trump’s request to throw out his conviction in light of a new Supreme Court ruling granting presidents some immunity from prosecution. And, at some point, he will have to actually decide whether to put Mr. Trump behind bars.

Mr. Trump, the first president to become a felon, faces up to four years in prison. But legal experts believe it is more likely that Justice Merchan will sentence Mr. Trump to a few months in jail or probation.

Whatever his punishment, Mr. Trump is unlikely to be incarcerated before the election. Even if the judge hands down the sentence on Sept. 18, he could postpone any punishment until after Election Day, or, if Mr. Trump wins back the White House, until after his second term expires.

Nor is Justice Merchan likely to have the final say. The former president will appeal his conviction to higher courts, and if Justice Merchan sticks with the plan to sentence him on Sept. 18, Mr. Trump will likely appeal that decision as well.

Mr. Trump’s effort to delay his sentencing has coincided with his political struggles. Ms. Harris’s entry into the presidential race this summer upended the campaign and erased Mr. Trump’s lead in many polls, both nationwide and in critical swing states.

Initially, Justice Merchan was set to sentence Mr. Trump in mid-July. But on July 1, the Supreme Court granted Mr. Trump broad immunity from prosecution for official acts as president . Mr. Trump’s lawyers promptly petitioned Justice Merchan to delay the sentencing so that he could consider overturning the conviction in light of the Supreme Court ruling.

The Manhattan district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, consented to a delay, but argued that the high court’s decision had “no bearing” on the case.

The New York jury convicted Mr. Trump in May of falsifying business records to conceal his involvement in a hush-money payment to a porn star, Stormy Daniels, who threatened before the 2016 election to disclose her story of sex with Mr. Trump.

Prosecutors argued that it was a personal and political scandal unrelated to Mr. Trump’s White House duties, and therefore it was not affected by the Supreme Court ruling.

Still, Justice Merchan agreed to rule on the immunity issue in early September and sentence Mr. Trump after that. Unsatisfied, Mr. Trump sought to oust the judge from the case for a third time, claiming that his daughter had ties to Ms. Harris.

The judge declined to step aside , and slammed Mr. Trump’s “innuendo and mischaracterizations,” but the former president successfully orchestrated another delay. The judge pushed back the immunity ruling until Sept. 16, two days before the planned sentencing.

Mr. Trump’s lawyers then sought to use that tight timeline to their advantage, arguing that they would not have enough time to mount an appeal if Justice Merchan rejected the immunity bid. It was only fair, they argued, to punt until after the election.

Mr. Bragg, a Democrat, skirted the partisan crossfire and declined to endorse or oppose the former president’s request, saying that while the schedule posed challenges, the sentencing should happen “without unreasonable delay.”

Mr. Bragg’s prosecutors separately noted that the scheduling problems Mr. Trump lamented had arisen from his own “strategic and dilatory litigation tactics.”

Late last week, Mr. Trump concocted yet another delay strategy, this time seeking to move the case to federal court, again citing the Supreme Court’s immunity ruling.

But on Tuesday, a federal judge denied Mr. Trump’s claims of immunity , noting that “hush-money payments were private, unofficial acts, outside the bounds of executive authority.”

While Mr. Trump intends to appeal, the ruling keeps the case in Justice Merchan’s courtroom for now.

Stephen Gillers, a professor of law at New York University who is an expert in legal ethics, said Justice Merchan must offer clarity about the reasoning behind any decision.

“A fair-minded member of the public has to be able to go away feeling that this is an appropriate sentence,” Mr. Gillers said. “And the way you do that is with detail.”

In more than a year of overseeing the case, Justice Merchan has resisted many of Mr. Trump’s most audacious maneuvers, while emphasizing the need to be fair to the former president.

In March, he delayed the trial for three weeks to allow Mr. Trump’s lawyers to review additional evidence, but refused to postpone it for a longer period of several months, as they had requested.

Though he allowed much of the prosecution’s case to proceed, he stripped out some of what he deemed as more tenuous evidence.

And while he imposed a gag order on Mr. Trump that barred him from assailing witnesses, prosecutors and the judge’s own family, he resisted calls to jail Mr. Trump for repeatedly violating the order.

“Mr. Trump, it’s important to understand that the last thing I want to do is to put you in jail,” he said in court in early May. “You are the former president of the United States, and possibly the next president, as well.”

Martin Horn , a professor emeritus at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the executive director of the New York State Sentencing Commission , predicted that, despite Mr. Trump’s protestations to the contrary, Justice Merchan would again endeavor to treat the former president as he would “any other defendant in front of the bar.”

“A potentially troublesome defendant, an argumentative defendant,” Mr. Horn said, “but just a defendant .”

Ben Protess is an investigative reporter at The Times, writing about public corruption. He has been covering the various criminal investigations into former President Trump and his allies. More about Ben Protess

Jesse McKinley is a Times reporter covering upstate New York, courts and politics. More about Jesse McKinley

William K. Rashbaum is a Times reporter covering municipal and political corruption, the courts and broader law enforcement topics in New York. More about William K. Rashbaum

Election 2024 Latest: Trump and Harris focus on tax policy ahead of next week's debate

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris will debate for the first time next Tuesday as the presidential candidates fight to sway voters on the biggest stage in U.S. politics

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris will debate for the first time next Tuesday as the presidential candidates fight to sway voters on the biggest stage in U.S. politics. The meeting comes just 75 days after President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance triggered a political earthquake that ultimately forced him from the race .

Ahead of that, Trump and Harris are discussing tax policy plans with voters. Harris touted a small business tax plan during a campaign visit to New Hampshire on Wednesday, while Trump will address the Economic Club of New York on Thursday.

With just 61 days until the November election, early voting will be underway in at least four states by the end of September and a dozen more to follow by mid-October.

Follow the AP’s Election 2024 coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024 .

Here’s the Latest:

A judge is hearing arguments in Washington, D.C., Thursday about the potential next steps in the federal election subversion prosecution of Donald Trump in the first hearing since the Supreme Court narrowed the case by ruling that former presidents are entitled to broad immunity from criminal charges.

Prosecutors and defense lawyers submitted dueling proposals late Friday before the status conference. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan is presiding over the case that charges Trump with plotting to overturn the results of the 2020 election in the run-up to the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

As the hearing opened, the judge noted that it had been almost a year since she saw the lawyers in her courtroom. The case has been frozen since last December as Trump pursued his appeal.

▶ Read more here .

Before voters even begin casting ballots, Democrats and Republicans are engaged in a sprawling legal fight over how the 2024 election will be run — a series of court disputes that could even run past Election Day if the outcome is close.

Both parties have bulked up their legal teams for the fight. Republicans have filed more than 100 lawsuits challenging various aspects of vote-casting after being chastised repeatedly by judges in 2020 for bringing complaints about how the election was run only after votes were tallied.

After Donald Trump has made “ election integrity ” a key part of his party’s platform following his false claims of widespread voter fraud in 2020, the Republican National Committee says it has more than 165,000 volunteers ready to watch the polls in November.

Democrats are countering with what they are calling “voter protection,” rushing to court to fight back against the GOP cases and building their own team with over 100 staffers, several hundred lawyers and what they say are thousands of volunteers for November.

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris will debate for the first — and perhaps, last — time on Tuesday night as the presidential candidates fight to sway voters on the biggest stage in U.S. politics.

The meeting comes just 75 days after President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance triggered a political earthquake that ultimately forced him from the race . Few expect such a transformative result this time, but Trump is on a mission to end Harris’ “honeymoon” as polls suggest the Democratic vice president is now even — or slightly ahead — of the Republican former president in some swing states.

Harris, a former courtroom prosecutor, will enter the night with relatively high expectations against a Republican opponent with 34 felony convictions and a penchant for false statements. The question is whether Harris, who did not particularly stand out during primary debates in her 2020 presidential campaign, can prosecute Trump’s glaring liabilities in a face-to-face meeting on live television with the world watching.

The 90-minute meeting begins at 9 p.m. ET Tuesday inside Philadelphia’s National Constitutional Center. It will be moderated by ABC News anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis. Per rules negotiated by both campaigns, there will be no live audience.

▶ Here’s what we’re watching for on a historic night .

Vice President Kamala Harris has accepted the rules for next week’s debate with former President Donald Trump , although the Democratic nominee says the decision not to keep both candidates’ microphones live throughout the matchup will be to her disadvantage.

The development, which came Wednesday via a letter from Harris’ campaign to host network ABC News, seemed to mark a conclusion to the debate over microphone muting, which had for a time threatened to derail the Sept. 10 presidential debate at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

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