Why Poland should be your next adventure and some helpful tips

Poland is one of the largest European countries and is located in the heart of Europe. Situated between Western Europe and Eastern Europe, Poland feels and looks very much like a Western European country though it does have some Eastern influence, as well.

Poland is a very interesting and unique country to visit and will stand out amongst your other travels.

Why visit Poland

The history is rich, the architecture beautiful, the countryside bountiful, the cities are more than just Krakow and Warsow (though these two are quite special), and the overall character of the country is unlike any other destination.

During your time in Poland, there are a number of things to see and do that make a visit well worth it:

Warsaw and Krakow are incredible cities that both deserve to be explored. Krakow wasn’t destroyed in the Second World War, so it offers a charming glimpse into the past.
Museums: If you love contemporary art, visit the MOCAK in Krakow. The Warsaw Rising Museum in Warsaw is popular to visit as it portrays the city’s tragic uprising against the occupation of Germany in 1944.
Plan for some time to also explore smaller towns, as well! Gdańsk, for example, has a scenic waterfront and the city of Wroclaw boasts medieval allure that is fascinating to experience.
For mountain lovers, visit the town of Zakopane. It was once a go-to destination for Polish artists and poets.
Check out some ‘only in Poland’ sites, such as the Crooked Forest.
Visit some of the 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Poland. 14 are cultural, including: the Centennial Hall in Wroclaw, Historic Centre of Warsaw, Medieval Town of Torun, and Muskauer Park. The natural site is Bialowieza Forest.

Travel tips

For people planning to go to Poland, here are some helpful tips as well as tools to use for getting around when there:

To overcome the language barrier, learn some basic Polish or at least a few useful phrases. Polish is a tricky language so be patient with yourself! For example, you’ll want to know ‘hello, please, excuse me, and thank you in Polish’. Apps like Babbel can help a lot, as they provide language learners with easily accessible phrases during your travels and a way to practice before you go.
To manage getting around, have a paper map but more importantly, download offline maps to your smartphone.
Speaking of getting around.. take a look at how the public transport system works before you go. Mark where you will be staying and the best routes to get to the sites you want to see. Poland, in general, has an excellent train network and a bus network that is reliable.
If you do want to order a taxi while there, know that it is quite affordable and the most common way to order one is via text message.
Have multiple methods of payment on you, just in case. Remember, Poland is not part of the euro zone! You will always want to carry cash with you, including bills and coins. You never know when you’ll need it for public transport, at a market, or even if a certain place will not accept cards for a purchase under a specific amount. It is quite common and most appreciated to pay in exact change rather than have clerks break a bill for you.

Cultural differences and what to be aware of

As with any travel to a foreign country, there are cultural differences and things to be aware of before you visit. It will make for a much smoother and more enjoyable time while you are there! For example, the type of cuisine may be very different from what you get in your home country, so be open-minded to the local cuisine. What you are used to eating and the style of cooking may be different than what you are used to, so you don’t want to go to Poland expecting to find the same food you get at home!

Polish cuisine reminds me of comfort food, with delicious soups, sausages, jam-filled doughnuts, borscht, bigos, and pierogi dumplings (filled dough dumplings), as well as potato and cabbage in many dishes.

There are also traditions and cultural “do’s and don’ts” to know ahead of time and be respectful of while you are in Poland. For example, greetings are generally quite reserved in Poland, with it being common to shake hands with direct eye contact.

Also, Poles may communicate quite frankly, but it is important to be mindful of the topics. Be very sensitive if the topic of World War II or politics comes up, especially around the older generation. And lastly, though religion is rather prominent in Poland, do not assume all Poles are Catholic Christians.

Overall, Poland is a great holiday destination that will offer a truly unique experience. There is strength and beauty to be discovered in the people, land and history of Poland.