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- Judy, Steve, Kathy & Terry - Minnesota
- Donna, Maureen, Jim, Lillian & Eugene - New Jersey
- Di & Stephen - Australia
Poland offers many destinations to delight those traveling in Central Europe. Some love the hustle and bustle of Warsaw, the country's modern-day capital and largest city. Others prefer the splendor of Krakow, the old royal capital of Poland. The Baltic Sea port city of Gdansk, impresses too. It combines medieval architecture and pivotal 20th-century history. Charming Wroclaw, a recent EU "Capital of Culture," has a young spirit typified by the dwarf statues hidden throughout its Old Town, and plenty of riverside islands to discover. Its German history is also clear if you know where to look. Scenic Lublin has always punched above its weight, accruing nicknames like "The Capital of Festivals," "Jewish Oxford," and "Little Krakow," while retaining its charming old town and unusual castle. Historic Poznan between Berlin and Warsaw is another off-beaten-path charmer, as is the delightful small town of Kazimierz Dolny, near Lublin. The beautifully preserved "Gingerbread City" of Torun didn't just earn its nickname for its red-brick architecture. Locals are justifiably proud of their edible gingerbread, which visitors can learn to make themselves. For some hiking in Poland's biggest mountain range, head to Zakopane in the Polish High Tatra mountains, or delve into Europe's last primeval untamed forest, Bialowieza national park, where you can still find bison, the continent's largest animal.
Polish history spans many eras of great interest to history buffs. Those interested in World War II or Jewish heritage will have plenty to see in Poland. Battles between Germany and Russia are visible in many monuments. You'll find these throughout Warsaw, Krakow, and other Polish cities. A visit to the Nazi concentration camps of Auschwitz-Birkenau is a truly moving experience. The government has rebuilt and renovated many historic city centers, like Warsaw's Old Town. Yet the city's true story is told by the areas like resurgent Praga and the monumental scale buildings left behind by the communists, like the Palace of Culture and Science, a soviet-style skyscraper. Prefer your history a little older? The medieval castles at Torun and Malbork, both built by the Teutonic Knights, make for good day trips.
Many of our guests come to Poland to learn more about their family history. Millions of Poles emigrated to the US over the past few hundred years. We can connect you with a local genealogist to research your family heritage. We can even include a visit to your ancestral hometown to meet long-lost relatives. As well as our regular destinations listed here we can also arrange overnight stays in other towns and cities.
Poland joined the EU in 2004. The most obvious change was in late 2007 when Poland joined the Schengen Area. That means smooth travel to the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Germany, and Slovakia. In that way, Poland can be a gateway for traveling in Central Europe. The Polish economy hasn't switched to the Euro though, helping make a visit to Poland cheaper than travel to countries further west. Poland is also often combined with some time in Ukraine. Our trip planners, all based in the region, will craft the perfect private tour itinerary for you.
We create custom-tailored private tours of Poland for hassle-free travel to all of the destinations below and beyond. We will prepare a Poland vacation package and schedule tailored to you. Just let us know your intended departure date and how long you want to travel, and we'll take care of all the details. From your initial call with our travel advisor to getting on the plane back home, we take care of you like family. We will arrange guided tours with expert local guides. We take care of getting you from place to place, by private transfer or public transport. You will be staying in the best places available to fit your budget and tastes. And the whole time you will be cared for by one of our local team in Poland, always available to you via the cellphone we provide. Your Poland tour will create memories you'll cherish for a lifetime.
Polish food is hearty, with an emphasis on meats and vegetables (often pickled). Good vegetarian meals aren't hard to find, but vegan ones can be, outside of larger cities. In addition to breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Poles often have a hobbit-like second breakfast, and teatime. If you're been to other Slavic countries, some foods will look familiar. Pierogi, dumplings filled with meat or vegetables, are popular street food, and are sold in nearly every restaurant. Soups are important, especially Barszcz (the Polish take on Borscht, the Ukrainian beet soup) and Zurek (a sour soup). Bigos, also known as hunter's stew, is also popular, a mixture of sauerkraut, shredded fresh cabbage, and chopped meats. If you're looking for a savory snack, we recommend trying a Kabanos (also known as Cabanossi), a long, thin sausage folded in half, akin to a less dry German Landjaeger.
Poland’s main cities are all known for their specialties. If you’re in Krakow, we recommend trying the Zapiekanka, open-faced sandwiches made of baguettes sliced in half, and topped with mushrooms, cheese, and other ingredients. In Poznan, we recommend the St. Martin's Croissant, which is served as part of the walking tour we offer there. This croissant is folded 81 times, with a paste composed of poppy seeds, nuts, raisins, almonds, sugar, and butter, inserted between the folds. The whole thing is naturally covered with icing, and yet more nuts and sugar! If you want to eat cheaply, seek out a milk bar, a kind of diner dating back to the communist area, and often little changed since the 70s. Milk bars primarily serve vegetarian and dairy products, and are usually subsidized by the state. Their low prices attract people from all social classes, providing a unique experience.
The Poles are rightfully proud of their "Polish wine," vodka. Poland produces some of the world's best, most of which goes down smoothly. If interested, we recommend trying Zubrowka, vodka blended with bison grass. Polish water is safe to drink.
European Union citizens do not need a visa, as Poland is part of the EU and the list of countries whose citizens do not require a visa covers most countries that our guests come from. This includes Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. Visa and custom requirements can be found on the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
Tipping isn't as prevalent in Poland as the US and Poles don't tip much themselves but it is widely expected for foreigners to tip in restaurants or bars. A rule of thumb is roughly 10% in appreciation of satisfactory service, 15% if service is excellent. Leave cash on the table or round up the bill, saying "Raeshty nye chaeba" ("Keep the rest"). If you say "Thank you" when you hand over payment that will also be taken as "keep the rest". Tipping in cash is much preferred to adding the tip to a card payment. If you take a tour and are happy with it, you can tip the tour guide if you wish. Taxi drivers don't necessarily expect a tip but if the ride is smooth, speedy and the cabbie makes an effort to converse, you will probably want to tip in the region of 10%.
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