European summer is coming up soon, and if you are looking for a place to go in Europe that is extremely beautiful, lively, and relatively cheap, why not spend 2 weeks in Poland? Poland is possibly one of the most colorful countries in Europe, with its incredible history, fairy-tale-like castles, and, best of all, still really cheap.
Within this guide, you will find a recommended route that you can use to travel around Poland for 2 weeks while seeing the best the country has to offer. From the fairy-tale town of Torun to the stunning mountain range of Zakopane, here is all the information you need to backpack in Poland.
- Poland 2 Weeks Itinerary Map
- Poland Two Weeks Itinerary
- Poland Travel Video
- Why Visit Poland?
- When to Visit Poland?
- How to Get to Poland?
- How to Get Around Poland?
- What to Pack for Poland?
- Further Reading for Poland
Poland 2 Weeks Itinerary Map
Poland Two Weeks Itinerary
Day 1 - 2: Warsaw (3 nights)
If you are traveling by air, you are most likely to arrive in Warsaw, the capital city of Poland, and one of the country's most vibrant cities. You can easily spend 2 full days here, starting with the Old Square.
The Old Square is the landmark of the city, with a spacious walking area, towers, colorful traditional architecture, and churches all connected through roads leading to the Old Town Marketplace. While at the square, be sure to check out Sigismund's Column, the Royal Castle, and St. John's Archcathedral.
If you want to see the square from above, you can go up the Taras Widokowy tower for a fee, and you will have a 360-degree view of the city. The best time to go up is right before the sun sets.
- Portrait of Poland (9 days)
- Hiking in the Polish Carpathians (8 days)
- Highlights of Poland (8 days)
As with most European cities, one of the best views you can get of a city is usually from a bridge across a river. Warsaw is no different, and you can get one of the best views of the city both during the day and at night from the Gdaลski Bridge. The Gdaลski Bridge is located within walking distance of the old square just north of it.
With a nice stroll through the old town down the hill and across the roads, you will be met with the green double-deck bridge where the upper part serves road transport, and the lower part serves trams. Both levels are equipped with sidewalks, so you can walk along the bridge safely.
For the second day, we will take it a little slower and take a bus heading towards Wilanow from the old square (right in front of our hostel) and get off at the end of the line where the Wilanow royal palace is located.
This Baroque royal palace is a wonderful piece of Polish history that survived both World Wars and has become one of the most important landmarks in Poland. The palace is surrounded by beautiful gardens with statues, making it the best place to take a stroll and enjoy the leisurely part of traveling.
After spending a few hours at the Palace, you can take a bus back. But right before entering the city, make sure to drop by ลazienki Park and check out the Palace on the Isle. The park is a great place to stroll in the morning and enjoy a sunny day in Warsaw away from the city. If you are lucky, you might see a few peacocks there too.
Last but not least, be sure to check out the Uprising museum and learn about the heroic uprising of the Polish people against the Nazis during the occupation of Warsaw. This part of history was not known to me until now, so I am glad I visited the museum and learned about the struggle of the people living in Warsaw during the Nazi regime.
Day 3 - 4: Torun (2 nights)
Next up, let's take a break from the big city and visit this small but beautiful fairy-tale town of Torun, one of my favorite cities in Poland. With its medieval architecture, baroque-style church, and its history involving knighthood, walking around Torun was like walking through one of The Witcher novels written by the Polish author, Andrzej Sapkowski.
Torun is also the birthplace of the great mathematician and astronomer, Nicolaus Copernicus, who formulated a model of the universe that placed the sun at the center instead of Earth. Within the city, you will see his statue, museums, and all his legacy living on eternally in Torun.
While in Torun, be sure to visit the Cathedral Basilica of St. John, the leaning tower of Torun, and if you want to learn about the Teutonic Knights, be sure to drop by the District Museum.
If you are visiting the District museum, you can also pay a bit more to have access to the tower, where you will be able to see Tourn from above. This is highly recommended in order to appreciate the beautiful Baroque architecture of its past.
Another place that is a must-visit is an observation deck across the river, near the train station, where you will be able to see Torun and its well-preserved wall in its entirety. Visiting the observation deck is highly recommended during sunset or in the early morning when the light is not too strong.
Day 5 - 6: Gdansk (2 nights)
Gdansk is one of the most important ports in Poland, and it is also the location where the first World War 2 crashes happened during the invasion of Poland by Nazi Germany. Gdansk is also famous for its colorful architecture around its Long Market district, now home to Accidental-Wes-Anderson-style houses and shops.
You can spend half days walking through the Long Market and to the port. While at the port, be sure to check out the Catholic Cathedral, the Brama Mariacka (best viewed from the other side of the port), the green gate, and the Golden House along the way.
If you want to learn about the Polish experience during World War II, visit The Museum of Second World War, located a little bit outside of the old port area. Be aware that the place closes quite early, and do not make the same mistake I did by going there after opening times.
You can also go a little further and take a bus to Westerplatte, an open-air museum dedicated to the Battle of Westerplatte. This battle was the first clash between Polish and German forces during the invasion of Poland and, therefore, the first battle of World War II in Europe.
Day 7: Malbork (half day)
From Gdansk, you can take a train directly to Malbork in the early morning and spend your day walking around in Malbork until 3 PM before heading towards Poznan. Trust me, Malbork is definitely worth the detour as this Gothic fortress is the largest in the world by land area, and there is no place quite like it. The beautiful red brick fortress located by the river Nogat is a wonderful piece of history built during the Teutonic Knight era in the 13th century.
Walking inside the fortress makes you feel like you are in the Witcher novel. The fortress truly captures the medieval, almost fantastical vibe of the typical European folk tales you often heard when you were young.
Within the castle, there are several buildings you can enter and discover on your own. Places like the old church of St. Mary, the tower, and the Great Refectory should not be missed.
Also, be sure to walk across the river and see the castle from the other side. It is best seen during the evening when the sun is about to set, and the water in the river is calm and still.
Day 7 - 8: Poznan (2 nights)
After Torun and Malbork, you will feel quite strange to be back in a big city, but don't let that intimidate you. Poznan has quite a few things to offer, from the most colorful old square to the reddish-pink-colored Catholic church, the Fara Poznanska.
Walking around the square, you will be towered over by the Poznan Town Hall and its colorful construction houses of Poznan (Domki Budnicze). Right by the corner of the square is the Royal Castle, which I think is cool, but it looks too new for my taste. Therefore, I would recommend spending your one day in the square instead.
Day 9 - 10: Wroclaw (2 nights)
Wroclaw is another fun city to travel to, with plenty of things to do, ranging from hunting down the gnomes in the market square to learning about the Battle of Raclawice through a panoramic painting.
Within the market square, you will find all these little gnomes scattered all over the area near Wroclaw town hall. It is fun to look out for these gnomes while exploring the Market Square.
Once you are done with the square, head northeast towards the river to reach the observation deck where you can capture a nice photo of Ostrรณw Tumski, the oldest part of the city.
Ostrรณw Tumski is by far my favorite area of Wrocลaw, and I highly recommend spending as much time there as you can. With the beautiful Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and the peaceful vibe of the area, it is a great break from the craziness of the central market square.
Day 11 - 13: Krakow (3 nights)
Krakow is where I based myself when I was living in Poland for 3 months, and it is by far the best place to travel to as a traveler. It offers a perfect balance between the medieval vibe of the city center, the chilled vibe of Kazimierz (the Jewish quarter), and the many day trips you can take, such as visiting the Salt Mine or Auschwitz.
Although I can easily suggest things to do for a week in Krakow, I'll limit the suggestions to only the best of the best since not everyone will have enough time in Krakow.
First, I recommend you spend your first day in Auschwitz learning about the dark past of Poland, so that you can understand the country a bit more. I believe it is important to learn what happened, no matter how bad it was, so that we do not make the same mistake again (which is something I can't say we humans are great at, considering all the tension happening around the world).
After spending a day in Auschwitz, it is time to head back to the city and spend a nice evening treating yourself to excellent food. Kazimierz is a great place to spend your evening, with delicious street food, especially Zapiekanka (a must-try), and enjoying a nice glass of wine outside while listening to live Jewish music.
The next day, spend some time in the city center and check out the stunning interior of St. Mary's Basilica and all the attractions surrounding the square, such as the Town Hall Tower and Krakow Barbican. Also, be sure to buy a ticket to go up the tower to get a nice view of Krakow from above.
Walking south towards Kazimierz, you will see the Wawel Castle, located on top of a hill overlooking the city. The Wawel Castle is one of the most important landmarks in Krakow and a must-visit when you are in the city. The architecture of the Wawel Castle is a mixture of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Early Baroque due to its occupation and capture by different rulers throughout its existence. I recommend spending at least a few hours there to learn more about its importance among the Polish people.
At night, make sure to go further south from the Wawel Castle, cross the bridge, and take a nice stroll around the Vistula River for a grand view with lights illuminating the castle and its surroundings.
If you have time to spare, be sure to visit the Koลciuszko Mound and hike up to the top for a nice view of the city in its entirety. You can also take a day trip to the Salt Mine in Wieliczka, which is an hour away from Krakow.
Day 14 - 15: Zakopane (2 nights)
Last but not least, Zakopane is a city located under the shadow of the Tatra mountain range between Poland and Slovakia. The place is popular for hikers in the summer and skiers in winter, so you will often find this city occupied by local and foreign travelers alike most of the time. Everything is booked fast, so be sure to prepare prior to arriving.
If you like hiking and have a day in Zakopane, I would recommend going to hike the Morskie Oko trail, which should take around 5 - 6 hours in total. You will have a grand view of the Morskie Oko lake. Start early in the morning (no later than 8 AM) to avoid crowds and make your way to the Koลciuszki bus station. Take the bus to Palenica Biaลczaลska and walk up to the lake along an 8 km road, then walk back the same way.
If you don't like hiking or if it is too cold outside, then I would recommend that you book a ticket and go up the cable car to the Kasprowy Wierch. From there, you will be able to see the mountain range from the top. Be sure to check the weather and book the ticket from their website before arriving to avoid disappointment and long lines.
After spending the first half of your day up there, you can relax at the city center with some delicious smoked cheese with jam (oscypek) and cozy up with a glass of mulled wine, which you can get from almost anywhere in the city center.
In the evening, go out and have a nice traditional dinner at Karcma Zapiecek, listen to live traditional folk music, and drink away your last night in Poland. The location of the restaurant is shown below.
From Zakopane, you can take an early morning bus back to Krakow. From there, you can either continue your journey down to Koลกice, Slovakia or head back to Warsaw and end your trip there.
Why Visit Poland?
More often than not, people have come to associate Poland as a less developed country in Europe. But after spending more than 3 months in Poland, I can say that Poland is developing fast with all the facilities you'd expect from the West, but at a much cheaper price.
It has become a country in its own league with its unique traditions, language, and tragic history to draw from. All these points make Poland a great country to visit for all kinds of travelers, from history buffs to off-the-beaten-path adventurers alike.
When to Visit Poland?
April to September is the best time to go, as the weather is much warmer now and the colors of spring/autumn will make Poland even more colorful than usual. One downside is that there will be lots of people everywhere. In order to avoid that, I would stick to the beginning (April - May) or towards the end (August - September) of the peak season, as the weather becomes cooler and it is not as crowded.
Poland in winter is its own beast, with beautiful snow everywhere, contrasting with the colorful architecture, and far fewer people, but still maintaining its beauty. The weather does get really cold, though (I experienced -16ยฐC once), and because of that, many viewpoint towers are closed. So, weigh the pros and cons and prepare accordingly.
How to Get to Poland?
You can fly into Warsaw or Krakow, depending on where you want to begin your trip. You will likely find more flights going into Warsaw, though. However, for the best possible deal, I would recommend browsing through Skyscanner or Expedia to compare prices and find the cheapest one for your trip.
If you are already in Europe and are on a budget, you can also take a bus from anywhere with Flixbus for only a few euros.
How to Get Around Poland?
Buses and trams in Poland are pretty accessible with the help of the Jakdojade website, where you can select a city and enter your destination to find out which bus number or tram you need to take. This service works in every city on your itinerary, and you can either access its website or download the app (Android | iOS) on your phone.
For traveling from city to city, you can either use Flixbus or the train. They are both really accessible and quite cheap, especially buses, and you can book all of them online. When it comes to buses, I'd recommend booking directly with Flixbus or through Busbud.com. As for trains, you can book a train ticket online on the Intercity website.
Daily Budget
This location is less expensive than most countries, but it's not exceedingly cheap. Expect to spend around $30 - $50 USD per day per person, which includes both accommodation and meals.
Please keep in mind that these are suggested daily budgets based on my own style of travel, which leans more towards the budget side of things. If you aim to stick to this budget, anticipate sleeping in dormitories, dining out only occasionally, and being comfortable with the cheapest and most convenient modes of transportation, which often involve a considerable amount of walking.
What to Pack for Poland?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Poland:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Down Jacket: In freezing temperatures, a down jacket is essential. The Columbia Men's Lone Fir Hooded Jacket (for women) is my choice. They are warm, lightweight, and available in various colors.
- Wool Beanie: A wool beanie is perfect for keeping your head and ears warm.
- Wool Gloves: I always have wool gloves handy to keep my hands warm in cold weather.
- Wool Socks: Don't forget to keep your feet warm with wool socks.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Poland
I hope you found this Poland guide useful. If you want to read more about Poland, here is a selection of articles you might like:
- Planning a trip to Poland and not sure where to begin? Here are the 10 Best Places to Visit in Poland.
- Are you traveling to Poland as part of a bigger Europe trip? Be sure to check out my 3-month itinerary for Europe from Portugal all the way to Sweden.
- Packing for a trip to visit a region as big as Europe can be extremely daunting. Here's a packing guide to help you: What to Pack for Europe - The Essential Packing List.
- Want to visit Europe in winter? Better prepare for the cold. Here's a winter packing guide to help you: What to Pack for Europe in Winter - The Essential Packing List.
- Planning to visit Warsaw, the colorful capital city of Poland soon and not sure where to begin? Check out: 10 Best Things to Do in Warsaw.
- Looking for the best photo spots in Warsaw, Poland? Check out: 8 Best Photo Spots in Warsaw.
- One of the most whimsical fairy-tale cities in Poland, Torun is a must-visit place if you like medieval towns and history. Here are the 9 Best Things to Do in Torun.
- Gdansk is one of the most beautiful port cities in Europe, full of surprising things to do and see. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Gdansk.
- If you are looking to go off the beaten path in Poland, Poznan offers a great alternative to the usual touristy spots in Poland with its unique things to do and places to see. Here are the 8 Best Things to Do in Poznan.
- Wroclaw is a vibrant alternative city to visit for those who seek places in Poland that are off the beaten path, and there are quite a lot of things to do here if you know where to look. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Wroclaw.
- Planning to visit Krakow soon? Check out this travel guide: Top 9 Things to Do in Krakow, Poland that you should check out.
- Not convinced by my words? Here are 125 photos that will inspire you to visit Europe.
- You can also watch my Poland travel video here: "Poland Now" travel video.
- To see all the articles about Poland, visit the Poland Travel Guide page.
- Looking for a place to go after Poland? How about Lithuania, Germany, or Hungary? Visit our Germany travel guide page, Hungary travel guide page, and Lithuania travel guide page for more.
- Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
- Looking for more travel guides for Europe? You can find more on my Europe Travel Guide page.
- Or, if you want something more specific to the region, visit our Eastern Europe Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
10 Comments
Hi Pete, that's a great guide describing best places in Poland in a nutshell. Good job!
I'd also add to this list one more option for nature lovers and hiking aficionados - Babia Gรณra National Park.
It's mountainous area with the highest peak reaching 1725m. Very beautiful and not so crowded like Tatra mountains.
Hey Joanna,
Thank you for the comments! :) Glad you like the guide. I really enjoyed my time in Poland as I was basing myself out of Krakow for my 3 months trip in Europe early this year. I will be writing a more in-depth Krakow guide soon too so stay tuned!
Also, thank you for the suggestions! Tatra was very crowded indeed and I wasn't even in the hiking season. If I go back there, I'll definitely align my time to European spring or autumn and surely go hiking in Babia Gรณra National Park! Thanks again for the suggestion!
Thanks Pete, I like your great itinerary for a two week trip to Poland. I"m taking my 18 year old granddaughter to Poland in July 2019, these are the places I want to show her, ( also visit my relatives in Warsaw and Wroclaw.) It's a perfect itinerary, I am too old to backpack, but I still enjoy short hikes. I'm happy you liked Poland, it's my birthplace.
Thank you for the kind words Longina. :) Poland is amazing and I had a great host there so I was able to experience a bit more than most. I was basing out off from Krakow for 3 months while there. :) Your granddaughter will surely enjoy the stunning colors the Warsaw and Wroclaw. Zakopane will also be a great getaway into the mountains but be sure to book everything way beforehand as it is always full there, ski season or hiking season.
Good luck with your trip! :)
Can we set our base at one place and visit all the above places?
14 days stay in krakow or Warsaw and daily visits to above places is possible? Please advise
Hi Sean,
Daily visits would be too rush and very limiting in my opinion, even if you have your own car. If you don't, it is almost impossible to do day trips and have a worthwhile experience in these destinations. For one, the buses and trains run on specific schedule that makes it impossible to do it in one day and have enough time to explore the city.
Even if you have your own car, it will still be very difficult to accomplish this. Traffic and distance are big factors that can affect how long your journey to these cities will be. Poland is huge and I fear you would be ending up spending most of your time in the car instead of exploring the cities.
I would recommend you visit each location in a loop while staying overnight in each city and travel in circle back to Krakow or Warsaw, where you begin. That way, you should be able to see everything on this itinerary within 14 days and still get to explore them at your leisure.
I hope this helps!
"First I recommend you spend your first day in Auschwitz learning the dark past of Poland so that you can understand the country a bit more." It's not Polish dark past but Germany's (called Nazi) one. Bear that in mind please. There wouldn't had been any Auschwitz without Germany.
Thank you for the clarification, Alek. This will be great for other readers in case they are wondering. I wrote it that way to keep the introduction brief and pique interest but I totally understand what you mean here.
Would like to do a 2-3 week backpacking trip in Poland for next year.
Hey Mario, Highly recommended! :)