Polish Towns and Cities

Krakow

One of the oldest and largest cities in Poland. It was originally the home of the Polish royalty (between 1038 and 1596), before the capital was moved to Warsaw.  Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish scientific, cultural and artistic life. Famous landmarks include the Main Market Square with St. Mary's Basilica and the Sukiennice Cloth Hall, the Wawel Castle, the National Art Museum, the Zygmunt Bell at the Wawel Cathedral, and the medieval St Florian's Gate with the Barbican along the Royal Coronation Route. In 1978, UNESCO added Kraków's historic centre, which includes the Old Town, Kazimierz and the Wawel Castle to the list of World Heritage Sites.

Attractions in Krakow include:

KrakówOld Town: one of the main tourist destinations in Krakow.
The Main Market Square is the main square of the Old Town, Krakow. It dates back to the 13th century and – it is the largest (200 by 200 meter square) medieval town square in Europe. From its beginnings, the Market Square was the commercial and social heart of Cracow. It was an emporium of the Black Sea trade, and a spring-board for Poland's links with the West. Besides this, it was a place of festivals and public gatherings.

The Main Square is a large area for people to meet during summer festivals, concerts, fairs, presentations, and Poland's largest New Year's Party. Citizens of Krakow frequently meet "pod Adasiem", that is at the foot of the Monument to Adam Mickiewicz, the poet. The square is surrounded by old brick buildings and palaces, almost all of them several centuries old. They house many tourism-oriented establishments as well as the Historical Museum of Kraków and the International Center of Culture. Among the square's landmarks are the Sukiennice - a Renaissance trading hall and one of city's most recognizable icons - now host to many merchant stalls, and the Gallery of the National Museum, upstairs.

Wawel Castle: served as a royal residence and the site where the country's rulers governed Poland for five centuries from 1038 until 1596.

National Museum: established 1879, is the main branch of Poland's National Museum, which has many permanent collections around the country.

Wawel Cathedral: the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Stanisław and Vaclav – is Poland's national sanctuary, located on Wawel Hill in Kraków. It has a 1,000-year history and was the traditional coronation site of Polish monarchs. It is the cathedral of the archdiocese of Kraków. Pope John Paul II had considered being buried there.

Florian Gate: named after St. Florian, is one of the best known Gothic towers in Poland, and a focal point of Kraków's Old Town.

Aqua Park: one of the most popular Krakow centre of entertainment and recreation for the whole family. It got the prestigious title of "The construction of the Year" and have become the inseparable part of our city tourist offer. There are three pools in total 2000 m2 of space with the wide range of attractions including water massage facilities, wild springs, counter-currents, white-water river, swimming tracks, salt-water Jacuzzis and modern saunas complex (steam and dry saunas). More other, there are special areas for playing water sports: water basket-ball, water valley-ball, water hand-ball.

Krakow Valley Golf & Country Club: a beautifully situated recreational complex with a golf course, located between Krakow and Katowice, on the edge of the Krakow Częstochowa Upland. The 160 hectare area boasts an 18-hole course, the Golf Academy, a sports shooting range, a hotel, a restaurant and a horse-riding club. It is an ideal place for active recreation for the whole family, as well as for organizing company meetings and similar such events.

 

Warsaw

The capital of Poland and its largest city. It is the financial center of Poland and includes many historical and cultural monuments.

Attractions in Warsaw include:

WarszawaNew Town: began to develop in 14th century. New Town is located between Krasinskiego Street in the North, Dluga Street to the South, Adama Mickiewicza Street in the West and Wybrzeze Gdanskie Street in the East. It is a pedestrians haven as most of New Town is closed to traffic. Most major attractions except for Citadel museum are located around Dluga Street. New Town is mostly closed to traffic.

Old Town: It stretches between Wybrzeze Gdanskie Street, Grodzka, Mostowa and Powale Street. All major attractions are in the vicinity of Rynek Starego Miasta - Market Square. Warsaw Old Town was established in the XIII th. century. It impresses tourists with its quaint, cobbled streets and unique old architecture. The heart of the area is the Old Town Market Square with its unique traditional Polish restaurants, cafes and shops. When the weather is warm the square becomes filled with cafe tables, various traders and street artists. Surrounding streets feature old architecture such as City Walls, The Barbican and St. John's Cathedral. Old Town is ideal for walks and picnics - the whole area is mostly closed to traffic and provides spectacular scenery and unforgettable atmosphere.

Jewish Ghetto: Before the outbreak of World War II the northwestern part of Warsaw was occupied by mostly Jewish population (about 400,000 people). During the World War II a ghetto was formed out of the Jewish district by Germans. No Jew could leave the ghetto without permission. There are many monuments and memorials in that district as well as the Jewish Historic Museum on Gen Andersa Street, the Jewish National Theatre and Nozyk Synagogue on Grzybowska Street. Worth seeing is Pawiak Prison on Jana Pawla II Street, UmschlagPlatz on Dzika Street, Jewish Cemetary on Okopowa Street and Path of Rememberance on Lewartowskiego Street.

Royal Route: The Royal Route extends from Castle Square (Plac Zamkowy) to the end of Krakowskie Przedmiescie and Nowy Swiat. Along both streets one can admire buildings that are predominantly NeoClassical in style as well as many churches and palaces. Nowy Swiat and Krakowskie Przedmiescie also feature many exclusive cafes, restaurants, stores and fashionable boutiques. Nowy Swiat is great for walks as part of the street is closed for traffic. Some of the attractions that are worth seeing are: Warsaw University, Bristol Hotel, Potocki Palace, Holly Cross Church, Adam Mickiewicz monument as well as Nicholas Copernicus monument. All of the attractions are located along Nowy Swiat and Krakowskie Przedmiescie Streets.

Lazienki Park: Lazienki Park is one of the most beautiful part of Warsaw - one of the most favorite places for walks for Varsovians and tourists. This romantic, landscaped park includes the Palace on the Water, together with various other palaces, pavillons, an amphitheater and two orangeries. The highlight of Lazienki Park is the Palace on the Water. It is one of the finest examples of Neo-Clasical architecture in Poland. King Stanislaw August Poniatowski converted 17th Century Pavillon into a Palace. In World War II the Nazis wanted to blow up the Palace but because of lack of time - they only set fire to it. Currently the Palace is fully restored.

Solidarity Avenue: The Solidarity Avenue vicinity is the Warsaw's commercial and cultural center. The vicinity of solidarity avenue in addition to modern buildings features palaces, churches and monasteries, monuments as well as historic parks and gardens. The most famous palaces worth seeing are Przebendowski-Radziwill Palace on Solidarnosci Ave as well as Krasinski Palace on Bonifaterska Street. Worth seeing are also Basilian Church on Miodowa Street, Jan Kilinski Monument on Podwale Street as well as Krasinkis Gardens around Swietojerska Street and Saxons Gardens around Krolewska Street.

 

Gdansk

Gdańsk is considered the most beautiful city on Baltic Sea having rich magnificent architecture. Gdansk also has a lively waterfront area where tourists congregate in pavement cafes and excellent restaurants.

Attractions in Gdansk include:

GdańskWesterplatte: is where World War II broke out on 1 September 1939, situated at the entrance to the harbour and just a few kilometres from the city of Gdañsk. The Polish garrison held out against the attack for seven days before surrendering to the Nazi German forces, and the site is now a memorial to the defenders, including a small museum, some of the ruins left from the shelling and a massive monument that towers above the area.

Malbork Castle: Malbork Castle is a classic example of a medieval fortress; it is the world’s largest brick castle and one of the most impressive of its kind in Europe. The inner castle includes arcaded courtyards, chapels, a treasury, the Knights’ Hall and an armoury. The interiors house several exhibitions, including displays on the castle’s history, and collections of tapestries, coins and medals, medieval sculptures, and weapons. During summer the courtyard is a venue for sound and light shows.

Sopot: a seaside spa in Poland. Sopot, together with nearby Gdańsk and Gdynia are often referred as Triple-city. Monte Casino Street (ul. Bohaterów Monte Cassino) is the center of Sopot, a pedestrianised promenade. On both sides of the street there are countless XIX - XXth-century houses, some of them housing pubs or restaurants today. To discover the real charm of the town, turn into one of Monte Casino's side streets, where you're bound to admire numerous art nouveau houses, parks and gardens.

Wooden Pier (Molo): It is the longest wooden pier in Europe. During the summertime, for a small fee you can enter the pier, and admire the coastline. The liveliest part of Sopot today is the area around ul. Bohaterow Monte Cassino, where you'll find many of the most enticing bars and shops. This leads down to the sea front, with its well-maintained beaches and the long pier itself (at 640 metres, its the longest in the Baltic).

 

Gydnia

GdyniaGdynia is a young, but quickly expanding port situated right by the seashore, offering many tourist attractions as well as splendid shopping opportunities and a lot of entertainment. The city was founded as a Polish harbor in 1926. Because of its unusual location, you will easily catch great views of the sea and beautiful scenery, and also find long promenades, beautiful waterfronts, marinas and yacht clubs. Gdynia is also a great city for shopping.

The most attractive places for spending your money are Starowiejska and Świętojańska streets. There is a modern and exclusive shopping center named "Batory", at the intersection of 10 Lutego and Władysława IV streets, where luxurious shops and state-of-the-art architecture intertwine. You can enjoy the beautiful panorama of the harbor and of the city from the top of Kamienna Góra (Stone Hill), easily recognizable by the large cross at its top. On your way to the little hill, you will pass the famous Musical Theatre (Teatr Muzyczny), which stages the world's most-famed musicals (you may still be able to get a ticket - check tonight's shows).

Poznan

A city in west-central Poland. Located by the Warta River it is one of the oldest cities in Poland ,making it an important historical center. Poznan's impressive cathedral is the earliest church in the country, containing the tombs of the first Polish rulers. Poznań is a town steeped in history, as it was the first capital (with Gniezno) of Poland and seen by many as the birthplace of the Polish nation. Today it is a diverse and vibrant town, with much to divert the traveller. It has a stunningly rejuvenated central square, thriving night-life, fascinating museums and many attractions in the surrounding area.

Attractions in Poznan include:

PoznańStary Rynek: the old town square, one of the finest in Europe. This is the centre of old Poznań, and has been superbly rebuilt after almost complete destruction in World War 2. Cafés and bars line the square and it is a superb spot for ordering a drink and watching the world go by.

Old Town Hall: is the centrepiece of the Rynek. The building houses the Historical Museum of Poznań (originally the the headquarters of municipal powers and the city court), displaying exhibitions about the history of the city from the 10th century to the present day. Two things to watch out for here are the ornately decorated Great Entrance Hall and the mechanical goats which appear from the roof of the building each day at noon to butt their heads together a dozen times. The museum is open Monday, Tuesday and Friday 10am-4pm, Wednesday noon-6pm and Sunday 10am-3pm. Admission is €1.50.

Ostrów Tumski: (Cathedral Island), famed as the spot on which Poznań was founded, is a quiet island, with a permanent population consisting only of bishops, priests and monks.

Archaeological Museum: With 42,432 artefacts, this is a large and fascinating museum. It specialises in the archaeology of Wielkopolska and Egypt.

Applied Arts Museum: Displays crafts, furniture, precious metals and glassware. Admission €1.25, free Saturdays.

Literary Museum of Henryk Sienkiewicz: Sienkiewicz, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1905, is best known for his work Quo Vadis?, an epic on early Christians in the Roman empire. He is Poland's most celebrated novelist, and this is the most extensive collection of items about his life and works.

Motoring Museum: Run by the Wielkopolska Motoring Club, and features a range of vintage and notable vehicles.

Musical Instruments Museum: With 2000 items from all over the world, this is the only exhibition of its kind in Poland. It also has an extensive collection of Chopin memorabilia.

National Museum: This museum has a prominent collection of Italian, Spanish and Polish art. Many paintings have accompanying explanations in English. Citadel Park, Wzgórze Cytadela. Formerly a fortress built by the Prussians in 1828, it was destroyed during fighting in 1945. It contains a cemetery for the Russian, Polish and British soldiers who lost their lives here.

Lake Malta: The most popular recreation area of Poznań. A small train runs along the north shore every half hour (free days) or one hour (working days) between 10am and 6pm (May till September), tickets available from ul. Jana Pawla II for €1,00.

 

Wroclaw

WrocławThe chief city of the historical region of Lower Silesia in south-western Poland, situated on the Oder (Polish: Odra) river. Before 1945 the city was part of Germany. Since 1999 it has been the capital of Lower Silesian Voivodeship. It boasts fascinating architecture, many rivers and bridges, and a lively and metropolitan cultural scene. It is a city with a troubled past, having seen much violence and devastation, and was almost completely destroyed during the end of the Second World War. However, it has been brilliantly restored and can now be counted amongst the highlights of Poland, and all of Central Europe.

Wroclaw’s complex and dramatic history is embedded in the city walls. We are reminded of the early medieval times in Ostrów Tumski, where one of the most beautiful sacral architecture buildings in Europe has been preserved. Wroclaw Town hall is considered one of the most splendid Gothic buildings in central Europe. In Wroclaw one can also see the biggest baroque interior in Poland, which has remained untill today - the Leopoldine Hall, located in the 17th century University building. The old and modern architecture of the city is surrounded by the abundance of greenery.

In the city centre, there spreads out the Szczytnicki Park dating from the 18th century. It cointains over 370 species of trees and shrubs and a Japanese garden. If you want to have a walk, the great places are the Botanical Garden with their beautiful flowers and Alpine gardens, green house and the biggest cactus house in Poland, and the Zoological Garden, founded in 1865 and accommodating about 5.500 animals representing 650 species.

Visitors coming to Wroclaw remember the city mainly as a cultural centre. Its theatres, including the Opera, Musical Theatre and Philharmonic Hall; various clubs, museums and galleries provide a continuous series of artistic events. Internationally acknowledged musical festivals have become the city’s cultural landmark. The biggest of them is International Festival WRATISLAVIA CANTANS - Music and Fine Arts. Other festivals which take place in Wroclaw include Jazz on the Odra, Old Master’s Music Days, One-Actor Theatr Performances and Festival of Actor Songs. One of the cultural attractions which is a must when visiting Wroclaw, is certainly the Panorama of Raclawice, a gigantic rotunda accommodating a 120 metres wide and 15 metres high panoramic painting which represents the battle of Raclawice fought on 7 April 1794.

 

Attractions in Wroclaw include:

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist: Dating from the 13th century, featuring stunning architecture and the largest church organ in Poland.

The Rynek: (central square) the architectural centre-point of Wroclaw, and its most obvious attraction. It is one of the biggest town squares in Europe, and is lined on all sides with photogenic and interesting buildings. Centre of tourist life, place where tourists drink beer.

Wroclaw Town Hall: Construction of the town hall began in the 14th century. It was one of the few major buildings in Wroclaw to survive World War 2, and it now serves as the Museum of Burgher Art. The interior features stunning Gothic interiors.

Ostrow Tumski: a group of islands on the Oder River with beautiful Cathedrals and a few hundred year old buildings, for those who would have romantic evening, walking through mystery brick stoned streets . It is complete with hand-lit oil lamps lit nightly

St. Elizabeth's Church: On the northeast side of the Rynek, this is a large and imposing medieval building with a 90m high tower with spectacular views over the old town.

Salt Square Pl. Solny, formerly salt market, now flower market,

Panorama of the battle of Racławice: This giant 360-degree painting, depicting a Polish military victory in 1794, is a popular symbol of Polish nationalism. Guided tours in English, French and German run every hour at no extra cost.

Park Szczytnicki: Very large, spanning over a few kilometers, it's a common place for walks. Becomes incredibly colorful in autumn and should not be missed if you travel there in late September or October.

Max Berg's Centennial Hall: One of the first and biggest concrete halls, mentioned in any history of architecture. This site has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage List

 

Torun

ToruńA city in northern Poland, on the Vistula River. The second largest city of the Kujawy-Pomerania Province, after Bydgoszcz. The medieval old town of Toruń is a birthplace of Nicolaus Copernicus. It was inscribed onto the World Heritage List of UNESCO as World Heritage Site in 1997.Toruń's medieval Old Town or Starowka is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Toruń is a birthplace of world famous astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus. The house where Copernicus was born and the chapel where he was christened are still standing in the city. From Middle Ages town is known for its gingerbreads. Torun is considered the best-preserved Gothic town in Poland—the atmosphere of the Old Town is worth making the day trip from Warsaw. Its medieval walls and remaining gates are gems.

Zakopane

The town, a place of Górale culture and informally known as the winter capital of Poland, lies in the southern part of the Podhale region at the feet of the Tatra Mountains, which is the only alpine mountain range in the Carpathian Mountains. Zakopane lies in a big valley between the Tatra Mountains and Gubałówka Hill. It is the most important Polish centre of mountaineering and skiing, and is visited by about three million tourists annually. The most important alpine skiing locations are Kasprowy Wierch, Nosal and Gubałówka Hill. Zakopane has the highest elevation (800-1000 m) of any town in Poland. The central point of the town is at the junction of Krupówki and Kościuszki streets. Zakopane, Poland's premier mountain resort, is one of the country's most popular holiday destinations, both in the winter for ski-ing, and in the summer, for hiking and camping.

Attractions in Zakopane include:

ZakopaneKościeliska Street: A complex of wooden buildings typical of the Podhale region, which originated in XIX century.

Stary Kościół (Old Church): A wooden church built in 1845-1851, the seat of the first parish in Zakopane. Situated in Kościeliska St. - Kaplica Gąsieniców. The chapel was the first sacred building in Zakopane built in 1800 by Paweł Gąsienica. Situated in Kościeliska St.

Stary Cmentarz na Pęksowym Brzyzku: The old cemetery, the first cemetery in Zakopane, the place where famous writers, artists and mountaineers are buried. Situated in Kościeliska St.

Nowy Cmentarz Zakopiański: The new cemetery opened in 1907; the place where artists, mountaineers, mountain rescuers, priests and The First and The Second World Wars veterans are buried. Situated in Nowotarska St.

Willa "Koliba": The mansion is the first example of Zakopane style built in 1893 according to Stanisław Witkiewicz's design. Situated in Kościeliska St.

Willa "Pod Jedlami": The mansion of the Pawlikowski family designed for them by Stanisław Witkiewicz. It is the biggest and the most beautiful example of the Zakopane style. Situated in Koziniec St. - Willa "Witkiewiczówka". The mansion in the Zakopane style designed in 1904 by Jan Koszyc Witkiewicz. In the 1930s it was the residence of Stanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz (Witkacy).

Chata Sabały: A wooden building from the early XIX century, situated in Stare Krzeptówki, in the western part of Zakopane.