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• Auschwitz & Birkenau 

• Bialowieski National Park  

• Castle in Malbrook  

• Dunajec Gorge  

• Krakow

• Mazury  

• Nature  

• Tatra Mountains  

• Warsaw

• Wieliczka Salt Mine  

• Zamosc

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General Information

Auschwitz (Oswiecim) and Birkenau (Brzezinka) are two concentration camps which are considered to be the largest cemeteries in Europe. Both are located in Oswiecim, 40 km west of Krakow. One can easily get there by train or by car. Today, Auschwitz is a museum where you can find many exhibitions and a movie theater, which show movies on the liberation of the camp. In the same camp, the old barracks there are both general exhibitions which are dedicated to particular nations. It is recommended to visit pavilion No. 27 which was dedicated to the Jewish people, who were the main victims of the camp. One can visit the museum with a guide although the exhibition is fully comprehensible without any guides. The Museum in Auschwitz opens at 8 am. In June, July and August it closes at 7 pm. In other months, it closes earlier. In the wintertime, it closes between 3 pm and 4 pm.

It will take you several hours to see the whole exhibition. Take the whole day for such a trip, especially if you want to see both Auschwitz and Birkenau. The camps are enormous and in order to see them you need several hours. Birkenau is located 3 km from Auschwitz. The quickest way to get there is to take a cab or one of the buses which run between the two camps (only in the summertime). It is recommended to visit Oswiecim in the morning (by train from Krakow) and then the museum in Birkenau before visiting the camp in Birkenau. 

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Here you will find one of the largest forests in Europe, which is located on the Polish-Byelorussian border, near Bialystok. 580 square kilometers of the forest (entire area is 1,250 sq. km) is located in Poland. Bialowieza National Park is centered in Bialowieza. If interested touring the park, one can get to the park only with a guide. Throughout the ages, Bialowieza Forest was under the protection of Polish Kings where they used the park as a  hunting place.

During both World Wars, it suffered significant damage, especially the animals (a species of bison, the aurochs, became endangered). Today, aurochs live in Bialowieza Primeval Forest again, which is where the largest population in Europe is found. Most of them live entirely in freedom, while others are maintained in zoo's. 

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This is the largest medieval castle in Europe. It took 33 years to build ( 1276-1309) and it belonged to The Great Master of the Teutonic Order. It played this role until 1457 when it fell under the rule of Poland. You can walk by foot from the railway station to the castle. Give yourself about 4 hours to visit the entire complex. Try to be there before noon (tours are organized only in groups). Inside the castle are two museums: The Museum of Amber and The Museum of Old Weapons. Both are worth visiting.

The museums are closed on Mondays, however, the castle will be open to visit. Do not miss the opportunity to climb up the castle tower from which you will be able to view the vicinity. The Malbork Castle is situated in the city of Malbork, south to Gdansk. 

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This is one of the greatest tourist attractions in Poland. The Gorge is located in the Pieniny National Park on the Polish-Slovak border near Zakopane. Starting in the middle of May until the middle of September, raft cruises are organized on the river which flow between two high, almost vertical edges of Pieniny (almost 500m high). All along the river you will experience breathtaking scenery. The easiest way to get there is from Zakopane by regular local buses (to Nowy Targ and from there a bus to Katy) or by buses provided by tourist agencies. You can organize a trip where you are able to travel from Sromowce Nizne ( the beginning of the cruise)  to Szczawnica (about a 2.5 hour trip). On the way back, groups sometimes stop in Debno and visit the famous wooden Gothic church.

Do not plan anything else for that day. The cruise on the river, together with time spent to get there and back, will take you the whole day. 

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It said to be the most beautiful and precious city in Poland. This is a town of Gothic churches, Baroque palaces, old cemeteries, beautiful tenement houses and many other monuments. This is a great treasure of Poland. Fortunately, the town wasn't destroyed during the World War II (as were many towns in Poland). Today, it is the most monumental city in Poland. The most interesting places in Krakow are:

• The Old Marketplace - is the largest medieval marketplace in Europe. Here you can find Sukiennice (Gothic shops) and Kosciol Mariacki (St. Mary’ Church) that is just unbelievable inside, especially the famous Vit Stwosz’s Altar. Do not miss the opportunity to hear the hourly bugle-call sounded from the tower of St. Mary’s Church.
• Wawel - is another magic place in Krakow. On a fortified hill is where you can find The Royal Castle with beautiful rooms. The Cathedral is found here where the tombs of well-known Polish Kings lay and where the largest bell in Poland (Zygmunt’s Bell) is located (on the tower).
• The Jewish District (Kazimierz) - here is a place that you experience  extraordinary cemeteries and synagogues.
• Museums - even if you're not particularly keen on museums, it is recommended that you see the National Museum (Street 3 Maja 1) and its branches at the Main Marketplace. Do not forget the Czartoryski Museum (Street Sw. Jana) where you can find, among others, a famous picture of Leonardo da Vinci, “A Lady with a Weasel”.
• The Trail of Eagles Nests - a network of castles and castle ruins situated North of the city.

It is quite safe to roam the streets at night, however, always be prepared. In the evenings, go and join the lively atmosphere at the Marketplace, which is open all night. If you are planning to spend a whole day sightseeing, Krakow is an excellent starting point for day trips.   

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This area is located in the north-eastern part of Poland, east of Olsztyn. It is a typical post-glacial region. Lakes, which occupy 1/5 of t he area, is the greatest tourist attraction in the region. Sniardwy Lake is the largest, however, Mamry Lake and Niegocin Lake are only slightly smaller. Apart from these enormous lakes,  you can find thousands of smaller lakes that are nearby. They are joined by well maintained canals, rivers and brooks, which enable canoe rallies. Along Krutynia (in the neighborhood of Ruciane-Nida), the route (100km) runs through the following lakes: Mokre, Beldany, Nidzickie) and Czarna Hancza (in the neighborhood of Augustow). 

You may rent canoes and yachts in Gizycko, Mikolajki, Elk, Wegorzewo and Ruciane-Nida. These towns are good starting points when traveling to The Great Mazury Lakes. In the summertime, ships of the white fleet cruise on the Mazury Lakes.

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When looking at a map of Poland you probably get the impression that it is a rather flat country, with not much to see. Don't be mislead! There is enough here to see that will keep you busy for weeks, possibly months. You will bring home memories that you haven't ever imagined.

The most popular mountain destination are Tatry Mountains, but Sudety, Bieszczady, Beskidy and the Swietokrzyskie Mountains shouldn't be missed. For cave lovers, please visit Wyzyna Krakowsko and Czestochowska (north of Krakow). Lakes are another highlight of Poland. The most popular are Mazurian Lakes which are one of the best places for water sports in Europe. Pojezierze Suwalskie in North-Eastern Poland and Pojezierze Kaszubskie ( near Gdansk) are other lakes that are similar, yet different. Poland is also a country of forests. They cover more than a quarter of its surface. The largest forest areas include Puszcza Bialowieska, Puszcza Kampinowska and Bory Tucholskie. The Dunajec Gorge is a place of special interest. You will also find in Bagna Biebrzanskie the largest marshlands in Europe, which is home for many species of birds. 

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These are the tallest mountains in this part of Europe. The whole Tatry mountain range is a part of the Tatry National Park, which is complementary to a similar park created on the Slovak side. If you want to learn more about the Tatry Mountains you should visit Muzeum Tatrzanskie (The Tatry Museum) in Zakopane.

Zakopane is the best starting point for trips to The Tatry Mountains. Taking an expedition to Kasprowy Wierch is the most popular trip that people take. One can get there by taking a train from Kuznice or you can walk there by foot, which is recommended because of the sceneries. If you want to admire the panoramic views of Zakopane, you should climb up Giewont, which takes about 3-4 hours. Trips to Morskie Oko (the largest lake in the Tatry Mountains) are very popular as well. To get there, you should first go to Polana Palenica and then walk to the lake by foot (9 km). You can go even higher and hike to Czarny Staw. If you are not tired, climb up Rysy (2499m), the highest peak of the Polish Tatry Mountains. Kuznice is the main gate to the Tatry Mountains. From there you can set off for one of many possible routes. The routes are well marked so the only problem is to choose one of them. One can get to Kuznice very easily, where you can find public transportation.

Warning - in the summer and wintertime, the Tatry Mountains are more crowded than New York so it is recommended to choose a route which is attended less frequently. 

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This is the capital of Poland which was almost lost during World War II. After the Warsaw uprising, Hitler ordered for "Warsaw to be razed to the ground", and that is what happened. No other capital city in Europe has encountered such a fate. However, Hitler lost his private war with Warsaw, its history and its culture. The major areas of Warsaw have been reconstructed. Today, you can admire at least part of its previous splendor. It is recommended to see:

• The Old Town - which has a beautiful marketplace. At the marketplace is where The Historical Museum of the City of Warsaw is located. Try to watch a movie about the city ( before and after the war) which is shown in museums. You will appreciate the city even more if you know the history behind it.
• The Royal Castle - is where you can find the carefully reconstructed " seat" of past Polish Kings. Inside you will find court’s rooms (with a parliament room) and King’s rooms.
• The Great Theater - is an enormous building in the Theater Square with magnificent interiors. It is a remarkable example of classicist architecture. It is expected that soon the reconstruction of the Jablonowski Palace will be started which is located opposite of the Theater (the pre-war town hall). When finished, the square will once again regain its previous splendor.
• Palace in Wilanow - was once the beautiful Baroque residence of Jan III Sobieski. The Palace of culture and science is a great tourist attraction. It is considered to be The tallest building in Poland. At the top (paid entrance), you will have the best view of the city.
• The Lazienki Park - is a beautiful park which has been around since the 18th century. A good number of palaces are located here.
• The National Museum (located on "Street Jerozolimskie 3") - is considered to be the greatest Polish museum in Poland. Apart from rich collections of Polish art, it can be proud of its very precious collections of art of ancient Egypt, Syria and Cyprus.
• Kampinos National Park - is located just outside the city. It is excellent area for hiking.
• Zelazowa Wola - is located 70 km west of Warsaw where Fryderyk Chopin was born.

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This is one of the greatest treasures of Poland. Salt has been extracted from this salt mine of Wieliczka for over 700 years. Underground tunnels exist which are several hundred kilometers in distance. When under ground, you will find salt lakes, a museum, St. Kinga's Chapel, salt monuments and a sanitarium. A visit to this kingdom of salt is an unforgettable experience! If you are in Krakow, you cannot miss a trip to Wieliczka, which is located only 12 km from the center of the Krakow. You can travel to Wieliczka by bus, train or by one of the frequently running shuttles. A trip to the underground corridors takes about 2.5 hours. Only groups are admitted. Get there before noon in order to catch a group. 

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This is a town of several thousand inhabitants located in the south-eastern part of Poland. It is considered to be the pearl of the Polish Renaissance. This is one of a few Renaissance towns in Europe which have been entirely preserved. Recently, it has been entered into The List of Human Heritage of UNESCO. It was established in 1580 by chancellor Jan Zamojski as the center of his estates. In the middle of an empty field, the chancellor built a great city with the help of Italian architects. Poles, Jews, Armenians, Ukrainians and Italians settled in the city. The city even has its own University-Akademia Zamojska.

It is quite an active city and its narrow streets are built next to beautiful tenement houses. The most interesting part of the old town is its marketplace and the Renaissance Town hall. The collegiate church, Zamojski Palace, is located north-west of the marketplace. Also, there is a synagogue that was built in 1620 (located near the library) that is interesting as well.