Plan a trip to Poland
From landscapes to palaces to culture and street art, this is where you should head for a diverse experience in a span of few days
- After Hrs Correspondent
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- Feb 12, 2018, 08:15 PM IST
Poland is one of those places that offer you a complete experience within a span of few days. The country is a great place for lovers of street art, with massive murals on various nooks, corners and building facades of Gdansk. From stunning scenery to a wonderful cultural experience, this motley land is the perfect vacation destination.
1. Main Market Square in Krakow
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Main Market Square —
The beautiful Main Square Market located in Old Town in Krakow dates back to the 13th century. This is one of the main tourist attractions of the country. It also happens to be the largest medieval town square in Europe.
Various historic buildings, churches, townhouses and palaces surround the square. At the centre is the Cloth Hall, rebuilt in the Renaissance style in 1555.
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Tatra Mountains —
The Tatra Mountains are a range that forms a natural border between Slovakia and Poland and the highest range in the Carpathian Mountains. The Tatras should be distinguished from the Low Tatras, Slovak: Nízke Tatry, which are located south of the Tatra mountains in Slovakia.
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Wieliczka Salt Mine —
The mining town is now a tourist attraction. It features an underground city, carved out of rock salt, including a chapel that’s said to have the best acoustics in any European structure. A tiny elevator takes you into an incredible world. Apart from ancient sculptures carved from salt, new ones by contemporary artists have been added here.
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Auschwitz-Birkenau —
Your trip to Poland will be incomplete without a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau. The size of the infamous Nazi concentration camp is the first thing to strike visitors as they approach the entrance to the memorial and museum in Oswiecim. Devoted to the memory of the murders in the camps during World War II, Auschwitz-Birkenau has been visited by more than 25 million people.
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Gdansk Old Town —
Located on the Baltic coast, the city of Gdansk’s history includes a long occupation by 14th century Teutonic Knights whose fortresses contrasted strongly with the existing town that came to be known as Altstadt, or ‘Old Town’. In the 15th century, Casimir IV of Poland allowed the structures built by the Teutonic Knights to be demolished. Gdansk’s Old Town area includes many 17th century structures, including granaries, mills and churches.
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Bialowieza Forest —
The Bialowieza runs across the border between Poland and the Republic of Belarus. Those who want to explore it, can hire bicycles or go on foot. You can check out animals including a protected species of European bison. Guided tours are available on foot or in horse-drawn carriages.
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Malbork Castle and Wawel Castle —
A popular tourist attraction, Malbork Castle was founded in 1274 by the Teutonic Knights who used it as their headquarters to help defeat Polish enemies. The castle was expanded several times to host the growing number of Knights until their retreat to Königsburg in 1466. Wawel Castle was first built in the 14th century.
8. Warsaw Old Market Place
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Warsaw Old Market Place —
For over five centuries, the central marketplace founded in the 13th century was extremely prominent among the locals of this country. The Old Town Market Place was destroyed in the World War II, to be reconstructed soon. The market square features a bronze sculpture of the Warsaw mermaid, the symbol of Poland’s capital.
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Masurian Lakeland —
A tranquil experience awaits you at this location. The Masurian Lake District contains more than 2,000 lakes connected by an extensive system of canals and rivers. The place has many options for accommodation and has proved to be popular over the years.
