Luxury hotel holiday Hotel Copernicus Krakow

Highlights of Poland

Outside of the main cities, Poland still has plenty to offer. One of the most popular sites is the Wieliczka Salt Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978. The mine is comprised of underground tunnels and chambers and saline lakes. Religious chambers, where the natural stone walls are left exposed, are lit by chandeliers, giving them an ethereal feel. To see one of the castles of the Teutonic Knights, we would recommend the 14th century Malbork Castle, just south of Gdansk in the north. Its typically red walls, archways, and roofs are archetypal of the Teutonic style. Inside, you can view a huge collection of mediaeval artefacts, classical paintings, and a stunning amber collection.

Warsaw Highlights

Warsaw, Poland's capital, offers the best sense of energy of the larger cities. Colourful, tall buildings peer down on the Old Town Square, while the extensive use of bright red brick and red terracotta tiles adds a warmth that isn't often felt in other European capitals. The city almost met with its destruction at the end of the Second World War, but its survival meant the preservation of countless historical monuments that tell the story of the likes of Chopin as well as the tragedy of the Jewish communities. The Palace of Culture & Science is, as the name suggests, too formidable to be called a museum, while the Museum of the History of Polish Jews juxtaposes its intense, emotional exhibits with a sheer, modern exterior style that crops up every now and then elsewhere around the city. A must-see in Warsaw is the Royal Castle, a huge brick structure that almost seems too vast, once home to the Russian tsars and originally the wooden stronghold of the Dukes of Mazovia. The traditional, yet understated, exterior of the Chopin Museum, housed in the Ostrogski Palace, hides a multi-media, high-tech insight into the composer's life and works. Finish your exploration of the city with a wander through the amphitheatre, palace, and manicured lawns of the Lazienki Park. After dark, lively bars and restaurants keep the magic alive into the small hours.

Krakow Highlights

South of Warsaw is the mediaeval city of Krakow, still with its well-preserved Old Town and mediaeval walls. Krakow is known for its sensational architecture, captured by its spired churches, synagogues, and castles. Each street, even the quieter alleyways, have their own type of perfection, in their design and their atmosphere. The 13th century Rynek Glowny is Europe's largest market square. The character of the city really comes into its own in Kazimierz, the old Jewish Quarter, where you can find an abundance of quirky restaurants, bars, and boutique shops. The crowning glory of the city, however, is indisputably the Wawel Royal Castle. The castle has become a well-recognised symbol for the country's national identity, and now pays testament to this with its endless exhibits: the Crown Treasury, the Royal Private Apartments, and its Exhibition of Oriental Art. The highlight of this castle has to be wandering around its grounds, admiring the intricacy of each element of its design, the myriad domes, and its irregular form.

Gdansk Highlights

A port city on the Baltic Coast, Gdansk is a city that was partially reconstructed after the Second World War. It still hugs the shores of the river, with beautiful multi-storied Long Market at its centre, and bourgeois architecture at every turn. Tall townhouses line the river front, each worth appreciating as much as the view out across the water, and the sea-side feel extends back into the city. Wealthy merchants have left a lasting mark on the city, creating a real sense of opulence and extravagance that has attracted incredible restaurants and bars and entices visitors back year after year.