Attractions
Attractions in Poland
The sights worth building a day around.
Poland's attractions run from the medieval market squares of Krakow and Wroclaw to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, the memorial at Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Teutonic castle at Malbork. Each page below covers what the place is, how long to spend and how to get there, grouped by city.
All Attractions in Poland
Łódź
Archcathedral Basilica of St. Stanislaus Kostka
A neo-Gothic cathedral at the southern end of ul. Piotrkowska, and at 104.5 metres the tallest building in Łódź.
Lublin
Dominican Basilica (Basilica of St. Stanislaus)
A Renaissance church and former Dominican monastery in Lublin's Old Town, founded in 1342 and tied to the 1569 Union of Lublin. Its decorated family chapels and European Heritage Label draw visitors interested in Polish history and religious art.
Olsztyn
New Town Hall (Nowy Ratusz), Olsztyn
Olsztyn's Neo-Renaissance New Town Hall, opened in 1916, is the seat of the city's municipal authorities and one of its most recognisable public buildings, known for a trumpet hejnał that plays the city anthem at noon.
Poznań
National Museum in Poznań
One of Poland's largest and oldest museums, home to the only Claude Monet on public display in the country. Its Gallery of Painting and Sculpture spans Polish and European art from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.
Sopot
Church of St. George
A neo-Gothic church at the top of Monte Cassino Street in Sopot, built between 1899 and 1901 with a tower designed to be seen from the sea. Entry is free.
Toruń
New Town Market Square (Rynek Nowomiejski)
The central square of Toruń's medieval New Town, ringed by colourful Gothic, Baroque and Art Nouveau townhouses and much quieter than the famous Old Town square nearby.
Warsaw
Warsaw Barbican (Barbakan)
The Warsaw Barbican is a semicircular brick fortress gate from around 1540 and one of the last surviving pieces of the city's medieval walls. It stands between the Old and New Towns, where street artists and vendors gather.
Wrocław
Wrocław Zoo and Afrykarium
Poland's oldest zoo, home to more than 10,000 animals, paired with the Afrykarium, the world's only oceanarium devoted entirely to Africa's aquatic life.
Zakopane
Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at Jaszczurowka
A wooden log chapel from 1907 designed by Stanislaw Witkiewicz, widely regarded as one of the finest examples of Zakopane Style architecture and the most beautiful wooden sacral building in the Tatra region.
Zamość
Franciscan Church (Church of the Annunciation)
The Franciscan Church of the Annunciation is the largest church in Zamość, a monumental Baroque building near Rynek Wielki whose white facade rises close to 40 metres.
Białowieża
Białowieża Towarowa Railway Station
A restored 1903 freight railway station on the edge of Białowieża village, now home to a Tsarist-themed venue and accommodation set inside its old depot, water tower and vintage carriages.
Częstochowa
Museum of Iron Ore Mining
A museum in Częstochowa's Staszic Park that recreates underground iron-ore mine workings as walk-through corridors, commemorating the mining industry that shaped the region.
Poland fits a lot into one country: medieval market squares, a salt mine carved into underground chapels, the memorial at Auschwitz-Birkenau, mountain trails and a long Baltic coast. Seventeen places hold UNESCO World Heritage status, and most of the headline attractions cluster around the cities you are likely to base yourself in, so a first trip rarely means long transfers.
Where the big attractions are
Krakow has the densest cluster: the Main Market Square, laid out in 1257 and among the largest medieval squares in Europe, the underground Wieliczka Salt Mine, and the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial within a day trip. Warsaw rebuilt its Old Town from wartime rubble, Gdansk lines the Motlawa with tall merchant houses, and Wroclaw and Torun keep intact Gothic centres. The mountains around Zakopane and the lakes of Masuria add the outdoor side.
How to choose
Group attractions by the city you are staying in rather than chasing them across the map. Krakow, Warsaw and Gdansk each reward two or three days and put more sights within an easy day trip. For the classic sights that define the country, see the best viewpoints and our city guides.
Before you go
The busiest sites use timed entry, so book Wieliczka and the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial ahead, especially in summer. Many state museums have one free day a week. Tickets are good value by European standards; our note on costs in Poland has the typical prices.
Attractions by city
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