Things to do in 

Poland

Wander past the headline sights to find alternative things to do in Poland, spending time in creative districts, forest edges, and small-town squares where daily life unfolds.

Cultural experiences: In Krakow’s Podgórze, join a street-art walk that ends with obwarzanek rolling at a tiny bakery, a hands-on stop families enjoy. In Warsaw’s Praga, browse the Neon Museum and eat at a classic milk bar, an easy-paced outing for seniors. East of Krakow, the painted village of Zalipie hosts folk-art workshops in home courtyards, about 90 minutes by car. In Gdansk’s Shipyard area, meet craftspeople restoring boats near the European Solidarity Center and sip compote at a canteen visited by shipwrights.

Day trip ideas: From Krakow, dip into Ojców National Park for limestone cliffs, a riverside path, and Pieskowa Skała Castle. From Gdansk, ride to Malbork to roam the brick halls and ramparts, then return for pierogi on Piwna Street. From Wroclaw, head to Świdnica’s wooden Church Of Peace or south to Książ Castle above forested valleys. From Warsaw, spend a quiet half-day in Żelazowa Wola, Chopin’s birthplace, or walk sandy tracks in Kampinos Forest on the city’s edge.

Explore Poland’s regions: In the Tatra Mountains, base in Zakopane for wooden villas, shepherds’ cheese, and valley walks beneath Giewont. Across Masuria, paddle lakes near Mikołajki and bike flat scenic roads between villages. Along the Pomeranian Coast, day-hop from Gdynia to the Hel Peninsula for dunes and smoked fish stands. In Podlasie, aim for Białowieża Forest and timber villages near the Belarus border; in Silesia, explore industrial heritage and red-brick Nikiszowiec in Katowice.

Travel tip: Set aside 7–10 days for two cities and one region; 14+ days lets you track from the Baltic to the Tatras at a gentle pace. Short trip? Pair Krakow with Prague via nearby Czech Republic, or link Gdansk with Berlin through Germany.

More places to see in Poland

Beyond Kraków, give yourself time for the Baltic coast, mountain trails, and quiet borderlands that feel a world away from the usual route.

Gdańsk: Walk the Motława waterfront by the medieval crane and watch shipyard cranes frame the skyline. Step into the European Solidarity Centre to trace the city’s role in recent history. Wander Mariacka Street and look into small amber workshops where you can chat with the makers.

Wrocław: Cross to Ostrów Tumski and drift between brick churches and bridge views over the Oder. Drop into Hala Targowa for a quick plate of pierogi or a slice of poppy seed cake, shoulder to shoulder with locals. Keep an eye out for the city’s tiny dwarf statues tucked at doorways and down alleys.

Białowieża & Podlasie: Join a licensed guide for a quiet walk in the Białowieża Forest Strict Reserve, where ancient oaks and fresh tracks tell the story of Europe’s last primeval woodland. In villages like Trześcianka and Soce, step inside wooden Orthodox churches and listen for the soft creak of old floors. In Kruszyniany, visit the small Tatar mosque and try a slice of layered pierekaczewnik at a family kitchen.

Zakopane & the Tatras: Stroll Kościeliska Street to see carved wooden villas and workshops that smell of fresh timber. Follow the trail to Morskie Oko, where the path rises through spruce forest to a high lake ringed by peaks. Taste warm oscypek cheese from a shepherd’s hut and wipe the smoke from your sleeves as you step back onto the lane.

Seasonal activities

Spring: Expect mild days and fresh greenery across Poland as parks and riversides wake up. Wander under cherry and magnolia blooms in Warsaw’s Łazienki or Wrocław’s Botanic Garden, then slip into quieter Old Town lanes for café stops. Choose gentle city walks and museum time that suit multi-generational groups and slower travellers.

Summer: Stretch out on wide Baltic beaches in Sopot or Świnoujście, swim in warm shallows and linger on long twilights perfect for couples. Sail or kayak the Masurian Lakes, charter a private boat for a lazy loop, or head south for easy Tatra viewpoints near Zakopane. Kids love sandy coves and ice cream kiosks, while spa stays add polish for luxury-minded travellers.

Fall: Follow golden leaves through Białowieża Forest and city parks in Kraków and Warsaw, then taste harvest flavours at neighbourhood markets. Join a dożynki harvest celebration in the countryside and, on 1 November, see cemeteries glow with candles for All Saints’ Day. Quieter galleries and slower days make this a comfortable season for seniors and culture seekers.

Winter: Browse Christmas markets in Kraków’s Main Square and Wrocław’s Rynek, sip grzaniec and admire Kraków’s whimsical szopki nativity scenes. Ride a horse-drawn sleigh in the Podhale region, ski gentle slopes near Zakopane, then soak in steamy thermal baths. Families find skating rinks and festive lights everywhere, and February’s Tłusty Czwartek calls for warm pączki from a favourite bakery.

Much-loved annual moments anchor the calendar: Wianki Midsummer celebrations in Kraków with wreath-floating on the Vistula, Gdańsk’s St. Dominic’s Fair filling historic streets with crafts and buskers, and Poznań’s St. Martin’s Day parade crowned by buttery rogale. Mark the Warsaw Uprising remembrance on 1 August at 5 pm when sirens sound across the city, and catch colourful Three Kings Day processions on 6 January in towns nationwide for a vivid window into tradition.