I was born and raised about 70 km from the Polish border, so I know quite a lot about Poland. I even understand the Polish language, so you can trust me on this one.
I have been to Poland many times, so for me it is not simply a country I have visited as a tourist a few times. Because I grew up relatively close to the Polish border, Poland has always been quite close to me. I was familiar with the Polish language and knew quite a lot about the country even before I started seeing it as a travel destination.
So today I want to tell you not just about the most famous tourist attractions in Poland, but about the cities that I personally recommend visiting.
So, what is actually worth visiting in Poland?
For me, there are three cities that especially stand out.
#1 — Kraków
For me, it is definitely Kraków.
A historic city that has preserved its history.
All Polish cities have a certain similarity to each other, but Kraków is my top choice.
I have been to the city centre, and there is so much beautiful architecture, churches and religious buildings. There is a huge square, with restaurants and cafés all around it serving delicious food.
And the centre of Kraków is exactly where I would recommend starting your visit.
The main square is called Rynek Główny — the Main Market Square. It is a huge historic square right in the heart of the Old Town and, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful parts of Kraków.
There are many important sights around the square.
For example, Sukiennice — the Cloth Hall, one of the main symbols of Kraków. It is the historic building right in the middle of the square, where you can find souvenirs and traditional market stalls.
Right next to it is the famous St. Mary’s Basilica (Bazylika Mariacka). It is one of the symbols of the city and impossible to miss when you are standing in the square.
There is also the Town Hall Tower, while the square itself is surrounded by beautiful historic buildings, restaurants and cafés.
From there, you can walk along Floriańska Street, see the St. Florian’s Gate and the Barbican. In general, the central part of Kraków is perfect for walking.
Another very important part of the city is Wawel.
Wawel Castle and Wawel Cathedral are among the most important historic sights in Poland. For centuries, Wawel was the residence of Polish kings, so it is not simply a beautiful place — it is a major part of the country’s history.
I would also highly recommend Kazimierz, Kraków’s historic district.
It has a completely different atmosphere: old streets, synagogues, historic buildings, small cafés and restaurants. It is a place where you can simply walk around and take in the city.
You can also walk through Planty, the green park belt surrounding the Old Town.
But honestly, in Kraków I would not try to see absolutely everything in one day.
It is a city you want to actually experience.
Walk through the old streets, enter a church, look at the architecture, sit somewhere on the square with a coffee, have lunch in a restaurant, and then simply continue walking without a specific route.
And, of course, if you are in Kraków, you should try the local food.
Pierogi, obwarzanek krakowski, zapiekanka and Krakowska kiełbasa are all part of the Kraków experience.
For me, Kraków is a combination of history, architecture, food and atmosphere.
And if this is your first trip to Poland, I would personally put Kraków in first place.
#2 — Warsaw
Second place goes to Warsaw, the capital of Poland.
Warsaw is Poland’s business centre and its economic, cultural and political centre.
And here I get a completely different feeling compared with Kraków.
If Kraków is primarily about history, old architecture and the atmosphere of old Europe for me, Warsaw is a large modern European metropolis.
What I find particularly interesting about Warsaw is the contrast.
On one side, you have the historic city, churches, religious buildings, squares and historic architecture.
On the other, you have modern skyscrapers, business centres, large shopping complexes, modern restaurants and a very fast pace of life.
You should visit central Warsaw at least once.
You can start with the Old Town (Stare Miasto).
And the square I was trying to remember is Castle Square (Plac Zamkowy).
This is where you will find the Royal Castle (Zamek Królewski). From there, you can walk towards the Old Town Market Square, see the Warsaw Barbican, and simply walk through the old streets.
It is also worth walking along Krakowskie Przedmieście and the Royal Route.
This is one of Warsaw’s most famous walking routes and connects many important historic places.
If you want to take a break from the city, I would recommend Łazienki Królewskie, the Royal Łazienki park and palace complex.
It is a huge green area where you can walk, see the palaces, gardens and water, and simply take a break from the noise of the metropolis.
Another place that is impossible to miss is the Palace of Culture and Science (Pałac Kultury i Nauki).
For me, it is one of the symbols of modern Warsaw. You can see it from different parts of the city, and it really emphasizes the scale of the capital.
If you are interested in Polish history, I would also recommend the Warsaw Uprising Museum.
And for those interested in music and culture, there is the Fryderyk Chopin Museum.
But again, I would not limit yourself only to the sights.
In Warsaw, you should simply walk.
Walk along the Vistula River, look at the modern city centre, the skyscrapers, the people, the restaurants and cafés.
Feel how big the city actually is.
Because Warsaw is no longer simply a Polish city with an old historic centre.
It is a real metropolis.
And that is exactly what I like about it.
It shows a completely different Poland — modern, fast-paced and business-oriented, but at the same time with a very strong sense of history.
#3 — Rzeszów
And third place for me, surprisingly, is Rzeszów, near the border with Ukraine.
It really surprised me in the best possible way.
I honestly did not expect this.
It is a small city, but there is so much there.
I did not expect such a beautiful historic centre.
And this is exactly what I meant when I said that many Polish cities are similar because of their old historic centres, churches, religious buildings and architecture.
Rzeszów has a very pleasant historic centre with Rynek — the Market Square, old buildings, beautiful architecture, the Town Hall, churches and other historic religious buildings.
You can simply walk around the centre and take your time.
It is worth seeing the Town Hall, Lubomirski Castle, walking through the old streets and stopping at one of the restaurants or cafés.
Another place I find particularly interesting is Rzeszowskie Piwnice, an underground tourist route beneath the historic centre.
In other words, underneath the streets you are walking through today, there is another hidden layer of the city’s history.
And these are exactly the kinds of things I love discovering while travelling.
When you go somewhere without very high expectations, and suddenly the place surprises you.
Rzeszów was exactly that kind of city for me.
I did not expect anything particularly special from it, but in the end it left a very pleasant impression.
So I would say: if you are travelling near the Ukrainian border, don’t necessarily just drive past Rzeszów.
Stop.
Walk around the centre.
Look at the architecture.
Sit down in a café.
And maybe you will be pleasantly surprised too.
What do I mean when I say Polish cities are similar?
Rzeszów explains my point very well.
Polish cities have a certain similarity to each other.
An old historic centre, a central square, a town hall, old townhouses, churches and religious buildings.
And around them — restaurants, cafés and shops.
But at the same time, every city has its own character.
And that is probably one of the things I like about Poland.
You can visit a relatively small city and still find a beautiful historic centre, interesting architecture, old churches and places where you simply want to walk around.
Or you can come to Warsaw and experience a completely different scale — skyscrapers, business centres, large streets and the rhythm of a metropolis.
And then you can go to Kraków and once again find yourself surrounded by the atmosphere of old Europe.
So my personal top looks like this:
#1 Kraków — for its history, architecture and atmosphere.
#2 Warsaw — for its scale, modernity and the feeling of a major European metropolis.
#3 Rzeszów — for how unexpectedly and pleasantly it surprised me.
And this is my honest recommendation.
Not simply a list of the most famous Polish cities from a tourist guide, but three cities that I would personally put on my travel list.
Poland becomes much more interesting when you do not limit yourself only to the most popular destinations.
Yes, Kraków and Warsaw are obvious choices.
But sometimes cities like Rzeszów can leave the strongest impression because you arrive without expectations — and suddenly discover something really beautiful.
And maybe that is one of the most interesting parts of travelling: not only seeing the places you already know, but unexpectedly discovering something new for yourself.