What to see in Poland: a guide for tourists and beginners

Poland attracts tourists with its low prices, delicious cuisine, and authentic flavor, so Ukrainians, despite their historical and cultural proximity, will definitely have something to see in the neighboring country. The weather in Poland is almost no different from ours, only in the upper part of the Sudetenland and the Carpathians there are signs of a mountainous climate.

Poland offers unforgettable mountain vacations in the High Tatras or Sudetenland, enjoyment of the Baltic Sea coast, or historical tours of old city districts. The Guardian has told you what to see in Poland and published a guide for the novice tourist.

Poznan

Poznan is a city in the central part of western Poland, located on the Wielkopolska Lake District, on the Warta River. It is one of the oldest Polish cities. The old town, incredible lakes, the Rogalowe Museum, and the Enigma Cipher Center, which sheds light on the vital role played by Polish codebreakers in thwarting the Nazis, are worth seeing.

Museums and cultural institutions are also a pride of the city:

• National Museum;
• Archaeological Museum;
• Poznan Philharmonic named after Tadeusz Seligowski;
• Poznan Museum of Musical Instruments;
• Museum of the Army;
• The Morasko Meteorite Reserve is one of the largest clusters of meteorite craters in Europe.

Warsaw

Warsaw was destroyed at the end of World War II, so the fact that it is now a bustling metropolis of two million people, ranked first in the Best European Destination for Tourism survey in 2023, is nothing short of impressive.

For an interesting lesson in modern Polish history combined with an introduction to the science of lighting, head to the Neon Museum, a remarkable collection of neon signs from the Cold War. Warsaw is home to dozens of different museums. Among the most important: The Royal Castle, the National Museum, the Independence Museum, the Railway Museum, the Museum of the Polish Army, the Warsaw Uprising Museum, and the Warsaw Museum of Modern Art.

Sopot

Sopot is the gateway to the Polish Riviera, the best beach resort in Poland with several kilometers of golden beach surrounded by protected dunes, the longest pier in Europe, and restored architecture. It is a city in northern Poland, located on the shores of the Gulf of Gdansk. Sopot has the longest wooden sea pier in Europe, which is 515.5 meters long.

Masurian Lake District

The Masurian Lake District is a lake plateau that breaks into the Pomeranian Lowlands in the north and passes into the Mazowiecko-Podlaska Lowlands in the south. The area is dominated by glacial-accumulative terrain with many hills and hollows connected by numerous rivers.

In addition to healthy hiking, you can rent a kayak or canoe to paddle on one of the two thousand lakes in one of the most remote regions of Poland. Further east is the Białowieża Forest, a vast primeval forest. Hundreds of bison live in the forest, so you should be careful.

Lodz

The history of Łódź dates back to the Middle Ages, and the city's heyday dates back to the 19th century. It is an ancient industrial city. Manufactories and mechanized factories were built in the classicist style using reinforced concrete structures, which is why the city was nicknamed the "Polish Manchester".

But Lodz is not all about industry. It is worth visiting the Museum of Book Art, the Museum of Cinematography, located in the Scheibler Palace, and the Museum of Independence Traditions, which occupies the building of the historic royal prison.

Other places of interest include:

• Freedom Square and City Hall;
• Maximilian Goldfeder's Palace;
• Poznan Palace;
• White Factory - a museum of the textile industry;
• Karol Scheibler's Palace;
• Jewish cemetery - the largest in Europe.

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