Poland Travel Guide: Kraków, Warsaw, Gdańsk & Where to Go in 2026

Poland is in the Schengen Area (since 2007) and the EU. EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens enter freely. Citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan, and around 60 other visa-exempt countries can stay up to 90 days within any 180-day period across the Schengen Area.

From late 2026, those travelers will need an ETIAS online authorization (around €7, valid three years) before flying. Russian citizens need a Schengen short-stay visa via VFS Global or the Polish consulate — submission centers in Russia operate with restrictions; many submit via third countries (Serbia, Turkey, Armenia).

Travel insurance should cover at least €30,000 medical. Poland uses the Polish złoty (PLN), NOT the euro — euros are accepted at some hotels and tourist spots but at poor rates. ATMs and currency exchange (kantor) widely available.

Different countries in a way. Krakow is the historic heart — its medieval old town (Rynek Główny is one of Europe's largest medieval squares), the Wawel Royal Castle, the Jewish Quarter (Kazimierz), and crucially the proximity to Auschwitz-Birkenau (1.5 hours away, the country's most-visited site, book English-language tours weeks ahead — it's free but emotionally intense), and the Wieliczka Salt Mine (UNESCO, 30 min away).

Plan 3–4 days. Warsaw is the modern rebirth — the meticulously reconstructed Old Town (Stare Miasto, leveled in WWII, then rebuilt brick by brick — also UNESCO), the powerful Warsaw Uprising Museum, the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, and the contemporary food scene in Praga and Powiśle.

Plan 2–3 days. Most first-time visitors do both — connected by the Pendolino express train in 2h20 for around 80 PLN (€19).

Late May to June and September to early October are the sweet spots — mild temperatures 18–24°C, long daylight, fewer crowds at Auschwitz and Wieliczka, accommodation prices 25–35% lower than peak summer. July and August are warm (24–28°C, sometimes hotter) and peak season, but Baltic coast resorts (Sopot, Gdańsk) come alive. December brings Christmas markets in Krakow's Rynek Główny (one of the most atmospheric in Europe) and Wrocław's market with the famous gnomes — book accommodation early. January–March are cold (-5 to 3°C) but quiet, and prices are at their lowest; this is also when Zakopane's ski season is at its best. Auschwitz visits are emotionally easier in spring or autumn — winter weather adds a layer of difficulty to an already heavy day.

Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum is about 70km west of Krakow, 1.5 hours by car or organized tour. Entry is free, but between April and October, visitors must enter with a licensed guide from 10am to 3pm (€20–25 per person) — outside those hours self-guided entry is possible. Book through the official auschwitz.org portal 1–3 months ahead in summer; English tours sell out.

Plan a full 6-hour visit — the included shuttle takes you between Auschwitz I (the original camp, with the iconic Arbeit Macht Frei gate) and Birkenau (3km away, the much larger killing center). It's emotionally demanding; don't pair it with another sightseeing activity the same day.

Day-tours from Krakow including transport, guide, and entry cost 150–250 PLN (€35–60). Children under 14 are officially not recommended. Photography is allowed except in two specific rooms; respectful silence is expected.

Poland's food is hearty, deeply seasonal, and remarkably good value. Pierogi (boiled dumplings) — savory with potato-cheese (Russian), meat, mushroom-sauerkraut, or sweet with blueberries and cream. Bigos — "hunter's stew" of sauerkraut, fresh cabbage, sausage, and game; the national winter dish. Żurek — sour rye soup, often served in a bread bowl with sausage and egg. Kielbasa (smoked Polish sausage) — order at any milk bar (bar mleczny, the Communist-era institution still serving full meals for under 30 PLN/€7). Zapiekanka — toasted open-faced sandwich from any street stand. Drink: Polish vodka is its own category — try Żubrówka (bison grass), Wyborowa, or Belvedere.

Local beers: Tyskie, Żywiec, Lech. In Krakow, Pierogarnia Krakowiacy for traditional, Hawełka for fine dining, and any of the milk bars on ulica Grodzka for an authentic cheap meal.