Major Tourist Attractions In Poland

From the serenity of Masuria to the romance of the beaches off the Baltic and the towering peaks of the Tatras Mountains, there is much beauty in Poland that has survived the ravages of war and the brutalities of economic depression.  

If you want to venture into alpine Poland, head out to the Carpathians in the south during late spring and early autumn . Decently good weather and few visitors are the perks of visiting at this time. To the north, at the foot of the Tatras, lies the Podhale region, speckled with dozens of small villages maintaining traditional highland lives. These little hamlets are punctuated with scenic walking paths, for picnickers and hard core adventurers alike. A particularly beautiful spot in this area is the famous Zawrat Pass.

 The Sniardwy and the Mamry Lakes of Masuria have become a major destination for yachting fanatics and canoeists. These magnificent lakes are dotted with quaint towns around their perimeter.

Mikolajki is one such town where you can get a good place to stay for the night and some hearty Polish meals. Also in the north around Mazuria, is the historic town of Gdansk – something of a living world war memorial, it being the first city to be hit by the first gunshots of the war.

If these scenic and peaceful locations sometimes lie to you about Poland’s tumultuous past, the cities are all but a blatant revelation. Warsaw was one of central Europe's most handsome cities until history happened. Once a glorious capital, Warsaw is today a postwar product in both appearance and spirit. The Vistula River runs through Warsaw, bifurcating the city into the left-bank sector which contains the modern city centre, and the Old Town to the north on one side and the right bank Praga on the other. Left of the Vistula is where tourist Warsaw is situated. A good deal of its historic reminders were gotten rid off after the Communist era, but the city’s Stalinist edifices remain. The Historical Museum of Warsaw relives the history of Poland from the earliest centuries right down to the Communist era. Walk along the Royal Way, one of Europe’s most awe inspiring stretches of road, or discover the artistic treasures of the National Musuem.

Krakow, the other historical center stage of Poland, managed to survive the ravages of war and the frenzy of the Nazis to tell the story of Polish art and heritage down the ages. Honored by UNESCO as one of the world’s 12 great historic places, Krakow’s pre-Renaissance churches and Gothic towers give you a hint of what much of the country must once have looked.

If you can dare to get a taste of the bitter side of history, visit the Auschwitz museum near Krakow – today an exhibit built in memory of the millions of Jews who succumbed to the atrocities of Hitler’s concentration camps in this very city.