Suggested Itineraries

Poland is a large country with small roads and generally slow trains. That means it's hard to cover ground quickly and best to keep travel plans relatively modest. The following itinerary is laid out for car travel but with a little effort can be adapted to train and/or bus travel.

Days 1-2: Arrive in Warsaw

Get settled in and if you've got the energy, try to arrange for a city tour in the afternoon. Warsaw is sprawling and even if you're not an "organized tour" type of person, this is one place where it makes sense. Spend the second day with a more leisurely stroll of the Old Town. Don't pass up the chance to see the Museum of the Warsaw Uprising.

Days 3-4: Kraków

Drive or take the train to Kraków -- either way it will take about 4 hours. Give yourself plenty of time to enjoy Poland's most popular travel destination. Dedicate at least a day for the Old Town and the Wawel castle area, and another for Kazimierz and the sights of the former Jewish quarter.

Day 5: Kraków Day Trip

The former Nazi extermination camp at Auschwitz/Birkenau lies about 90 minutes west of Kraków by car; alternatively, you can book one of several Auschwitz day tours through the tourist information office. It's a must, particularly if you have never had the chance to visit a Holocaust site in the past. If you're traveling with small children and looking for a more cheerful day trip, try the Wieliczka Salt Mines, easily reachable from Kraków by bus or train.

Day 6: Wrocaw

This formerly German city -- and now firmly Polish -- is a delight. Spend the day on the square and walking along the little lanes near the river. Unlike Kraków, there are no real must-sees here; simply take in the town at your own pace and recharge your batteries.

Day 7: Poznan or Torun

You choose. Both are about 2 hours north of Wroclaw on the way to Gdansk. Poznan is a bustling, medium-size city with great restaurants and decent nightlife. Torun is tinier, with a beautiful, small square and a couple of great boutique hotels, though the options in the evening are limited.

Days 8-9: Gdansk

This Baltic seaport is one of the real highlights of any trip to Poland: a beautifully restored city, rich with history and natural beauty. Try to squeeze out an extra day if you can. Sopot makes an easy day trip (and especially good in hot weather since there's a beach). If you've got more time, visit the enormous Teutonic Knights' castle at Malbork to the south or the sand dunes at Sowinski National Park to the northwest.

Day 10: Warsaw

Warsaw and your gateway home is an easy few hours train journey from Gdansk. By road, plan on at least 5 or 6 hours, owing to bad roads and heavy traffic. But if you've come this far by car, you know by now that it always takes a lot longer than it looks on the map!