In 2 weeks, you can cover a lot of ground, even in Poland. While you'll still have to pick and choose, you'll at least have a chance to relax at the major sites and hit some out-of-the-way places. One way to approach Poland in 2 weeks would be to simply combine the two 1-week tours, above, using one of your weeks for the south of the country and the second week for the north. The tour below is a modified version of this, heading to Gdansk first after Warsaw and then moving around Poland in a clockwise circle. It could also be done quite easily by going to Kraków first after Warsaw and moving, again, clockwise.
Days 1 & 2: Warsaw
Get settled in and, if you've got the energy, try to arrange for an organized city tour by bus in the afternoon. Warsaw is sprawling, and even if you're not an "organized tour" type of person, this is one place where a bus tour makes sense. Spend the second day with a more leisurely stroll of the Old Town, admiring the "old" look of the place, even though it's barely 30 years old. Warsaw's Old Town was totally destroyed in World War II and rebuilt brick by brick. Don't pass up the chance to see the Museum of the Warsaw Uprising, which will help you to understand that spirit of the city. If it's a nice day, try to get out to Lazienki Park. On Sunday, you might even catch the weekly open-air Chopin concert. For a more intense immersion, touch-screen through the multimedia presentations at the revamped Chopin Museum.
Days 3 & 4: Gdansk & the Tri-Cities
The first stop after Warsaw is the Baltic port city. Stroll the Old Town, hit the beaches, and try to get out for a day on the Hel peninsula, where restaurants offer the fresh catch of the day. You may opt to spend an extra day in Gdansk (especially in hot weather) and skip the day at Malbork . Alternatively, you can keep heading west to Sowinski National Park and its amazing and enormous sand dunes.
Day 5: Malbork
If you've got the time, don't pass up the chance to see the enormous Teutonic Knights' castle at Malbork. You can use Gdansk as your base or treat Malbork as a stopover en route to the Mazurian Lakes. The knights once schemed to control the rich Baltic amber trade, but ultimately, their ambition did them in. This massive castle is silent testimony to the size of those ambitions. If you're looking to give your feet a rest, hop on a one-of-a-kind in Europe boat-and-rail ride on the Elblag-Ostróda Canal.
Days 6 & 7: The Mazurian & Suwaki Lake Districts
Head south and east to visit a nature-lover's paradise: The Mazurian Lake district. This area is famous in Poland for its ample sailing and kayaking opportunities. While you're in the area, stop in at the Wolf's Lair, the site of the 1944 assassination attempt on Hitler's life made by his own officers (an episode explored in the 2008 Tom Cruise movie Valkyrie). In the Suwaki Landscape Park, try getting a room at the Jaczno Lodge, a lovely cluster of stone and timber houses hemmed in by woods and the pristine water of Lake Jaczno.
Day 8: Biaowieza National Forest
Now for something completely unexpected: Who would have thought that Poland would have some of Europe's last primeval forest, untouched by man over the centuries? Hire a guide and take a long walk through the woods, admiring the old growth and the interaction of flora and fauna (but don't forget your mosquito repellant -- some interactions with nature are better than others). At Biaowieza, the Hotel Carska was literally built for a tsar -- specifically, Russia's Tsar Nicholas II. A real splurge and a must for fans of unusual hotel design.
Day 9: Lublin
Continue south to the city of Lublin, with its great hotels and restaurants, and big-city diversions that you may have been missing when you were at the lakes and Biaowieza. Be sure to walk through the Old Town, chock full of pubs and restaurants, and home to lively open-air concerts in summer. Lublin has a clutch of great hotels and some of the best restaurants in this part of Poland. If you aren't going to Auschwitz but would like to visit a Holocaust site, the infamous Majdanek camp is just a short bus ride from the center of town.
Days 10 & 11: Kraków
Drive or take the train to Kraków -- either way, it will take about 3 to 4 hours. Give yourself plenty of time to enjoy Poland's most popular travel destination. Dedicate at least 1 full day to the Old Town and the Wawel Castle area, including the castle Cathedral, whose crypt is filled with tombs of Polish kings. Leave another full day for Kazimierz and the sights of the former Jewish quarter.
Day 12: Kraków Daytrip -- Auschwitz or Wieliczka
The former Nazi extermination camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau lies about 90 minutes west of Kraków by car; alternatively, you can go by train or bus, or book one of several Auschwitz day tours through the tourist information office. It's a must, particularly if you've never had the chance to visit a Holocaust site in the past. Plan to sleep back in Kraków; after a day of touring the camps, you'll want to come back to a place full of life. If you're traveling with small children and looking for a more suitable day trip, try the Wieliczka Salt Mines, easily reachable from Kraków by bus or train, or via a guided tour booked through the Kraków tourist information office.
Day 13: Wrocaw
Wrocaw is Poland's hidden gem. Find a place to stay -- if you're up for a bit of a splurge, try the classy Qubus -- and then head for the Rynek and a traditional Polish dinner at the Piwnica Swidnicka pub. Walk along the river and unwind from your long trip around the country. If you're up for a night of carousing, try the strip of bars along Kiebasnicza.
Day 14: Return to Warsaw
Catch the train or bus back to the capital. Depending on where you start from, the trip back could take the better part of a day. If you're driving, allow time to hit plenty of traffic on your way into Warsaw.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
