Poland trip - need suggestions!
 

Hey everyone!

So, my college buddy's sister is getting hitched in Katowice, Poland, on October 28th, and I'm planning to make a whole trip out of it!

I'll be flying into Krakow on October 18th and have about 10 days to explore before heading to the wedding.

I'm thinking of renting a car and doing a bit of a road trip to soak in all the sights. Any suggestions on must-see spots? I'm into history, stunning landscapes, maybe a castle or two... you know, the good stuff!

I've already got Krakow and Katowice on my list, but beyond that, I'm open to anything. Hit me with your best recommendations!

Moved to the Europe Forum and tagged for Poland

Here's my trip report of oour travels through SE Poland: https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...2012-a-951579/

Om case the links to the photo album do not work, her are the pictures of that trip:


https://flic.kr/s/aHsjAQR6GN

again, why a car, I toured the country for 2 weeks all by train, easy to do and no parking problems

seat61.com
https://www.pkp.pl/en/

For the scenery; Góry Stołowe.
https://hasajacezajace.com/gory-stol...szych-szlakow/

For castles: Szlak Orlich Gniazd.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trail_...agle%27s_Nests

History; pretty well everywhere:
The Mongols made a far west as Legnica, Kalisz is a former capital and one of the oldest cities in Poland.
Wrocław has been a city for a millenium, WW2 bunkers in Stępin kept Hitler's train safe.

Lódz has an intereting history.
https://www.centrumdialogu.com/zydowska-lodz

That depends on what you want to see. I believe that the area that we visited by car could not have been seen in the same amount of time if dependent on public transportation schedules.

Thanks a lot for all the replies, I will consider them while planning my route!:)

I was in Krakow and Wroclaw this past December and really enjoyed my short time in Wroclaw. It was at the end of a snow storm that dumped a lot of snow so my opinion might be a little tainted and during the Christmas Market. I just liked the main sights and wish I had a bit more time as I was only there for 2 full days. I didn't know the history behind the Wroclaw Gnomes and thought it was fun to find them and find out their meaning. That might not be of interest to you but there are other things that might if it's on your way.

I am going to be in Warsaw next week so can report on what I think about it when I get back. I will be taking a bus tour from Vilnius to Warsaw so don't know exactly yet what I am going to see along the way.

Michael I enjoyed your pictures of Krakow. It is nice to see it without the snow. You got some nice ones of the salt mines as I don't remember seeing all the things in your pictures.

We spent 3 weeks in Malapolska, the Area of Krakow and to the south. The area is full of great landscapes, hills, mountains, and a wealth of wooden architecture, lots of traditional crafts. There is even a vast wooden architecture trail. Traveled all by car.

My single favorite spot was the wooden church at Debno.

North of Krakow there is the Eagle's Nest series of castles in ruins leading up to Czestochowa, where there is a magnificent abbey.

The Wooden Architecture Route in Malopolska

https://krakow.wiki/trail-of-the-eagles-nests/

https://www.czestochowa.pl/jasna-gora-galeria

Thanks a ton for all the info, you've given me a lot to chew on. Góry Stołowe looks absolutely breathtaking, they're really epic landscapes. And the Szlak Orlich Gniazd castle trail? Sign me up!)))

Since the wedding's in Katowice, I gotta check out the Silesian Museum. Looks like a great place to dive into the region's history and culture.

I'm really very intrigued by the Nikiszowiec neighborhood. Heard it's this historic district with unique architecture and a cool working-class vibe. Anyone been there? Seems like a must-visit for a history buff like myself.

And of course, a trip to Poland wouldn't be complete without paying respects at Auschwitz-Birkenau (Oświęcim). A somber but important experience, I think.On the accommodation front, I'd prefer to avoid the typical Airbnb/Booking.com route and explore local options like OLX or Otodom to save on costs. However, I need to ensure I have a proper legal agreement with the landlord. I found a template on Lawrina, but it requires translation into Polish and formatting into a formal document.
Thanks again for all the help, everyone!

Don't waste your time, a Polish landlord will not respect whatever they sign.
As my Polish cousin told me: " Contracts mean nothing"

Stick to internation chains that have a long established business culture and a cleary defined price and refund policy.

Peronally, in Poland I like the PURO group and the Accor brand hotels.

That site is of no relevance at all to landlords in Poland - as it states on its website "helpful products for lawyers and their clients in the U.S."

Booking.com lists all sorts of properties, even self-catering flats and cottages. You are only talking about a short visit -- I'd stick to sites that have an English option.

I stayed for a couple of nights at a farm south of Krakow, though that was years ago. There are Polish websites where you can search for farmstays which probably have more exhaustive listings.This is the official government sponsored website:

https://agroturystyka.pl/