The country is steeped in history, the tales of which are reflected in the Gothic cities, 13th century castles and other old buildings, but modernisation is well underway too. In a bid to bring the country up to scratch with the 21st Century there are 24 hour pubs, clubs and cafes appearing at every corner. This creates an eclectic blend that’s tough to find elsewhere and results in a different holiday destination that provides something for everyone. Discover the depths of this country and make the most of your time here with a hire car.
Find out more about driving in Poland. You may also like to view our Poland car hire destinations.
Poland Tourist Board: The official website for the Polish Tourist Board- a useful resource for planning your trip to Poland.
Know Before You Go: Travel advice for Poland from the FCO.
Things to see and do
- Head to Slowinksi National Park on the Baltic Coast perfect for walking, hiking and enjoying the areas of natural beauty.
- You may want to go to Auschwitz Concentration Camp. Here you will come face to face with history with a tour of the barracks and museum. Learn of the past that Poland endured during World War II.
- There are several Gothic castles to visit including Malbor Castle from the 14th Century or Ksiaz Castle which dates from the 13th Century. Wawle Royal Castle in Krakow should also feature on your to do list and even has a Dragon’s Den below.
- The Beskidy Mountains are a picturesque place to visit. See the waterfalls and cascades in the village of Sopotnia. Go walking or hiking or partake in skiing during the winter months.
- Whilst in Katowice, visit the Provincial Park of Culture and Recreation where you can enjoy multiple attractions including the planetarium, zoo and amusement park.
- The city of Gdansk is the perfect base to enjoy the Baltic coastline; there are beautiful sandy stretches of beach to explore in addition to the Sopot Forest a little further along.
- Be sure to visit the Mazurian Lakes of which there are 4,000 great for sailing, canoeing, other water sports and fishing.
Festivals and events
- The Lotos Jazz Festival showcases music international stars. (January)
- The Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival in Warsaw tends to last for around 11 days. (March)
- The International Festival of Contemporary Dance generally features world premieres in addition to polish performances, but the schedule is released closer to the time. (June – July)
- Krakow hosts the Jewish Culture Festival which is one the largest and most important events of its kind in the world. There are films, performances, presentations, and exhibitions to see and stories told by the Jews about their culture in addition to music and workshops. (June – July)
- The International Chopin Festival is held at Chopin’s manor in Duszniki Zdroj and showcases 25 performances across 9 days featuring some of the world’s best pianists. (August)
- At the Warsaw International Film Festival you can view 100 films from 40 countries or more. Exact dates and the screening schedule vary from year to year. (October)
Time difference
GMT + 2
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