How much time to spend in Polish cities?

Krakow merits at least three days, and four days aren't out of the question. The ancient Polish capital packs a lot of touristic charm. Ditto with Warsaw.

I haven't been to Lodz or Gdansk, but Rick's recent Poland video has material on Gdransk: https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/travel-news/march-2025/poland-special

I would say minimum three nights for Gdansk, but four better - it depends in part on whether you are the type that would do a deep dive at the Solidarity Center or Museum of Second World War. Day trips would also be a factor - if you wanted to visit Malbork Castle or Sopot from Gdansk. Same for Krakow if intending to visit Auschwitz, which takes a full day - salt mines takes time as well.

Warsaw is a very different experience, being so much larger and modern. If you're a big city person, you could easily spend four nights, especially during warmer weather - or if you're into Chopin. If you don't enjoy big cities, two nights might be enough.

I just wrote my trip report from December in the trip report forum if you want to take a look at that. We had 2 nights in Warsaw. Another night or 2 would have been great to see a few museums and not just the quick walking tour around Warsaw. I had 3 nights in Gdansk with a day trip to Malbork and a visit to the WWII museum. I would have liked another 2 nights to be able to visit the Solidarity Center and just explore more of the town. I really liked Gdansk. I had 4 nights in Krakow, but one of those nights was at the airport hotel due to an early flight home. We did a day at Auschwitz and a day at the Salt Mines. I think 2 or 3 more nights would have been good to explore the city more, maybe take a trip to Zakopane, tour more of Wawel Castle, visit the Schindler Factory, and spend more time in Kazimierz.

Thank you for all you replies. Great information!

Wroclaw and Poznan are also worth researching. Have not heard of anyone going to Lodz.

I just returned from Poland; spent 5 days in Gdansk & 4 in Krakow. I have been to Krakow & Wroclaw in previous visits, but there is always something new to explore. In Gdansk, the Solidarity Museum was a must see for me & I did end up spending half the day there. Day trips to Sopot & Gydnia (Emigration Museum), as well as to Hel on the Hel Peninsula. Have a wonderful trip!

I stayed 4 nights in Krakow (day trip to Auschwitz), 4 nights in Gdansk (day trip to Malbork Castle and 1/2 day to Sopot), and 3 nights in Lodz (day trip to another smaller town nearby where relatives were buried).

Lodz is a beautiful city with entirely different architecture from other Polish cities. Well worth seeing. There are gorgeous brick buildings with a beautiful mall and square with a fountain where I sat and ate a delicious takeout salad. On the way to Lodz, I stopped at Czestochowa to see Jasna Gora.