Summer Poland trip itinerary help request!

I would spend the 20th night in Gniezno. We did essentially the same trip, but we only had 16 nights. We stopped in Gniezno for the day, between Torun and Wroclaw. I would have loved to have spent more time there. On my list of places I would like to go back to.

Hi Veronica, I'm happy to help :)

I 100% agree with Eef, I would spend the extra night in Gniezno, the first capital of Poland before Krakow, and a convenient mid point in between Gdansk and Wroclaw.

Thank you very much!

I for sure will have more specific questions for each part of the trip.
I will appreciate all help and guide you could give me.

Thank you!

Hi Carlos, I see in my email that you asked
me if we were renting a car. ( I don’t see that question here) .
We plan to use only públic transportation. Actually I read about your trip to some castles near Krakow but I discarded doing that myself because we wouldn’t want to drive.

I have a question I would be very grateful if someone could help me with.

1) We plan to leave Warsaw to Torun on a Sunday but I would be very interested in attending one of the Chopim concerts at the park ( Gosh, I don’t remember the name of the park right now. I will have all the names more handy next time I post questions, ok? ) What can I do with luggage? We will Travel light ( ish) only carry on . Is there a place to put them at the train station? Would it be reasonable to walk with them? ( just writing it doesn’t seem very “reasonable” ) .
Our first lodging option doesn’t aloud us to keep them there after check out at 10:00 am.

Thank you!

Hi Veronica, I omitted that question in the end because looking at your itinerary you can either do it with a rental car or public transport, both options have pros and cons.

You're probably thinking of Łazienki Park, sorry I have no experience with luggage storage at Warsaw Station. Here's the official site for the concerts, they have rotating guest musicians - https://www.lazienki-krolewskie.pl/en/wydarzenia/koncert-chopinowski

Have you already made flight and hotel reservations?

Thanks for the link, Carlos!

Hi Stan, I already have plane tickets out of LA on July 12th , arriving on the 13th to Warsaw. Flying out of Kraków August 2nd.
I have booked hotel reservations ( free cancellation) for Warsaw, Torun and Gdańsk.

Before booking the rest I would love to read your opinions on this:
I plan to stay in Wroclaw for three nights and then do two nights in Zakopane and five in Kraków.
Is it feasible or recommended to go to Zakopane directly or to divide my stay in Kraków and go to Zakopane between days?
I would prefer not to have a lot of change of hotels.

Thank you!

I'd try to stay in Zakopane a few nights, it's about 2:30 hr train ride from Krakow, so impractical as a day trip if wanting to get out and do some hiking in addition to seeing the town on the same day. You might worry about catching the last train back to Krakow at the end of the day!

For a unique Polish highlander experience in Zakopane I recommend staying at Villa Belweder (https://villabelweder.pl/en/), I always stay at their sister hotel in nearby Ustron (https://hotelbelweder.pl/en/), but may need a car as slightly outside of the center of town.

I will just add it looks like a wonderful trip. Not too frantic!

Thank you, TexasTravelmom!

That’s the idea, to enjoy Poland with the least stress posible.
One country only, using trains and ( I think) only one one-night stop.
Your posts have helped me a lot.
Thank you!

I would prefer to keep all the Krakow nights together, at the end of the trip. Less stress.

For Zakopane, you aren't required to hike. There's plenty to see and do there. It's been a comfortable resort for many decades, so, yes it's touristy like any recreational resort, but few Americans. Take the gondola up to the top of the mountain for the view. There's a market at the base of the gondola where you can buy food and trinkets as well as the decorated sheep's cheese they make there. Also food vendors at the top, which will be full of families picnicking and sunning themselves. The main street that winds through the town is lined with restaurants and shops. And don't skip the cemetery which is a primary tourist attraction (you'll understand when you get there).

But I think it might take a whole day to get there from Wroclaw, so I would consider adding one of those Krakow nights to Zakopane.

Thank you Stan, another option to consider.

Thanks!

Also, be sure to compare the time needed by train vs. bus to go from Kraków to Zakopane. It was considerably shorter by bus when I was there in 2018. The bus was very frequent and we did not buy tickets in advance.

I think you’ve designed a beautiful itinerary for Poland. I absolutely love Poland and would encourage anyone to visit. Zakopane was a real treat similar to the Swiss Alps at a quarter the price. Don’t overlook the thermal hot springs spas in the area. I visited Chocholowskie Thermal baths for a luxuriant half day of soaks, massages and scrubs for a ridiculously low price. It’s an affordable taxi ride from Zakopane downtown. Enjoy the delicious Oscypek smoked sheep cheese. It travels really well without refrigeration too.

Linking zakopane from Wroclaw is a piece of cake. Wroclaw Glowny (beautiful, restored train station) to Krakow Glowny is on a fast train line with multiple daily 3 hour trains. Get out in Krakow and walk toward the back of the train station and up the stairs to the bus station. Buy your bus ticket to Zakopane and get onboard. It about an 1.5-2 hour trip on a nice bus. They run about ever hour if I recall. There is a train but it takes at least an hour longer and only runs a couple times a day. I hope this helps. Enjoy.

Thank you, Thenosbig!

Great information you’re sharing with me!
Appreciate it and will take everything into consideration.

To all of you Poland lovers, Is there any place hotel, b&b or apartment you highly recommend in Kraków?
I usually look for something around €100 -125 a night. I have always found great places at this price range. At least I have been very happy with my choices in previous trips.

I’ve found lodging in Poland to be cheaper ( yeiii). This has been great as this trip will be a little longer than previous ones.

I would appreciate your recommendations.
Thank you, you have been so helpful!

I absolutely loved Apartamenty Bracka 6 a half block off Rynek Glowny (historic old town square) for under $100/night.

I always hesitate to recommend places to stay because I almost always choose quirky over modern and sometimes I absolutely love a place but have a hard time imagining anyone else would.

That being said, Klezmer Hois in the Jewish District was one of my favorite places ever. It was uniquely suited for me and definitely within your price range.

Hello!
I am right now at the airport waiting for our flight to Warsaw 😃

Thank you very much for all the help you kindly gave me.
I hope to have a great time in Poland!

Thank you!

Que lo pases genial en Polonia, es un pais bonito con buena gente! 😉

Have a wonderful trip!

Have a great trip!

Poland is beautiful and welcoming. Prepare to be enchanted.

Hi everyone!
Getting ready to enjoy my last two days in Poland ( now in Krakow).
What a dream this trip has been!
Poland has been evertthing you said it was and more!
Amazingly beautiful places, friendly and helpful people, wonderful and super interesting museums.
Easy to have magical moments here!

You were right, I am all enchanted by this beautiful country.
Thank you, all your answers, trip reports and comments have been so helpful!

So happy for you, thanks for the update!

Yes I think Poland is one of the last great undiscovered destinations of Europe. It's honestly comparable to Germany in terms of size and depth of culture and sites, but with a fraction of the tourism.

Once the war in Ukraine finishes I can honestly see an explosion of the tourist numbers in Poland, better enjoy it now before it gets too crowded!

So glad you have had a wonderful trip!

Thanks for the updates and please post more. I leave in 1 month for RS Poland tour and have been enjoying reading the forum.