I already own the RS guidebook but it's confined to Krakow, Warsaw, and Gdansk. Any other books I should buy while I research? I haven't been to Poland since 2000 and I was with a group at the time so I didn't do any planning and it wasn't for tourism so a vacation in Poland is new but I have wanted to return very much and am excited to finally plan something. I have read quite a few trip reports here too.
Posted by
🪻Southeastern US
2959 posts
I own and like The Rough Guide to Poland https://a.co/d/4SyEdsB
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
8605 posts
I like Lonely Planet.
Posted by
OP
USA
353 posts
Thank you! I'll buy both of these.
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
3655 posts
Check out your local library selection, I find it's a good way to test drive formats, content, etc. without a long term commitment. Even if it isn't a Poland guide it's helpful to see how each company presents content.
Posted by
Monument, CO, USA
170 posts
This is a blogger instead of a book, but she has good info on Poland. We used her info earlier this year and really enjoyed Katowice, among other places. Her site is mywonderlust.pl.
Posted by
Lexington, KY (formerly Southeast US)
4516 posts
Another vote for the Rough Guide.
Posted by
OP
USA
353 posts
Thank you, all!
Jerry, that blogger is amazing! I never would have guessed a salt mine would have a Nativity scene in it!
Posted by
San Francisco
15850 posts
My three main trips to Poland in the first years of the 21st century were based on information from Rough Guide and Lonely Planet, including their hotel recommendations regarding Torun and Gdansk, always quite satisfactory.
Posted by
OP
USA
353 posts
Thank you, Fred! I have purchased the rough guide and will put the other on my list.
Posted by
Lake District, England
11104 posts
Regarding your now locked thread on the English Lake District for Spring 2026- https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/england/lake-district-and-trains-or-other-public-transportation
(and in particular going to Muncaster Castle) .
there is now a new route (or will be from 5 January 2026).
From Keswick take an X4/X5 bus to Cockermouth, then the new 600 express bus to Whitehaven, then the new X7 bus direct to Muncaster Castle.
The 600 bus isn't yet on travel planners- but these are the new 600 and X7 timetables.
https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/buses/service/new600
https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/buses/service/7%20X7
Equally the 600 will stop very close to Whitehaven station, so you could take a train from there to Ravenglass then walk up to Muncaster Castle through the woods past the Roman bath house.
In any event it is a significantly shorter journey than going round the coast by train.
As the 7/X7 extends to Barrow in Furness it is also possible to route that way using the bus 6 from Windermere to Barrow.
The new routes have certainly extended travel options.
Posted by
OP
USA
353 posts
Thank you! We are postponing the Lake District trip for another 2 years because we all went to Washington DC this May and the younger 3 kids complained about the walking quite a bit. We still very much want to visit, but we will let the kids grow up a little bit first. We've been reading Wordsworth poems the last month in school, and they've been lovely, of course.