Warsaw City Center or Old Town as well as Wroclaw and Krakow. (10-12 nights total)

We have never been to Wroclaw, but we have to Warsaw and Krakow and there are lots of choices available for early next July at reasonable prices. In both Krakow and Warsaw we stayed about 500m - 750m from the stations. In Warsaw we were just east of the Central Station. In Krakow we were just outside the ring path (former city wall park) at the Hotel Wielopole, which we liked very much. Booking.com is a good place to start to see hotel locations and price points for the days of your trip. The Man in Seat 61 website covers lots of useful details about train travel anywhere. PKP is the Polish Rail Company. Have fun planning.

Thank you NickB. That is helpful information. Yes, we will probably take train between the various cities which we have done in many European countries. We will check out the hotel you recommended.

Chris

I personally have not stayed here, but I know people who have and who were very satisfied:

InterContinental Warsaw.
Emilii Plater Street 49, Warsaw 00-125 Poland

Krakow - Hilton Garden Inn, (Points) but a short walk from the old town, near Wawal Castle.
Wroclaw - Qubus Hotel. Around the corner from the main Square. Lovely hotel, no complaints.
Warsaw - Palace Hotel. Across the street from the train station. Fantastic hotel, what I like to call, Old World Charm. Inexpensive spa, best breakfast. One block from the Palace of Science and Culture. A few blocks from the new, old town.

We took the train from Wroclaw to Gdansk to Warsaw. Our trip started in Krakow and we had a driver from there to Wroclaw Because we stopped in Czestohowa for a few hours. Anyway, splurge on first class train tickets. Not much more in price but service is exceptional.

We loved, loved, loved Poland. One of our best trips. We visited in 2018. Wish we had time to go back. Have fun.

Thank you for all the great advice

I am looking at Celestin Residence in Gdansk based on a recommendation here. And hotel Grodek in Krakow. Hotel Puro in Wroclaw. I'll write a report when I'm back home next June. I love Poland. It's definitely my favorite country after the USA.

Thank you everyone. Yes I hear great things about Poland. We are excited to see it

Chris

Warsaw: If you can find the N-S street that changes names from Nowy Swiat to Krakowskie Przedmiesie. Its a central corridor, much of it pedestrian only, that leads through a great shopping and restaurant area, the university, the church with Chopin's heart, and all the way to the palace and Old Town. Anywhere in proximity to that road (also known as the Royal Road) would be good. We stayed at a Sheraton south of Jeruzalemskie street in the embassy district, and walked all the way to Old Town and back with many stops along the way.

I agree with Stan - try to stay near the intersection of Jeruzalemskie and Nowy Swiat - the landmark is the "palm tree" - it's a lively area with many restaurants, and it's an interesting stroll up to the rebuilt Old Town, Mass transit in Warsaw is so good that you're never far from other sites throughout the city, i.e. the Warsaw Uprising museum.

I stayed at the Chopin B&B - it's not for everyone, but if you're a hardcore Rick Steves traveler you'll enjoy your stay there. Note that the area surrounding the train station is modern and a bit sterile. Trams and buses run along Jeruzalemskie so frequently that it isn't necessary to stay that close to the station.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/four-cities-in-poland-2019

Thank you, Tim, and everyone else. Tim Fyi we are in Westwood so we are neighbors. We just had dinner in Ridgewood Saturday at La Lanterna with friends. Small world. My brother teaches in Waldwick.

In terms of planning how does 4 nights in Warsaw and 3 in Wroclaw and 4 nights in Krakow sound? Is that enough. In Krakow we will certainly do a day trip to Auschwitz. We will probbaly then do 1 more night in Warsaw in preparation for the return flight to Newark.

Chris

In Krakow have some kielbasa at the Blue Van. The Experience is similiar to Seinfeld’s episode with the soup nazi. you can Google it.

Thank you Barbara. Ill definitely check it out

Chriis

I keep reading Gdansk is great too but I'm hesitant to try and squeeze too much in for a 12 or so night trip. Considering Gdansk is opposite direction from Krakow and Wroclaw. Any thoughts? Direct flights come into Warsaw so will definitely spend some time there.

Is 4 cities too much considering train travel time on the train between them?

Thanks

Your instincts about Gdansk sound right to me for the exact reasons you mention. You've got a moderate paced trip sketched out that gives you sufficient time to enjoy the best of each place, without speeding through them.

Gdansk is a lovely town, with plenty to do. And worthy of incorporating it into a separate trip.

Thanks CW. Appreciate the insight. Yeah I'm just not sure geographically it aligns for 12 nights. I may be bale to add it when I do a trip to Copenhagen area.

I agree with CWSocial - Gdansk is great but it doesn’t fit as easily. And a 4 - 3 - 4 split would work well for me. There is plenty to occupy you in those cities for that length of time. But if you are looking for other places or day trips, I enjoyed Książ Castle and the Swidnica Peace Church.

Oh yes, Swidnica Peace Church is lovely. And different than other churches in its wooden structure.

I connected Gdansk and Stockholm in a trip, with a short flight.

We stayed at Motel One in Warsaw (We love Motel One and Cloud One lobbies!). This was right across from the Chopin Museum which our room looked out to - and it was a great location! In Krakow, we stayed at Hotel Polski, within the old walls and easy walking to train station. Very much enjoyed the property!
And we fell in love with Gdansk and I just got back there again. Agree - might be too much to add a 4th city, but when you go - consider Hotel Hansa. Both times I was so well taken care of and fantastic rooms on the water! Staff wonderful. Did I mention that I could visit a Cloud One lobby for a nice drink within walking distance?

Thank you appreciate the helpful info. Yes we will definitely do Gdansk on future trip and combine with Denmark

Chris

Stay near Warsaw’s Old Town, Kraków’s Main Square, and Wrocław’s Rynek—good to walk around and super central.