Weekend Trip from Warsaw

Hello, Toruń may also be a good option too, it's about 2:30 hr northwest of Warsaw. In the center of Toruń is a charming walled medieval old-town. Its medieval architecture managed to escape bombing in WWII, and has thus been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Toruń is also the birthplace of the famous astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, one can visit a museum dedicated to him as well as his 15th century house.

With the time available, I feel you will not be able do justice to Wroclaw or Gdansk, both very sight rich cities, although you may be able to get away with Poznan. Which is why the smaller more manageable city of Toruń may be better suited for a 1.5 day trip.

I agree with Carlos, especially as regards Gdansk if you would be interested in either or both of the World War II Museum and the Solidarity Center, which are rather time-consuming sightseeing targets (especially the former). If you would plan primarily to walk around outdoors (what time of year is this trip?) and appreciate the gorgeous buildings, I suppose Gdansk would be OK, but it certainly deserves considerably more time than you would have.

Wroclaw kept me busier than Poznan, though I did like Poznan. And Torun in a more manageable size, plus closer. I would hate to spend 8 hours on trains in order to have not much more than 24 hours somewhere.

For such a very short time, consider Łódź because it's much closer and a better fit for the timeframe. I'm not saying it's comparable to Gdansk or Wroclaw, but it may still be a better use of (short) time - and it's interesting in its own right. Sometimes, it makes sense not to choose a blockbuster if you won't have enough time to see it thoroughly.

However, there is ample "tourist information" on Wroclaw and Poznan as well as historical information. I would suggest "Rough Guide Poland"

From Warsaw how about someplace closer, such as Modlin...historical site considering what happened there.

If not, then I second the suggestion on Torun. The train line connects Poznan with Torun going all the way to Olsztyn, the terminus,.... historical route.

Hi Cindy,

The best option is Gdansk, but it's also the most expensive of all the cities you mentioned.

Wroclaw is very nice, lots of attractions, reasonable prices and funny gnomes lurking here and there :) You may check it's main attractions on this site: https://overhere.eu/blog/dwarves-hunt-in-wroclaw/

Besides cities, there are also a lot of beautiful natural wonders in Poland. If you'll be in Warsaw, you might want to check Masurian Lake District or Solinski National Park: https://overhere.eu/blog/most-beautiful-natural-wonders-poland/

Enjoy your stay in Poland!

I realize that the OP may be home by now, but we have just been to Warsaw, Lodz, and are in Wroclaw now. My observation is that Wroclaw is attractive but overrated and too “rebuilt.” To understand what I mean, consider that the Old Town in Warsaw is a UNESCO WHS and the Old Town in Wroclaw is NOT. They were both completely rebuilt, but the latter looks like the Disney Imagineers just finished painting and left on schedule. (Sorry! That’s mean, but I’m entitled to my opinion.) Even Wroclaw’s small and out of town UNESCO site, Centennial Hall, is ... meh! The best part of Centennial Hall was seeing the local families enjoying a summer Sunday.

I thought Lodz was fascinating, and I’m glad I saw it before the gentrification goes any farther. (If they are lucky and their economic recovery continues.) Like Poznan, you may need a personal reason to go to Lodz. But it might not have to be, as in my case, “Jewish Grandparent Tourism.” If you’re from a dead textile town north of Boston or Charlotte (or London), you might find Lodz FASCINATING! It also has lovely (if, some, abandoned) 19th Century buildings.