TOP 20 Best Cities to Visit in Poland

Which cities in Poland you should visit? Krakow, Warsaw, Wroclaw, Gdansk, Lodz, Lublin, Torun, Bydgoszcz, Opole, Szczecin, Bialystok….  The list is endless, as there are 964 cities and towns in Poland (January 1, 2022). To know them all, it would take several years!

In this blog post you will find the largest, most interesting and oldest cities in Poland worth visiting. The list is, of course, subjective. Besides, it would be practically impossible to describe every city in one list, so if you miss any place, write in the comments.

Largest cities in Poland

Poland has 964 cities, including the largest by population:

1 city over 1,000,000: Warsaw

4 cities from 500,000 to 999,999: Kraków, Łódź, Wrocław, Poznań

6 cities from 250,000 to 499,999: Gdansk, Szczecin, Bydgoszcz, Lublin, Bialystok, Katowice

In terms of area, it looks a little different:

Warsaw: 51,724 ha

Cracow 32,685 ha

Szczecin 30,060 ha

Łódź 29,325 ha

Wrocław 29,282 ha

Warsaw – capital and the largest city in Poland

Warsaw is the capital of the Mazovian Voivodeship, the capital of Poland, but it is also the largest city in Poland. The largest both in terms of population and area. It is much easier to answer how big the capital is in area. On the other hand, estimates of the capital’s population are different. How many people live in Warsaw? The Central Statistical Office put it at 1,790,658 residents in 2020.

In addition to being really big, Warsaw is also a popular destination for tourists. Various places such as the Royal Baths, the Royal Castle and the Palace of Culture and Science are on the list of travelers. Warsaw’s attractions are also located in the Old Town Square, it’s Krakowskie Przedmieście or the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Also check:

Things To Do in Warsaw – TOP Attractions & Activities

The Best Museums To Visit in Warsaw

Warsaw for Free. 10 BEST Free Things to Do

A royal city in Poland: Cracow

Cracow is the capital of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the formal capital of Poland until 1795. It is a city that received royal privilege, which is why it is officially called the Capital Royal City of Krakow. Today, Cracow is the second largest city in Poland, both in terms of area and population. In 2021, it officially had a population of 780,796.

Cracow is one of the most popular cities in Poland among tourists. No wonder, as the number of monuments and interesting places in this city can impress the most picky traveler!

The most popular, of course, is Wawel Castle. For hundreds of years the kings of Poland lived there, the castle was destroyed by fires or occupations. When Poland lost its independence, the furnishings and collections were largely robbed and destroyed. During World War II, the castle played the role of an office and apartment of the German governor general.

Also check:

What To See in Cracow? Discover Attractions and Interesting Places

Free Museums In Cracow (Krakow) – List And Free Days

Krakow’s Stunning Nearby Attractions You Simply Can’t Miss

Wroclaw – the warmest city in Poland

Wroclaw is the fourth largest city in Poland with a population of over 600,000. It is also the warmest city, according to the Central Statistical Office. There, the average temperature was 9.4 degrees Celsius in 2013.

In terms of tourism, Wroclaw is really interesting. Not without reason, many expats say that Wroclaw is the most beautiful city in Poland, because Warsaw is too big, Krakow is too touristy, and they haven’t been to other cities yet. Personally, I like to return to Wroclaw especially in spring and autumn, wandering around the old town or sipping coffee in one of the climate cafes. Also in winter, Wrocław’s Christmas market attracts growing crowds of visitors.

Also check:

Wroclaw – Attractions for the Weekend. What is Worth Seeing in Wroclaw?

What cities in Poland are worth a visit?

As I mentioned at the beginning, there are really a lot of cities in Poland. Above I have listed the really big cities in our country that are popular with tourists. Below, the list is much more subjective, I have listed cities that I personally liked a lot. Many of them I have visited several times. In them, in fact, every street hides a history that has been written in the urban space for hundreds of years.

Zamosc – an exceptional city in the east of Poland

The most beautiful cities in Poland? This list can’t contain Zamość!

Zamosc is a Renaissance city located in the east of the country, called by many an ideal city. Anyway, it is not without reason that Zamosc’s architectural and urban complex of the Old Town was included in the UNESCO list!

Before exploring the city, it is worth learning about its history. Zamosc at the beginning was a private city. Its originator and founder was Jan Zamoyski. Zamosc was founded on April 10, 1580, or more precisely, on the day of St. Thomas, the patron saint of the Zamoyski family.

Zielona Gora – a truly green city in Poland

Is Zielona Gora (eng. Green Mountain) worth visiting? You may wonder, if you have not yet been there. Spread over many hills, it is famous for its many natural attractions, just like the Lubuskie region. Zielona Góra is not only really green, as forests are almost 50% of the area and there really is somewhere to walk. Above all, it is interesting and not trampled by crowds of tourists. And since I like such places the most, I was all the more eager to go exploring.

Przemysl – a beautiful city right on the border

I visited Przemyśl during my vacation in eastern Poland. I didn’t expect to be so charmed by this city! It’s not even about the attractions that Przemyśl offers, but mostly about the atmosphere. There are some really beautiful sights in the city, and walking around makes for a really great trip, so it’s best to start your sightseeing with a walk. Besides, there are museums, interesting routes, and the most interesting places are close to each other.

Opole – the capital of Polish Song

In Poland, Opole is mainly associated with the Song Festival, the German minority and several tourist attractions from the voivodeship. Although Opole is the smallest voivodeship in Poland, you will find more interesting places in Opole than just the Market Square and the Old Town.

I spent part of my life in Opole – I went to high school and university there. Over the years I have discovered how nice Opole is and how it has recently beautified. I love to show my friends that this relatively small city is really interesting.

Lublin – the most beautiful city in eastern Poland

Lublin is one of my favorite cities for a weekend in Poland. The reason is simple: I just feel good there! Of course, several things contribute to this feeling. The unusual climate of the city, the really interesting tourist attractions or the beautiful Old Town. Besides, Lublin has a bunch of places where you can eat something good, drink coffee and have a great rest, regardless of the season. Just to be clear, these are not the only cool places in Lublin. Go there and check it!

Bydgoszcz and Torun – two charming cities in Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodeship

If you like city-breaks, Bydgoszcz and Torun will be perfect in this regard at any time of the year. Both cities are the capital of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian region.

Torun is more popular with tourists, but in my opinion Bydgoszcz is equally beautiful. They are separated by about 40 minutes, so it’s worth a weekend trip.

What to do in Torun?

• definitely go for the gingerbread!
• follow in the footsteps of Nicolaus Copernicus and visit his house
• go to the viewpoint on the other side of the Vistula River

What to do in Bydgoszcz?

• visit the Old Town, in winter go to the fair
• visit the Granaries of Bydgoszcz
• take pictures along the Brda River!
• visit museums – there are really a lot of them in Bydgoszcz!

Jelenia Gora – a Lower Silesian gem among cities

What cities and places are worth visiting in Lower Silesia? This region in Poland is famous for its many beautiful places. There are many castles, palaces, mysterious underworlds and wonderful cities. I’ve been exploring the Lower Silesia region for years and love to return to several places. Starting from the Klodzko Valley, through Czocha Castle to Jelenia Gora.

Jelenia Gora is not popular with tourists like Szklarska Poreba or Karpacz. For the same reason, it is an ideal place for people like me, lovers of beautiful architecture, castles, tranquility and mountains, which, after all, in Jelenia Gora are at your fingertips. The attractions of Jelenia Gora definitely stand out in the province of the country.

Sanok – a city full of memories

My grandmother, who grew up in Pielnia, a small village a dozen kilometers away, told me about this city. That’s why Sanok holds a special place in my heart, although probably if it weren’t for this family history I would still consider it a gem of the Subcarpathian region.

Sanok is a city that should be considered by anyone traveling to the Bieszczady Mountains. It is in this town that you will find many interesting places and a number of unique attractions. The Subcarpathian region is full of surprises and one of them is definitely Sanok. It is not particularly touristy, rather quiet, although there is plenty to see.

It’s a place of a real meeting point of cultures: churches and monasteries on one side, Orthodox churches on the other, and synagogues on the third one. In addition, this is where ethnic minorities existed, which in other parts of the world we have not even heard of.

Olsztyn – an extremely tasty city in Poland

I love to travel around Poland! To discover stories, legends, interesting places and delight in nature. Each region has different traditions and cuisine, which most often impresses with its diversity. Cuisine and food! Olsztyn is unique in this regard – it is here that we will eat such sensational fish, for which even Santa Claus from Rovaniemi comes. And this is just the beginning of delicious food in Olsztyn, because there are many more tasty places. Save Olsztyn on your food bucket list!

Lodz – the perfect city for an escape without the crowds

In my opinion, when we go to Lodz, we must visit Piotrkowska Street. There are a lot of great places, street art. and the park. But just a few tourists know that Lodz’s parks are simply beautiful. Anyway, not only parks: the botanical garden or even the ZOO make an wild impression.

Some say that you can either love or hate Lodz. I just like Lodz, but I agree: in this city a person, whether he wants to or not, makes an opinion for himself. One more thing you can’t take away from Lodz, it is certainly one of the most surprising places in Poland.

Wadowice – this is where John Paul II was born

And it’s here that you’ll eat the best cream puffs in Poland! I know that not everyone has discovered this corner of Malopolska, although Wadowice is visited by crowds of tourists every year. What is Wadowice associated with? With Pope John Paul II.

The attractions of Wadowice are in fact places and things related to Karol Wojtyla. John Paul was born there nd therefore this place is special to the faithful. However, you don’t have to be particularly religious to visit this city.

Also check:

Wadowice – a Town Where Pope John Paul II Was Born

Nowy Sacz – a city worth visiting in Malopolska

Nowy Sacz is one of the oldest cities in Malopolska, in addition, today it is the largest city in the Beskid Sadecki region. And although many tourists visit the region mainly to walk in the mountains, the city can enchant. A nice market square, an amazing open-air museum and several attractions make Nowy Sacz worth visiting.

Szczecin – the most underrated city in Poland

Szczecin is a city located a proverbial stone’s throw from the German border. It’s not a very common tourist destination, yet it has much more to offer than you might think at first glance! The most popular place is, of course, the Chrobry Embankment. They form the skyline, the symbol of Szczecin, along with the National Museum, the Castle of the Pomeranian Dukes and St. James Cathedral.

Zabrze – mine, mining adit and more

I know that for many years the Silesian Agglomeration was not associated with a tourist destination. Fortunately, this is beginning to change, so if you have asked yourself why come to this industrial Silesia at all, you will find the answer in Zabrze. You can visit a real adit, a mine and much more. The history of industry and mining in one place.

Gdansk – a seaside gem you must visit

Gdansk is definitely one of the most beautiful cities in Poland. Not only in pictures, but also in reality. It is impossible to say otherwise, because Gdansk is simply gorgeous. Of course, this makes it extremely popular, so it’s best to visit in the off-season and take pictures really early in the morning.

Also check:

What Are the TOP Attractions of Gdansk?

Sandomierz: best reason to visit the Holy Cross Voivodeship

Sandomierz is attracting more and more tourists, which is absolutely no surprise, because it is indeed a beautiful city. Especially the market square, although the picturesque surroundings can also impress. The city is famous for its architecture and rich history. Sandomierz’s tourist attractions are primarily historical sites and monuments, but nowadays Sandomierz is associated not only with the Royal City, but also (of course!) with Father Matthew from the famous Polish TV series.

The most beautiful cities in Poland

It’s hard to choose which cities in Poland are the most beautiful. It would be much easier to see which are most visited by tourists. Some time ago I asked you on my Instagram which cities in Poland are the prettiest. Here are your answers (random order):

• Kazimierz Dolny
• Sandomierz
• Gdansk
• Krakow
• Lublin
• Wroclaw
• Plock
• Przemyśl
• Zamosc
• Opole
• Warsaw
• Torun
• Klodzko

What cities are missing in this blog post? I look forward to your feedback and comments!

See also:

Discover Castles and Palaces of Lower Silesia: A Journey Through History