As one of the biggest European countries, Poland has a lot to offer to tourists. Check out these 5 reasons to visit Poland;

History

Warsaw Poland

Wherever you are in Poland you won’t be able to escape its turbulent history especially from the Second World War. Being located in a very central position in Europe, between two powerful neighbors, Poland was forced to protect its sovereignty numerous times and its history is therefore very eventful. Some of the elements that represent Poland is its rich historical monuments and respect to other traditions.

Under The Jagiellonian dynasty, Poland was the largest European state extending from the Baltic to the Black Sea, but then was slowly destroyed as a country during the two World Wars with the population being devastated. Today Poland is an EU and NATO member and its rich and proud history is being showcased in museums and other cultural institutions which definitely deserve attention from tourists, especially the Warsaw Uprising Museum.

Unspoiled nature

Traveling through Poland by train is simply beautiful, as you can admire its landscapes and forests’. Besides that Poland is famous for its Baltic sea beaches, lakes and rivers that offer rest, relaxation and adventure for travelers. The beaches of the Baltic Sea are famous for amber which is called as Polish gold due to its beauty and health qualities.

Masuria is another amazing nature spot in Poland being known as the land of a Thousand lakes which are mostly small and medium in size and are hidden in forests that offer rest and more adventurous experiences of life. Another untouched pearl in Poland is Bia?owie?a Forest – an ancient woodland famous for being home to European bison. Although most of the country is flat, with the average attitude of only 173 meters, Poland can also be proud of its mountains, with the Tatra mountains, within the fascinating town of Zakopane, attracting many mountain trekkers and skiers.

Another must is the S?owi?ski National Park, famous for its sand dunes and the tourist trails extending about 140 km. In total Poland has twenty three national parks and among them eight are part of the UNESCO list.

Culture

Frederyk Chopin Museum

Warsaw and other Polish cities are attractive destinations for those wanting to learn more about history and culture. Despite being heavily destroyed during WW2, nineteen UNESCO World Heritage sites are located in Poland. 90% of the Polish capital was almost flattened during the WW2, but due to amazing reconstruction, Warsaw’s Old Town secured its place on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites as well. Warsaw also has a big selection of museums with one of the most popular ones being the “Warsaw Uprising Museum”, the National Museum and several others.

The capital has also a lot to offer to music lovers with the most popular events including; the Mozzart Festival, International Chopin Competition (which takes place every five years), International Warsaw Summer Jazz Days and others. Krakow, the historical capital of Poland, is another attractive spot for culture and art lovers, with numerous museums and two UNESCO World Heritage sites around the city. Wroclaw, Gda?sk, Pozna? and ?ód? are other major Polish cities that have a lot to offer in terms of cultural and religious tourism.

Polish Hospitality and Cuisine

“A guest in the house, God in the house” – Polish proverb

That probably best represents the reason number four why you need to visit Poland. Polish cuisine is influenced from French, Italian along with Jewish, Hungarian and Lithuanian cuisines. ?urek is a sour rye soup that along with pierogi best represents Polish national dishes. Kie?basa is Polish sausage and is available in dozens of varieties, while Go??bki is another Polish traditional dish in the form of cabbage rolls which are made of lightly cooked cabbage filled with pork or beef.

Other traditional Polish dishes include bigos, roast, tomato soup and others. Besides that Polish people are some of the most hospitable people you’ll meet and are always there ready to help you and assist you in anything you need.

Budget

Visiting Poland will definitely not break your bank, as it offers great value for money. Warsaw has some of the cheapest overnight accommodation prices among all European capital cities. You can search for accommodation on Booking and HotelsCombined.  If you are flying to Poland, check out Momondo as it will compare the best prices from different airlines.

The price of food and products bought in shops are still relatively inexpensive comparing to capitals of countries in Western Europe. Beer in Poland costs between (0,25 – 2,5 €) and dinning in one of the better restaurants from 12 to 25 €.

A meal in an inexpensive restaurant is around 4 €. Also note that the bus transportation throughout the country is cheaper than using the train but the travel time in most cases increases. For example if you book in advance with the Polish bus coach Polskibus.com, you can get bus tickets from just 1 PLN (0.23 €). Trains are also inexpensive, plus faster, and you will probably enjoy the natural landscape much more.

And these were only 5 reasons to visit Poland but be sure there’s way more! So go, explore and find out by yourself! 🙂