When I initially put together my Poland road trip itinerary, I had no idea how totally underrated this country is. Poland surprised me in so many ways; I’m actually kinda shocked it’s not on more people’s radars.
Admittedly, what originally drew me to Poland was its World War II history, but I grew increasingly irritated every time someone asked, “Really? Why??” every time I mentioned I was going to road trip around Poland. Obviously, none of these people had visited Poland. But that just goes to show what a hidden gem this (pretty large) country still is.
I modified my original Poland itinerary just a little bit to bring you the one I’m sharing in this post. (I highly doubt you want to visit all six Nazi death camps, for example, but if you do, definitely check out my Poland WWII itinerary here.) Enjoy!
About this Poland road trip itinerary
This 10-day Poland road trip itinerary begins and ends in Warsaw. Not only is this how my friend Amanda and I did it, but this is also the country’s capital, largest city, and most accessible airport. So, it felt like a good starting point. And, because this way we could pick up and drop off the rental car at the same location.
But since this is a circular counterclockwise route, you could start and end anywhere that’s most convenient for you.
How to get to Poland
Even though “Poland” seems a world away, it’s actually right there next to Germany and the Czech Republic which are already top tourist destinations. Warsaw in particular is really easy to get to. I personally flew to Warsaw’s Chopin Airport (WAW) from Dubrovnik (with a layover in Vienna), but you can find direct flights from all over Europe. I flew here on Austrian Air and home on Lufthansa, but also check Poland’s flagship carrier—LOT Airlines.
If you wish to arrive by land, know that it’s going to take you a little bit longer since Warsaw isn’t exactly centrally located. In this case, I’d probably suggest starting your Poland road trip in Wrocław (which you can get to from Berlin) or Kraków which is closer to Prague and Vienna.
Take a look at Omio for your train options and check out Flixbus for cheap and easy bus travel around Europe. I’ve taken the Flixbus several times and have always had positive (affordable) experiences.
How to get around Poland
Given that we’re talking about a road trip here, this 10-day Poland itinerary is going to require you to have access to your own car. Though you can absolutely travel around Poland by train, doing so by car is going to be so much faster and more convenient. Check out the best rental car deals here. I had a great rental experience with a Polish company called Kaizen Rent.
For more on what to expect for your road trip, check out my post on driving in Poland. Keep in mind it’s geared towards visiting the WWII sites, but it still all applies to every scenario.
10-day Poland road trip at a glance
Before we dig into the details, here’s what to expect from my 10-day Poland road trip itinerary:
About this itinerary
This post serves as a broad look at what you can do and see during a 10-day trip around Poland. In the spirit of saving time, I don’t go into a ton of detail for each location. Instead, I’ve linked to other posts where you can find more detailed information.
Also, a disclaimer. Even though I have a full separate WWII-centered Poland itinerary, you should know that a lot of Poland’s identity revolves around its World War II history. So, there will be a healthy amount of WWII history sprinkled into this itinerary. This isn’t my WWII historian bias speaking here, it’s just truly unavoidable. I guess I should say, don’t even bother visiting Poland if you don’t want to hear about WWII.
To see them all in one place (well, two places), head here for all my Poland posts (and here for all my WWII Poland posts).
10-day Poland road trip itinerary map
This map contains all the Poland tourist attractions, suggested hotels, restaurants, and more I mention in this post. To save this map: Click on the star ⭑ next to the map’s title to save in your Google Maps. To use this map: When you get here, open Google Maps on your phone, click “Saved” at the bottom, then click “Maps.”
Day 0: Travel to Warsaw
This is, of course, if you plan to follow this itinerary exactly as I did and start and end in Warsaw. Otherwise, all you have to do today is get to wherever you plan to start your Poland road trip.
If you are planning to follow in my tire tracks, get yourself to Warsaw but don’t pick up your rental car just yet. The first two days of this 10-day Poland itinerary have you in Warsaw where you won’t need a car so there’s no need to unnecessarily pay for parking here.
Where to stay in Warsaw
Warsaw has tons of great places to stay in all parts of town, but here are a few suggestions to get you started:
See all other Warsaw hotel options here.
Days 1 & 2: Warsaw
Warsaw is Poland’s super interesting capital city that doesn’t get enough love (in my opinion). This city excels in terms of history and cuisine and makes an excellent place to start your Poland adventures.
Pro tip: Pick up a Warsaw Museum Pass to save some money on your Warsaw sightseeing. (Includes one of the concerts listed below too!)
What to do in Warsaw
I have a full post on what to do in Warsaw here, but here are some highlights:
- Explore Warsaw Old Town – UNESCO World Heritage Site that was completely destroyed during WWII and rebuilt to its original specs using historical paintings; check out this Old Town guided walking tour
- Visit Warsaw Royal Castle – Now a museum and national historical monument; you can even see the paintings that were used to rebuild the city
- Climb St. Anne’s Bell Tower for beautiful Old Town views
- Visit the Warsaw Rising Museum, dedicated to the Warsaw Uprising of 1944, one of Warsaw’s most significant historical events (when Polish resistance fighters revolted against the Nazis)
- Check out the many other WWII sites in Warsaw – There are tons of great museums, grand monuments, and historical ruins around town
- Visit the Chopin Museum, dedicated to Fryderyk Chopin, Warsaw’s most famous composer
- Take your picture with the I Love Warsaw sign
- Find the Chopin benches around town that play his music
- Attend a Chopin concert – I mean, you might as well! (And they’re cheap as hell.)
For more on what to do in Warsaw, some of the best places to eat and drink, and tons of great tour options, check out my Warsaw post here. Really, I have so many great things to say about this city, but in the spirit of brevity, just check out my Warsaw post to see them all because I could go on and on.
Days 3 & 4: Gdańsk
Of all the gorgeous cities in Poland, Gdańsk is the most beautiful. All of Poland’s major cities are colorful and ornate, but Gdańsk blows them all out of the water. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find a city this stunning elsewhere in Europe.
Fun fact: Known as Danzig back then, this was the first city Hitler’s Nazis invaded. Ergo, Gdańsk is where World War II officially started. (Okay maybe not really a “fun” fact.)
Warsaw to Gdańsk
On Day 3, get started early and pick up your rental car. For me, it made the most sense to just take a cab back to the airport and pick up my rental car here. This way, I could easily drop it back off at the airport before flying home. I booked through DiscoverCars.com and had an excellent rental experience all around.
From Warsaw, Gdańsk is about a 3.5-hour drive. The drive is easy, beautiful, and you may even spot a moose or two! (We did, and we were SHOOK.) However, just before you get to Gdańsk I’m going to recommend another stop first…
Malbork Castle
Just south of Gdańsk is Malbork Castle—the largest castle in the world. Dating back to the 1200s, this entirely-brick castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world’s largest in terms of land area. You can tour the permanent museum, the historical mill, and much more. Or you can simply explore its exterior, its grounds, and eat at its restaurant if you want to keep the day pretty chill.
From Malbork Castle, it’s less than an hour into Gdańsk center. Park your car at your hotel or apartment and spend the rest of the next two days exploring this gorgeous city.
What to do in Gdańsk
Again, I have a full post dedicated to what to do in Gdańsk here, but I’ll fill you in on some of this city’s highlights. Though there isn’t a lot “to do” here in Gdańsk, the best part of your visit will be just seeing and experiencing it all. This is going to be a super chill and lovely couple of days.
- Check out the Długi Targ – Gdańsk’s main thoroughfare through the Old Town that dates back to the 1200s. You’ll find tons of beautiful cafés, ornate architecture, fountains, and more.
- Climb the Town Hall Tower for the most amazing (and colorful) views
- Stroll down Mariacka Street – Pick up some awesome souvenirs here at the amber capital of the world
- See the amber altar at St. Bridget’s Basilica – An entire altar built and decorated with amber; it’s stunning
- Visit the Museum of the Second World War – As someone who has been to hundreds of WWII museums around the world, I can definitively say this is one of the absolute best.
- Check out the other Gdańsk WWII sites – Being the place that started it all, there’s a lot to see.
- Hang out by the waterfront – Ride the Ferris wheel, take your pic with the Gdańsk sign, check out some historic structures, take a sunset river cruise, hang out at a café…
For more on what to do in Gdańsk, my favorite places to eat and drink, and lots more photos, definitely check out my Gdańsk guide here.
Where to stay in Gdańsk
There are so many great hotels to choose from in Gdańsk, but here are a few places you can use to start your search:
There are many more Gdańsk hotels to choose from though; see all Gdańsk hotel options here.
Days 5 & 6: Wrocław
Wrocław is definitely one of the quirkiest cities on this Poland road trip itinerary. It’s another wildly colorful and interesting city but unlike the others it’s entirely filled with gnomes! I’ll explain that one in a minute.
From Gdańsk, Wrocław is going to be a 5-hour drive. This is going to be the longest drive of this entire 10-day Poland itinerary, but Poland is a big country. Even so, you’ll find you still have plenty of time to explore Wrocław.
If you did want to break up the drive and you have an extra day to spend in Poland, you could always stop in Poznań for a night. Poznań is, unsurprisingly, another incredibly colorful city with some cool museums, eateries, and hotels.
What to do in Wrocław
Wrocław is another great city where you can spend most of your time checking out the city and just generally taking it easy. However, there is one major thing you must do while you’re here…
Find the gnomes
Wrocław is known for being the city filled with gnomes or “dwarfs.” You’ll see these tiny dwarf sculptures all over the city getting into all kinds of mischief. In fact, there are estimated to be nearly 400 of them hidden all over town. (And growing! In number, not size of course.) You can even pick up a map at the Wrocław tourist office to see some of the most popular.
This was a thing we knew about when we made it to Wrocław, but we weren’t prepared for how voraciously we would then spend our entire time here seeking them out. It’s just like… kinda addicting honestly. Learn more about Wrocław’s dwarfs here.
What else to do in Wrocław
Beyond the gnomes, here are some more great things to do in Wrocław:
- Head up to the Penitent’s Bridge for great city views (and more gnomes of course)
- Spot the lamplighters at work – Wrocław is one of only two cities in Europe to still use lamplighters!
- Explore the historic university, famous for its Baroque architecture
- Walk down Stare Jatki – The old butcher’s street feels like something out of a movie
- Stroll the colorful Old Town and Market Square – Maybe you’ll come across a fun festival or artisan market like we did
- Take this amazing food tasting tour
Książ Castle
If you still want more to do with your time in Wrocław, you can hop back in your car and head over to Książ Castle. (Expect about an hour drive each way.)
Zamek Książ is the largest castle in this part of Poland and dates back to the 13th century. You can take excellent self-guided audio tours of the castle and then explore its grounds, gardens, and even its vast network of underground tunnels. The whole castle is beautiful and was even used as a filming location for the Oscar-winning film Zone of Interest (which I highly recommend watching).
Where to eat & drink in Wrocław
Since I don’t have a dedicated post about Wrocław yet, here are my favorite places to eat and drink in Wrocław:
Where to stay in Wrocław
Here are a few brief recommendations to get you started on your Wrocław hotel search:
You can see all available Wrocław hotels here.
Days 7 & 8: Kraków
From Wrocław, it’s about a 3-hour drive to Kraków. This first day in Kraków you can use to explore the city and check out the popular sites. Tomorrow you’ll spend most of the day exploring Auschwitz-Birkenau. Kraków is a kind of ground zero for World War II history, so like it or not you’re going to learn a lot here.
What to do in Kraków
For your first day in Kraków, here are some of the things you can see and do:
- Check out the Old Town Square (Rynek Główny) – one of the largest medieval town squares in Europe, dating back to the 13th century
- Pop into St. Mary’s Basilica if only to see the gorgeous architecture and design
- Visit Wawel Castle – You can check out the exhibits inside or simply explore the grounds for free
- Explore Kazimierz (the Jewish Quarter) – Take a guided tour, visit the Jewish cemetery, eat some delicious food, and more
- Visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine – Head down into the mines to learn all about the business of salt mining. This will be more of a half-day trip if you’re interested.
- See Kraków’s WWII sites – The Eagle Pharmacy is a must for history buffs; the Schindler factory museum is a bit of a let-down, but still worth stopping by to see from the outside.
- Have dinner at Morskie Oko – Traditional Polish food in a cozy atmosphere
- Or check out this popular Kraków food tour
Pro tip: Pick up a Kraków Card to save some money on lots of attractions around Kraków.
Auschwitz-Birkenau
Visiting the extermination camps of Auschwitz-Birkenau is an absolute must when visiting Kraków. In fact, it’s the main reason most people visit Kraków in the first place. It’s going to be a seriously somber day, but it’s an absolutely necessary one.
To visit Auschwitz, you’ll need to reserve a tour time in advance. They offer timed tours every day of the week in several languages. These are mandatory guided tours and they last 3.5 hours. You’ll visit both camps and, unless you’re some kind of soulless monster, your life will henceforth be changed, I guarantee it.
There’s a lot to know for your visit to Auschwitz, so I’m just going to direct you to my full guide on visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau here. I have a free printable version you can download here:
Where to stay in Kraków
Here are a few great places to begin your Kraków hotel search:
See all Kraków hotel options here.
Days 9 & 10: Zakopane
For something a little different, today we’ll head down to Zakopane, a resort town at the base of the Tatras Mountains. The drive here from Kraków will take just over 1.5 hours. While most of this Poland itinerary has been spent in colorful historical towns, Zakopane offers a more chill retreat closer to nature.
What to do in Zakopane (in the summer)
Visiting in the winter will be a totally different experience (think skiing), but if you visit in the summer here’s what you can get up to:
- Hang out a spa resort and don’t do anything at all – This is largely what we did mostly because of the foul weather we experienced, but this is still a great way to spend two days in Poland.
- Explore Krupówki Street, the main street in Zakopane where you can find all the shops, restaurants, cafés, and more
- Try Oscypek (traditional mountain cheese) – People here are obsessed with this stuff and you should definitely try it. It’s… weird? But not terrible? But also I don’t feel the need to eat it again?
- Do some hiking – Check out this list of Zakopane’s best hiking trails
- Take the cable car to Kasprowy Wierch for incredible mountain views (without having to hike all the way up)
- Soak it up at the thermal pools like Chochołowskie Thermal Baths
- Go see the Chapel of Jaszczurówka, a typical wooden Zakopane-style church
Where to eat and drink in Zakopane
There are lots of great restaurants and bars here, but my three favorite places are:
Where to stay in Zakopane
As a resort town, there are lots of amazing places to stay in Zakopane. Start with these options:
See all other Zakopane hotel options here.
Day 11: Return to Warsaw
After your time in Zakopane, you can head north to Warsaw and be there in about 4.5 hours, passing back through Kraków on the way. Otherwise, you can continue on to wherever you’re headed next.
Tips for your Poland road trip
Here are a couple helpful things to know to prepare for your road trip around Poland:
1. Don’t pick up your rental car immediately
As I mentioned at the start of this post, don’t pick up your rental car as soon as you land in Warsaw. Since you won’t need your own car for the first two days of this Poland itinerary, it would be silly to pick it up, pay for those extra two days of having it, and pay for two extra days of parking it when you don’t even need it yet.
Instead, wait until the morning of the third day when you’re ready to leave Warsaw to pick up your rental car. (Book your rental car here if you haven’t done so yet.)
2. Consider the sightseeing passes
If you plan to visit some museums while in Poland, definitely check out the sightseeing passes that most of the cities offer. These are typically good for free admission to museums and other attractions plus extra things like river cruises, free public transportation, and guided tours. Here are the ones available for Poland:
3. Prepare for your road trip
Please, please, please be sure to read my post on driving in Poland so you can be fully prepared for the adventure that awaits you. I mean that in both the most serious and most sarcastic ways possible.
4. Where to get supplies
For when you need supplies on your Poland road trip, find the nearest Rossmann store. It’s similar to Walgreens or CVS but everything costs half as much as here as it does in the US. I even bought things like a new electric toothbrush to bring back to the US with me.
I’ve done you a favor and marked a Rossmann on the map for each city. Know that there are still tons more locations than just the ones I’ve marked so you’re certain to find one near you.
5. Prepare for summer weather
One thing I learned while road tripping around Poland in the summer is that the weather is pretty similar to Florida. If you don’t know what that means, then just expect lots of sun but probably a daily shower or two. Just like a short mini storm that clears up pretty quickly. I mean, it is just like Florida.
What to pack for your Poland road trip
Here are just a few things to make sure you bring for your Poland road trip:
More info for your Poland road trip
Like this post? Have questions about this Poland road trip itinerary? Let me know in the comments below. Have fun in Poland!
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