Poland Landmarks

1. Krakow Cathedral, Krakow

Also known as Wawel Cathedral, this Gothic Cathedral is located on Wawel Hill in Krakow. This medieval cathedral is a central attraction in Krakow and its crypts are where some of Poland’s most famous rulers and heroes are buried.

2. Tyniec Abbey, Krakow

Located on the banks of the Vistula, this Benedictine abbey was founded in the 11th century and rests atop a cliff overlooking the river below. If you are visiting during the summer, make sure to try and see one of the many organ concerts the abbey hosts.

3. Museum of the History of Polish Jews, Warsaw

The only museum of its kind, the POLIN Museum tells the history and stories of the Jewish people in Poland. It’s exhibits and features begin 1,000 years ago and take you through to the present. 

4. Jewish Quarter, Tarnów

An area in Tarnów filled with 17th and 18th century Jewish tenement houses that dates back to the 15th century and was where many of the city’s intellectuals lived.

5. Old Synagogue, Krakow

Built in the 15th century and extended in the 16th century, this synagogue is a mix of Gothic and Renaissance styles. It sits in the Kazimierz district of Krakow and one of the oldest synagogue in Poland.

6. Warsaw Rising Museum, Warsaw

Dedicated to the Warsaw Uprising of 1944, the museum was opened 60 years after and built in honor of those that would change the fate of Warsaw. The museum is located in the Wola district of Warsaw and is a must-see to learn more about the capital’s past.

7. Silesian Museum, Katowice

Futuristically designed building with adapted historic coal mine shafts that was built on the actual premises of a coal mine. The mine was in operation for 176 years and the museum tells the unique and interesting story of the mine and the surrounding area.

8. Art Museum, Łódź

Consists of three different locations, each filled with Polish modern and contemporary art. The museum’s main goal is to highlight innovative and avante garde art pieces and is one of the oldest modern art museums in the world. 

9. Museum of Contemporary Art, Krakow

MOCAK is a converted factory that was transformed into an art gallery filled with Polish contemporary art. This museum isn’t only artistically important, but historically as well. The museum sits where Schindler’s Factory once stood. 

10. Tatra Mountains, Southern Poland

Part of the Carpathian Mountain chain in Eastern Europe that acts as a natural border between Poland and Slovakia. The mountains are considered protected parklands and are popular all-year round for hiking or skiing. 

11. Biebrza National Park, Podlaskie Voivodeship

This beautiful park is a protected area along the Biebrza River Valley in Northeastern Poland. The marshes and wetlands that make up this part are home to numerous bird species, elk, and other wildlife.

12. Pieniny National Park, Lesser Poland Voivodeship

This national park is located in the Pieniny Mountain range in Southern Poland and Northern Slovakia that is split into three parts: Pieniny Spiskie, Pieniny Właściwe, and Małe Pieniny. This area is known for its water rafting and stunning river views.

13. Bory Tucholskie, Northern Poland

Also known as Tuchola Forest, this forest is an overgrown greenspace with pine trees that is cut across by river valleys and lakes. With it’s massive pines and rivers, it’s one of the many places in Poland that remind you of a fairytale.

14. Errant Rocks, Lower Silesia

Sandstone formations with natural arches, caves, and hoodoos that remind you of another world and what the natural world can do. The twists and turns of these caves create a catacomb that you can easily get lost in if you aren’t careful. 

15. Wielka Śnieżna Cave, Lesser Poland Voivodeship

The largest and deepest cave in Poland at over 77,000 feet long, and 2,700 feet deep, Wielka Sniezna Cave is a limestone cave in the Western Tetra Mountains and is a top destination for cavers and spalunkers.

16. Mount Ślęża, Lower Silesia

Mount Sleza is an ancient holy site of Neolithic times. The mount features mysterious prehistoric sculptures and is a common place for hikers and climbers to visit during the warmer months.

17. Chełmno Old City, Kuyavia-Pomerania

This town features well preserved Medieval buildings and city walls with orange-tiled roofs that remind you Mediterranean cities. While this place is beautiful, it also has a dark history as the city was a location for one of the death-camps during WWII.

18. Chocholow, Lesser Poland Voivodeship

Historical Gorale village featuring characteristic Polish wooden houses with triangular roofs and dormers and black or slate shingles. The city is a must to learn more about Poland’s past, but also to get out into the countryside as well.

19. Gdansk Old City, Pomerania

Medieval city center full of Gothic and Renaissance architecture in the third city of Poland’s “Golden Triangle.” Gdansk’s old town is a stunning architectural city that embraces its colorful and seaside history.

20. Artus Court, Pomerania

Located in the center of Gdansk, Artus Court was once the meeting place for merchants and traders in the city. Presently, it is a part of the Gdansk History Museum that features the wealth and pomp of merchants during medieval times.

21. Malbork Castle, Pomerania

This 13th century castle was built by the Teutonic Order and was constructed after the end of the Prussian Rebellion against local tribes. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered to be the largest castle in the world, if you measure by land area. 

22. Moszna Castle, Opole

Palace built in the 17th century with additions from the early 20th century and is considered one of the top attractions in Southern Poland. The castle’s architecture alone would make it worth the visit, but the castle also features stunning gardens as well.

23. Zalipie, Zalipie

A small ancient village full of wooden houses that have been covered with intricate floral designs that are a characteristic of Polish art and souvenirs. This “Painted Village” is popular among tourists because of its quantness and humbleness. 

24. Jagiellonian University

Jagiellonian University is one of the oldest universities in the world. It was established in  1364 by Casimir the Great. This research university has a long list of alumni, including Copernicus, Polish King John III Sobieski, and poet Jan Kochanowski.

25. Haczów Church, Podkarpackie

A 14th century Gothic style wooden church which is the largest Gothic wooden church in Europe and the oldest in wooden church in Poland. It is listed on the UNESCO site and was erected in honor of the Assumption of Mary and the Archangel Michael.