Poland is a great destination for solo adventures. It has vibrant cities, historical sites where you can learn more about Polish history, friendly people, and very good local restaurants. In this blog post I will share everything you need to know to plan your Poland solo travel adventure. This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.
Are you looking for help with planning your trip? Check out these helpful resources:
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Warsaw
Visit Warsaw’s Old Town
The old town market square should definitely be on your itinerary. In this area you will also find the Royal Castle, the old city walls, St. Anne’s Church, and all those adorable cobblestone streets.
During the winter this is where you’ll find the Christmas tree and the Christmas market.
During World War II the Warsaw old town was almost completely destroyed by the nazis. Only 6 out of 260 historic buildings survived the attacks.
It was later rebuilt with the help of Warsaw’s citizens. The reconstruction took 5 years. This is the first time in history that the entire old town had to be rebuilt.
The old town is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Explore the Royal Castle
The Royal Castle is located in the Castle Square. It used to be the official royal residence of several Polish monarchs.
It is now a museum where you can explore how the monarchs used to live and learn more about the rich history of Poland.
There are certain times during the day when a guard opens a window that faces the square and plays the trumpet. At the end of the song he waves at the people in the square. It’s really cute.
Admire the City Walls
Across from the Royal Castle you can find parts of the city walls. They were originally built in the 13th and 16th centuries. And then they were rebuilt after World War II.
The best-preserved fragments of the walls are parallel to Podwale Street. This is where the Christmas market stands are located during December.
Stroll through the Royal Route
The Royal Route or Royal Way is a stretch of road that includes notable buildings and attractions. It is comprised of the following streets: Krakowskie Przedmieście, Nowy Świat, and Aleje Ujazdowske, Belwederska, and Sobieskiego.
It starts at Castle Square in the old town and it continues southward to Wilanów Palace, Sobieski’s personal residence.
The most notable attractions along the Royal Route are the Royal Palace, St. Anne’s Church, Holy Cross Church, the Presidential Palace, the Copernicus Monument, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Łazienki Park, Łazienki Palace.
You can walk the entire route if you have time. If not, just walk between Castle Square and Nowy Świat. This is the most popular part of the route and where you can see most attractions outside of Łazienki Park and Palace, and Wilanów Palace.
Get food and coffee on Nowy Świat
Nowy Swiat is translated in English as the New World Street. It is part of the Royal Route.
You can find a lot of restaurants, cafes, and bars here. Its nickname is Restaurant Street.
During summer and while the Christmas market is open this street is closed to car traffic, so people can enjoy walking in this area.
I stayed very close to this street and it was great. I had plenty of food options only a few minutes away from my hotel.
Go up St. Anne’s Church for the best observation deck
When you’re in the old town area you need to climb the stairs of the tower of St. Anne’s Church to get to the observation deck. It has the best views of the old town.
A ticket costs 10 zloty and they only accept cash. If you don’t have cash on you there is an ATM right across the street from the church.
It’s one of my favorite places in Warsaw and it’s definitely worth visiting if you like amazing views.
Attend a Chopin concert
While in Warsaw, you need to go to a Chopin concert in the old town. Frederic Chopin, the famous classical music composer, was born in Poland. Polish people are very proud of this fact.
They offer daily Chopin concerts in the old town, there are benches in 15 locations in Warsaw that play Chopin music if you press a button, the airport name is Chopin, and even the trains play Chopin music while they stop at a train station. I love how much they cherish Chopin and how they created so many cultural experiences around his music.
Visit the Church of the Holy Cross
This is a Roman Catholic church and one of the most notable Baroque-style buildings in Poland. What not a lot of people know is that Frederic Chopin’s heart rests here. While his body is buried in Paris, his heart is kept in this church.
Entrance to the church is free, but they only allow visitors while service is not in place.
Explore the Palace of Culture and Science
The Palace of Culture and Science is the second tallest building in Warsaw and Poland and the sixth tallest building in the European Union.
It was designed by a Russian architect. It was inspired by Polish historical architecture and the American art-deco buildings. To be fair, it does resemble a bit the buildings in the Wall Street area of New York City.
The building houses theatres, cinemas, libraries, and authorities of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
You can visit the observation deck on the 30th floor. You can buy a regular ticket for this terrace or you can opt for a guided tour where you get skip-the-line entrance, learn about the history of the building from a local guide, explore the beautiful interiors, and listen to funny stories about the building.
I think it’s definitely worth visiting the observation deck. It has a great 360-degree view of the capital of Poland. Apparently it’s the most visited attraction in Warsaw.
Don’t miss this hidden gem: Fotoplastikon
Fotoplastikon is a hidden gem in Warsaw. It is the oldest stereoscopic theater still in its original location. I highly recommend you stop by when you’re in Warsaw. It will be a very unique experience. You can read everything about it here.
Take a walk in Łazienki Park
This is the largest park in Warsaw. It is part of the Royal Route. It was designed in the 17th century in the Baroque style for a military commander.
It’s a very impressive park. You should add it to your itinerary. Taking a stroll here could be a great afternoon activity, especially if the weather cooperates.
Visit the Museum of Warsaw
The Museum of Warsaw was established in 1936 and it was rebuilt after the war as it is located in the old town market square. It has over 250,000 objects on display from various fields, such as archeology, painting, sculpture, and architectural drawings.
Visit the Warsaw Rising Museum
The Warsaw Rising Museum is dedicated to the Warsaw Uprising in 1944. It opened in 2004, the year that marks the 60th anniversary of the Uprising. The Warsaw Uprising was a major World War II operation to liberate Warsaw from German occupation.
This is a great museum to visit if you like history and want to learn more about the Uprising movement.
Gdansk
Stroll through the Gdansk Old Town
Gdansk’s Old Town is incredibly beautiful. It’s a combination of Amsterdam and Tallinn. It’s full of colorful houses, all painted with different motifs, cobblestone streets, and shops and cafes.
The beautiful architecture reminds me of the town houses of Amsterdam. The only thing that’s missing here are the canals. Gdansk is definitely a hidden gem in Europe. I think it will get more popular in time because it rivals other cities in Europe that have a medieval old town.
The Old Town starts at the Golden Gate and ends at the Green Gate. Once you pass the Green Gate you’ll get to the waterfront.
You can explore the city yourself or you can opt for a guided walking tour.
Take a walk on Długi Targ
The portion of the Old Town in between the Golden and Green Gates is called Długi Targ, which means the Long Market. This is the main street in Gdansk’s city center. It is also part of the Royal Way in Gdansk.
Długi Targ is a long street with beautiful town houses and various other attractions. This should be at the top of your Gdansk itinerary.
Walk all the way from the Golden Gate to the Green Gate and admire everything along the way. It’s actually a pretty short walk in between the two gates. So take your time to explore everything.
Admire the Neptune Fountain
One of the attractions along Długi Targ is Neptune’s Fountain. This is one of the landmarks of the city. It was built in the 17th century in the mannerist-rococo style.
You can find it right in front of Artus Court facing the townhouses. These townhouses were the residences of the Kings of Poland. Neptune, the god of the sea was placed facing the townhouses with his head bowing down to the Kings’ residences.
The fountain was damaged during World War II, but it was renovated after the war multiple times to the version you can see today on display in the heart of the Old Town.
Visit Artus Court
Artus Court, the building behind the Neptune Foutain, used to be the meeting place of merchants and the center of social life in Gdansk. Today it is a branch of the Gdansk History Museum.
This is a small museum with works of art from medieval times. You can also see the largest tiled stove in Europe here.
Learn more about amber at the Amber Museum
All the Baltic Sea countries are well known for their amber products. There are large deposits of amber in the Baltic Sea, so all these countries produce amber jewelry and a variety of other objects. When I visited Tallinn there were Baltic amber shops everywhere in the Old Town. It’s the same in Gdansk.
The Museum of Amber in Gdansk has both natural lumps of amber, as well as finished products on display. You can learn how amber is formed, how they extract it, and how they make the jewelry and other finished products.
Shop on Mariacka Street
You can find a lot of these amber shops on Mariacka Street. This is a small street parallel to Długi Targ that’s very cute. It is well-known for its souvenir shops that sell amber products, so if you want to buy an amber souvenir make sure to check it out.
Visit the Main Town Hall
The Main Town Hall is one of the most impressive buildings in the Old Town. It was built in the Gothic-Renaissance style and it is located near Artus Hall and Neptune’s Fountain in the heart of Gdansk.
Today you can find the History Museum of Gdansk here.
Explore St. Mary’s Church
This church is a brick church built in the Gothic style in central Gdansk. It was built between the 14th century and 16th century. It is the largest building in Gdansk and one of the largest brick churches in the world.
You will be able to see it from Mariacka Street. Well, due to its size, it’s likely you will be able to immediately spot it in central Gdansk.
Walk by Motława River
You can walk by the river to admire the beautiful buildings next to the water. There is a wooden pier along the river, so it’s perfect for a stroll.
The Crane
As you’re walking by the riverfront make sure to stop by the the Crane. This building is a symbol of Gdansk and it is now one of the branches of the National Maritime Museum.
This building has a unique shape. It was built in the 15th century and is the largest and oldest building of its kind in Europe. It used to function as the city gate and port crane.
Nowadays it has exhibits where you can learn more about the golden age of Polish shipping and maritime trade.
From here you can start heading back to the train station to catch your train back to Warsaw.
Krakow
Krakow is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Unfortunately I didn’t have time to visit the first time I went to Poland, but it’s the first destination on my list for my second Poland trip.
The city has a well-preserved old town, the Wawel Castle on Wawel Hill, the Wawel Cathedral, the Jewish Quarter, the Wieliczka salt mine, and many other attractions.
Auschwitz concentration camp
From Krakow you can do a day trip to the Auschwitz concentration camps. This is a bucket list activity for me. It will probably be a heavy day and will stir up a lot of feelings, but it’s one of the places that is a must-visit while in Poland in my opinion.
I would personally opt to join a guided tour with a local expert so I can learn more about the history of the place. I think it’s the best way to explore since everything is organized and you can focus on just the experience and not the logistics. That’s always a good thing since we usually spend a short time in each destination.
FAQs about Poland
What is the best time to visit Poland?
I visited Warsaw and Gdansk in mid-December so I can explore the Christmas market as well. If you want to experience the magic of the holiday season in Warsaw, then December is a great time to visit.
It will be quite cold if you visit in December. If you’re not a fan of cold weather then you should visit in the spring or fall.
I tend to avoid Europe summer travel because it gets so hot and there are so many tourists everywhere that it takes away from the experience for me. I’d rather wait a few months and go in the fall so I can properly enjoy the destinations I’m visiting.
How can I get around Poland?
You can take the train from one city to the other. You can book your tickets in advance online or you can buy them at the train station.
The trains are clean, modern, and run on-time. You even get a bottle of water on the train for free.
Major Polish cities, like Warsaw, are very walkable. They also have a great subway system with stations near all major attractions in case your hotel is further away from the city center. And there are plenty of bus options too. The public transportation system is great in Poland.
How can I get to the city center from the Warsaw Chopin airport?
When you visit Poland on a solo trip you will most likely land in Warsaw since it’s the capital of Poland and has the largest international airport. Since you will most likely want to spend a few days in Warsaw, here are the options you have to get to the city center by public transit.
Train
You can take the train from the airport. If you take the S2 route it will stop at Śródmieście and Powiśle, key central stations. Śródmieście station also has connections to other parts of the city.
If you take the S3 route it will take you to the Northern side of central Warsaw. Make sure to know where your hotel is located before deciding which train you should take.
Trains usually run once every hour from 6am to 10 or 11pm. If you arrive outside of these hours I suggest you get an Uber/Bolt or a taxi.
Bus
There are plenty of bus options that take you to the city center from the airport. The best bus choice for reaching the Old Town area is bus 175. It runs every 15-30 minutes from 4:30am to 11pm.
Other bus options to consider, depending on where you’re staying, are buses 188, 148, and 331.
If you arrive at night, the only bus option available is bus N32. This bus has direct service to Centralna station and it runs every 30 minutes from 11pm to 4:30am.
Taxi / uber
This is the most convenient option since it leaves you right in front of your hotel. Alternatively you can also schedule a private transfer.
Where should I stay in Warsaw?
This guide has an in depth review of the best neighborhoods to stay in Warsaw. I stayed at the Flaner Hotel.
Is one day in Gdansk enough?
Yes, one day in Gdansk is enough time. The city is pretty small and the major attractions are all clustered in the area around the riverfront.
However, if you want to explore beyond the main attractions and get a better sense of how locals live, then you can spend a few days here.
How to get cell phone data when visiting from abroad?
The cheapest and most convenient way to get data while visiting from abroad is to buy an eSIM. An eSIM is a digital SIM that lets you activate a data plan from a provider without having to use a physical SIM card. They are super easy to use.
I use Airalo. You can go to their website, select the country you’re traveling to, select how many GB of data you want, and how many days you want the eSIM to be active for. After you pay you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to activate the eSIM.
You can activate it on your phone and the process takes under 1 minute. Once the eSIM is activated you don’t have to do anything else. When you’re at your destination you will automatically get data.
Is Poland safe for a solo female traveler?
Yes, I felt very safe in Poland. Eastern Europe is much safer than much of Western Europe these days in my opinion. There aren’t pickpockets, people don’t try to scam you on the street, and you can walk alone at night with no issues.
Do I need cash for my trip to Poland?
Yes, you will need a bit of cash for some attraction such as St. Anne’s church observation deck in Warsaw. Other than that I paid for everything with a credit card. There are plenty of ATMs in the city, so if you forget to get some Polish zloty at the airport there won’t be any problem.
Pro tip: always get cash from an ATM using your debit cards from your home country instead of going to an exchange place. Your bank will always have better exchange rates when taking out cash in a foreign currency from an ATM.
Do I have to tip in Poland?
Tipping is not mandatory, but it is highly encouraged. I usually leave 1-2 euros as tip when I eat out. They highly appreciate it when you do this.
Do I need to book tickets for attractions in advance?
I highly recommend you book all the tickets online in advance of your trip. Especially if you visit during the summer months. Booking in advance will give you peace of mind.
Do people speak English in Poland?
Yes, they do. Everyone I interacted with in Warsaw and Gdansk spoke English. I still recommend you learn a few words in Polish ahead of your trip though. I do this for every country I visit. It’s just a nice gesture and locals will appreciate the effort.
Hello is dzień dobry (pronounced like gin doh-breh) and thank you is dziękuję (pronounced like gin-coo-yeh).
Do you recommend Poland as a solo destination?
Yes, I recommend Poland as a destination for solo female travelers. There are so many things to do, the food is delicious, the people are great, and I felt very safe.
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Ioana was born and raised in Romania, lived in NYC for 14 years, and is now back in Romania. She fell in love with traveling when she was little and used to visit her aunt in Vienna. Then in high school she was able to visit Siberia, Turkmenistan, Istanbul, and Tokyo through chemistry competitions. As an adult she started to travel solo once she turned 30 and visited 20+ countries so far. Ioana is a full time travel blogger and content creator with an audience of 80K+ people on Instagram. She loves to share travel recommendations and tips.