Why Visit Poland?
More often than not, people have come to associate Poland as a less developed country in Europe. But after spending more than 3 months in Poland, I can say that Poland is developing fast with all the facilities you'd expect from the West, but at a much cheaper price.
It has become a country in its own league with its unique traditions, language, and tragic history to draw from. All these points make Poland a great country to visit for all kinds of travelers, from history buffs to off-the-beaten-path adventurers alike.
When to Visit Poland?
April to September is the best time to go, as the weather is much warmer now and the colors of spring/autumn will make Poland even more colorful than usual. One downside is that there will be lots of people everywhere. In order to avoid that, I would stick to the beginning (April - May) or towards the end (August - September) of the peak season, as the weather becomes cooler and it is not as crowded.
Poland in winter is its own beast, with beautiful snow everywhere, contrasting with the colorful architecture, and far fewer people, but still maintaining its beauty. The weather does get really cold, though (I experienced -16ยฐC once), and because of that, many viewpoint towers are closed. So, weigh the pros and cons and prepare accordingly.
How to Get to Poland?
You can fly into Warsaw or Krakow, depending on where you want to begin your trip. You will likely find more flights going into Warsaw, though. However, for the best possible deal, I would recommend browsing through Skyscanner or Expedia to compare prices and find the cheapest one for your trip.
If you are already in Europe and are on a budget, you can also take a bus from anywhere with Flixbus for only a few euros.
How to Get Around Poland?
Buses and trams in Poland are pretty accessible with the help of the Jakdojade website, where you can select a city and enter your destination to find out which bus number or tram you need to take. This service works in every city on your itinerary, and you can either access its website or download the app (Android | iOS) on your phone.
For traveling from city to city, you can either use Flixbus or the train. They are both really accessible and quite cheap, especially buses, and you can book all of them online. When it comes to buses, I'd recommend booking directly with Flixbus or through Busbud.com. As for trains, you can book a train ticket online on the Intercity website.
Daily Budget
This location is less expensive than most countries, but it's not exceedingly cheap. Expect to spend around $30 - $50 USD per day per person, which includes both accommodation and meals.
Please keep in mind that these are suggested daily budgets based on my own style of travel, which leans more towards the budget side of things. If you aim to stick to this budget, anticipate sleeping in dormitories, dining out only occasionally, and being comfortable with the cheapest and most convenient modes of transportation, which often involve a considerable amount of walking.
What to Pack for Poland?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Poland:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Down Jacket: In freezing temperatures, a down jacket is essential. The Columbia Men's Lone Fir Hooded Jacket (for women) is my choice. They are warm, lightweight, and available in various colors.
- Wool Beanie: A wool beanie is perfect for keeping your head and ears warm.
- Wool Gloves: I always have wool gloves handy to keep my hands warm in cold weather.
- Wool Socks: Don't forget to keep your feet warm with wool socks.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
