Poland - surprising experiences

Visitors who consider Poland to be a backward, impoverished country of rusted factories, smoggy cities and gloomy people, are speechless when they enter the lively Kraków Main Square, Danzig (Gdansk) colorful Royal Route or Warsaw's lively Old Town.

Warsaw is the capital of Poland and the largest city in the country. It's huge, famous, and important ... but not particularly romantic. But if you want to experience a 21st century city, Warsaw is exactly what you are looking for. Stroll down lively boulevards reminiscent of the city's glory days, take a break in a street café, have coffee and nibble on a pączek (donut). Head to a leafy park for an outdoor Chopin concert that's full of pensive Poles. And think about the variety of Warsaw post-war architecture. Between the buildings you will find fragments of a complex, sometimes tragic and often inspiring story.

Gdansk is a real find on the Baltic coast of Poland. It's surprisingly easy to look past the sprawl and find one of the most historic and picturesque cities in Northern Europe. The gem of this city are the log houses and churches made of red brick and the narrow, colorful, richly decorated houses of the Hanseatic people. The story is also fascinating - from the Golden Age in the 17th century to the headlines of our own generation - world history was written here.

In the south of Poland, Krakow is the second largest city in the country with 760,000 inhabitants. Krakow is perhaps Poland's most attractive travel destination. It's a beautiful, old-fashioned city with lots of sights, tourists, and students, and a turbulent history (the Holocaust Memorial and Auschwitz Museum are nearby). Although the capital moved from here to Warsaw 400 years ago, Krakow remains the cultural and intellectual center of Poland. The vibrant university life, thought-provoking museums, breathtaking churches, great restaurants, sprawling parks and lively Jewish sights complete the city's appeal.

But of course Poland offers much more than just attractive cities. Those who want to go out into nature will find their own personal paradise in Masuria. On the Masurian Lake District, a tangle of countless lakes and canals, all kinds of water sports can be practiced and the surrounding forests offer pure relaxation. Visit Nikolaiken (Mikolajki) or the Koniken nature reserve in Popiellnen (Popielno). These destinations are particularly popular during the warm summer months.