Poland Travel Guide 2026: Krakow, Auschwitz-Birkenau, Wieliczka & Zakopane Complete Itinerary
Browse more guides: Poland travel | Europe destinations Poland Travel Guide 2026: Krakow, Auschwitz-Birkenau, Wieliczka and Zakopane Complete Itinerary TL;DR I have spent close to four weeks across two trips inside Poland, and I keep telling friends the same thing. This is the most rewarding cultural country in Europe right now if you want depth, walkable medieval towns, and prices that still feel reasonable. The currency, the zloty, has stayed strong against the euro since the last European elections, but for travelers paying in dollars or rupees, Poland remains roughly twenty to thirty percent cheaper than Germany or France for hotels, restaurants, and intercity trains. For a first visit, I send people straight to Krakow. The Old Town survived the Second World War intact, which is rare in Poland, and the main square called Rynek Glowny is the largest medieval plaza in Europe. Wawel Castle sits on a hill above the river, the Wawel Dragon legend lives on with a fire breathing bro...