Things To Do in Northern Poland in 7 Days

Things to do in Northern Poland in 7 Days

Day 1: Day trip to Poznan

The city of Poznan is a bit of a hidden gem. I had seen pictures of its picturesque old town (Stary Rynek) on the web. During our drive to Gdansk, we stopped there for dinner and had the famous typical pierogi (Polish dumplings).

After dinner, we went for a stroll around its charming main square filled with shops, cafes, and colorful houses. For our last stop, we visited the Stary Browar; an old brewery that was converted into a shopping center with an art gallery.

Day 2: Explore Poland’s Coastal Town: Gdansk

I have always wanted to visit this city as it is in my opinion Poland’s prettiest city. Maybe it is because its architecture, narrow cobblestone streets, and canals remind me of Amsterdam.

Gdansk is the perfect place to visit for a weekend city break. The city is easily walkable and there are tons of museums to visit.

The building we stayed at through Airbnb used to be a granary built in the XVII century. Granary buildings are typical of historic Gdańsk, so you will spot many of them around the city’s Old Town.

Join a free walking tour!

Start your day with breakfast on the bright, colorful street of Dluga. Afterward, you can explore the city and learn about its history by joining a free walking tour. The tour takes about two hours and covers the main highlights of Gdansk, starting at the city’s renowned Golden Gate.

Next, one of the best things to do in Northern Poland is to visit the largest brick church in the world, St. Mary’s Basilica. Inside the church, you can observe the elaborate 1400s astronomical clock. Made entirely out of wood, this astronomical clock tracks the position of the sun and moon in relation to the zodiac signs.

Note: Make sure to climb the 400-plus stairs to the top of the bell tower for one of the best views of the city.

Continue exploring Gdansk

You can continue exploring the city center and make your way to Mariacka Street. As you walk on this street you will feel like you just traveled through time. In my opinion, this is the prettiest street in Gdansk. Every house, shop, and art gallery has a set of stairs leading to its entrance. Due to its proximity to the city’s waterfront, the houses have been built at an elevation to keep them from being completely submerged underwater. If you look closely, you can see gargoyles adorning the rain gutters.

I recommend going in the evening, close to the golden hour when the sun magically illuminates the street. Giving you this romantic feeling and making it the perfect place to snap some pictures for Instagram!

Additionally, on Mariacka Street you will also notice several stores and stands on the sidewalk selling amber. This is because Poland is the world’s largest exporter of Amber. This stone used to be a big moneymaker for Gdansk. As a result, Gdansk became a mining center for amber for hundreds of years. As a result, this stone forms an integral part of Gdansk’s heritage. Most commonly used to make jewelry, art, and sculptures. If you’re interested in learning more about it, you can visit the Amber Museum.

Day 3: Gdansk & its Museums

The best way to describe your second day in Gdansk would be to refer to it as a museum day. You can start your day with a morning stroll along the riverside promenade. Here you will also notice many of the city’s historical granaries. As you make your way to the futuristic-looking tower where the Museum of the Second World War is you will also pass both the National Maritime Museum and the SS Soldek ship museum. Afterward, you can continue your city exploration and visit the small museum inside the Polish Post office. The post office is a significant historical building to this day. Acting as the intelligence-gathering center for the Polish government during WWII.

After lunch, you can continue learning about the history of Poland and pay a visit to the European Solidarity Centre. This museum showcases how Gdansk shipyards became a meeting point for those who led the Solidarity movement in the late 1970s.

Note: Go to the rooftop observation deck where you will have views over Gdansk shipyards and the Old Town. As a prominent port city, Gdansk’s legacy with shipbuilding dates to when the city was granted the privilege to trade.

The old town of Gdansk is beautiful both during the day and night, so make sure to end your day with an evening stroll.

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Day 4: Easy day trips from Gdansk

If you visit Gdansk you cannot miss the neighboring seaside cities of Sopot and Gdynia. As part of Poland’s Tri-city metropolitan area, these coastal cities are a great option for a day trip. Only a 20-minute train journey from Gdansk, Sopot is a popular beach holiday destination. Famous for its old-fashioned wooden pier, white sand beach, classy restaurants, and vibrant nightlife. From Sopot, you can hop on the train again and in 15 minutes you’ll be in Gdynia. With its modern feel, Gdynia has developed into a large city, becoming one of Poland’s trendiest places to live. Additionally, Gdynia offers plenty of activities to keep you entertained. Make sure to visit the Maritime Museum, which displays several historic sailing ships.

Note: For the best viewpoint ride the cable car up to Kamienna Góra (Rock Mountain).

Day 5: Malbork Castle – A Visit to the world’s largest brick castle

Wandering the Castle Grounds

As you spend time wandering the castle grounds, and its gardens, and visiting the various rooms and halls showcasing its armory collection, medieval costumes, religious artwork, paintings, ceramics, and amber you will learn more about the history of Poland.

Note: To avoid the crowds, I suggest visiting the castle at opening time or a few hours just before closing time.

You will most likely spend approximately 3 to 4 hours here. Cross the pedestrian bridge to get a complete view of the castle over the Nogat River. It is worth mentioning that within the castle premises, there is nothing to eat, so consider stopping for food on the way there or plan accordingly to bring some snacks with you.

Note: Make sure to visit the Viezna Glowna for the best aerial view of the castle. Keep in mind that a separate ticket is needed to climb up the tower.

Day 6: Warsaw – Take a stroll through the Old and New Town

A lot of the places you’ll likely visit in Warsaw are within easy walking distance of each other. You can start your visit by joining a free walking tour to explore the city. The tour starts in the square of the colorful Old Town. With its striking reddish-orange 17th-century Royal Palace on one side and rows of bright colorful houses, the Old Town and Castle Square are the most postcard-perfect- instagrammable parts of the city. This whole area was heavily destroyed during WWII, so most of what exists today has been rebuilt to resemble its original form.

You can take a stroll through the Old Town and the old “New” Town. As you explore the fortified walls of Warsaw’s Old Town and walk on the cobblestone streets you can check out the amber shops, admire the Warsaw Mermaid in the Old Town square, climb to the observation tower at the top of St Anne’s Church or check out the luxurious interior of the Royal Palace.

From the square, I recommend you stroll along the city’s most famous and beautiful street, the Royal Route. As you walk on this avenue you will pass several historic palaces, the Holy Cross Church, where the heart of Chopin is kept, and several shops and restaurants. You will then reach the intersection of Copernicus Square, honoring Copernicus with the rings of the solar system.

Evening stroll in Warsaw

You can rent a bike, walk, or opt for public transportation from the Old Town to the Royal Baths Park (Łazienki Królewskie). Łazienki Park is ideal if you are looking for some peace and quiet away from the city center. You can have a picnic or soak in some sun while being surrounded by roaming peacocks and red squirrels. As you wander around the park you will discover the Palace on the Isle, the Chinese Garden, and Chopin’s monument commemorating the centenary of his birthday.

You can end your day by heading to some Polish Milk Bars for a more traditional, and local feel. Here you will find a range of Polish meals at affordable prices. Alternatively, you can fill your belly with tasty dumplings famously known as pierogies or try a Zapiekanka, which is the Polish version of panini. Make sure not to skip dessert and try the Pączki, a jelly-filled, puffy Polish doughnut.

Day 7: Warsaw – Check out the museums

Warsaw has plenty of museums and palaces that you can visit. For your second day in the city, I’d suggest starting with a visit to the bright yellow Wilanov’s Palace located about 1 hour from Warsaw’s Old Town. As you visit the different rooms you will notice a mix of European Baroque art and Asian art influences depicting dragons and Japanese ink paintings. For the rest of the day, you can visit either the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews that have flourished in Poland for over 1000 years or the Warsaw Uprising Museum telling the story of those who took part in Warsaw’s Uprising in 1944.

Of course, you will notice Warsaw’s tallest building, the Palace of Culture and Science. It was gifted by Stalin in 1955 and while younger generations admire its unique architecture, many see the building as a symbol of the dark Soviet era. Apart from being the city’s icon, this building also serves as an office complex, as well as a cultural and entertainment center with cinemas, theaters, museums, bookshops, auditorium halls, a sports club, a swimming pool, and an accredited University. On the 30th floor, there is also an observation deck with an astounding view of the city center and its outskirts.

Warsaw’s best-kept secret

Warsaw’s best-kept secret is the University of Warsaw’s library roof garden. The entrance is free and accessible to the public. Here you can enjoy the plants and flowers making up the university’s rooftop garden while taking in the views of the city, as well as the Praga district on the other side of the Vistula River. After two days of seeing all the “must-see” sights of Warsaw, you can spend some time by the Vistula Riverfront, grab a drink in one of the many floating bars docked along the river, or head to the trendy upcoming area of the Praga district where you will find lots of options for craft beers and a young crowd hanging out in old warehouses.

Visiting Warsaw, you should not miss out on the opportunity to spend some time by the Vistula Riverfront. Here you will find floating bars—boats docked at the walkways that have become bars. It’s a good place to enjoy a nice beer or a margarita in the evenings.

Note: Warsaw has a good train, metro, and bus network. Ticket prices vary depending on the journey’s duration.

Tips for visiting Northern Poland

Getting around Northern Poland

Ideally, you should begin your visit in either Gdansk or Warsaw as both cities have airports and also well-connected train lines. If you want to travel on your schedule or visit smaller off-the-beaten paths, then I recommend renting a car.

Where To Stay in Northern Poland

Poland is quite affordable! You can find high-quality accommodations at a fraction of the price compared to other European destinations. Since I was traveling with a group of friends we rented an apartment with multiple rooms.

Did You Know

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Where to eat in Northern Poland

• For the best local food make sure to check out the Bar Mlecznys (Milk Bars) serving traditional “fast food” Polish meals.
• Try one of the many pierogi restaurants.
• Restauracja Bazar in Gdansk is located next to the water and serves a mix of Polish traditional meals from wild boar to seafood.
• FALLA Warszawa in Warsaw serves mostly vegetarian dishes, make sure to reserve in advance as the place is popular among locals.

Want to explore more of Poland? Discover what to do with 6 days in Southern Poland