# What to See in Poland: Krakow, Zakopane, Gdansk > What to see in Poland in 2026: Krakow, Zakopane and the Tatras, Gdansk, Wroclaw. Visas, entry prices, when to go and how much time to give each city. - URL: https://langandtrip.com.ua/en/article/shcho-podyvytysia-v-polshchi/ - Language: en - Published: 2026-08-30 - Categories: Culture, Historic Sites, Museums, Mountains, Tours, Poland --- Poland is the closest EU country to Ukraine, and that is exactly why the question of **what to see in Poland** comes up more often than any other. The short answer: start in Krakow for the history, add Zakopane and the Tatras for the mountains, throw in Gdansk for the Baltic, and keep Wroclaw as a pleasant surprise. All four cities can genuinely be linked into a single route by train and bus, and you do not need a visa to do it. The mistake first-timers make is treating Poland as a transit corridor on the way west. In reality there is enough here for a week or more, with no flights and almost no bureaucracy. ## Do Ukrainian citizens need a visa for Poland in 2026? No, you do not need a visa. As of 2026, Ukrainian citizens holding a biometric international passport enter Poland and the rest of the Schengen area visa-free and may stay for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. Your passport should be valid with some margin to spare (roughly at least six months from the date of entry). What has changed at the border: in October 2025 the EU launched its Entry/Exit System (EES). On your first crossing after it went live, they take your fingerprints and photo, the data is stored for several years, and after that your passport is simply scanned. A separate online authorisation, ETIAS (roughly 20 euros, valid for three years), had still not taken effect as of early 2026, as its launch has been postponed several times. **Check the current entry rules before you travel** on the official sites of Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Commission, because this topic changes quickly. The border officer has the right to ask for proof of the purpose of your visit, a return ticket, funds and medical insurance. Always get insurance, even for a two-day trip. ## Krakow: the city where people start Krakow is the former royal capital and the most touristy city in the country, so it makes sense to put it first on your route. The Main Market Square (Rynek Główny) is considered one of the largest medieval market squares in Europe; at its centre stand the Cloth Hall with its trading rows and St. Mary's Basilica, from whose tower a broken trumpet call rings out every hour. Rising above the city is Wawel, the castle and cathedral of Poland's kings. Tickets here are sold separately for each exhibit: the Royal State Rooms cost around 49 zloty (concession about 30), the Treasury and Armoury are cheaper, and the climb down to the Dragon's Den costs a symbolic few zloty. The castle is closed on Mondays, and tickets to the popular halls often sell out in advance, so book online. Check the prices before you go, as they change every year. ![Krakow: the city where people start](/storage/image/new/shcho-podyvytysia-v-polshchi-1.jpg) A Krakow of its own is Kazimierz, the former Jewish quarter, which has gone from a neglected district to a hub of cafes, street food and nightlife. Nearby is Schindler's Factory, with a museum exhibition about the city during the war years. Half an hour from the centre is the Wieliczka Salt Mine, a UNESCO-listed site with chapels carved into the salt. An adult ticket for the tourist route in 2026 costs around 143 zloty (concession roughly 121), and it is worth buying online here too, because in summer the box office sells out its slots before midday. Going down and coming back up takes half a day. ## Zakopane and the Tatras: mountains without a plane Zakopane is called Poland's winter capital, but it is worth coming here in any season. It is the base for hikes into the Tatras, the country's only high mountains. The main pedestrian street, Krupówki, is packed with stalls selling oscypek (smoked sheep's cheese), souvenirs and restaurants serving regional cuisine. The most famous destination nearby is Lake Morskie Oko, a turquoise pool ringed by cliffs. You cannot drive right up to it: from the car park at Palenica you have to walk about nine kilometres one way along a paved road (or cover part of the way by horse-drawn cart). Set aside a full day for the walk and wear comfortable shoes. An easier option for a panorama is Mount Gubałówka (about 1,120 metres), reached by funicular from the centre of Zakopane. At the top there is a viewing platform overlooking the whole Tatra range. In bad weather and the off-season the town is saved by thermal complexes with pools of hot water, of which there are several within driving distance. An honest downside: Zakopane gets overcrowded around the New Year holidays and on long weekends, and accommodation prices jump then. Anyone looking for quiet goes on weekdays or outside peak season. ## Gdansk and the Baltic: a different Poland Gdansk stands apart from the southern cities in both mood and appearance. It is the country's main Baltic port with a Hanseatic history, and its restored Main Way (Długi Targ), with its colourful facades, looks more like a Dutch or Flemish town. The symbol of the Motława waterfront is the medieval harbour crane, the Żuraw. Half an hour from Gdansk lies Malbork, the former capital of the Teutonic Order. Its castle is considered the largest brick castle in the world and is a UNESCO site; set aside half a day to see it. Nearby is the resort town of Sopot, with its long wooden pier, where people come to swim and stroll in summer. ![Gdansk and the Baltic: a different Poland](/storage/image/new/shcho-podyvytysia-v-polshchi-2.jpg) The Baltic is cool even in July, so a beach holiday here is different from one in southern Europe. People come for the architecture, the sea air and the calm, not for a warm sea. ## Wroclaw: the city of bridges and gnomes Wroclaw is often saved for last, and that is a shame. The city is spread across islands among the branches of the Oder, with dozens of bridges, a large student community and one of Poland's most beautiful market squares, complete with a Gothic town hall. Wroclaw's signature feature is the hundreds of miniature bronze figurines of gnomes (krasnale) scattered around the streets. Hunting for them turns a walk into a game, especially with kids. A must-see is Cathedral Island (Ostrów Tumski), the historic core of the city with its cathedral, where Wroclaw began. ## Where to go in one trip and how much time to set aside Do not try to cover everything in a weekend. The question of **what to see in Poland** in one trip is honestly answered by one or two cities for a short visit, or a week-long route by train. Here is a guide to what makes each city worthwhile and how much time it asks for. CityWhy it's worth itTime to set asideKrakowOld royal capital, Wawel, Kazimierz, Wieliczka and Auschwitz nearby2-3 daysZakopaneThe Tatras, Morskie Oko, thermal pools, Poland's highland cuisine2 daysGdanskThe Baltic, Hanseatic architecture, Malbork Castle, Sopot2 daysWroclawIslands and bridges, the market square, gnomes, a laid-back vibe1-2 days## When is the best time to visit Poland? The best time depends on what you are coming for. The warmest months are not always the smartest: July and August are the peak of prices and crowds in Krakow and on the Baltic. May, June and September often offer a more comfortable balance. ![When is the best time to visit Poland?](/storage/image/new/shcho-podyvytysia-v-polshchi-3.jpg) PeriodWeather and what to doCrowds and pricesDecember and JanuarySkiing in Zakopane, Christmas markets in Krakow and WroclawPeak over the holidays, accommodation gets pricierMay and JuneWarm, green, easy to walk the cities and the foothillsModerate, a smart choiceJuly and AugustSwimming season on the Baltic, long days, the mountains accessibleMaximum tourists and pricesSeptember and OctoberMild autumn, fewer people, lovely views in the TatrasPrices drop after the peakDo not confuse the weather in the mountains with the weather in the cities: even in summer the Tatras can be cold and rainy, and the trails are slippery after bad weather. Check the forecast before setting out on a route. ## How to get there and how to get around The journey from Ukraine is short by European standards. Buses from Lviv to Krakow take roughly six to twelve hours, and the time depends above all on the queue at the border, which can be half an hour or several hours. There are combined options with a change near the border, direct services, and trains to Przemyśl with an onward transfer. Within Poland the most convenient way to travel between major cities is by train (operated by PKP Intercity) plus a network of low-cost buses. Tickets are cheaper if you buy them online in advance. Within the cities themselves there are plenty of trams and buses, and the historic centres are compact and easy to explore on foot. ## Where to start for you If you are visiting Poland for the first time and have a few days, take Krakow with a side trip to Wieliczka: it is the densest concentration of experiences in a short window. If the mountains call to you, combine Krakow with Zakopane, as they are close together. And if you have already seen the south, turn north to Gdansk with Malbork, or discover Wroclaw, the city that is most often underrated. The main thing is not to cram your route full of cities: better fewer stops, but without the rush.