Poland travel guide

Falowiec is a wavy apartment block from the early 1970s during the communist era. Falowiec literally means wavy in Polish. There are eight of those in the otherwise drab district of Przymorze in Gdansk. The block at Obrońców Wybrzeża street is apparently the longest with 860m, which also makes it the longest apartment block in Europe. With more than 6000 people living in that one block, what a street party they could have.

The 13th-century castle is the largest in the world (measured by area) and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Originally it was a fortified monastery. Over time the ownership changed hands many times between Polish, German and even Swedish occupation. Today, the castle stands meticulously restored as one of Poland's most impressive historical sights.

When the Nazis planned these super bunkers between the I and the II World War, they wanted a strong defence line against enemy tanks. But war strategy during WWII turned out to be very different from WWI. Suddenly tanks played a less important role compared to fighter planes and battleships. So the defence line at Miedzyrzecz was never really tested. Nevertheless, the bunker complex was huge and consisted of 21 reinforced concrete bunkers with nearly 30 km of tunnels in between along with barbwire and anti-tank barriers. Today you can visit one of the bunkers and walk in the dark tunnels. You will be taken through the different rooms and gun towers on the first and second level before descending 30 meters to the tunnels, which today house bats. It's a very impressive sight, even for non-history buffs, to see how well the Nazis' bunkers were constructed. You can only visit with a guide, either on a scheduled tour (only in Polish or German) or a private tour (in Polish or German).

Outside the historical centre, Gdansk has no shortage of dull concrete apartment blocks, but in the district of Zaspa they have done something about it. Each end of the blocks have been decorated in vibrant street art by both local and international artists. The first mural was made in 1997 to commemorate the 1000 years anniversary for Gdansk and shows Lech Wałęsa and the Pope John Paul 2nd. Since then, more than 50 murals have been added. Take your take time to explore the neighbourhood and see how many you can find.

Like so many other Polish cities, the medieval Old Town of Olsztyn is charming with several churches and other historical buildings. It's also here you find the statue of Olsztyn resident Nicolaus Copernicus, the scientist (among other things) who placed the sun in the center, rather than the earth. Surprisingly, the Catholic church didn't pay any attention to his theory until many decades later. Since Olsztyn is the largest city in the region, it makes a nice base for exploring the northeast, where you find among other sites; Wolf's Lair (Hitler's secret bunker), the burial pyramid in Rapa, and the Masurian Lake District.

The Old Town of Poznan is not unlike Krakow, just smaller but with way less tourists. The central market square is lined with cute pastel coloured houses and the beautiful Town Hall is lite up at night. When the Town Hall clock strikes noon, two mechanical goats come out and butt heads. But Poznan also has a vibrant young vibe due to the huge student population. The bar scene is thriving and can rival that of Krakow's - just without the tourists.

Płock is perched on a ridge with great views over Vistula River. It's one of the oldest towns in Poland and was once the capital, but all that is not particularly evident today. There is a pretty cathedral and some handsome historical buildings, but nothing to keep you for more than a couple of hours.

The posh seaside town north of Gdansk is a strange mix of tacky holiday kitsch along with fine dining and sophisticated clubs. You only need to walk a few streets away from the nice beach promenade before the houses are a bit less elegant and less immaculate. Out of season, Sopot can feel a bit deserted with closed restaurants and empty beaches, but it's never dead.

For a long time Szczecin was an important town on the shore of Oder River. Today, it's still one of the largest cities in Poland, but its rich past is not so evident any longer, as many of its historical buildings were destroyed during WWII. However, the small Old Town square still has a handful of colourful traditional Polish townhouses. Other sights are the Castle of Pomeranian Dukes, underground tunnels from WWII, and the Cathedral Basilica of St James. The thriving student population gives the city life and a pulse, which is further enhanced by the trickle of day trippers from Berlin.

Słowiński National Park is known for its huge, shifting sand dunes. At the highest the dunes are up till 40 meters above sea level. The stretch is the longest in Europe and every year the wind moves the dunes about 10 metres further east. The national park is not just sand, but also includes saltwater lakes and is home to many bird species. There are parking lots, trails and observation towers throughout the park.