Here’s Why Poland is Still One of the Most Underrated Destinations in Europe

With a wealth of incredible historic architecture and beautiful medieval cities, Poland is one of the most underrated countries in Europe, often overlooked in favor of its neighboring tourism meccas like Germany and Prague. Here's some reasons why you should make Poland your next European adventure.

1. Malbork Castle Museum (Malbork)

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Located just outside the town of Malbork, this huge 13th-century castle is the largest in the world when measured by land area. Originally built by the Teutonic Knights, it served as one of several Polish royal residences throughout the centuries and was given UNESCO World Heritage Status in 1997. The grounds and architecture of the castle is stunning and an elaborate example of a Gothic brick castle built in the style of the Teutonic Order.

Although much of the structures here were damaged during the Second World War, the castle went through extensive repairs to return it to its former glory and the beautiful structure you see today.

2. Wawel Royal Castle (Kraków)

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Another of Poland's incredible castles, Wawel is perched on a hill overlooking the picturesque Polish city of Kraków. The castle features a beautiful style of architecture inspired by classic styles such as from the Baroque, Renaissance and Medieval periods in Europe. Once one of the royal residences built by King Casimir III the Great, the grand imposing structure is now used as a museum with one of Poland's largest collection of art and historical artifacts, from Renaissance paintings to Ottoman tents.

3. Oliwa Cathedral (Gdańsk)

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The ancient Oliwa Cathedral was completed in the 12th Century, making it one of the oldest cathedrals in Europe and is a beautiful example of Polish architecture, using a mix of Classical, Baroque, Medieval and Renaissance architectural styles. The interior of Oliwa Cathedral contains a number of artistic marvels including one of the grandest and most ornate organs ever built.

4. Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum (Oświęcim)

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Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum is a museum located in the ruins of Poland's largest World War Two deathcamp. Despite its dark and gruesome history, Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum is considered to be a necessary stop on any sightseeing tour of Poland so that the visitor can understand the depth of the horror that was committed here. The Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum offers a number of high quality sightseeing tours around the camp that will provide the sightseeing visitors with everything that they meed to know to understand what happened in this infamous deathcamp in Poland.

5. Lake Morskie Oko (Tatras)

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A beautifully picturesque lake in Poland's Tatra Mountains on the border with Slovakia, Lake Morskie Oko is known for its crystal-clear waters that are full of freshwater fish. A number of well-maintained trails around the lake make for perfect hiking spots that offer stunning views over the lake and the surrounding mountains. A short drive from the southern city of Zakopane, it's also possible to visit the lake as a day trip from Kraków, with a number of tour companies offering packages to explore the lake and surrounding area.

6. Wieliczka Salt Mine (Wieliczka)

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The Wieliczka Salt Mine is an enormous salt mine located in the town of Wieliczka in Poland. The mines were in operation for centuries, right up until recent times, when it was converted into one of Poland's most popular historical and cultural locations. Particularly famous for its incredible religious icons and statues that had been carved directly into the walls of the mines by the miners over many centuries of the mine's operation.

7. Museum of King Jan III's Palace at Wilanow (Warszawa)

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The Museum of King Jan III's Palace at Wilanow in Warsaw is the country's royal depository of cultural artifacts and one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Poland. The current collection in the Museum of King Jan III's Palace at Wilanow contains sightseeing treasures from many of Poland's ancient noble families. Most of the art in the museum is from the Renaissance era in Europe, and contains artistic marvels that can't be found anywhere else in the world. No art lover's sightseeing tour of Poland is complete without a visit to the Museum of King Jan III's Palace at Wilanow.

8. Wawel Cathedral (Kraków)

Photo by www.istockphoto.com

This 900-year-old cathedral is another of Kraków's stunning historic architecture sitting above the city on the picturesque Wawel Hill. The cathedral was used for centuries as the religious and cultural center of Poland, often being the location of royal coronations and other significant events throughout its history. Nowadays the building hosts a range of historical artifacts and art along with the famous underground crypts, a mausoleum containing royals and national heroes of Poland.

9. Main Market Square (Kraków)

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Kraków's Main Square is one of the oldest and largest medieval town squares in Europe, dating back to the 13th century. The square is surrounded by incredible and impressive historic architecture, with the striking features of Cloth Hall sitting as a centerpiece to the square. Since it was built the square has always been a center of livelihood and commerce in the city, nowadays its sides are lined with restaurants and cafes, flocked to by locals and tourists alike.

Conclusion

With a huge range of historical architecture, incredible sites of nature and more, Poland is a must-visit destination in Europe. The country is overlooked by most tourists visiting the continent in favor of its more famous western neighbors like Germany and Czech. However its beautiful cities like Kraków and Gdańsk are some of the most picturesque and historically significant in Europe.

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