Wroclaw is a small city in southwest Poland, and like several Polish cities, its stunning architecture is the main draw for tourists. (Helpful tip: it’s pronounced VROTS-WOV) I too had to see this city for myself, and it was much bigger than I’d expected.

Something fun: My great-grandmother came from a small Silesian town near Wroclaw. She was a Polish Jew who married a Catholic Irishman – in the 1920s. How progressive is that?
That’s on my mother’s side. What’s funny is that earlier ancestors on my father’s side came from the same area of Silesia! Small world. I … Continue reading

Krakow is the most popular destination in Poland, but Warsaw is the country’s capital and it has a lot to offer. I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect before visiting but I actually really liked it. It’s a great place to spend a few days and such an overlooked vacation destination.

The History of Warsaw

Warsaw is relatively new, with continuous settlement estimated since around the 13th century. However it became more important towards the end of the medieval ages. It became the capital of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1596 due to its central location, and continued serving as capital … Continue reading

Even though there’s lots of things to do in Krakow, it is by far the most popular area of Poland for tourists just because of its proximity to Auschwitz. Because it was minimally destroyed in the war and it’s close to Auschwitz, it makes an excellent trip for people who want to visit Poland. It was the last stop on my Poland trip and I have to say that it was a fantastic place to be.

Krakow’s History

Krakow first started over a thousand years ago, around the 9th century, on what is today Wawel Hill (which you can visit). … Continue reading

It was time to tell my friends and family about my next destination, and I told them: I’m going to Poland!

Poland? Why Poland? Yes, my ancestors are from there, but it wasn’t an ancestry type of trip. So why’d I choose Poland?

Well, I thought, why not? Actually, I was inspired by so many of my friends who’d gone to Poland. Mainly they went for Auschwitz and then went to Krakow and Warsaw. But there was something that drew me to the destination. It looked so beautiful, and I wanted to go someplace in the central-northern Europe region. So … Continue reading

Gdansk is a city in the north of Poland, and it only made it to my list because of the reviews other travel bloggers gave it. I wasn’t sure about its size or charm. However it ended up being the city I enjoyed most in Poland! It was completely rebuilt after World War II and it is so colourful and gorgeous. I was blown away by its beauty. Most people post pictures of the riverside and the old gate, but that’s a small part of the Old Town Gdansk has to offer. It was definitely a highlight of my trip … Continue reading

You’ve heard of Warsaw and Krakow, but have you ever heard of the medieval Polish town called Torun? It’s a great stop on your tour of Poland and also makes a great day trip from Gdansk or Poznan. It’s been inhabited for millennia but its prime time was in the medieval era. It became an import trade route and hosted a Teutonic fortress in the 13th century. In the 15th-16th centuries, it was even one of the largest cities in Poland. It is also the home of Nicolas Copernicus, the astronomer who discovered that the sun is the centre of … Continue reading