Poland rewards the curious traveler with layers of history, soul-stirring architecture, and a food scene that ranges from pierogi classics to inventive neo-Polish cuisine. In a single week, you can feel the pulse of Warsaw—rebuilt from ruins into a creative capital—and the timeless beauty of Kraków, crowned by Wawel Castle and the largest medieval market square in Europe.

Warsaw’s story is one of resilience, told in world-class museums like POLIN and the Warsaw Uprising Museum, and in neighborhoods that hum with cafés, jazz, and riverside life on the Vistula. Kraków complements it with cobblestone lanes, the hauntingly beautiful St. Mary’s Basilica, and the cultural tapestry of Kazimierz.

This 7-day Poland itinerary includes fast trains between cities, locally loved restaurants and coffee houses, and two essential day trips: Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and the subterranean wonder of the Wieliczka Salt Mine. For international flights to or from Europe, compare options on Omio (Flights). For trains and buses within Poland, use Omio (Trains) and Omio (Buses).

Warsaw

Poland’s capital is equal parts open-air history lesson and cutting-edge city. The UNESCO-listed Old Town was meticulously rebuilt after WWII; the boulevards and parks (hello, Łazienki) are made for wandering; and the city’s museums are among the best in Europe for understanding 20th-century history.

Food-wise, Warsaw is a revelation: from nostalgic milk-bar staples to contemporary Polish dining, craft cocktails, and specialty coffee. Neighborhoods like Śródmieście, Powiśle, and Praga each offer a distinct mood—elegant, riverside-casual, and gritty-creative in turn.

• Stay: Browse stays on VRBO Warsaw or compare hotels on Hotels.com Warsaw. Neighborhood picks: Old Town for storybook views; Śródmieście/Centrum for convenience; Powiśle for river walks and design-forward stays.
• Getting there: Fly into Warsaw Chopin (WAW). Search fares via Omio (Flights). Trains within Poland: Omio (Trains).

Day 1: Arrival and Old Town Evening

Afternoon: Arrive in Warsaw and check in. Shake off jet lag with a gentle loop through the Old Town: Castle Square (Plac Zamkowy), the Royal Castle exterior, and Mermaid Statue on the Market Square. Duck into the Museum of Warsaw’s free courtyard for a breather.

Evening: Dinner at Zapiecek (comforting pierogi, barszcz, and potato pancakes—ideal first-night Polish flavors). For something modern-Polish, try Ale Wino (seasonal plates, superb wine list, garden seating in good weather). Nightcap at Woda Ognista, a cocktail bar celebrating Polish spirits and interwar-era recipes; ask for a vodka-based drink infused with forest herbs.

Day 2: Palaces, Parks, and POLIN

Morning: Coffee and croissant at Charlotte Chleb i Wino (buzzy Parisian-style bakery) or Ministerstwo Kawy (specialty beans). Stroll Łazienki Park: peacocks, the Chopin monument, and the Palace on the Isle. It’s free to wander; plan 1.5–2 hours for photos and palace exteriors.

Afternoon: Taxi or tram to POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews. The core exhibition traces a millennium of Jewish life in Poland; plan 2–3 hours. Try to prebook timed tickets; Thursdays often have free-entry options. Late lunch nearby at Bez Gwiazdek (elevated regional Polish tasting menus) or a lighter plate at STOR in Powiśle (toasties, filter coffee).

Evening: Explore Hala Koszyki, a handsome Art Nouveau food hall with everything from pierogi to sushi and wine bars—great for groups or picky eaters. If you’d rather a sit-down Polish classic, book Stary Dom for old-school hospitality, steaks, and dumplings. Post-dinner, walk the renovated Vistula Boulevards; in summer, beach bars and live DJs pop up along the river.

Day 3: Uprising Museum, Praga Mood, and Vistula Views

Morning: Visit the Warsaw Uprising Museum—immersive displays and audio that place you in 1944 Warsaw; plan ~2 hours. Nearby lunch at SHUK (lively Middle Eastern plates) or Weranda Bistro for soups and salads.

Afternoon: Cross to the Praga District (electric street art, indie studios). The Soho/Koneser area blends industrial heritage with galleries and bars; if design and neon history intrigue you, the small-but-memorable Neon collections on the right bank are a treat. Coffee break at Rano Pano or Relax na Wilczej back in Centrum if you head west again.

Evening: Dinner at Kieliszki na Próżnej (Polish flavors with excellent wine by the glass) or Specjały Regionalne near Nowy Świat (game meats, pickled treats, local liqueurs). For live music, try 12on14 Jazz Club or a late cocktail at El Koktel (inventive, intimate).

Kraków

Kraków feels like a living museum—its Main Market Square (Rynek Główny) radiates from a medieval grid, while the Royal Route snakes up to Wawel Castle and Cathedral. Yet the city is very much alive: cafés in every courtyard, jazz bars under vaults, and a vibrant culinary scene anchored in seasonal Galician traditions.

Two neighborhoods define the visit: the Old Town, with St. Mary’s Basilica and the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice), and Kazimierz, the historic Jewish Quarter, now brimming with synagogues, galleries, and wine bars. Day trips to Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Wieliczka Salt Mine add depth and awe.

• Stay: See options on VRBO Kraków and Hotels.com Kraków. Look at Old Town for postcard views; Kazimierz for bohemian nights; Podgórze for quieter, local flavor by the river.
• Getting there: Morning high-speed trains from Warsaw to Kraków take ~2h20 on EIP Pendolino. Book via Omio (Trains)—expect roughly 120–220 PLN ($30–55) depending on time and advance purchase. Buses are slower but cheaper: Omio (Buses).

Day 4: Travel to Kraków, Main Square and First Tastes

Morning: Depart Warsaw for Kraków by train (~2h20). Settle into your hotel.

Afternoon: Orient yourself on the Main Market Square—watch the hejnal (trumpet call) from St. Mary’s Basilica on the hour. Step into the Cloth Hall for handicrafts, then stroll the Planty Park ring that encircles the Old Town.

Evening: Dinner at Miod Malina (brick-arched rooms, roast duck, mushroom soups) or Pod Aniołami for charcoal-grilled meats in a 13th-century cellar. For a nightcap, slip into Mercy Brown, a speakeasy known for polished classics and live music; arrive early or be prepared to wait.

Day 5: Wawel, Royal Route, and Kazimierz

Morning: Walk the Royal Route to Wawel Castle and Cathedral. Book timed entries for the State Rooms or Royal Private Apartments if you’re keen on interiors; allow 2–3 hours for the complex. Coffee at Wesola Cafe (excellent eggs, pancakes, specialty brew) before or after.

Afternoon: Cross to Kazimierz. Visit the Remuh Synagogue and cemetery, then lunch on Kraków’s most famous street food: a zapiekanka at Plac Nowy—try the classic with mushrooms, cheese, and chives from Endzior. Explore art-lined lanes (Józefa, Szeroka) and pause for espresso at Karma Coffee or book-browsing at Massolit Books & Cafe.

Evening: Dinner at Restauracja Starka (hearty Polish plates; their house-infused vodkas are a rite of passage) or Zazie Bistro for a Polish-French crossover. Drinks at Alchemia—candlelit, atmospheric, often with live sets—or sample local craft beer at Weźże Krafta off the main square.

Day 6: Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum (Day Trip)

This is a full, solemn day. Travel from Kraków to Oświęcim by bus (~1h30) or train (~1h40); compare departures on Omio (Buses) or Omio (Trains). Guided tours are highly recommended; secure timed entry on the museum’s official site well ahead of your date. Expect 6–7 hours including transport; wear comfortable shoes and bring water. On return, keep dinner simple: a comforting bowl at Pod Wawelem (generous portions) or light bites at Forum Przestrzenie by the river in good weather.

Day 7: Wieliczka Salt Mine and Departure

Morning: Head to the Wieliczka Salt Mine (~25–35 minutes by suburban train or bus; check Omio (Trains) and Omio (Buses)). The standard tourist route runs ~2–3 hours: chandeliers made of salt, chapels, and underground lakes—bring a light jacket for the cool, constant temperature. Return to Kraków for a last lunch.

Afternoon: Quick lunch at Przystanek Pierogarnia (many fillings; get ruskie and spinach-feta) or Hummus Amamamusi if you crave something lighter. Pick up souvenirs—amber jewelry, ceramics, or smoked sheep’s cheese (oscypek)—then depart for your onward flight or train.

Practical Notes

• Getting between cities: Warsaw–Kraków on the EIP Pendolino is ~2h20; fares ~120–220 PLN ($30–55). Book on Omio (Trains). Buses are ~4–5 hours, often cheaper: Omio (Buses).
• Costs and tips: Museum tickets are typically 25–60 PLN ($6–15). Many museums use timed entries; free days exist but are busier. Card payments are widely accepted.
• When to go: Late spring and early autumn offer mild weather and fewer crowds. Summer brings festivals and river life; winter markets are atmospheric but cold.

In one week, you’ll sample Poland’s full spectrum: Warsaw’s forward-looking creativity, Kraków’s regal past, and the profound remembrance of Auschwitz-Birkenau, counterbalanced by the wonder of an underground salt cathedral. Expect cobblestones, comfort food, and a city-to-city train glide that keeps everything easy.

Whether you come for history, cuisine, or atmosphere, this 7-day Poland itinerary gives you a polished framework—and enough local flavor—to make the country feel both iconic and personal.