Poland’s story stretches from medieval trade routes to the partitions of the 18th century, through the traumas of World War II and the Solidarity movement that helped reshape Europe. Today, its cities hum with creativity, café culture, and museum-quality history you can walk through. In a week, you can sample its soul: Warsaw’s resilience and Krakow’s romance.

This 7-day Poland itinerary focuses on two essentials—Warsaw and Krakow—linked by fast trains. You’ll wander royal avenues and leafy parks, bite into butter-browned pierogi, and stand in places where the past still echoes: Auschwitz-Birkenau and Oskar Schindler’s Factory. You’ll also carve out time for the Tatra Mountains and their hot springs.

Practical notes: Poland uses the złoty (PLN); cards are widely accepted. Trains are efficient, and English is commonly spoken in tourist areas. Tip ~10% in restaurants for good service, dress modestly when visiting sacred sites, and always check current travel advisories before you go.

Warsaw

Warsaw rose from wartime ruins to become a dynamic capital where glass towers meet Baroque palaces. The UNESCO-listed Old Town was meticulously rebuilt, yet the city’s energy is modern—design-forward cafés, inventive bistros, and riverfront hangouts make it an easy place to settle in.

• Top sights: Royal Castle, Old Town Market Square, Łazienki Park with its peacocks, POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, Wilanów Palace, and the Palace of Culture & Science’s observation deck.
• Neighborhoods to explore: The historic Royal Route, creative Praga (murals, Neon Museum), and the Vistula boulevards, lively in spring and summer.
• Great bites: Classic milk bars for homestyle fare, Hala Koszyki for upscale food stalls, and seasonal river barges for sunset drinks.

Where to stay (Warsaw): For easy browsing, compare stays on Hotels.com (Warsaw) and VRBO (Warsaw). Standouts include the belle-epoque Hotel Bristol, a Luxury Collection Hotel (historic address on the Royal Route), the art-filled Raffles Europejski Warsaw, central-value Novotel Warszawa Centrum or Mercure Warszawa Grand, and sociable Oki Doki City Hostel.

Getting to Warsaw: Fly into Warsaw Chopin (WAW). Compare Europe-bound flights on Omio (flights). From WAW, the SKM commuter train or taxi gets you downtown in ~20–30 minutes.

Day 1: Arrival and Warsaw’s Reborn Old Town

Morning: Travel day. In the air or on the rails to Warsaw—hydrate and set your watch to local time.

Afternoon: Check in, then take a gentle loop: Castle Square, the Royal Castle facades, and the Old Town Market Square’s pastel townhouses. Pop into a café for a pick-me-up—try espresso and sernik (Polish cheesecake) at Relax or Ministerstwo Kawy.

Evening: Traditional Polish dinner: - Zapiecek for pierogi seared in butter with crispy onions and a side of borscht (casual, quick). - Stary Dom for tableside kotlet schabowy (a Polish schnitzel) and goose with baked apples (classic, white-tablecloth). Nightcap along the Vistula boulevards when weather’s fair; or slip into Weles, a candlelit speakeasy, for a rye-forward cocktail.

Day 2: Royal Route, Museums, and Praga Creativity

Morning: Breakfast at Charlotte Menora (fresh croissants, house jams) or Bułkę przez Bibułkę (eggs, great coffee). Walk the Royal Route—Krakowskie Przedmieście to Nowy Świat—peeking into churches and courtyards. Ride up the Palace of Culture & Science for skyline views.

Afternoon: Spend 2–3 hours at the POLIN Museum—its core exhibition traces a millennium of Jewish life in Poland with award-winning design. Late lunch at Hala Koszyki: sample duck pierogi, żurek (rye soup), and Polish craft beers.

Evening: Cross the Vistula to Praga. Browse the Soho/creative yards and the Neon Museum’s glowing collection of Cold War-era signage. Dinner at Pyzy Flaki Gorące (Praga) for hand-rolled dumplings in jars, or Koneser complex eateries. Finish with live jazz at 12on14 or a beer flight at PiwPaw.

Day 3: Palaces and Parks

Morning: Coffee at Stor, then roam Łazienki Park’s shaded lanes. Watch peacocks strut by the neoclassical Palace on the Isle; in summer, catch the open-air Chopin recital by the composer’s monument (Sundays).

Afternoon: Head to Wilanów Palace, the “Polish Versailles.” Tour the gilded salons and stroll the terraced gardens. Quick lunch nearby: Kotlet Mielony (juicy minced cutlet) with mashed potatoes at a neighborhood bar mleczny (milk bar) or hearty salads at the palace cafés.

Evening: Back in the center, dinner at Ale Wino (seasonal Polish produce, natural wines) or Kieliszki na Próżnej (contemporary Polish small plates, great cellar). Toast your last Warsaw night at Woda Ognista with a pre-war Warsaw cocktail riff.

Krakow

Krakow wears its centuries lightly—cobbled lanes, Gothic spires, and café courtyards that seem built for long conversations. The Old Town and Kazimierz (the historic Jewish quarter) feel like open-air museums, while the Wawel Royal Castle anchors the skyline above the Vistula River.

• Top sights: Main Market Square with St. Mary’s bugle call, Cloth Hall, Wawel Cathedral and Dragon’s Den, Planty Park, and Kazimierz’s synagogues and street art.
• Don’t miss: Day trips to Auschwitz-Birkenau and the subterranean cathedrals of salt at Wieliczka, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
• Dining vibes: From rustic cellar restaurants to modern bistros, plus iconic late-night zapiekanki (Polish baguette pizzas) on Plac Nowy.

Getting from Warsaw to Krakow: Morning trains take ~2h20–2h40 on EIP/IC services (about 120–220 PLN / $30–$55). Compare and book on Omio (trains); budget buses take ~4h30–5h (Omio buses) and cost ~40–80 PLN.

Where to stay (Krakow): Browse Hotels.com (Krakow) and VRBO (Krakow). Favorites: atmospheric Hotel Stary (spa and rooftop overlooking the towers), riverside-sleek Novotel Krakow Centrum, central Radisson Blu Hotel Krakow, design-forward Metropolis Design Hotel, budget-friendly Ibis Budget Krakow Stare Miasto or Novotel Krakow City West, and social hub Greg & Tom Hostel.

Day 4: Train to Krakow, Old Town, and Wawel Hill

Morning: Depart Warsaw on an early EIP to Kraków Główny (~2h30; book on Omio). Drop bags and grab coffee at Wesola Café (house-roasted beans) or Karma (third-wave pioneer).

Afternoon: Stroll Planty Park’s green ring into the Main Market Square. Step into St. Mary’s Basilica to see the Veit Stoss altarpiece and pause at the hourly bugle call from the tower. Explore the Cloth Hall’s artisan stalls and pause for lunch at Chimera (legendary salad bar plus Polish specialties) or Szara in the Cloth Hall (classic dishes with a view).

Evening: Walk to Wawel Hill for golden-hour views over the Vistula and the dragon statue breathing its occasional flame. Dinner options: Pod Aniołami (historic cellar, grilled meats, honey vodka) or Miód Malina (duck with cherries, handmade pierogi). Later drinks at Mercy Brown (speakeasy theatrics) or House of Beer (Polish craft taps).

Day 5: Auschwitz-Birkenau and Wieliczka Salt Mine (full-day)

Today is devoted to two of Poland’s most important UNESCO sites, thoughtfully guided with transport from Krakow. This combined experience is time-efficient and carefully paced, with breaks to process and reflect.

Day Trip: Auschwitz-Birkenau and Wieliczka Salt Mine from Krakow

Expect an early pickup, a solemn, expert-led visit to Auschwitz I and Birkenau, followed by an afternoon descending into the salt-hewn chapels and lakes of Wieliczka. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a layer; the mine stays cool year-round. Simple Polish dinner back in town: Kogel Mogel (elegant regional plates) or Milkbar Tomasza (budget-friendly classics).

Day 6: Zakopane, Tatra Views, and Hot Springs (full-day)

Swap spires for peaks on a bestselling day trip to Poland’s mountain capital. It blends highland culture, a funicular ride, and a long soak in mineral-rich pools—a restorative counterpoint to yesterday’s intensity.

Krakow: Zakopane & Hot Springs Tour with Cable Car (Hotel Pickup)

Browse shepherds’ cheese stalls, ride to Gubałówka for Tatra panoramas, stroll Krupówki Street, then head to Chochołowskie thermal baths. Bring a swimsuit and flip-flops. Back in Krakow, grab late bites: zapiekanki at Endzior on Plac Nowy or ramen at Akita for something lighter.

Day 7: Kazimierz, Schindler’s Factory, and Departure

Morning: Start in Kazimierz’s cobbled lanes. Coffee at Cheder (Cardamom cappuccino, Middle Eastern pastries) or Café Młynek (vegetarian breakfast). Then join a guided visit at Schindler’s Factory—its immersive exhibits trace wartime Krakow through personal stories and artifacts.

Krakow Schindler's Factory Guided Tour with Admission Ticket

Afternoon: Early lunch in Kazimierz: Hamsa for mezze and house hummus, or Starka for Polish classics and homemade fruit liqueurs. Pick up amber or ceramics near the Main Square. Depart in the afternoon—Kraków Główny connects easily to Krakow Airport (train ~20 minutes). Compare flight options on Omio (flights).

Evening: In transit. If you have a late flight, squeeze in one last riverside walk by Wawel or a slice of warm sernik at Café Camelot.

Alternative Auschwitz options (if splitting days): If you prefer a focused half-day visit with hotel pickup, consider: Auschwitz-Birkenau Guided Tour from Krakow with Ticket & Transfer

In one week, you’ve traced Poland’s arc from royal courts to modern revival, tasted its kitchens, and stepped gently through sites that ask for remembrance. With fast trains, walkable centers, and day trips that reward the effort, Warsaw and Krakow make a balanced, deeply memorable 7-day Poland trip.