Poland is a country of reinvention. Warsaw rose from near-total wartime ruin to a dynamic capital, while Krakow, spared much of the destruction, cradles Gothic towers and Renaissance courtyards around Europe’s largest medieval market square. You’ll feel both threads—resilience and continuity—while moving between these two cities.

Across seven days, you’ll trace history from royal palaces to the Warsaw Uprising and the Jewish heritage of Kazimierz. You’ll also venture to UNESCO-listed sites: Auschwitz-Birkenau for reflection, and the subterranean cathedral of the Wieliczka Salt Mine for wonder. Cap it with a breath of mountain air and thermal baths in Zakopane, gateway to the Tatra Mountains.

Practical notes: Poland uses the złoty (PLN), though contactless cards are widely accepted. Most museums close one day weekly; check hours in advance and book popular tours early. Dress modestly for memorial visits, and remember that many large shops are closed on select Sundays—plan grocery runs accordingly.

Warsaw

Warsaw is a phoenix city. Its Old Town was painstakingly reconstructed after WWII, yet the spirit here is modern—creative restaurants, design-forward cafes, and a thriving music scene. The Royal Route strings together palaces and churches, while the Vistula boulevards buzz on warm evenings.

• Top sights: Royal Castle, Old Town Market Square, Łazienki Park, Wilanów Palace, POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, Warsaw Uprising Museum.
• Food & drink: From classic milk bars to natural-wine bistros, Warsaw’s dining is approachable and inventive. Try pierogi, żurek rye soup, potato pancakes, and locally roasted coffee.
• Fun fact: Look for the tiny Syrenka (mermaid) symbols—the city’s legendary protector—on manhole covers and statues.

How to arrive and get around: Fly into WAW (Chopin) or WMI (Modlin). Compare flights on Omio (to/from Europe), Trip.com and Kiwi.com. For regional rail, check Omio trains; Warsaw’s metro, trams, and buses are efficient for hopping between neighborhoods.

Where to stay (Warsaw): Browse stays on VRBO Warsaw or Hotels.com Warsaw. Excellent options include the art-filled Raffles Europejski Warsaw, historic Hotel Bristol, a Luxury Collection Hotel, central-value Novotel Warszawa Centrum or Mercure Warszawa Grand, and friendly-budget Oki Doki City Hostel.

Day 1: Arrive in Warsaw, Old Town stroll and Polish comfort food

Morning: Travel day. If you arrive early, drop bags and revive with specialty coffee at Ministerstwo Kawy (classic Warsaw roastery vibes) or STOR (Vistula-side minimalism, seasonal beans).

Afternoon: Start at Castle Square for views of the Royal Castle’s copper roofs, then wander the UNESCO-listed Old Town to the Mermaid statue. Pop into the heritage-style café Blikle for a pączek (jam doughnut) or try a bowl of warming żurek at Restauracja Zapiecek.

Evening: Dinner at Stary Dom for old-school Polish recipes—veal schnitzel, duck with apples, and a house-made liqueur cart—or book Ale Wino for contemporary plates with Polish varietals by the glass. Nightcap on Nowy Świat or in the lantern-lit lanes of Mariensztat.

Day 2: Museums, markets, and the creative side of Warsaw

Morning: Warsaw Uprising Museum: immersive exhibits and a stirring timeline of 1944 resistance. Then tram to Hala Mirowska, a traditional produce hall—sample oscypek cheese, forest mushrooms, and seasonal berries.

Afternoon: POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, a world-class narrative from medieval settlement through the 20th century; plan 2–3 hours. Late lunch at Hala Koszyki, a handsome Art Nouveau food hall—try Curry Leaves for South Asian spice or Kiełbasa i Wino for grilled sausage and pickles.

Evening: Cross to Praga for neon-lit studios and bars. Start with craft cocktails at W Oparach Absurdu (bohemian, leafy interior) and eat at Soho by Kolektyf (seasonal Polish plates) or Pyzy Flaki Gorące for dumplings served in jars—delicious, unfussy, local.

Day 3: Palaces and parks—Łazienki to Wilanów

Morning: Łazienki Park at opening: peacocks strut by the neoclassical Palace on the Isle; in summer, listen for open-air Chopin recitals. Grab breakfast at Charlotte on Plac Zbawiciela—warm baguettes, house jams, a splash of prosecco if you like.

Afternoon: Ride to Wilanów Palace, the “Polish Versailles.” Tour gilded salons and the landscaped gardens; nearby cafes pour good espresso. On return, browse design shops along Mokotowska Street for Polish ceramics and linen.

Evening: Dinner at Bibenda (shareable seasonal plates, natural wines) or Kieliszki na Próżnej (modern Polish, excellent pierogi with brown butter). Jazz fans: Jassmine hosts top Polish and international acts in a plush basement club.

Krakow

Krakow is Poland’s poetic heart: a perfectly walkable Old Town crowned by Wawel Castle, and the atmospheric Jewish Quarter of Kazimierz with synagogues, galleries, and live music. Street trumpeters mark each hour from St. Mary’s Basilica—a tradition since the Middle Ages.

• Top sights: Main Market Square (Rynek), Cloth Hall, St. Mary’s Basilica, Wawel Cathedral, Kazimierz, Schindler’s Factory, Rynek Underground Museum.
• Food & drink: Cozy cellar restaurants, craft vodka bars, bakeries perfumed with sernik (cheesecake) and poppy-seed rolls. Don’t miss obwarzanek, the local bagel-pretzel sold from blue carts.
• Fun fact: The Hejnał bugle call breaks off mid-melody to honor a 13th-century trumpeter who was struck while sounding an alarm.

Getting there from Warsaw: Take a morning high-speed EIP train (Pendolino) to Krakow Główny—about 2h20–2h40, typically $25–$50. Book seats on Omio trains; bus alternatives run 4–5 hours via Omio buses. Taxis or trams connect the station to the Old Town in minutes.

Where to stay (Krakow): Compare stays on VRBO Krakow and Hotels.com Krakow. Great choices: design-forward Hotel Stary (rooftop views), riverside Novotel Krakow Centrum, classic Radisson Blu Hotel Krakow, stylish-value Metropolis Design Hotel or Novotel Krakow City West, budget Ibis Budget Krakow Stare Miasto or social Greg & Tom Hostel.

Day 4: Train to Krakow, Old Town essentials, Wawel at golden hour

Morning: Depart Warsaw by early train (aim 8–9 a.m.) to maximize your Krakow day. Drop bags and grab a quick pick-me-up at Karma Coffee (single-origin espresso) or Wesola Cafe (hearty breakfasts, great granola bowls).

Afternoon: Explore Rynek Główny, the grand market square, and the Cloth Hall’s artisan stalls. Visit St. Mary’s Basilica; if timing aligns, listen for the hourly Hejnał bugle call from the tower.

Evening: Walk to Wawel Castle for sunset over the Vistula. Dinner at Pod Baranem (celiac-friendly Polish classics—bigos, mushroom soup, roast meats) or Kogel Mogel (white-tablecloth Polish with modern finesse). Post-dinner, sip craft vodka flights at Wódka Café Bar—tiny, convivial, very local.

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

Today is a powerful, full-day excursion combining two UNESCO sites. Begin with a guided visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau for context and remembrance, then descend into the Wieliczka Salt Mine to see chapels carved in salt, underground lakes, and luminous chandeliers. Expect 10–11 hours door-to-door with hotel pickup, transport, and tickets included.

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

Notes: Wear comfortable shoes and modest clothing; photography is restricted in parts of the memorial. Pack water and a light layer for the 13°C/55°F mine interior. After returning, keep dinner simple—Przystanek Pierogarnia for late pierogi, or hot żurek and bread at Chłopskie Jadło.

Day 6: Zakopane and thermal baths in the Tatras (full-day)

Trade city cobbles for mountain air. This top-rated day trip includes a funicular to Gubałówka Hill for sweeping Tatra views, free time on Krupówki Street for wooden architecture and smoked oscypek cheese, and an evening soak in the Chochołowskie thermal baths—family-friendly pools, saunas, and outdoor jacuzzis with alpine vistas.

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

Tip: Bring sandals and a swimsuit; a small towel is handy though rentals are available. Back in Krakow, reward yourself with late-night obwarzanek and tea at Nowa Prowincja or a mellow drink at Alchemia in Kazimierz.

Day 7: Schindler’s Factory, Kazimierz wander, departure

Morning: Start in Kazimierz with coffee at Mleczarnia (sunny courtyard) and a quick look at the Old Synagogue exteriors and street art around Józefa Street. Then tour Schindler’s Factory—an evocative walk through wartime Krakow, daily life under occupation, and stories of rescue.

Schindler's Factory Museum

Afternoon: Last tastes before you go: lunch at Zazie Bistro (French-Polish comfort, great lunch deals) or Albertina (if you want a refined finale—duck, seasonal pierogi, exceptional wine list). Pick up souvenirs: ceramics from Bolesławiec stalls in the Cloth Hall, local honey, or a bottle of Polish rye vodka.

Evening: Departure day. If your train or flight is later, walk the Planty gardens encircling the Old Town one last time. For connections, search Omio flights and Omio trains; for long-haul options compare Trip.com flights and Kiwi.com.

Optional add-ons and swaps

If you prefer to split Day 5 into two gentler halves, visit only Auschwitz-Birkenau on one day and the Wieliczka Salt Mine on another:

• Auschwitz Birkenau: Live-Guided Tour with Transportation and Hotel Pickup

  

• Wieliczka Salt Mine Guided Tour: Ticket & Transfer from Krakow

  

Dining short list to bookmark:

• Warsaw breakfasts: Charlotte (bakery bistro), Bułkę przez Bibułkę (bagels, shakshuka), Cophi (pour-overs).
• Warsaw lunches: Bar Prasowy (classic milk bar), Kromki (open-faced sandwiches), Kieliszki na Próżnej (modern Polish).
• Warsaw dinners: Stary Dom, Ale Wino, Bibenda.
• Krakow coffee: Karma, Wesola, Massolit Books & Cafe.
• Krakow Polish fare: Pod Baranem, Chłopskie Jadło, Kogel Mogel.
• Kazimierz evenings: Alchemia (live music), Hevre (large, lively hall), Mleczarnia (courtyard beers).

Wherever you are, try regional vodkas (quince, cherry), kompot fruit drinks, and sweet sernik cheesecake. For gifts, look for amber jewelry from the Baltic coast, Bolesławiec pottery, and linen textiles.

Intercity travel recap: Warsaw to Krakow: train ~2h20–2h40, typical $25–$50 via Omio trains; bus 4–5 hours via Omio buses. Within cities, walk or use trams/metro; taxis and rideshares are widely available.

Seven days in Poland brings contrast and cohesion: a reborn capital, a preserved royal city, solemn remembrance, and mountain serenity. With good food, walkable neighborhoods, and easy rail links, it’s a trip that feels rich yet relaxed—one you’ll want to repeat with the seasons.