From learning the quintessential art of gingerbread making in Toruń’s medieval Old Town to kayaking past nature reserves in the lush Masurian Lake District, there’s no denying that unparalleled experiences abound in Poland, an underrated central European destination. And, thanks to the country’s compact size and ease of accessibility from North America, it’s possible to go from Sunday morning mass held 1,000-feet underground to summiting the highest peak of the Tatras within 24 hours on your next Poland vacation.
With so many unique places to visit in Poland to choose from—there are 16 official UNESCO sites and over 2,000 palaces and castles—it’s no surprise that narrowing things down can be quite the challenge. In partnership with the Polish Tourism Organization, we put together eight of the best tourist attractions Poland has to offer—all you have to do is to start to pack!