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The sheer variety and scale of Poland — not to mention its natural beauty — should be enough to tempt you. Its major cities give a fascinating introduction to the country — vibrant capital Warsaw, elegant former royal capital Krakow, historic Gdansk and lively Wroclaw and Poznan. Away from the big cities, you have the immense watery world of the Great Masurian Lakes nudging against the Russian border at Kaliningrad. Head south towards the Slovakian border to the Carpathians and the ski resorts of the Tatra mountains, where there’s also some superb hiking and mountain biking to be had among the forested trails.

Poland’s thousand years of history are everywhere, from medieval castles to the simple wooden churches tucked away in the forests of the Carpathian mountains.

Then there’s Polish cuisine — rich, warming, with big flavours and, in many ways, the epitome of comfort food. Dive into a steaming bowl of Polish food’s most famous stew, bigos, made with chunks of meat and sauerkraut and cooked for hours. You can’t pass up a plate of pierogi — dumplings stuffed with anything from meat to cheese, mushrooms or sauerkraut — and, for an afternoon snack, devour a slice of poppyseed cake or a St Martin’s croissant filled with white poppyseeds.

Main photo: Tatra mountains (Getty Images)

Poland’s cities are usually the first port of call, each as captivating as the next. Like many parts of the country, Warsaw had to be reconstructed after the Second World War, including its magnificent Royal Castle. Yet if you walk past the gothic, renaissance, baroque and neoclassical buildings in Old Town Market Square, you might think little has changed for hundreds of years. In the former Jewish ghetto, the Warsaw Rising Museum and the Museum of the History of Polish Jews show in compelling and poignant detail the tragic story of Poland’s Jews.

Gdansk’s colourful history gives this vibrant city an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in Poland

Like Warsaw, the historic centre of Krakow is one of Poland’s 17 Unesco world heritage sites, and its medieval heart is beautifully preserved. Explore the main square, Rynek Glowny, with its exquisite medieval Cloth Hall, before venturing to the Jewish quarter of Kazimierz and the splendours of Wawel Royal Castle*.

The western city of Wroclaw, a former European Capital of Culture, sizzles with the energy of its student population in the midst of its staggeringly beautiful Old Town*. Head north to the Baltic coast to reach Gdansk, whose colourful history gives this vibrant port city an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in Poland. From here it’s a short train ride to the beach resort of Sopot and the Baltic’s long sandy beaches.

Combine Poland’s national parks, including the primeval forests of Bialowieza*, Wigry and Biebrza, with the tranquil landscapes of the Great Masurian Lakes where you can kayak and swim in idyllic surroundings. And the winter playground of Zakopane offers skiers some challenging terrain.

Poland’s range of accommodation is huge, from upmarket hotels and funky hostels to countryside retreats. You’ll easily find five-star luxury in Warsaw, Krakow and other major cities, with landmark hotels including Hotel Bristol* and Raffles Europejski* in Warsaw and Hotel Copernicus* in Krakow. Smartly designed boutique hotels have been turning up in recent years, particularly those in the Polish PURO group of lifestyle hotels in Warsaw, Gdansk, Wroclaw, Krakow, Poznan and Lodz. Many are set in glossy modern buildings or have given fresh life to tired buildings from the mid-20th century.

Head out into Poland’s forested national parks and you’ll find cosy wooden lodges and cabins. Deep within the Masurian Lake District are pretty lakeside hotels including the serene Galery69* on the shore of Lake Wulpinski.

Miraculously escaping damage during the Second World War, the walled gothic city of Torun* is a wondrous mix of medieval, renaissance and baroque architecture. Cross the Vistula river to get a fabulous vista from the viewing platform.

An easy day trip from Gdansk takes you to Malbork Castle*, a spectacular medieval fortress and the largest castle in the world by land area. Set aside a couple of hours to explore this colossal 13th-century pile built by the Teutonic Knights.

Polish folklore is given free rein throughout the country in skansens, open-air ethnographic museums that show off traditional architecture and old ways of life among the country’s various cultures. The largest is in Sanok, a handy base for exploring Bieszczady National Park in Poland’s southeastern corner.

If you’re in Krakow, you can take the bus that goes to the former Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau*. It’s an experience that will be forever seared in your brain, and one that unflinchingly reveals the horrors of the Holocaust.

Although Easter heralds the start of the tourist season, it really kicks off from May till the end of September — the best months for sitting on restaurant terraces and enjoying outdoor activities. July and, in particular, August are peak time for the coast as well as resorts in lakes and mountains, and festival season is in full swing. December brings Christmas markets and the beginning of the ski season.

Is Poland expensive?
While Poland has its share of upmarket restaurants with prices to match, restaurants and bars offer incredible value for money, as does public transport both in cities and around the country. Accommodation in general is affordable and even among five-star hotels the prices aren’t as astronomical as in other parts of Europe. Travel to Poland is economical thanks to low-cost airlines.

Currency Zloty

Take me there

Inspired to visit Poland but yet to book your trip? Here are the best packages from Tui* and Jet2 Holidays*.

• Discover holidays to Warsaw*
• Discover holidays to Krakow*
• Discover holidays to Gdansk*
• Discover holidays to Poznan*
• Discover tours in Poland*