Poland is famous for its turbulent, yet fascinating history. Numerous historic sites are located all over the country and attract tourists from different corners of the world. If you are a history buff, you should definitely consider Poland as you next travel destination! The below list of historic places in Poland will give you inspired ideas for your travel itinerary in Poland!
1. Wolf’s Lair & Mamerki Bunkers
The World War 2 headquarters of Hitler is one of the most frequently visited sites in Poland. It is located in the middle of the Masuria region – a popular holiday destination full of lakes, rivers, and forests. Hitler lived here for 4 years during World War 2. Even though the headquarters was blown up by the retreating Germans, you can still see the remainings of the barracks in which the Nazi officers lived and worked. This historic landmark draws tourists who want to see the place of Hitler’s assassination attempt of 1944, depicted in the Valkyrie movie.
Visiting Wolf’s Lair, you cannot omit to explore Mamerki (Mauerwald) bunkers, located just 20 kilometers away. They are one of the best-preserved war shelters in Poland. As Nazis had no time to blow them up, they remained almost untouched. On the site, you will see numerous bunkers, as well as a 30-meters long tunnel and the replica of the mysterious Amber Room.
How to visit Wolf’s Lair and Mamerki?
It is best to visit the sites with the guide, who tells fascinating stories about the events that went down here during World War 2. If you are planning to visit Wolf’s Lair, the closest big city for overnight is Olsztyn – the capital of the Masuria region. However, remember that Gierloz, where Wolf’s Lair is located, is a small village, so there are no direct trains or buses that will take you there from Olsztyn. The best way is to book an organized trip by car and therefore, a good overnight base for you is Warsaw, where you have a wider selection of such tours. The site is located 3 hours away by car from the Polish capital, which makes it easy to take a day trip there.
2. Warsaw
Warsaw is one of the cities, which were horribly affected during World War 2. The five years of Nazi occupation and the Warsaw Uprising left scars that can still be visible nowadays. For example, you can see the traces of bullets on the facades of the buildings or numerous battle sites. The Old Town of Warsaw was completely destroyed during the Uprising, but it was faithfully reconstructed in the following decades. Also, Warsaw is where the biggest ghetto in occupied Europe was. Nowadays, you can join many ghetto tours in the Polish capital which lead you through the streets of the former Jewish district and show you the most important Holocaust memorials, such as Umschlagplatz, the ghetto wall, or the Ghetto Heroes Monument. Also, Warsaw has great museums dedicated to history and war: Warsaw Uprising Museum, Museum of the History of Polish Jews POLIN, and Polish Amy Museum. If you want to discover the World War 2 sites in Warsaw in more detail, read our article about WWII sites in Warsaw.
3. Auschwitz-Birkenau
This major symbol of the Holocaust is one of the top must-sees during any tour to Poland. In fact, it is the most frequently visited memorial in Poland. On the grounds of the former concentration camp, you can see barracks, fences, fortified walls with barbed wire, wooden watchtowers, and railway ramps. The museum also includes exhibitions with personal belongings of the murdered prisoners, such as suitcases, glasses, or shoes. Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau are listed on the World Heritage List as evidence of the dehumanization and mass extermination of Jews.
How to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau?
The best overnight base for the Auschwitz visit is the city of Krakow, located just one hour away from the memorial. One way to visit it is by booking a shuttle bus. If you do not want to worry about booking entry tickets on your own (it is pretty difficult, as they sell out well in advance), we suggest booking an all-inclusive Auschwitz tour with a transfer, tickets, and guided tour. If you are staying in the Polish capital, we definitely recommend booking a day trip from Warsaw by car or minibus, as there are no direct trains or buses between Warsaw and Auschwitz. With an all-inclusive Auschwitz tour, you will be picked up and dropped off at your hotel in Warsaw, and taken to Auschwitz Museum by an English-speaking driver. The journey by car takes around 4 hours, but you will have the amazing opportunity to see the beautiful Polish landscape. The driver can slightly change the route to go through the villages. Also, traveling by car you can also stop at “Anlage Mitte” in Konewka – another Nazi shelter and command center from World War 2. It is 380-meter long and was intended for sheltering a train of the staff officers. On the site, you can see miniatures of German shelters and baggage trains, military equipment, guns and vehicles from World War 2.
