Poland – a place for everyone! Oh, these beautiful cities

Poland is a place that many people fall in love with. Many foreigners I have spoken to personally don’t even know why, there’s ‘just something about it’ (mentality?, the Polish language?, atmosphere?). Our towns and cities are truly beautiful places, each having it’s own charm and aura. Let’s discover a few of those places together…

Warsaw – the capital of Poland

We all know, Warsaw is pretty wonderful! It is a rapidly-developing city in Central Europe, and is attracting more and more foreign visitors. A city with green parks, countless cultural organisations and meeting points as well as nightlife, theatres, cinemas and the famous Old Town. Warsaw is the capital of Poland with roughly 1.8 million residents. 

One small and not well-known attraction in Warsaw is the world’s narrowest 2-storey house, with a width of 1.22m, a height of 9m, and an elevation of 3 metres, is situated in the centre of Warsaw. The building was commissioned by Polish-Israeli filmmaker and writer Etgar Keret, and is named ‘Keret House’ after him. In 2019 it was listed as one of the most iconic houses in the world. Check it out! It’s located between 22 Chłodna Street and 74 Żelazna Street. 

Another interesting fact is that the Lazienki Park is one of the largest palaces and parks in Europe, and hosts free Chopin concerts from May to October. If you’ve never been to one, it’s very much worth the visit. 

Warsaw is also home to our Polish Language School for Foreigners, KLUB DIALOGU! If you’re interested and motivated to learn Polish as a foreign language, Warsaw is the place to be! We are located in the very city centre, opposite the Palace of Culture and Science (Pałac Kultury i Nauki), and we love nothing more than to teach our Polish language, as well as share our Polish culture with our students during our lessons and events. We offer Polish lessons and teaching to foreigners from all over the world, and we’d like to hear about your experiences and culture, too! 

Wrocław – Venice of the North

Wrocław is the largest city in western Poland, with a population of around 630,000. It has even been said that it’s the ‘Venice of the North’, having countless rivers, islands and 200 or so bridges. Plus, it’s a gorgeous city! There are over 100 bars and clubs, and many of the islands have restaurants with stunning views. In 2016, Wrocław was crowned the ‘European Capital of Culture’, which isn’t surprising (you’d know if you’ve been or if you visit!).  There is always a chance to practise your Polish language learning when you visit different cities, even by talking to Polish people in shops or meeting new Polish people in different places. 

One of the charms of this city, and something talked about, is the garden gnome statues scattered all over. Each has its own name and is different from the next, and there are maps you can buy to find them all! Each is also referenced on its own website. Try to join in when you are there, it could be a great opportunity to practise Polish understanding whilst doing an unusual and fun activity. 

Wrocław is a very vibrant city for people of all ages, and is one of my personal favourites in Poland, as it is for many foreigners.

Kraków – the city of multiculturalism

Kraków covers an area of 327 square kilometres, and like many cities in Poland, is littered with bike trails, making it a great location for bikers. Kraków also holds the record for being the capital of Poland for the longest time. It has held the title of capital city a total of 3 times, between 1040 and 1609. 

There are many stunning things and places to visit in Kraków, and it’s well known that Poland has a myriad of churches and incredible cathedrals, but what about something different? There is a district called Kazimierz, which is the Jewish quarter of the city. This is home to The Old Synagogue (Stara Synagoga) which is an Orthodox Jewish synagogue. It is the oldest synagogue still standing in Poland, and is one of the most cherished landmarks of Jewish architecture in Europe. You can also find kosher restaurants, cafes and shops. Many things can be found in the Polish language, as well as in English, Hebrew and Yiddish. Amazing culture for foreigners and Poles alike, as well as for those who love learning foreign languages. 

This is just a taster of places and things to discover in Poland. Where have you been? Do you feel how your Polish language and learning skills thrive as a foreigner living in Poland when you immerse yourself in our culture and visit different places? What has touched you the most? Let us know! 

See also:

Everything worth knowing about the contemporary Polish cinema