Gdansk and Wroclaw, Poland

Most visitors to Poland will stick to Warsaw and Krakow, but if you have extra time, the two cities of Gdanks and Wroclaw provide another perspective on the country.

Gdańsk, also known as Danzig, is the capital of Pomerania on the Baltic Sea. The city, combined with nearby nearby Sopot and Gdynia are often referred as Tri-city. Gdańsk is considered the most beautiful city on Baltic Sea and was also the catalyst for the start of World War II. The war was ignited by a dispute over the control of the city. The invading Germans were eventually expelled but by the end of the war, the city was nearly in ruins. Modern Gdansk still bears many marks of the German influence in its restored and rebuilt buildings. During the Cold War, Gdansk played another important role as the birthplace of the labor and democracy movement known as Solidarity.

Low cost flights arrive in Gdansk from nearby European cities, and buses arrive from other Polish cities and several European capitals.  It’s easy to get around the city on trams and buses, which are cheap, though sometimes difficult to navigate. Things to do include wandering the Old Town, Long Street and Long Market and wandering along the riverfront. St John’s Church. Notable museums include the Roads to Freedom Exhibition and the Gdańsk History Museum. Gdańsk is sometimes called the Amber Capital of the World and the surrounding area is the richest known source of the stone.

Wrocław, also known as Breslau, is located in southwestern Poland. Full of fascinating architecture, scenic rivers and bridges, and a lively and metropolitan cultural scene, but, like Gdansk, he city has seen much violence and devastation. Prior to World War II, the city was a German capital. It was nearly destroyed in the war but has now been restored and is quite beautiful.

Polish LOT airlines flies from Warsaw daily and the city is a major hub in the Polish rail network. The journey from Warsaw to Wroclaw takes about 5 hours.  The city center can be navigated by foot and multiple bus and tram lines will service the outer areas.

The Rynek, or central square, is the city’s main attractions and is one of the largest squares in Europe. The Town Hall, Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, and the Racławice Panorama (a large canvas painting wrapped around a viewing rotunda that recreates  a  view of the Battle of Racławice), and St. Elizabeth’s Church are other main sites. For a relaxing stroll, head to the Japanese Garden, the Salt Square flower market, and the Eastern Park.

In both cities, tourism is slowly catching on but English is not as widely spoken as in Warsaw and Krakow, so knowing a few Polish phrases will help greatly.

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