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I recently went to Poland during the UK spring holiday and thought I’d share a bit about the trip with you all. I did quite a bit of travelling in April and May—mostly solo adventures—but this time, I had a friend who decided to join at the very last minute. That meant two things: 1) I wasn’t talking to myself the whole trip, and 2) I finally have some self-photos to post on Instagram. Major win.

Getting there

It was a five-day trip, although as usual, the first and last days were mostly taken up by travel. I flew from Birmingham to Kraków, which took about two hours. Once we landed, we bought train tickets from a self-service kiosk at the airport and caught a short ride into the city—less than 20 minutes.

We spent just one night in Kraków since I arrived later in the evening. Naturally, I went out in search of food. I tried pierogi, a type of Polish dumpling that’s quite popular. I’ll admit, it wasn’t exactly to my taste—but maybe I picked the wrong filling. Still, it’s worth a try for the experience.

The next morning, we took a bus to Zakopane, a small town near the Tatra Mountains. The journey was just under three hours. I’d recommend booking your ticket in advance—it’s very affordable and saves the hassle. There is a train option, but we didn’t try it this time. The bus ride itself wasn’t particularly scenic, so it’s a good time to catch up on sleep or just relax before the exploring begins.

Things I did in Zakopane

On day two, we went to Morskie Oko, a famous lake in the Tatra National Park that reflects the surrounding mountains on a clear day. To get there, we caught a mini-bus from the station next to the train station. The ride took 30 to 40 minutes, climbing winding mountain roads.

There’s a small entrance fee to get into the park (around 11 Zloty). The hike itself is relatively chill since the path is paved. However, it’s quite long. If you’re speedy, you might get there in two hours. Average hikers can expect around four. But in winter—without proper gear—it might take longer, since ice can make things… interesting.

It was a bit foggy and cloudy when we arrived, so we only got a partial reflection of the mountains on the lake. Still, the views were amazing. From there, you can continue hiking to places like Rysy (Poland’s highest peak) or the Valley of Five Lakes—but we weren’t feeling that ambitious.

On day three, we went to Kuznice. Originally, we planned to take the cable car up the mountain, but it was closed for maintenance. Lesson learned: always check the cable car schedule before you lace up your hiking boots.

So we hiked.

We walked one hour uphill just to reach Kuznice, and from there, began our snowy mountain trek—which ended up taking nearly seven hours in total. The first stop was Kasprowy Wierch, the mountain summit where the cable car would’ve dropped us off (sigh). It was a tough hike, but we made it.

Next, we continued to Hala Gasienicowa, which had stunning views of the Alps-like peaks. Easily one of my favourite spots. Then we made our way back down to Kuznice. By the end of the day, our legs were practically filing for early retirement.

Before heading back to the hotel, we squeezed in one last short hike to Nosal Head. The trail was fairly easy, making it a great option for beginners or anyone in Zakopane just for a day trip. You still get beautiful views of the Alps, and as a bonus, you’ll come across some rock formations that—if you squint a little—look like a giant nose. Maybe that’s where the name comes from. Nature has a sense of humour too, apparently.

On the fourth day, we visited Gubałówka. There’s a funicular that takes you to the top, but since it’s just a hill (and we were feeling mildly energetic), we decided to hike it instead. The area is very family-friendly, with lots of restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops once you reach the top. From there, you get sweeping views of the Tatra Mountains—definitely worth the climb. We spent a few hours relaxing, soaking in the views, and enjoying the atmosphere. Oh, and they have a toboggan ride too! It was surprisingly cheap and a lot of fun—highly recommend giving it a go if you’re ever in the area.

Things I did in Krakow

That evening, we took the bus back to Krakow, checked into our hotel, dumped our bags, and made a mad dash to explore the city before it got dark. Since I didn’t have much time, it was a quick-fire tour: go there, snap a photo, sprint to the next spot.

Here’s where I managed to go:

• Krakow Old Town
• St. Mary’s Basilica
• Rynek Glowny (Main Market Square)
• Krakow Barbican
• Jan Matejko Square
• Wawel Royal Castle
• A walk along the Vistula River

The next day, I caught my flight back to England in the afternoon, squeezing in a last-minute souvenir hunt before heading to the airport.

My impression

IHonestly, I wasn’t sure what to expect from Poland. A few friends gave me that “Are you sure?” look when I told them. I even bought travel insurance just in case things went sideways. But I was pleasantly surprised!

Poland is such a clean, safe, and organised country. The people might not strike up random conversations with you on the street, but they mind their business and let you mind yours—and that’s perfectly fine. The pedestrian paths were great, public transport was super accessible, and I didn’t see a single homeless person the whole trip. Everything just worked, which made travelling really smooth.

All in all, it was one of my best trips so far. A perfect mix of hiking, exploring, and discovering a place I honestly hadn’t given enough credit to before.

Thanks for reading my blog! Hope you enjoyed it. Catch you in the next one!