Poland by ferry – let your road trip begin!

A place apart!

Officially the Republic of Poland, this beautiful country is home to a wealth of cities, diverse land and seascapes, and one of the warmest welcomes you’ll find anywhere in Europe. Sail with us from Karlskrona, Sweden, and Gdynia is your first stop on a road trip that is sure to be epic…

Poland is unrivalled for scenic routes. Whether you prefer to drive or like to hike, you have hundreds of kilometres of coastline to explore – and that includes some of the most spectacular beaches in the world. Gdynia is a popular tourist area in summer and has one of the best beaches in the country.

And while Poland is often thought of as being a flat country, it has its fair share of mountain ranges -including Tatra, Carpathian, Sudet Bieszczady and Świętokrzyskie. Tatra, the most well-known, stretches across Poland and Slovakia and the highest peak is Gerlach. The town of Zakopane sits at the base of the mountains in Southern Poland and is the most popular resort in summer with climbers and hikers, and in winter with skiers and snowboarders. From here, you can get to Kasprowy Wierch and Gubałówka by cable car and funicular railway. Zakopane is also known for its unique architecture – pretty wooden chalets all mostly built at the turn of the last century – and an incredible market where you can sample regional dishes.

You might be surprised to hear that Poland has the only desert in central Europe. The Błędów Desert, between Kraków and Katowice, is known as the Polish Sahara. You can go horse riding here, take a hike or simply take some pictures – there are educational trails, picnic areas and observation towers from which you can get the perfect shot.

Poland also has no less than 16 world heritage sites, some of which can be found in Kraków, Warsaw, Wieliczka and the Bialowieza Forest. When in Poland, many people also make a pilgrimage to Auschwitz-Birkenau, a living memorial and museum of interest to historians, humanitarians and anyone wishing to have a better understanding of post-war Europe and the world at large. 

Poland is also home to one of the largest castles in the world, Malbork Castle which is not far from Gdansk and is another of Poland’s UNESCO World Heritages Sites.

There are also many wonderful cities to discover on your Polish road trip. All are home to striking architecture and bustling town squares, but each offers a different flavour of Poland. Today, Warsaw is a sprawling metropolis where Polish culture blends with global influences to offer the best of all worlds. It’s Poland’s biggest city and yet you’ll love the peace of the old town with its church and castle.

Foodies love exploring Poland’s very different cuisine – it’s home cooking with a calorific twist! Rich and meaty, Polish delicacies include Pierogi dumplings, Bigos stew, Kielbasa sausage, Oscypek smoked cheese and Paczki – Polish donuts. You’ll also find Poland is really great value for eating out, shopping and accommodation – one zloty goes a long way!