Things to do in Poland
Something for Everyone
Poland is such a large and diverse country that it offers something for everyone. Whatever your particular cup of tea is, the chances are you - will be able to do it in Poland. Skiing, Birding, Cycling, Rock Climbing, Canoeing, Sailing, Fishing and much more. In this section of Love Poland, we provide you with details of the various activities you can take part in whilst in Poland and provide you with details on where you can do them.
Skiing in Poland
When considering a skiing holiday, most people automatically think about France or Italy and holidays of this type are usually limited to just one per year due to the high costs associated with skiing and staying in a ski resort. Many people however; are switching onto the fact that poland offers superb skiing opportunities for professionals and beginners; which are highly affordable, resulting in ski fans having the opportunity to maybe get away twice per year or perhaps even more! In Poland, you can find a wide range of ski slopes catering for skiers and snowboarders...
Cycling in Poland
Unwind, de-stress, and relax, while soaking up the unique cultural, architectural, and natural history of Poland. That is the essence of an unforgettable experience of a cycling holiday. The Polish are passionate about cycling and have been for a long time with the Warsaw Cycling Society established way-back in 1884. One of the main reasons why cycling is so popular in Poland is the fact that the country is so beautiful. It has cycling trails running through forests, along water-ways, through mountains and picturesque landscapes far away from urban areas and even in major cities...
Rock Climbing in Poland
One of the most popular locations in Poland to rock climb is Zakopane in the Tatra Moutains and every year, climbers from all over the world arrive at Zakopane and take on the many climbs available. Many climbers take the 10 km cart ride to Morskie Oko which is a beautiful lake located in the Hight Tatras at around 1395 m. The horse and cart journey is very scenic and follows a beautiful stream called Rybi Potok. On arrival at Morskie Oko, you can choose to be accommodated in a chalet with food and beds for the night. In the winter, the lake freezes and you can walk across it...
Walking & Hiking in Poland
Hiking in Poland is quickly becoming a major part of Polish tourism due to the fantastic trails that can be found in the Tatra Mountains and the various nature reserves in the country. From strenuous trails to easy trails, Poland offers something for everyone. Nearly 30,000 km of marked hiking trails await those who are not in a hurry and like to take a closer look at the natural attractions and cultural treasures of Poland. At Love Poland we know that hikers like to plan their walks meticulously and this involves studying maps and books in detail prior to their hiking holiday...
Sailing in Poland / Ice Sailing in Poland
Sailing in Poland may be best enjoyed in the region of the Great Mazurian Lakes located in the north eastern part of the country. This lake district, with the highest concentration of lakes in Poland, picturesquely set among forests, attracts thousands of water sports enthusiasts. The Mazurian lake land boasts Poland's largest lakes such as Lake Sniardwy (106 sq. km.) with eight islands and Lake Mamry (104.9 sq. km.) with thirty-three islands. One of the twenty eight finalists in the “The New Seven Wonders of Nature” competition, the scenic Masuria lakes district in Poland is a place of magical beauty, filled with historical sites and is unsurpassed as a sailing experience...
Bird Watching in Poland
Bialowieza Forest and Biebrza Marshes are the most famous birding hotspots in Poland. There are plenty of other places, excellent habitats and real wildlife santuraries filled with birds. Don't know when to go? March is simply the best time ever for all woodpeckers. April for woodpeckers, owls and April adds plenty of migrating ducks, geese, waterfowls and raptors. May has all of the above (but a bit worse for woodpeckers) plus displaying ruffs and great snipes on the lek! And second half of May brings 'late comers' like: warblers (especially aquatic, river and barred), flycatchers (collared and red-breasted included), marshy terns, bee eaters, rollers etc...
Fishing in Poland
Poland is extremely popular with anglers especially the fly and coarse fishing venues in the country - including the San River in the south-east, Dunajec in the south and Borne Lake in the north. The San River according to many anglers is the best mixed wild brown trout and grayling venue in Europe. The vast variety and quality of fishing in Poland makes it a wonderful place for anyone interesting in either a serious and challenging fishing holiday or as a fun add-on to a more varied outdoor holiday. Some of the best fishing in Poland is in Lubuskie in the far west of Poland...
Canoeing in Poland
Canoeing and kayaking are popular leisure activities in Poland. There are almost 10,000 kilometres of rivers and lakes of Poland, and many of these waterways are very popular with rowing enthusiasts. The Lubuskie Lake District and the rivers of the west of Poland offer some of the best kayaking. Four of the best rivers in Poland for kayaking and canoeing enthusiasts are the River Obra, Warta River, River Notec, and River Drawa. Other rivers suitable for canoeing and kayaking include the River Odra, River Postomia, Czarna Hancza River, Brda River and the Krutynia River...
At the Beach
Poland has miles upon miles of golden sandy coastline and some of the biggest sand dunes in Europe That topped with hot summers, well above the average for Europe, makes Poland an ideal beach holiday destination. If you dream of a holidays on a beach, just imagine the over 700 km long golden strip that is the Polish seaside. The northern border of Poland is the Baltic, and most of the coastline is a beach. Perhaps the water is not as warm as found in Mallorca, but it is refreshing and has a special family atmosphere...
Health & Beauty in Poland
It is well known that a healthy spirit most comfortably resides in a healthy body. A spa hotel is your shelter from everyday life where you can put your spirit into the professional hands of people who understand how to renew it. Try one of the many excellent hotels in Poland offering spa treatments or health and beauty packages. The pace of modern life with the continuous pursuit of career significantly threatens the spirit/body equilibrium. This leaves a great need for Spa & Wellness resorts, where you can restore your strength and energy, to regenerate your brilliant but burdened career, bringing a new quality into your life...
National Parks in Poland
Poland is home to no less than 23 national parks. Here you will find some of the more popular ones. Białowieża National Park — a huge area of ancient woodland straddling the border with Belarus which is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bory Tucholskie National Park — national park in Kujawsko-Pomorskie protecting the Tucholskie Forests. Karkonoski National Park — national park in the Sudetes around the Śnieżka Mountain (1602m) with beautiful waterfalls. Wieliczka Salt Mine— the oldest still existing enterprise worldwide...
Poland Tours
Welcome to our Poland Tours section where you will find the largest selection of Poland Tours, Poland Holidays & Poland Vacations on the Internet. If you really want to see Poland and enjoy fully all of the great things Poland has to offer, then Love Poland is your ideal starting point. From one day excursions to three week holidays, we have a fantastic selection of managed tours and holidays for you to enjoy. From hiking and trekking tours to bicycle tours and vacations to culture tours, we have them all right here at Love Poland!
Ecotourism in Poland
'Ecotourism' is responsible travel to fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas that strives to be low impact and (often) small scale. It purports to educate the traveller; provide funds for conservation; directly benefit the economic development and political empowerment of local communities; and foster respect for different cultures and for human rights. Ecotourism is held as important by those who participate in it so that future generations may experience aspects of the environment relatively untouched by human intervention. Most serious studies of ecotourism including several university programs now use this as the working definition.
Camping in Poland
Camping in Poland is now much better than it used to be just a few years ago and many campsites are comparable to the best campsites in other parts of Europe; however there are still some campsites offering very few amenities so you will need to do your homework to avoid any disappointments! Polish campsites are divided into four categories marked by stars (4 stars denoting the campsite has achieved the highest ranking). Campsites are ranked according to amenities and service. You will find that some campsites have not been ranked using this new system and will be using numbers 1 to 2, probably best to avoid these as the better campsites would have been graded using the new system first! The Polish Camping and Caravanning Federation website is the best place to visit for detailed and up-to-date information about camping in Poland and includes full lists of all of Poland's campsites.
Speedway in Poland
Speedway is one of the most popular sports in Poland. The Polish Extraleague has the highest average attendances for any sport in Poland. The first meetings in Poland were held in the 1930s. Speedway in Poland is governed by the Main Commission of Speedway Sport (Główna Komisja Sportu Żużlowego, GKSŻ) which is a part of the Polish Motor Union (Polski Związek Motorowy, PZM). PZM is a member of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and the Union Européenne de Motocyclisme (UEM).
Rugby in Poland
Rugby union in Poland is a minor but growing sport. The Polish Rugby Union (Polski Związek Rugby) was founded in 1957, and joined the IRFB in 1988. The official supplier of equipment to the PRU is O'Brien sport. An earlier Polish Rugby Union was set up in the early 1920s, but was disbanded in 1928. The standard of domestic rugby is relatively low in Poland. Most national players play in lower division teams in France (even in second/third teams) while some national players play in the domestic league. The main teams are based in the three main cities of Gdansk, in Warsaw and Łódź (the latter, being current national champions). In Poland, because rugby union is viewed as a "power sport", flamboyance is not encouraged. The lack of foreign coaches stifles development, which is reflected by the national team's performances in the European Nations Cup against nations with less financial muscle and a smaller player pool such as the Czech Republic and the Ukraine, as well as matches against Kazakhstan, and Morocco).
Polo in Poland
Poland is a full member of the Federation of International Polo (FIP) and is eligible to participate in all FIP programs. Polo in Poland is administered by the Polish Polo Society (PTP). PTP members include players and fans of the sport wishing to support its development in Poland. The president of the PTP is Robert Smoktunowicz. The World Polo Championship is held every three years. The 2003 season was the first after September 1939 during which polo matches were regularly played in Poland. The FTP became a member of FIP on 17th September 2004 and received full member status in recognition of the achievements of the Polish polo community during previous seasons.
Skydiving in Poland
Skydiving and parachuting is a very popular pastime in Poland and there are plenty of different dropzones to enjoy or for the beginner, there are many places where skydiving or parachuting courses are offered. Poland attracts skydivers from around the world and in August 2010, Skydivers in Poland broke the European record for the number of people in a formation when 104 people joined together in the air. The team jumped out of five planes at a height of 4,800 metres (15748 feet). The jump was their 15th attempt at breaking the record. Skydiving is one of the most popular items on people's, 'Bucket List' and that is due to the fact the the experience of plummeting safely to Earth from a great height is exhilarating, breathtaking and unique and has been widely accepted as one of the most exciting things that you could do.
Castles & Palaces in Poland
Poland is home to an enormous number of castles, Teutonic fortresses, Silesian strongholds, palaces & fortified manor houses and in this section we provide information about where they are and what you can expect to find in each one. Unfortunately many of the great Polish castles are in ruins or have been transformed into palaces & hotels; however there are still many left intact offering tourists a unique window into the history of Poland, it's culture & heritage. There are around 100 castles in Poland so unless you are here for a long time, it is unlikely that you will get to visit them all. Therefore, within this section we have concentrated on providing links and information about the most impressive and most visited castles.
Falconry in Poland - Birds of Prey in Poland
"The Falconers Nest” is an association comprising of falconers from the whole of Poland and existing within the structures of the Polish Hunters Association. The official headquarters is located in Warsaw together with the Polish Hunters Association HQ which deals with the financial side of the Club. The main meeting place is located in the PHA Research Farm in Czempin where all the meetings and new member courses are held every year. “The Falconers Nest” has their own regulations, authorities and executives. The Board is elected for a five year period. Each member of the Club has a unique membership card, access to a newsletter and can be awarded with a set of distinctions. The main purpose of the Club is to promote falconry (understood as a way of hunting) and Birds of Prey conservation. Only members of Polish Hunting Associations can become a casual member of The Falconers Nest providing that they pass an exam as part of the final stage of a pre-membership course.
Opera in Poland
Polish opera may be broadly understood to include operas staged in Poland and works written for foreign stages by Polish composers, as well as opera in the Polish language. The tradition reaches back to Italian language entertainments of the baroque. Romantic opera in Polish flourished alongside nationalism after the partition and is exemplified by the work of Stanislaw Moniuszko. In the 20th century Polish opera was exported and composers such as Krzystof Penderecki wrote operas in other languages (Ubu Rex, Die Teufel von Loudun) that were translated into Polish later. Operas were first performed in Poland during the Baroque era in the reign of Sigismund III Vasa (1587-1632). The king himself had no interest in the arts, but his son Wladyslaw IV (reigned 1632-1648) was an enthusiast and patron of opera while he was still a prince.
American Football in Poland
The Polish American Football League or PLFA (Polish: Polska Liga Futbolu Amerykańskiego) is a structured system for American Football competitions in Poland and was founded in 2006. Since the 2008 season, PLFA has been divided into two leagues (PLFA I and PLFA II). In the 2011 season there are 22 teams competing in PLFA (10 teams in PLFA I and 12 teams in PLFA II). PLFA II is divided into two divisions, (North and South). American football is arguably the fastest growing sport in Poland. American football, as a sport that is actually played, appeared in Poland in 1999, when a pioneer initiative was set up in Warsaw.