Which cities in Poland are nice to visit

Hope this helps. This should be possible over 1 week. I'm sure someone will add to this soon though.

2. Train to Warsaw, stopping off at Malbork to see the castle (the inter-city line runs this way). Arrive in Warsaw. If you decide you'd rather not spend more than a day here, do this: Leave the Central Station and catch the 175 bus towards the terminus (currently Plac Pilsudskiego, but can change according to roadworks), which is 5 minutes walk from the Old Town. this bus also takes you to the airport if necessary (see below). Ticket costs about the same as a ticket in Gdansk does.

You should save at least a few hours for this area, as it's really nice, but on the bus and as in any tourist area, watch out for pickpockets. You may wish to visit the Royal Castle, which is next to the Old Town Square. Then walk along the main street from the Old Town (Krakowskie Przedmiescie) which is a very upmarket and beautiful old street, filled with cafes, bars, lovely old buildings, expensive hotels, and eventually leads to the University.

Carry along this street and eventually you will reach Nowy Swiat, which is where all the beautiful young people hang out (so why I spend so much time there is beyond me, because I am neither beautiful or young, but I dress better than 98% of Poles, so maybe I fit in, lol). From the end of this street, you can catch the same bus (175) towards the Central Station, stopping off to see the Palace Of Culture and the new London/New York-style skyline which is springing up around it. Under the railway/metro stations are kilometres of subways, which contain small shops bars and cafes, which cater for every need, and are one of the last remaining examples of "old-style" Poland in the central business district - see if before it all gets demolished/refurbished in a few years time. You have been warned ;)

This is enough for one day, but there is plenty more to see if you wanted to stay longer. The problem with Warsaw is that everything is spread out, so you either have to travel by bus/tram/metro, or walk long distances. It's also very ugly in between the nice bits, full of grey Brutalist commie architecture, and this is why it isn't a first choice for first-time visitors. But having lived in London for many years, it doesn't bother me too much, but if you come from a small town/village, it must be a big shock :) Watch out for the drunks/beggars anywhere in the centre, but mainly around the central station. Be polite, but firm. They are unlikely to become violent unless abused, but are very annoying and increasing in number.

Virtually everyone that comes to visit me has Auschwitz on the top of their "things to see" list.

Lublin is beautiful

By the roads, in towns, there are papers laying around, cigarette butts and other garbage making Poland looking dirty. There are regular cleanups but many people still don't care.

matter of taste :-) I didn't like it that much. There's really only one or two streets worth mentioning, the rest looks very dirty, like no one takes care of it at all.

Kazimierz Dolny

As you say it is a matter of taste but I think it is a smashing city with great students town along with its old town - I had a great five years there.

I wonder if we ever met there? Do you know "U Szewca" the so called Irish Pub? We lived in Lublin in 2004.

I visited Krakow, Chorzow, Katowice, Warsaw, Danzig and Zakopane. Only Zakopane is worth visiting. The rest are pretentious european city with below average in everything.

Only Zakopane is worth visiting. The rest are pretentious european city with below average in everything.

The only consolation prize you'll get is pretty girls and boys as long as you are willing to pay the tab.

I visited Krakow, Chorzow, Katowice, Warsaw, Danzig and Zakopane. Only Zakopane is worth visiting. The rest are pretentious european city with below average in everything. The country is FLAT and no natural beauty or historically significant attractions except the concentration camps and the carpathian mountains in the south. The only consolation prize you'll get is pretty girls and boys as long as you are willing to pay the tab.

Put the lonely planet guide down and visit the real Poland

that's the same "no waves in the Baltic" Sheila.

but Warsaw is mostly ugly, sprawling, unfriendly and increasingly aggressive