Holiday lettings in Poland

Poland is comprised of 16 provinces, known as voivodeships. These are primarily based on the country’s historic regions. The voivodeships are subdivided into counties, which are known as powiats, and these are divided again into gminas, which are municipalities. The country has 379 powiats, including 65 cities with powiat status, and almost 2,500 gminas. Deciding where to stay in a country like Poland will depend entirely on what sort of holiday you want to have. If you’re in the mood for a beach holiday then the harbour towns of Sopot, Gdansk or Swinoujscie might just be perfect. If history and culture are more of interest and or you want to be close to the bustling and vibrant nightlife then the capital city of Warsaw may be a better place in the country to stay. Across Poland there are so many different things on offer, you’re bound to find the perfect place for yourself.

Since Poland became a member of the European Union, its cultural heritage has been rediscovered by a steady flow of international tourists. Many of the country’s major cities boast impressive historic centres with Golden Age architecture and cultural delights. The capital city, Warsaw, has one of the most beautiful historic centres in the country with ancient city walls, palaces and quaint old city squares. The Royal Road, a track that links the Royal Castle to the Royal Palace in Wilanow, is a definite must-see for any itinerary when visiting Warsaw. The ancient city of Krakow boasts beautiful castles, museums and the elegant Wawel Cathedral. Of course near Krakow there’s also the chilling monument of the Auschwitz concentration camp, a World Heritage Site that provokes solemn thought like no other. The harbour city of Gdansk was largely destroyed during the Second World War, but has been rebuilt in the years that followed.

Owing to its diverse cultures, Poland showcases an eclectic and diverse cuisine that shares many similarities with cuisines from other Slavic countries, especially Czech, Slovak and Ruthenian. Poland also has culinary influences from Central European cuisines, including German, Austrian and Hungarian dishes. The broad influences come together to make a diverse cuisine rich in flavours and textures, and well worth sampling during your stay in the country. Amongst the dishes and foodstuffs that originate from Poland and have garnered international popularity, you’ll find items such as bagels, Napolenka cream pie and Hunter’s Stew. Polish cuisine relies heavily of soups and stews, with large selections of cured meats and smoked cheeses. In terms of beverages, there’s also a lot to choose from. Of course, when people think of Poland one of the first drinks that comes to mind is famous Polish vodka - a popular beverage since the 8th century. Poland also produces many beers, including Tyskie and Zywiec which are also popular internationally.

Getting around in Poland need not be problematic. The country boasts extensive public transport networks, with well developed road, air, water and rail transportation systems. Poland is home to 15 commercial passenger airports, the largest of which by far is Warsaw Chopin Airport, which served a total of 11 million passengers in 2015. Within cities like Warsaw there are extensive public transport networks, with bus, train and tram networks playing a major role. Many of the public transport operators within the country are companies founded after the major state-owned PKP Rail Company was broken up into smaller companies to meet European Union standards. The pricing system currently used by the PKP is considered to be outdated and cumbersome, as local train tickets cannot be used on regional services and vice versa and return tickets are not available, which means that when going on day trips by train you have to buy 2 single tickets.