Poland with Kids: When to Go, Where to Visit & the Perfect Itinerary

Poland with kids is a fantastic choice for a family holiday. Most people’s minds jump straight to Italy or Croatia, but my partner Lukáš and I have had a completely different favourite since last year — Poland. If you’re thinking about heading to this wonderful country, I need to warn you right at the start: you’ll probably fall so deeply in love with it that you won’t want to go anywhere else. ☺️

Last year we spent a wonderful time in the north, in Gdynia, with our little boy Jonášek, who was exactly one at the time. Now that he’s two, we’re expanding our Polish horizons even further. We travel as a full crew, so we often bring our two dogs Kája and Baby to the coast as well, because the Baltic beaches are perfect for them (though we leave them at home when visiting big cities and national parks). From our seven-day Polish road trip and all our previous visits, we’ve come away with one key takeaway: Polish people are incredibly kind to children, and the whole country is fantastically set up for families.

We’ve experienced all of this first-hand over the years — pushing a buggy over cobblestones, walking the dogs on Baltic beaches, and wrestling Jonášek out of the water park. So instead of a dry list, you’ll get our honest tips, including the places that aren’t really worth the trip. 😉

TL;DR

• Best fun: The Energylandia theme park in Zator and the enormous indoor water park Suntago near Warsaw are virtually unrivalled in Europe.
• Animals & nature: Wrocław ZOO with its African pavilion Afrykarium is truly unique; head to Białowieża Forest for European bison.
• Seaside with a pushchair: The Hel Peninsula and the Tri-City (Gdańsk, Sopot, Gdynia) offer wide beaches and excellent facilities. On the firm wet sand near the waterline, you can actually manage a pushchair.
• Prices & food: Poland is still significantly cheaper than Western Europe. Kids love traditional pierogi, and every restaurant happily welcomes you with a children’s menu.
• Practical warning: Historic town centres in Poland are full of cobblestones. Without a pushchair with big air-filled wheels, the city will rattle your soul out of you.

Why Visit Poland with Kids? 5 Key Reasons

So why Poland? Whenever friends ask me, I reel off five reasons before they can even draw breath.

1. It’s close and you save on flights

From London, you can fly to Kraków or Gdańsk in under three hours with budget airlines like Ryanair, Wizz Air or easyJet. Flights are often remarkably cheap, especially if you book ahead. For families with small children, flying is quick and convenient — and once you land, you can hire a car to explore at your own pace. Polish motorways are modern and well-maintained, so driving around the country is a breeze.

If you prefer driving from the UK, southern Poland is reachable in a long day via the Eurotunnel and through France, Belgium, and Germany. The big advantage of having your own car? You can stop whenever your little one demands it, and you can pack absolutely everything — including their favourite potty.

2. Low prices and excellent value

A family trip to Poland won’t break the bank. Accommodation, restaurant meals, and attraction tickets are noticeably cheaper than in Western Europe, let alone Scandinavia. You genuinely get incredible value for money.

Honestly, it always ends up costing us less than we expect, yet the apartment has a bathroom bigger than our living room back home, and we leave every restaurant so stuffed that we have to carry Jonášek because we can barely walk ourselves. 😁

3. Polish people genuinely love families and children

This is the thing that never stops surprising us. In some countries, you get dirty looks when your child raises their voice in a restaurant. In Poland, they smile at you, bring out colouring books, and the waiter gives your toddler a cheerful wink.

Polish society is genuinely welcoming to families with children, which gives you tremendous peace of mind as a parent. We’ve never had that awkward feeling of bothering someone with our toddler, even when Jonášek was testing the acoustics of the local café.

4. World-class theme parks

If you’re looking for an unforgettable day out with the kids, you don’t need to search far. Poland’s water parks and theme parks are genuinely enormous. Whether it’s the colossal Energylandia or state-of-the-art thermal complexes, the Poles really know how to build jaw-dropping attractions.

While Lukáš always gets his fix on the most insane adrenaline coasters, I’m constantly impressed by the spotless facilities for little ones. There are always baby changing stations and microwaves to warm up food, so you feel right at home.

5. Food that kids actually eat

Every parent knows the struggle of a child refusing local specialities on holiday. But Polish cuisine is a bit like granny’s cooking — hearty broths, pierogi dumplings prepared a hundred different ways, potatoes, roast meat, and beloved sweet pancakes.

Even the fussiest eater won’t go hungry here. We always look forward to the generous portions, and we’ve noticed that Jonášek often eats far better on holiday in Poland than he does at home in our own kitchen.

When to Go and How to Get There

When to visit Poland depends a lot on what you want to experience. We’ve tried almost every season, so let me save you a few mistakes.

When to go?

If you’re planning a seaside holiday with kids, summer is the obvious choice — specifically July and the first half of August. The Baltic Sea is refreshingly cool and nature is in full bloom. However, watch out for mid-August: around 15 August, Poland has a public holiday and a long weekend, much like the August bank holiday rush in the UK. The entire country packs up and heads for the coast or the mountains, so motorways get jammed and accommodation prices shoot up. Best to avoid those dates if you can.

Autumn is absolutely brilliant for visiting major cities like Kraków or Wrocław. It’s no longer sweltering, and pushchair-friendly strolls are ideal. November and December are all about the famous Christmas markets. And if you love winter, head to Karpacz or Zakopane, which have fantastic ski facilities even for the smallest ones.

Getting there: Flying wins, but trains have their charm

From the UK, flying is by far the easiest option. Ryanair, Wizz Air and easyJet all operate frequent direct flights from London, Manchester, Edinburgh and other UK cities to Kraków, Gdańsk, Warsaw, and Wrocław. With fares often as low as £20–30 one way, it’s a real bargain. Once you land, hiring a car gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace. Polish motorways are modern and clean — just check the toll system beforehand, as some sections are paid online via an app. Parking in big city centres can be tricky and pricey, so always look for accommodation with parking included.

If you’re travelling with older kids, you could try the train. There are rail connections via Berlin to Warsaw and Kraków, and it makes for a real adventure. FlixBus also runs routes from Germany into Poland, but with very small children like our Jonášek, I probably wouldn’t risk that just yet. 😅

When we need to hire a car, we always use the comparison site RentalCars.com — Lukáš and I have had consistently great experiences with them all over the world.

Where to Stay with Kids and How Much It Costs

The most common question I get is where to stay and whether Poland with kids will actually blow the budget. The good news is that although prices have crept up in recent years, it’s still significantly cheaper than a holiday in Western Europe. The local currency is the Polish zloty (PLN), with the exchange rate hovering around 5 PLN to £1. We pay by card almost everywhere.

Accommodation varies by region. In Kraków or Wrocław, I’d recommend looking for spacious family apartments right in the centre or within walking distance of the main sights. We love booking places like Meyo Apartments on the main square, where we had everything at our fingertips and a stunning view. Always check that the building has a lift — dragging a pushchair and a million bags up four flights of stairs is something you really don’t want.

In the Tri-City (Gdańsk, Sopot, and Gdynia), the ideal is to find an apartment or hotel as close to the beach promenade as possible. We fell in love with the Novotel Gdańsk Marina, which is a stone’s throw from the beach and has great facilities for little ones. Being just a few metres from the sand means you can pop back to your room whenever you need to. If you’re after a wellness break in the mountains, around Zakopane for example, you’ll find gorgeous modern hotels with pools and children’s play areas that you’ll never want to leave. Just be careful when booking wellness hotels near the Czech border — some have started positioning themselves as “Adults Only” (16+), so check before you arrive.

A week-long holiday budget for a family with two children (including a nice apartment, eating out every day, and attraction tickets) comes to roughly €800–1,200, depending on how much you treat yourselves. You can save by cooking at your apartment, but Polish restaurants are so good and affordable that we happily forget about cooking on holiday. 😁

15 Best Attractions and Places to Visit in Poland with Kids

The country offers an incredible range of activities, whether you’re going for a long weekend or a two-week road trip. We deliberated for ages about what to include in this list, because we have hundreds of tips. In the end, we settled on these fifteen places that we think are worth every penny.

1. Energylandia Zator: the biggest theme park in Central Europe

This place is an absolute phenomenon, and if your kids love rides, you simply can’t miss it. Energylandia is just a short drive from Kraków and it’s an entire city of fun. You’ll find over a hundred attractions split across several themed zones. For toddlers and little ones, there’s the fairy-tale Bajkolandia zone with gentle train rides and animal carousels.

For bigger kids and brave parents, there’s a zone boasting some of the most extreme roller coasters in Europe. Lukáš had an absolute blast on the Hyperion coaster last year and reckoned it was one of the best adrenaline experiences of his life. The park also includes a massive outdoor water park, all included in your ticket price.

The whole complex is spotlessly clean, brilliantly organised, and the food doesn’t cost the absurd prices you’d find at some other European parks. We’d recommend setting aside two full days for Energylandia, because you simply can’t do it justice in one day with kids in tow. For more water fun ideas, check out our article on Poland’s best water parks.

2. Suntago Park of Poland (Wręcza): a tropical paradise under one roof

Just outside Warsaw, Europe’s largest indoor water park has sprung up, and it’s a place where you’ll forget you’re in Central Europe. Inside, you’ll find real palm trees imported from tropical countries, air temperatures above 30°C, and blissfully warm water. Families with children get their own enormous Jamango zone.

This zone features an incredible 32 slides, a lazy river, a wave pool, and for the very smallest visitors, gorgeous shallow paddling areas with mini slides and a pirate ship. Lifeguards are on duty everywhere and safety is clearly the top priority. Jonášek spent the entire day in the water and refused to come out, even when we bribed him with ice cream.

Parents will appreciate the great food options, and if you manage to hand the kids over to grandma for a bit or take turns, you can sneak off to the Relax zone — adults only. There you’ll find tranquil thermal pools and a fantastic sauna world where you can properly recharge.

3. Wrocław ZOO and the incredible Afrykarium

Wrocław is a beautiful city in its own right, full of little bronze gnome statues that kids adore hunting down across the city. But the real gem is the local zoo, which is one of the best we’ve ever visited — vast, green, completely barrier-free, and an absolute dream to navigate with a pushchair.

The star attraction is the monumental Afrykarium pavilion. It’s an enormous building dedicated exclusively to African fauna and flora. The highlight of the tour is an underwater glass tunnel where sharks, rays and sea turtles swim right over your head. The experience is absolutely breathtaking — even we adults stood there open-mouthed.

Definitely buy your tickets online in advance. The zoo gets very busy at weekends and queues at the ticket office can be endless. Inside the park, you’ll find plenty of food stalls and clean toilets with baby changing facilities — something we deeply appreciate with Jonášek.

4. Warsaw Rising Museum: history for older kids

If you have older children, roughly ten and above, make time for the Warsaw Rising Museum. This isn’t your typical dusty museum full of glass cases and long texts — it’s a completely immersive, interactive exhibition that draws you in from the very first moment.

You walk through replicas of bombed-out streets, hear the sounds of air-raid sirens and falling bombs, collect stamps, and can even crawl through a scaled-down model of the sewers the insurgents used to move around the city. For kids it’s a powerful experience that brings history to life far more than any textbook ever could. We were all quiet for a while after leaving and headed straight for the nearest café for a slice of cake. Buy your tickets online in advance — otherwise you’ll be queuing, and then you’ll need that cake twice over.

5. POLIN: Museum of the History of Polish Jews

Another Warsaw museum that proves the Poles really know how to put together a world-class exhibition. POLIN is a huge, architecturally stunning building. The entire exhibition is designed as a journey through time, packed with multimedia elements, screens, models, and interactive games that engage even younger school-age children.

The most beautiful section is a hand-painted replica of a wooden synagogue that you can actually step inside. There’s also a special children’s zone called “At King Matt’s Place”, where kids can play, draw, and join fun workshops that genuinely capture their attention.

We got through the whole museum with a pushchair without encountering a single step, thanks to lifts and ramps. And when it started raining as we left, we didn’t even mind — we weren’t ready to stop anyway. It’s the perfect hideout for a rainy day.

6. Wieliczka Salt Mine: an underground fairy tale

Just a short hop from Kraków, you’ll find the Wieliczka Salt Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I’d recommend this trip for children aged six and above, as you need to descend several hundred wooden steps underground (a mine lift takes you back up) and the tour lasts over two hours. You can’t bring a pushchair, so for toddlers you’ll need a baby carrier.

But what awaits you down below is pure magic. Enormous chambers carved from salt, underground lakes, and the breathtaking Chapel of St. Kinga, where even the chandeliers are made of salt crystals. The guides are understanding with families and often enrich the tour with tales of mine goblins and other legends.

The temperature inside the mine stays constant at around 14–16°C, so even on a scorching summer’s day, make sure to pack a warm jumper and comfortable closed-toe shoes for the kids.

7. Giant Mountains and Karpacz: mountain fun for families

The Giant Mountains (Karkonosze) straddle the Polish-Czech border, and the Polish side has tremendous charm — often with better family-oriented services. The little town of Karpacz is a wonderful base. From here you can take the cable car up to Kopa mountain, which is just a short walk from the summit of Śnieżka.

A huge draw for kids is the local Western City, a faithful replica of a Wild West frontier town. There’s a sheriff, a saloon, horseback riding, gold panning, and archery. They even put on regular western shows that utterly captivate children, making them feel like real cowboys for a while.

Karpacz is also packed with modern hotels featuring massive children’s play rooms and swimming pools, so even if the mountain weather lets you down, you’ll have a full day’s entertainment sorted.

8. Hel Peninsula: a Baltic paradise for families (and dogs!)

If you’re heading to the coast with kids, the Hel Peninsula holds a very special place in our hearts. It’s a narrow, 30-plus-kilometre sandy spit: on one side, a calm bay perfect for toddlers and gentle paddling in shallow water; on the other, the wild open Baltic.

The peninsula is crisscrossed with wonderful cycle paths through pine forests. You can rent bikes with trailers and ride the whole length. The main family attraction is the seal rescue centre (Fokarium) in the town of Hel itself, right at the tip of the peninsula, where children can watch these adorable animals being fed.

And what’s absolutely crucial for us — the beaches here are very dog-friendly. Our Kája and Baby could run freely on the sand without bothering anyone. Poland is far more relaxed about dogs on beaches than southern European countries, so genuinely the whole family gets to enjoy the holiday.

9. Gdynia: nautical vibes and an aquarium

We spent a lovely time in Gdynia last year and we absolutely swear by it. It’s not as historic as neighbouring Gdańsk, but for families with kids it’s incredibly practical. There’s a beautiful wide beach right in the centre, flanked by a fantastic promenade dotted with playgrounds and cafés where you can sip your coffee in peace while the children play.

The main attraction is the Gdynia Aquarium, located right on the pier. Inside you’ll see sharks, coral reefs, and fish from the Baltic Sea. It’s smaller than the Wrocław setup, but kids can easily spend a good two hours here — Jonášek was absolutely thrilled by all the fish.

Down by the harbour, you’ll also find the huge warship ORP Błyskawica and the historic tall ship Dar Pomorza, both open to visitors. You can explore below deck, which is an absolute hit with little sailors — and the perfect way to tire them out before bedtime.

10. Międzyzdroje and Baltic Park Molo: easy to reach from Germany

Looking for a seaside option that’s easy to combine with flights to Berlin or Szczecin? Head to the resort of Międzyzdroje or neighbouring Świnoujście. It’s close to the German border and these are classic holiday resorts with very long, wide stretches of coastline. The sand is fine and white, and the sea floor slopes incredibly gently — ideal for small children.

In Świnoujście you’ll find the Baltic Park Molo complex, which includes an excellent water park. There are artificial waves, saunas, and wonderful children’s pools. If the Baltic weather doesn’t quite deliver perfect beach conditions — which does happen — this water park will save the day with ease.

From Międzyzdroje, you can also take a family trip to nearby Wolin National Park to see free-roaming European bison in their enclosure.

11. Masurian Lakes: peace on the water

Masuria offers a completely different kind of holiday. It’s a region of thousands of lakes connected by canals and rivers. The ultimate experience here is hiring a houseboat. You don’t need any special skipper’s licence, and you can learn to steer one in about twenty minutes.

With kids, it’s an incredible adventure they’ll remember forever. You have your own floating home, you swim straight off the boat during the day, eat lunch on deck, and in the evening you moor up in a quiet cove or at a modern marina with restaurants and playgrounds.

The scenery is simply gorgeous — peaceful and pristinely clean. It’s the perfect escape from crowded seaside resorts if you fancy switching off for a while.

12. Białowieża Forest: meeting the king of the forest

In the far east of Poland lies Białowieża, one of the last remnants of Europe’s primeval forest. This trip is brilliant for nature-loving families with children ideally aged four and up, old enough to walk a bit and explore on their own.

The biggest draw is, of course, the European bison. The local demonstration reserve houses several of these magnificent creatures, and seeing them in the flesh commands real respect. The reserve has lovely paved paths, making it completely pushchair-friendly.

Besides bison, you might spot wolves, lynx, or tarpan horses. The atmosphere is wonderfully calm and mysterious — a truly unique experience for city kids.

13. Toruń: the living gingerbread museum

Toruń is one of the most beautiful historic cities in Poland — the birthplace of Copernicus and, more importantly for kids, the famous city of gingerbread. Walking through its red-brick lanes feels like stepping into a medieval fairy tale.

With children, definitely head to the Living Museum of Gingerbread (Żywe Muzeum Piernika). Forget boring tours — this is a fantastic interactive show! In an entertaining way, often with the help of “medieval” master bakers and witches, you’ll learn the entire history of gingerbread making.

The best bit? Everyone — parents included — gets to mix their own dough, roll it out, press it into a historic wooden mould, and bake it. You proudly take home your hand-made gingerbread as the best souvenir imaginable.

14. Kraków: Wawel Castle and the fire-breathing dragon

If you’re visiting Energylandia, you’ll almost certainly add Kraków to the trip. The city has enormous charm. The Royal Wawel Castle towers above the Vistula river, and what kids care about most is what lurks beneath it.

Down by the river stands a statue of the Wawel Dragon. According to ancient legend, this dragon terrorised the city until a clever cobbler outsmarted it. The statue actually breathes real fire every few minutes. There’s always a cluster of children waiting, and every time the flames shoot from its mouth, a chorus of delighted shrieks erupts.

From the dragon, you can stroll along the gorgeous riverside promenade, feed the swans, and buy the best traditional pretzel (obwarzanek) from one of the blue market stalls on the square — something Lukáš and I always playfully fight over.

15. Babia Góra National Park and surroundings

If you’d rather avoid the crowds in Zakopane, try the nearby Babia Góra National Park or the Bialski National Park. It’s an area of stunning mountains with unspoilt nature, offering a wonderful alternative to the busier resorts.

This area is still on our to-do list (honestly, we need to wait until Jonášek grows a bit more 😅), but friends have told us that the educational trails are manageable even for small children, and the visitor centre at the trailhead has clean toilets — which, as every parent knows, is the absolute number one priority.

Practical Tips for Travelling with a Pushchair

When Lukáš and I used to travel as a couple, we never gave the surface of streets a second thought. With a pushchair and little Jonášek, our priorities have changed dramatically. Poland is a country steeped in history, which takes a rather unforgiving toll on the quality of its pavements.

Watch out for cobblestones

Historic city centres in places like Kraków, Wrocław, Gdańsk, and Toruń are entirely cobbled. We’re not talking nice flat paving stones — often it’s old, uneven setts. If you show up with a lightweight city buggy with small hard plastic wheels, both you and your child are in for a miserable time — the rattling can actually make little ones feel sick.

Definitely bring a pushchair with large, ideally air-filled tyres and decent suspension. It’ll save your nerves, and your little one will be able to nap peacefully while you finally enjoy that coffee on the square.

Pushchair on the beach

If you head north to the coast, you’ll have to navigate sand. Polish Baltic beaches often have wooden ramps and boardwalks, but these tend to stop shortly past the entrance. If you stick close to the waterline where the sand is wet and packed down by the waves, you can just about manage a pushchair (pulling it behind you works best).

But don’t even attempt to push through deep, dry sand — you’ll be stuck within two metres. A baby carrier is always the better option for beach trips, and it worked brilliantly for us with little Jonášek.

Where to Eat and What to Try with Kids

Food is a whole chapter of its own when travelling with children. Our experience is that Polish cuisine is very friendly to young tummies, and you won’t end up in those nightmare situations where your child simply has nothing to eat and you’re tearing your hair out.

Pierogi save everything

Poland’s national dish is pierogi — stuffed dumplings that are either boiled or pan-fried. You can have them savoury (filled with meat, sauerkraut, or potatoes and cheese — the so-called “Russian” variety), but what kids absolutely devour are the sweet ones.

Pierogi stuffed with strawberries, blueberries, or sweet cheese, dusted with sugar and drizzled with cream, vanish from the plate at lightning speed. Jonášek can put away an astonishing number, while Lukáš and I sneakily pinch them from his plate because they’re simply irresistible.

Soups for every day

Poles love their soups. In almost every restaurant you’ll find “rosół” — a rich chicken or beef broth with noodles, usually served in a huge bowl that can easily fill up an adult. For kids, it’s the perfect warm meal after a long day of running around.

If your little ones prefer tomato soup, try “zupa pomidorowa”, which is also hugely popular in Poland. They usually add pasta or rice, so it’s beautifully thick, nutritious, and children love it.

Restaurants and kids’ menus

Most restaurants, including the upscale ones, automatically offer a children’s menu. It typically includes breaded chicken strips with chips (the universal classic), smaller portions of pasta, or the sweet pancakes we mentioned. Almost everywhere has high chairs and very often a small play corner with crayons.

Among our favourite family-friendly spots is Pueblo restaurant in Gdynia, which has not only a great kids’ menu but also wonderfully warm service. In Kraków, we love going to Pod Wawelem, where portions are gigantic and the buzzy atmosphere means any child-related noise just blends right in.

Snacks from the shops

If you have a toddler who happily munches on pouches and jars, you don’t need to haul huge supplies from home. Brands like HiPP and Gerber are widely available in Rossmann stores across Poland, and we always pick them up for Jonášek as we go.

Cheaper (but still high-quality) alternatives can be found in the ubiquitous Biedronka and Żabka supermarkets. They sell great fruity crisps and fruit purées that are perfect for snacking in the car.

What to Watch Out For: Tourist Traps and Scams

Poland is a very safe country for families, and you don’t need to worry about any serious crime. That said, there are a few minor tourist pitfalls to be aware of, so you don’t needlessly lose money that could be better spent on a magnificent ice cream for the kids.

Euronet ATMs and sneaky exchange rates

Euronet cash machines are absolutely everywhere in Poland. If you need to withdraw money, always — and I mean always — decline the offer to convert to pounds (this is called Dynamic Currency Conversion, or DCC). The machine will very insistently ask if you’d like a “guaranteed” exchange rate in GBP.

It’s a rip-off — the rate is dreadful and can easily cost you £10–20 per withdrawal. Always choose to withdraw in the local currency (PLN) without conversion, and let your own UK bank handle the exchange. Better yet, use ATMs belonging to Polish high-street banks, where you can be confident of a fair deal.

Dodgy taxis at stations and near attractions

Although it’s becoming less common, you can still encounter taxi drivers at tourist hubs like Kraków or Gdańsk who wait at train stations or popular attractions and don’t run a meter. Never get in — you could end up with a jaw-dropping bill.

Use ride-hailing apps like Uber or Bolt instead, which work flawlessly across Poland and cost a fraction of the price. The drivers have always been happy to help us with the pushchair, and the rides have been very comfortable.

Family Itineraries: How to Put It All Together

Now you know where to go with kids, but you might be wondering how to combine these places into a sensible route. Here are our three favourite options that work well both in terms of time and logistics.

Option A: The North and the Baltic for families (7 days)

This itinerary is ideal for summer. It combines cities with beach time. Spend Days 1–2 on Wrocław and Toruń. Stop in Wrocław for the amazing zoo and stay overnight. The next day, continue via Toruń — where the kids will love baking gingerbread — then head north to the sea.

Dedicate three days (3–5) to the Tri-City. Explore historic Gdańsk, walk along the enormous wooden pier in Sopot, and visit the aquarium in Gdynia. The kids will be thrilled by the long sandy beaches, and you’ll finally get some rest. Spend the last two days (6–7) on the Hel Peninsula. Watch the seal feeding, cycle through the pinewoods, and soak up that true Baltic holiday vibe before heading home.

Option B: Southern Poland — fun and adrenaline (5 days)

A brilliant choice for a long weekend or a shorter autumn/spring half-term. The first two days belong to Kraków. Explore the centre with the kids, show them the fire-breathing dragon beneath Wawel, and enjoy some fantastic food. If you have older children, you could devote a day to exploring the Wieliczka Salt Mine — a real adventure for them.

Days 3 and 4 are all about Energylandia in Zator. Drive from Kraków, find accommodation nearby, and spend two full days on roller coasters and rides. Use the first day to conquer the attractions and the second to splash around in the adjacent water park. Day 5 is your travel day, but on the way back, stop off at Inwałd Park or nearby Dinolandia — smaller parks with dinosaurs and miniatures that small children really appreciate.

Option C: Nature, animals and peace (4 days)

A shorter trip that works even with a pushchair and the smallest toddlers. Spend the first two days fully exploring Wrocław and the Afrykarium. Visit the zoo, hunt for the little bronze gnomes scattered around the city, and take a boat ride on the Oder river — an experience Jonášek absolutely couldn’t stop raving about.

Days 3 and 4 are dedicated to the mountains and Karpacz. Head into the hills, check into a lovely wellness hotel, and take the kids to Western City in Karpacz for cowboys and Indians. If the sun comes out, ride the cable car up and do a short, easy hike before contentedly heading home.

Read More

If Poland has caught your eye, be sure to check out our other articles where we go into much more detail on individual destinations. We’ve written a guide on what to see in Kraków, put together our best tips for visiting Wrocław, and for the north, don’t miss our comprehensive guide to the seaside city of Gdynia.

Final tips and tricks

For cheap flights, we love using Skyscanner — it’s been our go-to for years. Fares to Gdańsk or Warsaw can be ridiculously low from UK airports, so it’s well worth keeping an eye out. If you fly in and want to explore the area comfortably, Lukáš and I have had consistently great results with RentalCars.com, which we use all over the world and it always works without a hitch.

Although we’re in the EU and the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC/GHIC) applies here, for shorter family trips we always prefer to take out proper travel insurance. We often use SafetyWing, because with kids you never know when a midnight temperature or an earache will strike — and a good insurance policy means we all sleep much better.

FAQ

Let’s wrap up by answering the most common questions we get from parents about travelling to Poland.