Poland shines as one of Europe’s most affordable destinations, offering a superb range of quality travel experiences. Visitors gravitate to cities like Warsaw but don’t sleep on Poland’s timeless countryside. There’s so much to see and do in Poland – and this video will help you experience it.

Why Poland Is Your Next Epic Europe Trip

Sonia Szczesna and Adam Nawrot of Sourland Studios worked on this video. The two have also produced a film called Godspeed, Los Polacos! that tells the story of Poland’s fight for democracy through the lens of a whitewater kayaking expedition.

Sonia and Adam are both first-generation Polish-Americans, so they say working on this project for GoTravelDaily was pretty special for them. We caught up with Sonia to talk more about what it was like filming this video.

Filming Experience

What was it like for you personally to be involved in the production of this video for Best in Travel 2024?

My parents moved to the United States from Poland after the fall of the Soviet Union, and I was born in New Jersey. Most of my family stayed in Olsztyn, so I grew up visiting in the summers, exploring different regions, and developing a strong connection to the place and the people.

Working on this piece for Best in Travel was so much fun! It’s not every day you have your whole family pitching you ideas of places to visit and people to talk to; I’m super grateful to have had this opportunity to showcase a place I consider my other home.

Poland’s Zalipie painted village is just under two hours from Krakow © Sourland Studios/GoTravelDaily

Locations Filmed

Can you tell me the places you filmed?

We initially had a tough time deciding which areas to focus on in Poland because there’s so much to do, and it’s geographically diverse! Therefore, we narrowed our focus to three major cities – Gdansk, Warsaw, and Kraków – and then expanded our reach to nearby areas including the Lakes District, the Tatra Mountains, and the Dunajec Valley.

Must-See Attractions

What was your favorite spot on the shoot? Which place do you think people shouldn’t miss if they come to Poland?

The City of Gdansk surprised me the most; it’s such a charming port city on the Baltic Sea. Gdansk is best known for its Shipyard, home to one of the most significant social movements of the 21st Century – Poland’s Solidarity movement. Now repurposed into a vibrant arts and food hub called 100cznia, it’s a must-visit while in the city. Our timing coincided with St. Dominic’s Fair, adding an extra level of festivity where we met many wonderful and kind people.

If you’re planning a trip to Poland, consider the seasons to help you decide where to go. In summer, don’t miss the Great Masurian Lakes, perfect for sailing, biking, and kayaking. Conversely, if you visit in winter, head south to the mountains with a stop in Kraków for hot drinks and a visit to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, which maintains a consistent temperature year-round.

Don’t miss the hourly hejnał (bugle call) at St. Mary’s Basilica in Kraków © Sourland Studios/GoTravelDaily

Memorable Experiences

Any memorable anecdotes from filming?

In Kraków, a bugler plays every hour out of four windows in the tallest tower of St. Mary’s Basilica. The call, Hejnał mariacki, is cut short to honor a bugler who was shot while warning the city of invaders in the 12th Century. While filming, we were fortunate to experience the bugler call from inside the tower! The rush to get there just before the hour was thrilling, and it was a memorable experience for the locals we were working with.