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Extraordinary hotels in Poland

Most hotels are very similar and if you are traveling often it’s just getting bored. You start to know exactly how your next room will look like. But what if I would suggest you something you have never seen before?

Places which never stop to amaze and surprise, where everything looks mysterious and memorable. Take a look at polish most bizarre hotels.

  1. Author’s Room in Warsaw is a paradise for design lovers. It is unusual for many reasons. It is placed in a historic tenement house in the city center and consists of only 4 rooms each designed in a unique style. Everything here is thought through, there is no place for accidental objects – not only furniture or fittings, but even bathrobes, cosmetics and cutlery have been specially selected and created by Polish artists.
  2. Salt Mines in Wieliczka and Bochnia– yes, I know you have heard of sightseeing tour in these places, but they offer rooms as well! In Wieliczka you can spend the night at a depth of 150 meters in the Słowacki Chamber. In Bochnia, there are chambers available, located even 250 meters underground. It is pretty cold down there (16 degrees Celsius) but think of it as a good SPA and wellness area – the unique micro climate has a very positive effect on the respiratory system and strengthens immunity.
  3. Wool Factory (Fabryka Wełny), Pabianice– This place has a fascinating history, it has been built by German industrialists in the 19th. The Pabianice factory was also one of the locations in the film “Promised Land” by Andrzej Wajda. After 1989 – like many industrial facilities in the Lodz region it has been closed. And years later a hotel opened here. Wool Factory hotel has a standard of four stars and apart from accommodation in the post-industrial atmospheric spaces, it also offers the possibility of using the conference and entertainment center.
  4. In the trees (W drzewach) in Nałęczów is a real-life dream of every child. Who didn’t want to live in a tree house as a kid?! This place is also perfect for people who can only truly relax surrounded by nature. In a quiet, wooden house among trees you can really escape from your everyday life.
  5. HT Houseboats, Mielno – you can decide whether to choose a hotel or a boat? Well we found an option tailored to your needs. A hotel was created at Lake Jamno in Mielno, allowing guests to constantly contact the water. The object consists of wooden houses, placed on water. Each of the houses has a panoramic window with a view of the lake and its own terrace. Some cottages have a fireplace and a sauna, could you imagine something better?

Maybe while choosing your next hotel think about something extraordinary? There is so much more on the market than just huge hotel chains, which look just the same no matter in which country you’re staying.

Picture source: www.fabrykawelny.pl

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Ice cream heavens in Warsaw

 There is no better season than Summer – sun, cold drinks, long walks, late sunsets and outdoor cinemas. It sounds like a dream come true, but there is one thing missing in this counting – ICE CREAM! At the current temperature, you can’t stand a day without a scoop of cold ice cream.

While being in Warsaw there are a few ice cream heavens you definitely must visit! Everyone can find something perfect, no matter if you are young or old, vegan or not, team sorbet or team cream.

  1. “Roszki” – the best cream ice cream in the world! No kidding! You can choose a classic one like cream flavor (36% fresh cream) or go crazy with something new like mascarpone combined with Jagermeister. And for all the kids (and adults as well) you can even choose the color of your ice cream cone.
  2. “Frank” – you still didn’t have chance to eat breakfast? Well, let me suggest you an ice cream sandwich! This place was created by two sisters from New York and they have started their business by selling ice cream at a local market. You can choose both ice cream flavor as well as cookie dough!
  3. “La Bomboniera” – well let me just say – Molto Bene! Italian bakery, where you can now also get ice creams which taste like straight from Sicily. Don’t underestimate their sorbets, they are truly delicious.
  4. “Ulica Baśniowa” translates as Fairytale Street and it surely is. Located in a beautiful and green district ice cream café serves a lot of flavors. You can try also the sugar free kind or cremino (cake ice cream). Definitely a must, but be aware that whole Warsaw knows how good they are, so the queue can be sometimes really long, but it is totally worth it!
  5. “Syrenka” is something for vegans. You can buy them in several cafés and shops. They are produced on the basis of coconut milk and cashew – this combination makes them very creamy and delicious. The flavors are unique, for example black coconut, peanut butter and double chocolate.

There is nothing left to say. Just Smacznego and let me know which is your favorite ice cream spot!

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Most Popular Museums in Poland

In the whole world there are plenty of fascinating and interesting museums. Everybody knows Luvr in Paris, MoMa in New York or National Gallery in London. But did you know that Poland has also some amazing ones? Thanks to the difficult history, talented artists and powerful kings, after many decades and centuries, you can now admire their work and legacy.

  1. The Museum of the Palace of King Jan III in Wilanów – if you are visiting Warsaw it is a great opportunity to visit this museum. It is not only a magnificent building with lots of sculptures and painting. It has a wonderful and big garden, which is an ideal spot for a long walk during the summer season. Every year almost 3 million people visit this museum!
  2. The Royal Łazienki Museum – its mesmerizing gardens have appeared in many books and novels. Thanks to its location in the Warsaw city center, locals come here often to relax after a long day in work. Museum is combined here with a lot of attractions, there are organized many concerts, exhibitions and meeting. You can also sail a real gondola on the pond in front of the Palace on the Island. For sport amateurs there is a stable where you can have a horse ride. Definitely a magical place!
  3. Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum in Oświęcim. This museum is well-known also abroad. It is a reminder of the horrible war experiences. To visit this museum you have to prepare yourself.It is not easy to be here but is worth it. It is a place which warns you, that people are capable of the worst in the name of an ideology.
  4. Wawel Royal Castle in Cracow – while visiting Cracow, this is ‘a must”. You won’t find here giant gardens (like in Wilanów), but a chapel, courtyard and a cathedral which will take your breath away. The Cathedral is a very important place, because it is filled with priceless works of art, including tombstones of kings. An absolute masterpiece of Renaissance art is also the Sigismund Chapel. Entering the walled castle complex is a journey in time – you can feel the spirit of a really ancient age.
  5. The Cracow Saltworks Museum in Wieliczka is something you have probably never experienced. The Wieliczka Salt Mine was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1978 as one of the first 12 objects in the world. The deepest corridor of the Wieliczka mine is located 327 meters underground, and the total length of all underground pavements reaches 300 kilometers. Visiting the Wieliczka mine, you can see not only pits but also real works of art, like salt sculptures or chapels. Fun fact – in the Chapel of Saint Kinga you can even get married.

As you can see, museum don’t have to be boring and visited only in rainy days. They are fun, beautiful and perfect for families. You can enjoy yourself in their gardens or just stop by to slow down a bit and focus on the moment.

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Funniest Easter traditions

Easter is a very special period of the year in Poland. It combines tradition, religion, food and various Slavic customs.

The list of Polish traditions and customs celebrated during spring holidays contains a number of interesting and surprising events. We suggest you which places to visit in April to experience a real Easter adventure.

The funeral of sour soup and herring

It sounds super weird, but it’s a real folk tradition from Kujawy, which used to be a way of summary after a period of Lent. The dishes allowed to be eaten through this time were mainly sour soup and herring, other products like meat, dairy or sugar was supposed to be excluded from the menu. While the Lent was coming to an end local people prepared a little “revenge” – they would bury the pots with the food deep in their gardens.

Painting eggs

            It takes its roots from old Slavic beliefs, where eggs had a very crucial meaning.It symbolized vital energy and the beginning of a new life. It was believed that it is a connection between the human world and the spirits and gods. Easter eggs are colored eggs, but we can distinguish them by the way of creation: Kraszanki – are colored by boiling eggs in colored water, in the past it was made only with natural ingredients like beet juice or oak bark; Nalepianki – mostly known in Cracow, are eggs decorated with colorful paper cutouts; Oklejanki – made in Mazovian Voivodeship, are covered with colored yarn, which creates very pretty patterns.

Hanging Judas
This tradition is connected with another one, known much better and very popular in Poland – drowning Marzanna. The puppets are made of straw, decorated with colorful ribbons and materials. Drowning or burning Marzanna has a symbolic meaning of saying goodbye to Winter and welcoming Spring. Hanging Judas refers to the story of betrayal of Chris by Judas. Initially, the puppet was hung on a church tower, and later on a tree or pole. It was knocked down, wandered around the village and finally burned and thrown into a pond or river. This performance was played in the 18thcentury, but lately, because of the pretty excessive aggression of the nature of the event, the church authorities prohibited it. However, today – locally, in a bit changed form – this custom is cultivated in Podkarpacie.

Rękawka
This Easter custom is known in Cracow, it is celebrated after Easter, on Tuesday. The name comes from the Krak mound, which, as the legend claims, was built with ground brought in hands. On the slope of this mound, eggs, apples, gingerbreads and a lot of other food products were rolled down straight to the hands of the poorer community. After the hill being destroyed, the custom was moved to the top of St. Benedict.

Poland is full of diversity as it comes to tradition. There are interesting and sometimes weird customs, that through all this year are still being cultivated.. Visit Poland on Easter to feel the amazing atmosphere of holidays combined with local culture.

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Palm Sunday in Poland

Palm Sunday is a Christian celebration held on a Sunday before Easter, its’ historical meaning was to remember the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

This religious holiday is a start of the Holy Week and ends the Lent, it’s movable and it can take place from 15thMarch till 18thApril.

People have thrown palm branches in front of Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem and that is where this name came from. Poland, however, is 4000 km away from Jerusalem, so the climate is completely different and hence there is a major “palm issue”. That’s why, palms changed into branches of other trees. Easter palms are now willow branches with boxwood and other colored reeds, bound with a red ribbon for good luck. It was believed that the palm dedicated to Palm Sunday protects against misfortunes and that is why it was stored throughout the year. The celebration of this day, beside the religious part is very festive and colorful.

Many polish towns and villages organize unofficial palm competitions – the bigger the better. In 2008 the highest palm was almost 34 meters. Especially known for their amazing tradition is a small village called Łyse. People there take Palm Sunday very serious, and it’s an absolute must for everyone to make a palm composition on his own and show it off at the local church. The competition takes place there already for over 47 years and yearly there are thousands of people from whole Poland who come and watch this color parade.

Visit Poland to explore the beauty of tradition.

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Bringing science to life

Learning can be very exciting and nowadays more and more children and young people start to understand it. In Poland through these past few years many unique science centers and labs were built, which bring science to life.

They convince us that anyone can understand physics or become a scientist.  It encourages people to shape their own mind by critical and creative thinking. In these centers, whether you are old or young, you are being inspired to observe, experiment and be curious. It’s a great place for an all day family activity, there are permanent exhibitions as well as temporary.

Copernicus Science Center in Warsaw, beside lots of great attractions, has also a mesmerizing planetarium, where you can take part in a marvelous “performance”. This center is located right next to the Vistula river and within a walking distance to the University Library and Old Town. It’s not a museum, it’s a space where you decide how much will you advantage from this visit. If you are thinking about a fun date idea, Copernicus Center is there for you – “Evenings for adults” are organized on Thursdays once a month and each evening is special and unique. Beside this, they organize lots of special projects, like science shows, picnics or meeting with scientist.

While talking about Planterium, the place to be is definitely Toruń. They opened already in 1994 and it is very popular among school groups, families and tourist. It is located in a historical tank of the old municipal gasworks in the Old Town. The Planetarium offers astronomical shows in the screening room under the dome and two interactive exhibitions: MARS#17 Base – a new interactive and multimedia area that resembles a futuristic space laboratory on Mars and Geodium, an exhibition dedicated to Earth. They tell about the size and construction of the Universe, stars, constellations, and planets of the Solar System as well as about the history of astronomic discoveries. It is also worth mentioning that Toruń is the home town of Copernicus, so there is actually no better place to learn something about the universe.

Hydropolis in Wrocław, takes us into the world of completely different science – it’s a knowledge center about water. It is which focused on one major issue – show water from various fascinating perspectives. The center was opened in the end of 2015 and it is the only facility of this kind in Poland. It is located in a historic, 19th century underground pure water tank covering a floor area of 4,000 m². While speaking in number it is important to mention that there are 9 zones of exhibition, 6 films in their cinema rooms. They have been visited already by 720000 visitors and Hydropolis won 10 awards and prizes. There are various interesting workshops dedicated specially for groups from kindergarten until high schools, so no one gets bored.

We have mentioned only 3 of dozen Science Centers in whole Poland. It is a great idea for literally everyone regardless age or nationality. You will be surprised how fun it can be to get to know more about science, just visit Poland and find out!

picture source: Centrum Nauki Kopernik / Facebook

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Poland – the best place to organize a conference

6 reasons why Poland is the best place to organize conferences

The conference market has an enormous potential. If you are thinking whether to organize such an event or not, here are some conclusions why you should not hesitate.

           1 First of all, there are no crises in the conference industry. In the last few years Poland is being placed higher and higher in the rankings of event destinations, due to the rapid development in categories like communication (domestic and international), which are important for the organizations of conferences.

           2 One of the important issues is safety, taking into account recent events in the world related to the migration crisis and the threat of terrorism, Poland is considered as a safe and calm country.

            3 After Euro 2012 the number of direct flights has increased significantly. It has become very easy and comfortable to visit Poland from hundreds of destinations. As we speak about the aviation market, it is worth mentioning that for example in Warsaw, the airport is located in the city, so getting to the city center or conference centers is very simple and cheap. As well as by plane, you can visit Poland by train – Moscow, Berlin or Vienna are only a few of many direct train routes.

            4 Another advantage of conference centers in Poland is variety. You can find a lot of conference centers in cities, but also outside the metropolises like in Mazurian Voivodeship or Bieszczady District. It is up to you and your company what location you prefer.

            5 Diversity is not considered only in terms of city or countryside, but also in size of the conference room itself. The divergence is enormous, you can find a space for 1915 people as well as for a group of 20, so the number of participants doesn’t have to limit you.

            6 Poland has a variety of conference venues with extensive technical facilities, the whole organization takes place at the highest, world-class level. It is worth pointing out that, the prices are very attractive in comparison with other European countries. This a great example of the fact that luxury and reasonable prizing can go hand in hand.

            There are plenty places in various cities which we can recommend. Warsaw can be proud of the National Stadium or Ms Mermaid (this one has a wonderful view on the Vistula  river). Kraków has the biggest conference venue in Poland for 1915 people called ICE Kraków. For meetings in the heart of the city Stary Browar in Poznań is a perfect spot. Centrum Stocznia Gdańska and Wroclaw Conference Centre are also worth recommending and if you are looking for a place a bit different – Hotel Narvil Conference & Spa is a unique place located among the forest and on the banks of the Narew River, only 40 minutes from the center of Warsaw.

            Poland conference market grows rapidly and it is becoming one of the best countries to organize such meetings in Europe.

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Poland in film, music and art – Spring events

Poland is the homeland of many great artists from various fields.

In Spring lots of cultural festivals take place and we have to say, it is very difficult to choose the best one, because they are all greatly organized and amazingly interesting. Through a tough selection, we chose 3 events from 3 areas – Film, music and art. Everyone will find something special for them, all of the festivals are an adventure to remember and an great opportunity to get to know polish culture in a fun and different way.

Millenium Docs Against Gravity

The Millennium Docs Against Gravity Film Festival is the biggest documentary film festival in Poland. This year will be already its 16thedition and through all other ones it came out to be a major success. Last time almost 65 thousand people in five different cities took part in the festival. Beside the main competition there is also a tour of “Weekend with Millenium Docs Against Gravity” which visits 19 cities with a selection of best polish documentaries. The slogan of this year edition is “FREE YOUR MIND” – from stereotypes and habits. We are being encouraged to open ourselves up to the amazing world presented by the documentary cinema. The 16th Millennium Docs Against Gravity Film Festival will take place May 10-19 in Warsaw, Wrocław and Lublin, in Gdynia the audience will have the opportunity to watch the film on May 15-24, and in Bydgoszcz May 11-18 2019.

Enea Spring Break

            Enea Spring Break Showcase Festival & Conference is a pioneering event in Polish music industry. This festival aims to present young polish artist at the beginning of their carrier to influential people from the music industry to help them evolve. The presence of the biggest Polish record labels and cultural institutions makes it one of the best places to launch a carrier. Many bands that begun at this festival ended up playing at most important music festivals in Poland (for example Open’er). The festival opens up doors for young artists as well as brings lots of joy, fun and “fresh sounds” to the audience. Beside stunning music experience, there are also English spoken panels and interviews. Sixth edition will take place in Poznań between 25th and 27th of April 2019.

KRAKERS Cracow Art Week

            This project started in 2012 with the idea of promoting contemporary art in Kraków by creating a platform for communication, education and promotion between the artistic community and the citizens. It evolved into a weeklong event and the main slogan became “JUMP”, which meaning underlines the dynamics and changes of the event. This whole week will be full of exhibition opening, performances, meetings, panel discussions and many more. All the exhibitions presented during the Cracow Art Week are prepared specially for this occasion. It will take place in various locations, well known galleries as well as new inspiring spots. Participant can take part in gallery walks, enroll in workshops, meetings and panel discussions with artists and market experts.

Spring has a lot to offer in the cultural fields, but Summer is a real boom of festivals, concerts, exhibitions and many more, so stay tuned!

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Cycling tours in Poland

Let’s burn some winter calories and get a bit active with one of the easiest and most popular sports – cycling.

After winter we are all craving for some outdoor activities and biking is the first thing that comes to our mind. Poland maybe isn’t the most obvious destination for biking trips, but we can assure you that it is definitely worth a try. Thanks to the incredibly diverse areas (mountains, fields, forest and beaches) you can choose the right environment to your abilities. Even cycling in big cities is getting much easier and safer. But if you want to enjoy a whole day trip or even a weekend we recommend you 4 tours, which will definitely satisfy your expectations. However, it is important to remember that Poland has thousands of stunning routes to explore.

Not many know that in Poland we have a desert – Błędowska Desert! The tour has 26 km through this unusual environment. On the way tourist can also admire an old wooden church from 15thcentury and some giant, natural curved rocks. At the end of the trip, you get a great reward which is Czubatka – marvelous view point on the entire desert.

“Land of 100 lakes” sounds magical and it surely is. On a distance of 99 km you can sightsee not only lakes but also a lot of monuments. This trip is very convenient for these of you who will combine it with a visit in Poznań, because here it starts, next to Lake Malta. On the way among all the lakes, you will be able to see Górków Castle and the first printing house in Wielkopolska. Worth a stop is also Sierakowski Landscape park neighboring with the oldest stable of hot-blooded horses in Poland.

The third tour we recommend is for Pros, but the monuments and views on the way are definitely worth the effort. The trip contains 83 km of mountainous areas, some even up to 600m. This district is a land formerly inhabited by the Lemkos, where you can visit numerous ancient churches: the Greek Catholic church, orthodox church of Saint. Paraskeva, Orthodox church. Nativity of the Mother of God. The entire route begins in Gorlice and ends in the magical Dukla.

Beside these 3 nice tours, we have in Poland something we can be very proud of – Green Velo route, it is almost 2000 km long and runs through 5 voivodeships in the eastern part of the country. Thanks to the uniqueness and diversity from each district every tourist will find something for him. The route combines beautiful views, stunning landscapes and historic monuments along with Polish cultural heritage. We are able to visit 5 national parks, 15 landscape parks, 26 special protection areas for birds and 36 special areas of conservation. It’s an absolutely marvelous adventure and a great way to discover Poland. Using the website greenvelo.pl you can easily plan a route tailored to your needs and ability. They have also created an app, which makes everything super easy and comfortable even already during the trip.

Long distance cycling is a great activity for all, young and old, girls and boys. You can go alone, with your other half or with your whole family. Visit Poland to admire the stunning landscapes and get into form after winter. Spring is starting, so don’t hesitate and contact us to organize your spring break holiday in Poland.

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Poland, what to visit first?

Have you been wandering what to see while visiting Poland?

In the north of Poland it is a perfect spot for summer and offers stunning beaches of the Baltic Sea and is famous of its ‘treasured gift from the sea,’ amber. At the bottom of the country you can enjoy mountains, which are an excellent base for hiking in summer and skiing in winter. In between the sea and mountains there are stunning cities and little towns, which will leave you with a lasting impression.

Poland has got so much to offer and is unique in many ways. There is so much to see and do that, you would need to stay for a long time to be able to see it all.

Read about 11 most beautiful places in Poland here: https://cnn.it/2RGCx6h

 

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