Photo credit: Gdansk Old Town, Poland, MIR
What It's Like to Travel to Poland Now
Better Infrastructure, a Growing Economy, and the Charm of Old Town Squares
When MIR began bringing travelers to Poland in the early 1990s, the country was still finding its footing after decades under the Polish People’s Republic. Warsaw and Krakow bore visible scars from the Second World War, yet culture ran deep: strong traditions, hearty food, close-knit communities. Today’s Poland is something else altogether.
The country now ranks among the world’s 20 largest economies, and in 2025 crossed the $1 trillion GDP threshold, marking the milestone exactly 1,000 years after the coronation of its first king. Poland is now one of Central Europe’s most visited countries, drawing nearly 20 million international visitors in 2024 to its cities, mountain regions, and Baltic coast.
Warsaw may be the most changed capital in Europe. New metro lines, a revitalized riverfront, renovated neighborhoods, along with the Museum of Modern Art, hailed by Time magazine, have transformed the city considerably over the past decade. The Old Town, rebuilt brick by brick after being almost entirely destroyed in 1944, remains one of Europe’s more remarkable stories in urban restoration.
MIR has been bringing travelers here for over thirty years. Whether you’re drawn to the food, the history, the landscapes, or a family heritage search, we can put together the right trip for you. You decide how you want to travel. We take care of how to make it work.
Christmas Traditions of Poland
The holiday season in Poland is like nothing you’ll find elsewhere in Europe. Picture a torch-lit sleigh ride through Zakopane, Poland’s highest-altitude town in the Tatra Mountains, followed by a bonfire with roasted kielbasa and mulled wine. In Warsaw, you’ll sit down to Wigilia, the traditional twelve-dish Christmas Eve feast in a private family home. In Krakow, you’ll explore Christmas markets, where local artisans sell handcrafted goods. And this small group tour takes you to UNESCO World Heritage sites across both cities. You’ll also take a pierogi class with a private chef and tour a Krakow workshop where Poland’s famous hand-blown glass ornaments are made. See the itinerary>>
Design your own Journey to Poland
Not every trip to Poland needs to follow the same route. Whether you want an in-depth look at the major cities, to seek out the famous Boleslawiec pottery, or to trace your family roots, MIR’s Design Your Own option lets you build the trip around your own interests and pace. That might mean a morning in a cafe popular with locals, an afternoon lingering in a town square, or an extra day to go deeper into the museums.
Essential Poland
Sometimes the best trip is one where the planning is already done. Essential Poland is MIR’s expertly designed private itinerary featuring our top picks for the country, ready to go on your choice of dates. Six days covering both Warsaw and Krakow, with four UNESCO World Heritage sites: Warsaw’s old town, Krakow’s Historic Center, the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial site, and the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Warsaw has reinvented itself over the past decade, and Krakow pulls you in with one of Europe’s great medieval market squares and a warren of cellar bars underneath it. Six days is perfect to see both well.
