7 Lesser-Known Polish Cities to Add to Your Bucket List

What country is next on your travel bucket list? If Poland isn’t near the top, you might want to move it up a few spots. Not only does the country offer beautiful scenery and rich, dramatic history, but it’s all at a reasonably affordable price. Not sure where to go outside Krakow and Warsaw? We’ve picked seven lesser-known cities to add to your itinerary. © Scanrail | Dreamstime.com

Poznan’s most beautiful attraction is, by far, its Old Town, which dates to the Renaissance. The city also boasts a regional culture filled with the arts, from music to theater. It’s home to the third-largest university in the country and hosts many international festivals and events each year. © Xantana | Dreamstime.com

The largest city in western Poland, Wroclaw changed hands numerous times throughout history. The historic parts of the Old Town are impressive, with its medieval structures, but travelers also enjoy its waterfront and its zoo, the largest in the country. © Olga Lupol | Dreamstime.com

Heading to the north, Gdansk is the largest city in northern Poland and the country’s main seaport. It was founded in the 900s on the Baltic Sea; resorts along the coast attract Poles from around the country. It’s famous for St. Mary Church, the largest brick church in the world. © Michal Bednarek | Dreamstime.com

Torun is one of the oldest towns in Poland and is famous for one delicious reason — gingerbread. Its long claim to the treat resulted in the city’s own Gingerbread Museum. Torun is additionally the hometown of Copernicus. © Neirfy | Dreamstime.com

Another seaside Polish destination is Sopot, called “the Cannes of Poland.” You’ll find lots of daytime treats, evening entertainment, seafood cuisine and packed beaches. © Lukasz Janyst | Dreamstime.com

Lodz is a relatively large city in Poland and just about smack dab in the middle of the country. It offers plenty of shopping and family-friendly activities and is well-known for its film school. There are plenty of dining and drinking options and the nightlife scene is quite enjoyable if you visit over the weekend. © Whitelook - Dreamstime.com

In eastern Poland, Lublin hosts plenty of festivals and fairs year-round. Its historic marketplace dates to the sixth century and its location ensured plenty of military action over the years, protecting its borders against invaders from the east. Influences from Eastern Europe and invading countries are easily spotted in the architecture. © Nadiia Gerbish | dreamstime.com