8 Kolobrzeska, Bydgoszcz, Poland
Poland is very popular for international school trips. It is incredibly interesting destination, with multitude of attractions and is still fairly undiscovered in comparison to other European countries. The prices are very competitive and peer groups from Poland are very willing to mingle adding additional cultural value to all trips. In this article we want to describe 6 most popular Polish destinations that can fill time of any 3 to 7 days school trip.
Cracow is the former capital of Poland and also the most popular tourist destination in the country. It tempts tourists with historical monuments, vicinity of 3 national parks, fun facilities and WWII memorials. Top 3 attractions of Cracow are also enlisted at UNESCO World Heritage List: the Old Town, Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi German Concentration Camp Museum and Wieliczka Salt Mine. Other must-see points for school groups definitely include: Energylandia Amusement Park, Water Park Cracow, Schindler’s Factory Museum, meeting with the Holocaust witness, the Main Market Square Underground Museum, Wawel Castle with the Dragon’s Den, Dunajec traditional rafting cruise. For more ideas of school itineraries check our Cracow tours site here.
Warsaw is the capital of Poland with many interesting sights and museums also with the Old Town enlisted at UNESCO World Heritage List. Must see points for school group include the Old Town with the Royal Castle, Barbican and the Mermaid Monument, Wilanów Palace and Gardens, Royal Baths Palace and Park, viewing terrace of Palace of Culture and Science. When it comes to museums Warsaw Rising Museum, Kopernik Science Centre and POLIN Museum are the top ones. All groups interested in WWII history apart from Warsaw Rising Museum should also visit Treblinka Nazi German Concentration Camp Museum, Palmiry Memorial sight, also smaller Pawiak Prison Museum and Mausoleum of Struggle and Martyrdom. It is also worth to explore musical thread during the tour and introduce to your students the figure of one of the most famous world’s composers – Ferederic Chopin. It is possible to see his birth house in Żelazowa Wola with interesting museum and music garden and also visit very modern Chopin Museum in Ostrogskich Palace in Warsaw. As a relax it is also worth to visit the biggest roofed water complex in Europe – Suntago. For more ideas of school itineraries check our Warsaw tours site here.
Wrocław is the capital of Lower Silesia (south-west part of Poland). It is a gateway to uncounted masses of palaces and castles located in mountainous Sudetes region of Poland. This is why it is really worth to combine the tour of the city with also some mountains exploration as well. Still, in Wrocław itself the main sightseeing points include: the Old Town with Ostrów Tumski Island, the Old Market Square with a Town Hall, Wrocław University with Leopoldina Lecture Hall, Centennial Hall (at UNESCO World Heritage List), then typically school destinations such as Wrocław Zoo with Africarium, Hydropolis Water Museum, Skytower viewing deck, Dwarf searching tours, Aquapark in Wrocław. For WWII enthusiasts the must-see points include Gross Rosen Nazi German Concentration Camp Museum, Arado Project and Riese Complex Włodarz. Other attractions of the vicinity include Wałbrzych town with Książ Castle, the Former Coal Mine Centre and Porcelain Museum and also on the way it is also worth to see Peace Churches in Jawor and Świdnica enlisted at UNESCO World Heritage List. For more ideas of school itineraries check our Wrocław tours site here.
Tri-city includes cities of Gdańsk, Gdynia and resort town Sopot at the Baltic Sea coast of Poland. It is the biggest coastal Polish urban area. It is especially famous for Solidarity Movement of the 80s and WWII, as it is the place where the war started. Gdańsk attracts tourists with its over one thousand years history, multitude of historical monuments connected with the harbour character of the city. Gdynia on the other hand, is a modern harbour town from the beginning of the 20th century and Sopot has all the charms of a seaside resort. Must see points for school groups include: the Old Town in Gdańsk, WWII Museum in Gdańsk, European Solidarity Centre in Gdańsk, Amber Museum in Gdańsk, Pier and Heroes of Monte Casino Boulevards in Sopot, Gdynia Emigration Museum, Gdynia Aquarium and Gdynia Experiment Science Museum, Reda Water Park, Gdańsk Zoo. In the Tri-city vicinity school groups must see Malbork Castle, enlisted at prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List and Stutthof Nazi German Concentration Camp Museum. For more ideas of school itineraries check our Tri-city tours site here.
It is the concise area of St. Cross Mountains Voivodship with the capital in Kielce, the best location for a hotel base in the region. It offers multitude of cultural and geological attractions. In Kielce groups should see natural amphitheatre in Kadzielnia with Kadzielnia Caves, Geo-education Centre, Energy Science Centre, Museum of Toys and Play, Botanical Garden and Tropical pools in Bieńkowski Resort. Close to Kielce in Chęciny area school groups must see Raj Cave, Chęciny Castle Ruins and Leonardo Science Centre. It is good to take also a day trip to Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski area and visit Krzemionki Prehistoric Striped Flint Mining Region Museum (enlisted at UNESCO World Heritage List), Jurassic amusement Park in Bałtów and Live Museum of Porcelain in Ćmielów. It is an also a must to discover the beauty of St. Cross Mountains at Łysa Góra Summit and see the Monastery and the Natural History Museum there and visit the Legend Park and take part in one of legend’s events there. For more attraction ideas, check our tour here.
Any trip to central Poland should include 4 cities: Poznań, Bydgoszcz, Toruń and Łódź. All of them are close to one another, so the sightseeing does not include over-lengthy coach transfers. In Poznań school groups should see the Old Town with Poznań Gate Museum, the Palm House, Poznań Zoo and Malta Water Complex. You will also find more Poznań attractions in our article “Top Poznań Attractions”. In Bydgoszcz the must-see points include the Old Town with the Granary Island, the Museum of Dirt and WWII Exploseum Museum. In Toruń a stroll in the UNESCO World Heritage List enlisted Medieval Old Town is a must. Then students should see Nicholaus Copernicus House Museum, Planetarium, Piwnice Astronomical Centre and Live Gingerbread Museum. You will also find more Toruń attractions in our article “Top Toruń attractions”. On the way from Toruń to Łódź school groups must see the Basilica in Licheń and visit the deepest mine available to tourist in Kłodawa with beautiful and healthy pinkish-orange salt. Łódź itself has much to offer. Must see points include: EC1 Science Centre with the most modern planetarium in the country, Orientarium and Łódź Zoo, Mandoria Amusement Park, Piotrowska Boulevards, the White Factory Museum, Izrael Poznański Palace, Rose Alley, Manufaktura Centre and Radegast Station. You will also find more Łódź attractions in our article “Top Łódź City Attractions”. Example of a trip to this region can be found here.
Summing up, Poland has really much to offer when it comes to school trips. Both in terms of education and fun. We greatly encourage all school trip organizers to check our dedicated website that presents various itineraries for schools that can be found here. You can also contact ITS Poland professional tour advisors who will help you to prepare a sightseeing schedule completely tailored to your own needs. Let your students discover Poland and this part of Europe and have truly memorable experience!
Author: Agnieszka Szwedzińska
Date: 4.10.2021
