Poland
Chic medieval hot spots like Kraków and Gdańsk vie with energetic Warsaw for your urban attention. Outside the cities, woods, rivers, lakes and hills beckon for some fresh-air fun.
I first travelled to Poland as a student in the 1980s and was touched by the humour, wit and kindness of people living under difficult circumstances. Over numerous return trips, I’ve been able to dive deeper and try to understand the culture, often formed in a crucible of torturous history. These days, what I’m impressed by is the verve and energy of the people as they’ve created arguably Central Europe’s greatest post-communist success story. And then there’s kiełbasa, pierogi and quince-flavoured vodka. What more could you ask for?
