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Three cities worth visiting in Poland

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Poland is an interesting holiday destination, particularly for those who prefer sightseeing and active recreation to sunbathing at the swimming pool. Check out which cities are particularly worth visiting in Poland.

Poland is a country that has a lot to offer to travelers. Although it lacks the huge holiday resorts which can be found in other European countries, you will surely find a great deal of interesting, worth visiting places here.

Kraków / Cracow

Kraków is a former capital city of Poland and an unquestionable number one destination in the country on the Vistula River (Polish: Wisła). For many of those who have already visited this place, it is a real gem of Central Europe. One of the most famous and most impressive sights is the Wawel Royal Castle. It is not far this place to the Main Market Square (Polish: Rynek Główny), where you can admire not only outstanding urban architecture but also eat something delicious in one of the restaurants offering the traditional Polish cuisine. The Main Market Square also hosts a renowned gothic church – Saint Mary’s Basilica (Polish: Kościół Mariacki) and an iconic market place – Cloth Hall (Polish: Sukiennice). Kraków is also a great starting point. It is located not far from the Wieliczka Salt Mine, the ruins of 14th-century Ogrodzieniec castle, or even the town of Zakopane, which tourists love so much. Yes, Kraków is definitely a must-see place in Poland!

Warszawa / Warsaw

The capital of Poland is another place that deserves to be part of your itinerary. The city was almost totally destroyed in 1944 and later it was successively rebuilt. It is currently the biggest urban area in the country. When you are in Warsaw, it is good to visit the Old Town Market Square (Polish: Rynek Starego Miasta), where you can admire beautiful 17th – 18th-century townhouses. Another must-see is the Royal Baths Park (Polish: Park Łazienkowski, Łazienki Królewskie), which used to be a summer residence of Polish kings. Saska Kępa is another place with an amazing atmosphere. The museums which are worth visiting include the National Museum, Museum of King Jan III’s Palace at Wilanów, Zachęta, Warsaw Rising Museum, Museum of Modern Art, and many others. When you need a moment of relaxation after the whole day of sightseeing, it is good to see areas near the Vistula River (Polish: Wisła).

Wrocław

Wroclaw is a city located not far from the German border. The most admirable place in this town is its oldest part, which is Ostrów Tumski, featuring the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, a Gothic church with neo-Gothic additions. Wroclaw is one of the leading European countries taking into account the number of … bridges. One of the most famous ones is the Penitent Bridge (Polish: Mostek Pokutnic), with a stunning view of the city. Wrocław’s dwarfs are its characteristic feature as they can be found all around the city. Their origins go back to the 1980s. The dwarfs are a symbol of the Orange Alternative, the Polish anti-communist movement, and their protest against the communist rule.

How to prepare for a visit to Poland?

It should not be particularly difficult to communicate with the locals in Poland. In most good hotels, restaurants, or resources of cultural interest, the personnel will communicate in English without much problem. It will also be possible to meet a pedestrian capable of giving directions. When you plan sightseeing, it is reasonable to check if the site offers guided tours in English.

When it comes to commuting, the railway is one of the options, although punctuality issues are commonplace. In major cities, public transport – trams or buses – are the best means to reach any place we want. It is good to know that the underground (Metro) operates in Warsaw only. Nonetheless, we recommend renting a car when you are in Poland. It is the most convenient way of traveling, particularly between cities. Car rentals in Poland can be found online without any problem, using local services, such as Fixly, or asking local people.

Poland is not in the Eurozone, so it is a good idea to purchase local currency – zloty [PLN]. This way you will not have any problems with payments when you are here.

The Gems Of Malaysia: Must See Places In This Beautiful Country

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There are so many gorgeous and exciting places to see and experience when visiting Malaysia that it can be easy to become overwhelmed by choice, especially if it is your first trip to the area. However, there tends to be a consensus on the top five activities that aren’t too be missed. Check out my post below for some detail on them so you can plan a trip where you get to visit all the gems of Malaysia.

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Mount Kinabalu

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Instead of starting with the capital Kuala Lumpur why not head up to the north of the country and visit the glorious UNESCO world heritage site of Kinabalu and Mount Kinabalu? This summit is located in Sabah region, and it’s a real draw for folks that are interested in the great outdoors and hiking.

Low’s Peak is the true summit at 4095m high, but there is a range of lower summits to be reached surrounding this, such Donkey’s Ear and Ugly Sister Peak. All of which will give you a pretty fantastic view of the surrounding mountain ranges.

Of course, this sort of expedition is not for the faint of heart. In fact, because it is so high, altitude sickness is a real possibility, and that means sit so pretty vital that you prepare well for your ascent.

Something that can help you to do this is to be part of an organised hike up to the summit that is run by local guides. These are the folks that are well versed in the locations of the shelters and huts throughout the trail where you will be able to rest, east and recuperate and you make your ascent.

Petronas Towers – Kuala Lumpur

Of course, no visit to beautiful Malaysia would be complete without visiting the jewel in the crown that is the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. Be warned though; there is a lot to do here so you may want to make this stop one of your longest while in the area.

First, it’s pretty essential to visit the glittering modern city centre and check out the Petronas Towers. These twin towers are synonymous with Kuala Lumpur, and the 88 floors of glass and steel can be seen from all over the city. Up close they are no less impressive either, and the sky bridge that joins the two is a fantastic way to walk so high up in the air.

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At the Petronas Towers, you will also find some excellent restaurants, and there is a fully functional mall, just in case you want to buy some souvenirs or underwear while being at 451.9 metres! Don’t miss the fountain shows outside either that run from 12-2pm and 6-11pm most days, as these are both free and fabulous as well.

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Kuala Lumpur Bird Park

Not all the activities in Kuala Lumpur are centred around commercialism though. In fact, there are plenty of places that celebrate the rich natural heritage of the area.

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There are plenty of parrots and other exotic species to see in the bird park.

One such place is the Kuala Lumpur Bird Park in Jalan Cenderawasih. Here you will find atriums in which thousands of birds are allowed to roam freely. Try and spot an Indian Blue Peacock, or a Ring-necked Parakeet, or even a Brahminy Kite as you work your way around. Also, as the route is shaded most of the way around you won’t have to worry about sun exposure or burn as you are enjoying your experience.

Accommodation

Kuala Lumpur is also a popular place for many visitors to stay while enjoying Malaysia and as such you will find a vast selection of hotels and other accommodation to choose from. However, it is worth noting that as there are so many luxe venues to choose from both in the city centre and further out in the Genting Highlands, which you can read more about below, Kuala Lumpur is on the whole pretty expensive place to lay your head.

With that in mind, it can be worth your while to explore alternative accommodation options, especially if you are planning on staying in the area for a long time. One such option is to rent a studio in the satellite town of Petaling Jaya, as this can be far cheaper. You also get the comfort and privacy of having your own base from which to explore the area so it can be the most practical choice for many travellers.

Genting Highlands

Malaysia isn’t all about high peaks and tropic flora and fauna though. In fact, if you are looking for something a little more luxurious, then The Genting Highlands resort in Pahang is a fantastic choice.

There you will find hotel accommodation, along with casinos, bars, and pools and well as a well-stocked shopping mall. Somethings that make it a fantastic insight into the more modern high end, hip part of Malaysia.

In particular, make a beeline for Bubbles & Bites where they serve some pretty darn tasty pasta, pizza, and seafood. Then there are the uber-stylish Cafés Richard Malaysia on Sky Avenue. Here you will find some rather tasty French style food including croissants for breakfast. The coffee isn’t bad either, making it the perfect place to make a stop and do little people watching, as the world goes by.

Batu Caves

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Of course, if you are in the Kuala Lumpur area, then it is definitely worth the 12 Km journey to the north to check out the Batu Caves. This is a site of religious significance for those practising the Hindu faith as it contains many shrines and statues.

The site itself is cut from a sheer limestone cliff, and there are 272 steps leading from a massive golden statue all the way up to the cave complex itself, where you’ll find different temples and shrines.

You can even carry a brick from the bottom to the caves to help the restoration project that is currently happening. Although it’s only recommended that you do this if you are in good health as the climb can be pretty tying for older folks or those that aren’t as fit. However, the ascent is most definitely worth it, as the Bantus caves are one of the true gems of Malaysia and as such should definitely not be missed!

What to buy in The Netherlands

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Some people say the Netherlands is one place that is a must-visit in a lifetime. While that may not be totally true for everyone, the Netherlands has so much to offer, it is such a compelling option to include the list of anticipated vacation destinations. From the beaches surrounding the Dutch coast, to the museum filled with the rich cultural heritage of the Dutch, as well as the laid-back welcoming nature of its people; the Netherlands has an assembly of novel experiences on offer.

If you are not too sure of the treats the Netherlands proffers, you could consider the opportunity to visit the sprawling architecture in Amsterdam or Rotterdam; the van Gogh museum which houses the art of famous painter, Vincent Van Gogh; having a taste of judiciary, by visiting The Hague, home to the International Criminal Court, as well as other international courts and the seat of government in the country, and Efteling – dreamlike theme park containing fairytale creatures like elves and dwarves; not only is the Netherlands an appealing place to go to, you probably wouldn’t be able to have your fill in one visit.

If you have an avid traveler cum shopper, you wouldn’t want to go visit this beautiful country, without contemplating what you would bring back as a souvenir. In this guide, we would provide you some suggestions you could consider which would help to relive your visit to the Netherlands.

  1. Dutch porcelain

Fondly known as Delftware, the Dutch porcelains comes in varying sizes, brands and colors. You can purchase the porcelain in the shapes of mugs, plates, vases, bottles etc. The different colors available include plain white, white mixed with blue, other deepened colors etc., and as well you would be able to sample some that are inspired by Chinese porcelain.

  1. Dutch Clogs

If you are hoping to stand out while taking a walk with the dog, and you want the origin of the distinction quickly identified, then you should look no further than the Dutch clogs. Having a lengthy background, the clogs have been a part of the Dutch heritage for more than 500 years. Also known as wooden shoes, the clogs were used in the earlier times by the those involved in menial labor – fishermen, farmers, housekeepers, etc., and in some cases, are still in use today.

However, modern day clogs are much more beautifully carved and made in unique designs – which denote the signature of the makers, and are also created with those who visit the Netherlands for tourism, in mind. You can identify the clogs by the clicking sound they make on impact with concrete.

  1. The Van Gogh Museum

What would a visit to the Netherlands look like without a visit to the Van Gogh Museum? As described earlier, the Van Gogh Museum hosts art and memoirs of famous painter, Vincent Van Gogh. So if you are impressionably into the arts, you would want to visit the museum. While taking a tour, you could purchase items like custom prints of his artwork, jewelries with inspirational quotes written on them, wallpapers, postcards, canvases and other items wistfully linked to the painter.

You can also place orders at the online shop, and have these delivered to your place of choice.

  1. Chocolate, Cheese, Cookies and all in between

If your roulette strategy is going down the diner, then you would want to sample some of the delicacies the Dutch has to offer. From chocolate to cheese to cookies, the Dutch make one of the finest with distinct flavors, harvested from different farms and refined in different locations. If you are vacationing in Amsterdam, you can visit places like the Amsterdam Cheese Company, Henri Willig Cheese Store for products from Henri Willig cheese dairies, or the specialty retail chocolate shop, Chocolatl for fine chocolate.

  1. Souvenirs depicting the Dutch windmill

The windmill is intricately linked with the heritage of the people. Most of the lands available in the Netherlands are those beneath the sea level, or acquired from former lakes. The windmills, some which have been standing for more than 500 years, were used to provide some form of drainage system to the land in order to keep it dry and habitable. As time went by, there were other purposes found for the windmills, most tied to industrial objectives. Lots of the windmills were used to enable the timber and paper industry, and used to generate electricity.

The image of the windmills are used in different designs. You can purchase miniature windmill for decorative purposes, keychains or keyrings attached to little windmills, china porcelain designed with windmill drawings, art with beautiful drawings of windmills on them; there are an extensive range to select from.

  1. Refrigerator Magnets

If you are an history enthusiast, you would know that the Dutch are famous for their production and importation of beer. From Heineken to Grolsch, and Bavaria, you would have an assortment from different brands to take your pick.

Knowing that some visitors, especially the kids, would not be into beers, we would not go into that.

What better way to bring up the visit to the Netherlands, than having refrigerator magnets help provide reminders on your fridge? The magnets come in different sizes, shapes and colors, and provide an attractive distraction on refrigerators. You can have your reminders written on them, or use them to stick these up on the fridge.

I hope with the above information I have been able to instill your interest and desire to visit the Netherlands. If you do visit, you might find that going to the Netherlands shouldn’t be just a once in a lifetime experience.