Eastern Poland

7 reasons why to choose Podlasie your next holiday destination

Wondering where to go on holiday this summer? Looking for some safe and relatively cheap place? Ready to discover unknown? Here are some reasons why you should visit eastern Poland this year:

1. Safety

The world is becoming more and more dangerous. It’s more difficult to find a place where you can enjoy your time without worrying about your loved ones.

The Podlasie region has a long list of attractions and traditional festivals to offer. The region is considered to be peaceful (no terrorist attacks were recorded) focusing on the regional’s natural and cultural heritage and developing tourism. Bialystok which is the region’s capital is 196 km away from the capital of Poland. In 2015 the police report of crime showed that Bialystok had the lowest crime rate per capita among all large Polish cities.

One of the most interesting place is Suprasl and Tatar Trail:

2. The Unesco World Heritage Site

The Bialowieza National Park  is one of the last primeval forests in Europe which was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979. The forest  has trees with an average age of one hundred and twenty-six years and Europe’s largest mammal – European bison (wisent). More info about Bialowieza Forest.

3. Picturesque natural landscape

The Podlaskie offers off-the-beaten track experience where you can switch off from work and recharge batteries. It’s definitely not the place where you can be overwhelmed by mass-tourism, but you can be captivated by its nature and breathtaking views.

4. Walt Disney film location

 Lake Siemianówka is one of the biggest artificial lakes in Poland with about 60 bird species. The site was used in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe directed by  Andrew Adamson. In 2005 a group of filmmakers shot several winter scenes by the lake. In the film children must cross a lake covered with ice to help Edmund when  the White Witch appears in her sled and the chase is on.

5. Affordable

It’s an ideal destination for budget travelers. The currency is the Polish Zloty (PLN).  As of now,  10  EUR = 43 PLN and 10 USD= 37,84 PLN.  Accommodation is easily accessible. In the age of the Internet it takes little time to find and book a room in one of the hotels (also family-run), motels, agrotourist farms (holiday farms), guest houses or stay at  campsites. What’s more, you won’t spend much money on food, railway and road transport or entertainment.

6. The World Catholic Youth Meeting 2016

In July 2016 Krakow will host Pope Francis and hundreds of thousands of young people from over the world. That’s obvious that those who will attend the meeting  may also leap at the chance to see north-eastern Poland. Those who want to visit Krakow from July 25 to July 31, 2016 may not find accommodation so easily or simply be tired of crowds of people, so the best solution is to go to… the peaceful Podlaskie Voivodship.

7. Food

Tourists who are sick and tired of junk food or slow food can try out regional cuisine. The Podlaskie region offers lots of potato dishes e.g. potato pancakes, vegetable salad with potatoes, potato babka or potato cake  (babka ziemiaczana), a kind of potato sausage (kiszka ziemiaczana), potato dumplings (kartacze), potato slices (talarki), hoof-shaped potato dumplings (kopytka), and for a dessert – a pyramid cake made of many layers (sękacz) which is still popular especially at Polish weddings.

Author: Justyna Wasyluk

See also: Best travel destination 2016: Poland