Poland

If Poland is not on your bucket list, it should be – this trip changed my life. Poland is filled with magnificent architecture, great night life and Christmas Markets! (If you travel in December) The warmest time to visit Poland is in June or July, but I thought that visiting Poland during the peak of winter was part of the experience!

Getting there: Flights from SFO to Poland (Warsaw or Krakow) can be pricey – $1,000 to $1,800, depending on the time of year. I would consider flying to Berlin or Stockholm on Norwegian and hopping on a connecting flight (Stockholm to Krakow around $77).

Stay: Cracow Hostel is located right on the main market square. A ton of backpackers stay here and the dorms and facilities are very clean. They also offer free breakfast!

Day 1: We spent most of our time in Krakow wandering around the markets in the main square. There are a ton of vendors selling hand made items! They also sell food in the main square. Go out:  Krakow had an awesome night club scene, I honestly can’t remember the name of the club the photo above was taken in, but definitely worth checking out the pubs/clubs near the main square.

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Day 2: We visited the Wieliczka Salt Mine, which is a few stops away on the public bus. The hostel front desk will be able to help you with planning your trip.

Day 3: Although visiting 2 concentration camps might not be at the top of your list on vacation, you MUST GO. Visiting Auschwitz and Birkenau was the most intense experience of my life. I learned so much about the horror that happened in Poland during World War II. This experience was not only educational, it was a wake up call. I have never been more grateful for my freedom and safety. I had learned a lot about World War II while studying in Prague, but there is no way to explain how much I learned on this day. PS: it was freezing and I was wearing 5 jackets, 2 hats, 3 scarves, 2 pairs of tights under my pants and 4 pairs of socks with Uggs – dress warm!