Route 2017:

Outbound transit

Nowe Czarnowo

Stettin

Bydgoszcz

Torún

Suwalki

Homeward transit

Augustow

Warschau

Poznan

Route 2012:

Jelenia Gora

Swidnica

Wroclaw

Auschwitz (Oswiecim)

Zakopane

Wielizcka

Krakau

Warschau

Mikolajki

Gierloz

Elblag

Gdansk

Sopot

Hel

Leba

Slowinski NP

Miedzyzdrojach

GPS-waypoints

Grid: Lat/Lon hddd°mm.mmm"

Prices mentioned for camping are based on a small camper with 2 adults and no electricity.  

Tips

Clothes: Bring a sweater if you visit the Wieliczka Salt mine. Temperature below is about 12-14 degrees

International Light Festival in Torún: Each year, end of August there is an International Light Festival. Then the old town is lit with thousands of lights, projection and luminous works of art. www.bellaskyway.pl

General information

Currency: Polish Zlotys.

Internet: Free Wi-Fi available most bars, restaurants, hotels or campsites

ATM's: available everywhere

Creditcards: accepted in most places (gas stations, hotels, restaurants and shops)

Safety: Despite the bad image we never felt usafe (we did not bushcamp)

Route 2012

Days: 15 days

Period:  August 2012

KM driven: 3663 km

Weather:  In the south we had a few very hot days (35 degrees). In the north it was about 22 degrees. Most days it was dry (only 2 - 3 days with some rain)

Prices (per 2017)

Fuel: €1,- = PLN 4,1 (Polish Zlotys)

Fuel: Diesel around PLN 4,25

Camping: Between PLN 29 and PLN 90 per night for 2 persons and a car (no power)

Visa

Poland is member of the European Union. No visa needed for EU citizens.

Border crossing

Entry & Exit: No checks

Roads

General: Almost all mainroads are in good condition. Local roads can sometimes be bumpy due to damaged tarmac. No roads on our route were unpaved. The northern transit route (from Germany to Lithuania) is very slow. Roads are paved but single lane, with lots of heavy traffic and crossing many small cities and villages

Fees for toll roads, briges, tunnels and ferries

Wroclaw to Katowice = PLN 16,20 (price in 2012)

Highlights or not

2017

Nowe Czarnowo: Crooked Forest. Small patch of forest with a group of mysteriously bend and curve trees. Entry is free of charge.

Stettin: Old city center is nice for a short visit.

Torún: Old town with is and Old medieval town (Listed as Unesco heritage). Old town is very nice and definitely worth a visit. Each year, end of August there is an International Light Festival. Then the old town is lit with thousands of lights, projection and luminous works of art.

2012

Swidnica, Peace church: PLN 8 per person. Very and richly decorated church.

Wroclaw, old town: Nice old town, with a beautiful square, impressive church and about 160 small goblins hidden all over the city. 

Auschwitz and Birkenau: former concentrationcamp. This camp played an important role in mass murdering the Jews during the WWII. Visiting these camps is a moving experience. Everyone should come here once in there life. Entry PLN 35 per person and PLN 5 per person for the headset. A guide is included and obligatory between 10:00 and 15:00. Early in the morning (before 10 am) and late in the afternoon (after 3 PM) you can visit without guide. Personally we think you should not visit without guide; you will miss out many information. The first English tour starts at 9:30. Auschwitz-Birkenau can be visited free of charge.The shuttle bus between Auschwitz and Auschwitz-Birkenau runs every half hour and is free of charge.  

Zakopane: Outdoor mecca in the Tatra mountains with a nice old town with traditional wooden buildings.

Zakopane, Krupowski top: One of the highest peaks in the area and a popular skiing area in winter. A cable car can take you to the top (also in summer). PLN 49 for a return ticket to the top. If you want to hike down you can also buy a one way ticket. During our visit it was very crowded with long waiting time. Note that you park your car in the village. The last two kilometers is National Park and driving here is forbidden. You can walk of take a taxi or horse carriage. Parking in the village is PLN 2 per hour. Taxi is PLN 3 per person one way.

Wieliczka saltmine: A Unesco site and a must see. The mine is incredible and the sculptures impressive. During our visit we saw only 3 kms which is less than 1%. Entry fee is PLN 73 per person. For taking photographs you must pay an additional PLN 10. A guide is obligatory and included in the entry fee. First English tour starts at 8:30. 

Krakow, old town: Krakow old town has never been destroyed. The old town has nice buildings and the largest medieval square. We really liked Krakow. Day pass for public transport is PLN 12 per person

Krakow, Kazemierz: Old Jewish quaters. We really liked the atmosphere in this part of the town. Many interesting places here that are a reminder to the Jewish population that once lived here. Entry to Jewish temple PLN 5 per person.

Krakow, former Getta: Now a part of the city, but during the war a getta. There are not much monuments left here. But is a part of the history of Krakow we would not have missed it. You can still find a piece of the former getta wall. 

Krakow, Factory Oscar Schindler: Factory of Oscar Schindler. A hero to the Jews in Krakow. He saved many of them buy giving them a job in his emaille factory. The factory itself is now a multmedia museum telling the story of Krakow during German occupation. It a great museum and must see. Entry fee PLN 17 per person. This is without a guide. If you want to visit with a guide you must a make a reservation 2 days in advance.

Warshaw: Like Krakow a nice city with an impressive old town and even more impressive buildings. To us Krakow however had more character. Nevertheless Warshaw is definitely worth a visit. Day pass for public transport PLN 12 per person. (valid for 24 hours)

Warshaw, Jewish heritage: Also in Warshaw the Jews were haunted. Also here there was a getta. Nowadays there is not much left anymore. You can still visit a small piece of the wall and several monument remembering the horrific events. In  Warshaw you can also visit the old Jewish graveyard (no entry fee). Graveyard closes at 5 pm.

Gierloz, Wolfsschanze: a former headquater of Hitler. An impressive, strange and even depressive place to visit. A thick forrest is slowly closing in on the ruins. Some bunkers have remained. Entry fee is PLN 15 per person. Parking is PLN 10 (for this price you can stay the night and camp on the parking).

Gdansk: City in the North. The old center and Lenin Shipyard are worth a visit. We were here on sunday and it was extremely crowded. Walking through the center was no fun that day. 

Sopot: Very touristic village in the North. Sopot is famous for its wooden pier which is the longest of Europe. Entry fee to the pier is PLN 7 per person. Personally we did not like Sopot (far to touristic).

Hel: Small fishing village located at the tip of Hel peninsula. The village itself is nothing special. If you are into windsurfing Hel peninsula is the place to be. 

Hel, Fokarium for Baltic seals: Entry fee is PLN 2 per person. The fokarium houses a few baltic seals. The seals are fed 2 times a day. The place is small but worth a visit. Explanations given during feeding time is in Polish. 

Slowinski NP: National Park on the Baltic Coast with large white dunes, up to 30 meters high. This place is stunning. We loved the scenery. Entry fee is PLN 6 per person. From the main gate it is another 6 kilometers to the dunes. You can walk or take a electrocar (PLN 15 per person one way).

Miedzyzdrojach: small city on the Baltic Coast nearby the border with Germany. Like Sopot also this city has a pier. Entry here is free. If you visit the pier note all the padlocks attached to it. Miedzyzdrojach is also very touristic, but has a more local atmosphere. We liked the place.

Restaurants & accomodation worth mentioning

No data

Websites

http://www.motorhomeroadtrip.com/poland/fantastic-roadtrips-on-your-campervan-holiday/

Poland by motorhome  

2012

N50°01.601    E19°11.953    Auschwitz   

Camperarea and parking opposite of the Auschwitz museum. Price is PLN 40 for 24 hours. Showers (PLN 10 per shower) and toilets (PLN 2 per visit). Shower and toilets open between 08:00 and 18:00. Use of internet at the Information office is for free.

N54°09.205    E19°23.648    Elblag   

Camping NR. 61. Camping on the Elblag canal. Old camping but good spot and great hot showers. PLN 45 per night (2 persons + car / no power / free showers / free wifi)

N54°20.714    E18°39.820    Gdansk   

Secure parking near the city center (also for larger vehicles)

N54°04.791    E21°29.691    Gierloz   

Wolfsschanze. Former headquarters of Hitler. Entry is PL 15 per person and parking PLN 10 per car (for this price you can also camp here on the parking)

N54°36.547    E18°48.005    Hel   

Secure parking near the city center (also for larger vehicles)

N50°05.717    E19°56.479    Krakow   

Camping Clepardia. PLN 63 (for 2 persons and a car/no power). Wifi is free of charge. Camping also has washing machines. Just outside is a large public swimming pool. Camping has good connections to the city

center.

N54°45.721    E17°33.907    Leba   

Camping Lesny. PLN 54 per night (2 pers/car/no power)

N54°45.249    E17°31.226    Leba (near)   

Slowinski NP. Entry PLN 6 per person. Electrocar from entrance to the dunes (6km) is PLN 15 per person one way.

N54°02.130    E19°01.509    Malbork   

Slot Marienborg

N53°55.232    E14°26.078    Miedzyzdrojach   

Camping 24. PLN 50 per night (2 pers/car/no power)

N53°47.733    E21°33.900    Mikolajki   

Camping in Mikolajki. Good spot but we have not stayed here.

N54°46.633    E18°27.400    Peninsula Hel   

Camping Kaper. PLN 57 per night (2 persons + car / no power / free showers / free wifi). Camping is a surfcamping right on the beach. It can be very crowded in high season.

N50°49.111    E15°44.255    Sosnowka   

Camping Ekofarma. Small local campsite. Very nice spot! PLN 29 per night (2 persons/no power/showers free). The also serve breakfast here.

N50°50.749    E16°29.536    Swidnica   

Peace church

N53°54.340    E14°16.025    Swinoujcie   

Ferry to get to the other side of town (and to the German border)

N52°10.674    E21°08.868    Warsaw   

Camping Wok. PLN 90 (for 2 persons + car/ no power). Very clean toilets and showers (free). Free wifi in the bar. Good connections to the city center.

N49°59.106    E20°03.425    Wieliczka   

Camperarea and parking near Wieliczka saltmine. Price PLN 20 per night. Shower PLN 5 per person.

N51°06.385    E17°01.800    Wroclaw   

Secure parking near the city center (also for larger vehicles)

N49°19.336    E19°59.124    Zakopane   

Camping Ustup. Basis but very clean and friendly owner. Price PLN 53 per night (2 persons/no power/free showers). McDonalds with free wifi around the corner.

N49°16.884    E19°57.952    Zakopane   

Parking to the Cable car. Driving up there is not allowed as it is a National Park. From here you can walk or take a taxi or carriage.

2017

PL-CAMP01     N53°23.710     E14°38.188

STETTIN, Camping Marina, Camping just outside Stettin, near the lake on the ohter side of the river. Price 78 (€ 19,-) per night for 2 persons and car (no power)

PL-CAMP02     N53°00.433     E18°36.100

TORUN, Public parking near the old town. It is allowed to camp on the parking. Price 35 Zloty for 24 hours (no facilities). Place is safe.

PL-CAMP03     N54°05.583     E22°54.817

SUWALKI, brand new campersite near the footbal stadium. Conveniently close to the border on your way to the baltics. Place is very clean and has free wifi, and very hot showers. Price 30 Zloty for 2 persons and a car.

PL-CAMP04     N52°10.417     E20°51.233     

Warschau, Hotel Villa Estera, conveniently next to the highway between Warschau and Germany. Hotel is OK for one night but nothing special. Price 56,- for the room (booking through Booking.com)

PL-CROOKED     N53°12.833     E14°28.500

NOWE CZARNOWO, Crooked Forest. Small patch of forest that has some mysteriously bend and curved trees. (see also website of Atlas Obscura). Entry is free

PL-DENTIST     N53°25.532     E14°33.682

STETTIN, Dental Implant Aesthetic Clinic, Very good dental clinic. Dentists speak English and German. Very cheap compared to western Europe (Root canal for less then € 25,-)

PL-JCTCROO     N53°12.852     E14°28.702

NOWE CZARNOWO, junction to Crooked Forest.

Route 2017

Days: 2 x 2 days transit

Period 1 :  Middle of August (transit Germany to Lithuania)

Period 2: Beginning of September (transit Lithuania to Germany)

Weather:  Chilly and very wet. Both periods it rained almonst the whole day.