Cheap beer and comfort food

I loved Poland's rebuilt old towns, deep history and hearty food at good prices. You should go if: You like history, from medieval cities to 20th-century memorials You want a low-cost European city break You enjoy dumplings and comfort food Must-visit places: Kraków: The Main Market Square, Wawel Castle and the Kazimierz district Warsaw: A carefully rebuilt Old Town and the POLIN museum Gdańsk: Amber shops and a Baltic waterfront Wieliczka Salt Mine: Chapels carved in salt, near Kraków Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains: Hiking and skiing Must-try foods: Pierogi: Filled dumplings Żurek: Sour rye soup in a bread bowl Bigos: Hunter's stew with sauerkraut Obwarzanek pretzel rings and pączki doughnuts Fun facts: Marie Curie and Frédéric Chopin were both born in Poland. Białowieża Forest is home to Europe's largest land animal, the European bison. Warsaw's Old Town was rebuilt after World War II and is UNESCO-listed. Logistics: Best time: May to September; December for markets Currency: Polish złoty (PLN) Getting around: Fast intercity trains and low-cost buses Tipping: About 10 percent Visiting memorials: Book Auschwitz-Birkenau tickets in advance Must-learn phrases: Hello: Dzień dobry / Cześć Please: Proszę Thank you: Dziękuję Excuse me: Przepraszam How much is it?: Ile to kosztuje? Cheers!: Na zdrowie!