5 Things Will and Kate Didn’t Do in Poland, But You Definitely Should

When the Cambridge family (cc: Kate, William, George and Charlotte) touched down in Warsaw to start their royal tour of Poland and Germany, there was one thing that caught the camera’s attention. Prince George was pouty, shy, and seemed pretty skeptical of the whole charade.

And when I saw that viral pic of the littlest prince, I thought to myself: George, I totally feel you.

When I arrived at the Warsaw airport in May, I felt the same way. Why am I here?! I knew only two things about Poland before my arrival: vodka and perogies. And honestly, you get sick of perogies pretty quick. Vodka too. I knew Poland was suppose to be great, but I couldn’t get over this idea that it was going to suck. I, however, didn’t have the entire country of Poland persuading me to lighten up.

As promised, Poland is full of pleasant surprises. For one, it’s incredibly cheap, (though this probably isn’t a concern for 4-year-old George). But more importantly: it’s cool. So cool, in fact, that some are calling its capital city the next Berlin. Which in and of itself merits the post-communist country a visit, right?

If you’re planning a trip to Poland, here are 5 things you shouldn’t miss:

Look out for street art in Łódź

This medium-sized Polish city provides large building spaces to international street artists in hopes of promoting a cultural re-invigoration. A lot of the pieces tell stories about the areas history, pre and post WWII.

Watch the sunset from Forum Przestrzenie

This rundown hotel turned trendy lounge offers snack, drink and an outdoor lounging area overlooking the Wisla River and Wawel Hill.

 Visit the Grodzka Gate Theatre

Through art, education, and documentation, this cultural institution works to preserve the Jewish-Polish heritage of Lublin.

Go shopping in Tytano

Situated in an abandoned cigarette factory, this refurbished industrial district is full of cafes, pubs, restaurants, beer halls and an entire factory floor filled with designer exhibits, art, and furniture from local creators. It’s where Krakow’s cool university kids hangout—both day and night.

Drink drip coffee at a hip cafe

There’s lots of them. Vegan restaurants are also popping up everywhere in Poland, which is verrrrry Berlin.