Warsaw

Warszawa - Stary Miasto - The Old Town with the perfectly restored royal castle is a must see, but please be sure to venture beyond the main square and wander around the narrow streets. Make your way to the Barbican, the 16th century fortress built to protect the town. My family never leaves the Old Town with out enjoying some lody (ice cream), a favorite Polish treat.

Nowy Świat - One of main streets in Warsaw since the 17th century, Nowy Świat, is a beautiful street that was once part of the Royal Route that leads to the castle and Old Town. It was almost completely destroyed during World War II but has been carefully rebuilt as it was in the early 19th century. Now it's a bustling pedestrian zone with many restaurants, cafes and pubs.

Łazienki - Parks are a big part of what makes Warsaw special. My favorite is Łazienki or the Royal Baths. You can easily spend hours there visiting the palace gardens and Orangery. Find a bench and just sit and enjoy the blossoming chestnut trees, the friendly squirrels and the peacocks enjoying their day, or find the Chopin Sculpture and if you're lucky you might get a concert in the park.

Heading North from Warsaw

Malbork - If you are traveling to the north country (as Bob Dylan sings), make your way to Malbork. It's just 3 hours from Warsaw but when you get to Malbork Castle you'll feel like you traveled back in time simply because of its sheer size. It was built by Knights of the Teutonic Order in the 13th century and you literally feel like you’re stepping into a Medieval town.

Gdańsk - Less than an hour from Malbork you'll get to the harbor city called Gdansk, where World War II began on September 1st, 1939 at 5:45 am. Besides the history you'll learn about there, Gdansk is also the amber capital of the world. It has a breathtaking harbor including the biggest medieval harbor crane in Europe for you to admire (take that, world's largest banana in Australia). You'll find beautiful beaches and a memorable reconstructed Old Town.

Sopot - Just 30 minutes from Gadansk is the seaside town called Sopot. It is has great beaches, ritzy resorts, the longest wooden pier in Europe, and a pedestrian street lined with restaurants and shops. You'll find great food and shopping in a fun atmosphere that makes Sopot a town we always love to visit.

Białowieża Forest - About 3 hours north/east of Warsaw (near the Belarus border) is the Białowieża Forest. It is one of the oldest forests in Europe and has the most Bisons in the world. If you are an outdoor enthusiast, this is a special place with a lots of trails to hike or bike, and plenty of wildlife to see along the way.

Full disclosure: When I took my Adrianna and Bella there, they didn’t enjoy it since we drove 3+ hours with six people in a car that seated five — and only saw four bison standing in a stable. Don’t listen to them — it’s definitely worth a visit.

Heading South from Warsaw

Częstochowa - An easy 2 hour drive from Warsaw, you'll discover Częstochowa, known as the spiritual capital of Poland. It is famous for the Jasna Góra Monastery, one of the most venerated sites in Roman Catholicism because of the Black Madonna of Częstochowa, a 14th-century icon that's been credited with a long list of miracles. A pilgrimage destination for hundreds of years, millions of pilgrims from all over the world visit annually. You'll also find beautiful churches and interesting museums.

Kraków - If you're heading south, you cannot miss Kraków. Even though we agreed I would do Poland and my wife would do other European cities, she took Kraków so check out her page for more details. But she did leave out some details about the Wieliczka Salt Mine that I'd like to share. Miners carved a Chapel entirely out of salt so they wouldn't have to come up the 400 feet to pray for their safety. The mine goes all the way back to the 13th century when the income from salt constituted 25% of the royal budget. Salt was more precious than gold...and then somebody invented the refrigerator.

Polish Food

Poles love soup. We make incredible soups. It is a traditional and delicious part of Polish cuisine, and you should try as many as you can.

1.) Żurek - Isabella’s favorite, Żurek is a fermented rye soup with a unique, flavorful sour taste. It's served with a boiled egg cut in half and a tasty white kiełbasa. Do not leave without trying it.

2.) Zupa Ogorkowa - Adrianna's favorite, in English it would be called cucumber or pickle soup which makes sense because it is made of pickled baby cucumbers, (in the U.S. we just call them pickles). It's a Polish classic with a very distinctive flavor.

3.) Kapuśniak - My other favorite soup. Tangy sauerkraut, carrots, and potatoes. A very appetizing Polish comfort food.

4.) Bigos - Loosely translated as Hunter Stew. Made by stewing chopped meats, definitely some sausage, sauerkraut, shredded fresh cabbage and spices. It is a very traditional Polish meal and you should definitely try it. Not to brag but, I make outstanding Bigos.

5.) Flaki - For our more adventurous eaters, Flaki is translated as Tripe. I was very proud of Chase when he tried it during his first trip to Poland. It's made from cleaned strips of beef tripe and has a nice rich, hearty flavor.

A few more thoughts

The Grójec region, where the wedding will be held, is famous for their apples so try a cider...it's fantastic. I think Polish apples have a lot more flavor than the ones we have in the U.S. so give one a try and let me know if you agree.

Make sure to order Żubrówka vodka, it has a blade of bison grass in every bottle which gives it a very distinctive flavor. You can also mix it with apple juice, though I prefer mine straight.

I'll end with a warning.

Warning: Every respectable Polish wedding lasts until the wee hours (so pace yourself) and has lots of dancing. So, practice the polka (just kidding), but seriously I'm really looking forward to seeing your dance moves at the reception.

- from Alisa, the mother of the bride

Kraków, Poland

My favorite thing about Kraków is the beautiful Old Town, full of little streets to wander, cozy cafés to stop at, and a lively market square where you can shop or just sit and watch the city go by. Wawel Castle sits on a hill overlooking the river, and walking around it feels like stepping into another time. Just outside the city, we love to visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine. It’s hard to describe—but 400 feet underground is a whole world of tunnels, incredible sculptures, and even a chapel carved entirely out of salt. Many of our friends ended up saying Kraków was their favorite city.

Prague, Czech Republic

Enchanting is the best way to describe Prague. You feel like you’re in a fairy tale—cobblestone streets, bridges over the river, and towers that make every corner feel magical. It’s the perfect city to wander without a plan, stumble across charming squares, or stop for a bowl of delicious Czech goulash. There’s something about it that’s both grand and cozy at the same time, and it’s a city that really sticks with you.

Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is dramatic and romantic all at once. Crossing the Chain Bridge at night, with the Parliament building lit up across the river, is unforgettable. We have wonderful memories of the famous thermal baths—soaking in warm, mineral-rich waters after a long day of walking. Budapest is lively, but it also has quiet corners that feel like little hidden gems. Bella, Adrianna's sister, was there recently and highly recommends the Budapest Pass—it makes getting around and seeing the highlights so easy.

Vienna, Austria

Vienna is elegant and full of history. The city is filled with imperial palaces, grand boulevards, and world-class museums. It's a great place for music lovers since it's the home of Mozart and Beethoven, and you can still attend concerts in stunning historic venues. Stopping for coffee and pastries in the old cafés feels like stepping into another world. It's a wonderful place to slow down, soak in history, and savor every moment.

All of these cities are easily reached by train and make for wonderful two- to three-day adventures. Even adding just one destination can turn your trip into a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

We’re so grateful you’re making the journey to celebrate with us—and we hope you’ll take advantage of being on this side of the world to create a few unforgettable memories of your own.

- Alisa Robakowski