Krakow

Spread along the banks of the Vistula River in southern Poland, Krakow is the cultural and intellectual epicenter of the nation, a lively university town with a reputation for producing avant-garde art and groundbreaking scientific contributions—it was here, for example, that Copernicus first posited that the sun, and not the earth, was at the center of the universe.

Legend has it that Krakow was founded more than a thousand years ago to honor Krak, a local man who vanquished a monstrous, maiden-eating dragon and became king. Today, Poland’s second city retains its mythical heritage: Wander the cobblestone lanes of the Old Town, visit the 16th-century Wawel Castle, or take a stroll around Rynek Główny, the largest medieval market square in Europe, to soak up the fairytale charm of this historic city.

Like most of Poland, Krakow was devastated by World War II. Many of Krakow’s Jewish residents were forced into the Podgórze Ghetto before being deported to Auschwitz; visit the city’s Jewish quarter to learn more about their tragic fates, and to witness the monuments standing in their honor. You can also visit Schindler’s Factory, made famous in Steven Spielberg’s Academy Award-winning film “Schindler’s List.”

While the trauma of World War II has left its scars on the city’s psyche, Krakow’s stunning assemblage of Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture managed to emerge from the war unscathed, and it is still considered one of the most beautiful cities in central Europe.

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• Pre Trip:Poland: Krakow, Warsaw on Enhanced! The Baltic Capitals & St. Petersburg

Auschwitz

Deep in the Polish countryside, the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum stands as a somber testament to one of the most horrific chapters in human history. Here, between 1940 and 1945, more than 1.1 million men, women, and children were murdered as part of Nazi Germany’s “Final Solution.”

In their haste to flee, the Nazis were only partially able to destroy the Auschwitz-Birkenau compound, which has since been preserved by the State Museum and granted UNESCO World Heritage status. Visitors to the camp can trace the footsteps of Auschwitz’s prisoners: Follow the train tracks beneath the infamous “Arbeit Macht Frei” (“Work will set you free”) gate and witness the sprawling collection of dilapidated bunks and red brick work houses. A visit to the museum’s permanent collection, with its overflowing display of shoes, eye glasses, and other personal effects confiscated from the prisoners, offers a sobering opportunity to comprehend the staggering scale of the tragedy that took place here.

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Warsaw

Destroyed by the horrors of World War II, Poland’s capital city is a mishmash of architectural styles that reflect the city’s turbulent history: painstakingly restored Gothic marvels, concrete blocks hearkening back to the days of communism, and sleek modern constructions made of glass and steel. Warsaw is also home to some of the best museums in the country. Delight in the music of the city’s most famous resident, Chopin, or visit the Museum of the History of Polish Jews for a solemn look into the history and destruction of Europe’s largest Jewish community.

Catholicism’s roots have a strong hold in Poland, and the religion continues to play an integral role in Polish life today. Each year, tens of thousands of pilgrims make the 128-mile journey from Warsaw to Częstochowa in southern Poland on foot to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption. Their pilgrimage ends at the legendary “Black Madonna,” housed in Częstochowa’s Jasna Góra monastery. This famous Byzantine painting has been a symbol of Polish nationalism since the 17th century, when a small band of monks and soldiers defended the monastery against an attack by the Swedes.

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• Pre Trip:Poland: Krakow, Warsaw on Enhanced! The Baltic Capitals & St. Petersburg

Wieliczka Salt Mines

Journey 443 feet and nine levels underground to behold a wondrous masterpiece made from … salt.

The Wieliczka Salt Mines were first discovered in the 13th century. Since then, miners have carved a labyrinth of chapels and halls, intricate sculptures, and spectacular architectural designs into the salt, including the Chapel of St. Kinga, the mine’s largest—and most impressive—chapel. The sprawling 5000-square-foot room boasts salt relief sculptures that are illuminated by chandeliers hanging overhead. The chapel’s designs were so masterfully sculpted that you seem to be looking at marble instead of salt.

In addition to being aesthetically incredible, the salt mines are used to produce 700 tons of salt per day and are even believed to have healing properties that treat allergies. It’s no surprise that this Polish wonder was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978.

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• Pre Trip:Poland: Krakow, Warsaw on Enhanced! The Baltic Capitals & St. Petersburg

Gdansk

Gdansk’s pastel-hued cookie-cutter buildings are more evocative of Baltic charm than a Polish city with a complicated history. It’s difficult to believe that the Stare Miasto (Old Town)—with its picturesque café-lined cobbled streets—was once reduced to rubble and building silhouettes.

In the 16th century, Gdansk experienced a moment of prosperity when it served as an important trade port for Poland due to its proximity to the Baltic Sea. With this success came a wave of German immigrants who later altered the Polish city’s history in the 20th century. By the mid-19th century, the city hosted a large German population, which made it easier for the Nazi’s to gain political power. World War II first broke out in Gdansk, which destroyed the city’s infrastructure and spirit, but only temporarily.

Gdansk took nearly 20 years to rebuild, but treasures from the past withheld the destruction of the war, including the city's three historic gates—the Green Gate, Golden Gate, and Upland Gate—and the 17th-century Neptune Fountain, which was believed to have spouted Goldwasser, Gdansk’s iconic liquor.

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• Grand Baltic Sea Voyage