Self-catering holidays in holiday rentals or rentals Poland

Discover the south of Poland, the area containing historic Cracow with the second largest medieval town square in Europe, the town where the River Wisla flows through.

• From Cracow, it's a short drive to see the Wieliczka salt mines, regarded by some as an additional 'wonder of the world'. It's an artistic expression of the loves and beliefs of the salt miners.
• Auschwitz is another place of pilgrimage in this part of the world.

Read more about 'Places to visit in Poland'.

Further south, the land grows increasingly hilly and eventually you're confronted by the Tatra mountain range in Zakopane. This is the land of the Highlander or Gorale, a local people who used to work as shepherds. Nowadays, they still dress up for tourists; you come across them, dressed in their colorful embroidered woollen garb, offering horse and cart or sleigh rides through the snow, in the regional restaurants, steering rafts on the river. Tourism is perhaps more profitable than keeping sheep, although sheepskin products are cheap and plentiful in this region; find anything from coats, rugs, fur-lined boots, hats and gloves to cushion covers.

The artistic talents of the Poles are evident in the gift and craft shops. Here you can find a quality souvenir, handcrafts such as tapestries and embroidered items, known as Kilim. They are valued in this part of the world, and as such, demand good prices.

Our holiday home is in the spa and ski town of Rabka Zdroj, about two thirds of the way along the main highway from Cracow to Zakopane.

A good central base for exploring the south of Poland. Hire a car from the airport, or locally, and discover another aspect of Poland each day.

View our self-catering holiday rental in Rabka, Poland

Holidays in Poland

The Highland people or Gorale, dressed in their traditional embroidered woollen trousers and waistcoats are a feature of this part of Poland.

• Take a ride on a horse and cart
• If it's snowing, got to go on a sleigh ride - it's an experience of a lifetime
• Horse drawn trips to Morskie Oko (the 'Eye of the Sea' lake high in the mountains is recommended).
• White water rafting on the Dunajec river steered by Gorale
• Enjoy the regional highland cuisine in one of many Karczmas of regional restaurants

Places of interest to visit in south Poland

Apart from Cracow and Zakopane, the two most well-known places for tourists to visit, there are numerous other places of interest. It all depends on what you like to see; if hill walking or mountain biking are your favourite pursuits, then most of south Poland is paradise.

The Poles are a nation of artists; there are art galleries galore, with works of art to buy at very reasonable prices, also wooden carvings, painted glass, tiffany lamps.

Find a wonderful plethora of art work, local crafts and kilim for sale in Poland