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The National
4 days ago
- The National
Why this Polish town is a hit among Gulf tourists this summer
Move over Switzerland and Austria, there's a new alpine hotspot for holidaymakers from the Gulf escaping the summer heat. Nestled deep in southern Poland 's Tatra Mountains is the small resort town of Zakopane, where thousands of holidaymakers from the region have flocked for alpine views and hiking trails. "We've completely taken over the place," says Fahad Alayyash, 38, a photographer from Saudi Arabia, as he stands on Gubalowka, gazing over the panorama of the Tatras, Poland 's highest mountain range. Below him, visitors drink coffee, shop for souvenirs, take photos of cows and enjoy the view. Zakopane has become a major summer draw for holidaymakers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, with up to seven daily flights to the regional capital Krakow, about a two-hour drive north. The boom started with a Saudi travel agency representative, says Agata Wojtowicz, head of the Tatra chamber of commerce. She explains the official came to Zakopane to scout a new destination with a direct connection to the Gulf and "was astonished" by the town. Emiratis become Poland's fastest-growing tourist group Flydubai launched the first Dubai-Krakow connection in 2018 and Emiratis are now coming in droves - helped by their visa-free access to the European Union. Last year, they were Poland's fastest-growing tourist group, according to the tourism ministry, with numbers 66 per cent higher than in 2023. Manal Al Anazy, 45, an educational technology professor at King Saud University, says Zakopane is well-known among Saudis. "When I told my dad and my brother that I'm going to Poland, my brother didn't like it. He said: 'It's all Gulf people there,'" she says. Zakopane uses social media to attract Gulf tourists who have created "a snowball effect" of growing interest, says Wojtowicz. Over the past three years, Arab influencers have been invited on promotional visits, according to Grzegorz Biedron, chairman of its tourism organisation. Both Al Anazy and Abdullah Al Otaibi, a Kuwaiti ship captain, learnt about Zakopane from social media. "I saw on Twitter [X] a thread about Zakopane, and how it treats all people the same, and there is no racism about religions, so I liked it and I came," says Al Otaibi. Halal menus and safety Arab tourists cite the feeling of safety as one of Zakopane's key assets. "It was dark and I was walking ... I'm like, 'You're not in Poland, you're in one of the Gulf countries. Just look. Nothing will happen,'" says Al Anazy. For Zakopane's business owners, the Gulf clientele has been a blessing. "This year, around two-thirds are Arabs," Anna Stoch-El Einen, who owns a kebab restaurant and souvenir shop, says of her customers. "We have very few Polish tourists in the region, perhaps because of the weather," she says. The hospitality industry has adapted fast to the preferences of Middle East visitors. Stoch-El Einen offers menus in Polish and Arabic, and has a "halal" certificate displayed over the counter. "We also make sure that we have a halal menu," says Wiktor Wrobel, chief executive of the region's Nosalowy hotel group. Arab customers constitute up to 30 per cent of all summer guests at his five-star hotel in Zakopane. City mayor Lukasz Filipowicz says "local entrepreneurs are very happy about the presence of tourists from the Middle East". He adds the biggest challenge was the difference in driving cultures, with visitors often breaking parking and entry laws. "Every municipal police patrol is equipped with a handbook in Arabic ... so that tourists from the Middle East can understand and comply with the applicable regulations," Filipowicz says. 'Weather is perfect in Zakopane' The day is rainy, but the drizzle did not deter Gulf visitors escaping the summer heat. Al Anazy initially wanted to vacation in Paris. "I cancelled because the heatwave hit the European countries," she says, adding that "the weather is perfect" in Zakopane. Wrobel says climate change is a reason behind the surge in Zakopane's popularity. "The respite that visitors from Arab countries are looking for cannot be found in Italy or Spain, where temperatures have also risen significantly," he says.
The National
4 days ago
- The National
The hills are alive with the sound of Gulf tourists
Move over Switzerland and Austria, there's a new alpine hotspot for holidaymakers from the Gulf escaping the summer heat. Nestled deep in southern Poland's Tatra Mountains is the small resort town of Zakopane, where thousands of holidaymakers from the region have flocked for alpine views and hiking trails. "We've completely taken over the place," says Fahad Alayyash, a 38-year-old photographer from Saudi Arabia, standing on Gubalowka, as he gazed over the panorama of the Tatras, Poland's highest mountain range. Below him visitors drink coffee, shop for souvenirs, take photos of cows and enjoy the view. Zakopane has become a major summer draw for holidaymakers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, with up to seven daily flights to the regional capital Krakow, about a two-hour drive north. The boom started with a Saudi travel agency representative, says Agata Wojtowicz, head of the Tatra chamber of commerce. She said the official came to Zakopane to scout a new destination with a direct connection to the Gulf and "was astonished" by the town. Emiratis become Poland's fastest-growing tourist group Flydubai launched the first Dubai-Krakow connection in 2018 and Emiratis are now coming in droves - helped by their visa-free access to the European Union. Last year they were Poland's fastest-growing tourist group, according to the tourism ministry, with numbers 66 per cent higher than in 2023. Manal Al Anazy, a 45-year-old educational technology professor at King Saud University, said Zakopane is well-known among Saudis. "When I told my dad and my brother that I'm going to Poland, my brother didn't like it. He said: 'It's all Gulf people there,'" she says. Zakopane uses social media to attract Gulf tourists who have created "a snowball effect" of growing interest, says Wojtowicz. Over the past three years, Arab influencers have been invited on promotional visits, according to Grzegorz Biedron, chairman of its tourism organisation. Both Al Anazy and Abdullah Al Otaibi, a 30-year-old Kuwaiti ship captain, learned about Zakopane from social media. "I saw on Twitter (X) a thread about Zakopane, and how it treats all people the same, and there is no racism about religions, so I liked it and I came," said Al Otaibi. Halal menus and safety Arab tourists cite the feeling of safety as one of Zakopane's key assets. "It was dark and I was walking... I'm like, 'You're not in Poland, you're in one of the Gulf countries. Just look. Nothing will happen,'" said Al Anazy. For Zakopane's business owners, the Gulf clientele has been a blessing. "This year, around two-thirds are Arabs," Anna Stoch-El Einen, who owns a kebab restaurant and souvenir shop, said of her customers. "We have very few Polish tourists in the region, perhaps because of the weather," she says. The hospitality industry has adapted fast to the preferences of Middle East visitors. Stoch-El Einen offers menus in Polish and Arabic, and has a "halal" certificate displayed over the counter. "We also make sure that we have a halal menu," said Wiktor Wrobel, CEO of the region's Nosalowy hotel group. Arab customers constitute up to 30 per cent of all summer guests at his five-star hotel in Zakopane. City mayor Lukasz Filipowicz said "local entrepreneurs are very happy about the presence of tourists from the Middle East". He said the biggest challenge was the difference in driving cultures, with visitors often breaking parking and entry laws. "Every municipal police patrol is equipped with a handbook in Arabic ... so that tourists from the Middle East can understand and comply with the applicable regulations," Filipowicz said. 'Weather is perfect in Zakopane' The day is rainy, but the drizzle did not deter Gulf visitors escaping the summer heat. Al Anazy initially wanted to vacation in Paris. "I cancelled because the heatwave hit the European countries," she said, adding that "the weather is perfect" in Zakopane. Wrobel said climate change is a reason behind the surge in Zakopane's popularity. "The respite that visitors from Arab countries are looking for cannot be found in Italy or Spain, where temperatures have also risen significantly," he says.
Times
25-06-2025
- Times
10 of the best places to visit in Poland
Poland's heavy hitters, the cities of Warsaw and Krakow, turn up on many travel wish lists — and with good reason — but dig a little deeper and you'll discover vibrant Gdansk, lively Poznan and Wroclaw, gritty Lodz, medieval Torun and the stupendous beauty of the Tatra Mountains. Much of Poland had to be rebuilt after widespread destruction during the Second World War, but you wouldn't know it as you enjoy the 15 cultural world heritage sites scattered around the country. In more than 25 years as a travel journalist, I've visited Poland numerous times and never stop marvelling — these are the places you should visit. One week Warsaw and Krakow Two weeks Gdansk, Sopot, Warsaw and Krakow Three weeks Poznan, Torun, Wroclaw, Krakow and Tatra Mountains A tight budget Wroclaw and Poznan Considering only about 15 per cent of Warsaw was left standing after the Second World War, it's astonishing how much of Poland's capital has been beautifully reconstructed. Linger over coffee on the terraces of Old Town Market Square, a delightful mishmash of Renaissance, gothic, baroque and neoclassical townhouses, before wandering over to the reconstructed Royal Castle that dates back to the 14th century. In the Mirow and Muranow districts that formed the Warsaw ghetto are the Warsaw Uprising Museum and the Museum of the History of Polish Jews, two of the city's most important museums. Bask in the old-world luxury of Mamaison Hotel Le Regina in the 18th-century Mokrowsky Palace, which also squeezes in an indoor pool. Join the eight-day Warsaw and the Baltic States tour offered by Insight Vacations, which includes two nights in Warsaw. • Discover our full guide to Poland Poland's cultural capital knocks you sideways with its beauty, particularly the medieval market square and Renaissance Cloth Hall — not to mention the opulence of Wawel Royal Castle. Take in the lively atmosphere of the old Jewish quarter of Kazimierz and its buzzing bars and restaurants, and learn about the history of Krakow's Jews in the Old Synagogue and Galicia Jewish Museum. Cross the Vistula River for more Jewish history at one of the city's must-see sights, the Oskar Schindler Factory. Enjoy views of the market square from the five-star Bonerowski Palace. Riviera Travel has a three-night break in Krakow including guided tours and the option to visit the nearby Wieliczka Salt Mine. • Read our full guide to Krakow• Best hotels in Krakow A glimpse into Gdansk's tumultuous history — which includes being seized by Prussia before it became a free city — gives a clue as to why Poland's principal Baltic port is so different from other cities. Its architecture has more in common with other northern European ports with which it traded during the heyday of the medieval Hanseatic League, and this cosmopolitan air is still very much part of Gdansk's spirited soul. Start in the cobbled lanes of the Main Town, rebuilt after the Second World War to look as if its gabled merchants' houses hadn't changed since the 18th century. Dive into the city's history at the Amber Museum, Museum of the Second World War and the European Solidarity Centre. Stay in a restored waterside granary at Hotel Gdansk Boutique, home to the city's oldest craft brewery. Fred Olsen Cruise Lines' 11-night Castles and Cultures of the Baltic trip features a visit to Gdansk on the way from Copenhagen to Lithuania. This student-heavy city in western Poland was both the European Capital of Culture and Unesco World Book Capital in 2016, showing off its cultural credentials. Wroclaw is rather like a more relaxed version of Krakow, with a gorgeous market square crammed with colourful (and restored) gothic, baroque and art nouveau architecture. It's also a city of river islands spread along the Oder River — 12 of them — that make appealing picnic and swimming spots in the summer. There's a lovely old-world elegance to the Hotel Monopol, set in an 1892 neo-baroque building with an indoor pool and smart rooftop restaurant. Byway Travel has a 17-day railway tour of northern Europe that includes a two-night stay in Wroclaw. Poznan positively hums with energy, thanks in large part to its huge student population. It's hard not to be entranced by a city whose impressive 16th-century town hall clock features two metal billy goats butting each other 12 times to herald midday. The town hall, which also houses the fascinating Historical Museum of Poznan, is just one of the many charms of Old Market Square. Look out for the arcaded row of colourful merchants' houses alongside the many restaurants and cafés filling the square. You'll be seconds away from the Old Market Square at PURO Hotel Stare Miasto, which features a funky restaurant and terrace to go with sleek, contemporary rooms. This Cosmos nine-day Portrait of Poland holiday includes a night in Poznan. Poland's summertime playground has been the place to see and be seen since the days when 19th-century German royalty would promenade along this Baltic coastal resort's waterfront. Miles of sandy beaches, fashionable spa hotels, its proximity to Gdansk and the longest wooden pier in Europe mean Sopot is as popular as ever. It's here you'll find Poland's liveliest nightlife, especially along the main thoroughfare, Monte Cassino. Look out for one of Poland's quirkiest sights: the so-called Crooked House, whose psychedelically swirly façade will have your head spinning. With its own beach and indoor pool, and the pier just yards away, the suitably named Sofitel Grand dates from 1927 and has kept much of its art deco elegance. Viator has a day trip combining a visit to Sopot with the nearby Gdansk and Gdynia. It'll be one of the most harrowing things you'll do, but a visit to Auschwitz and its neighbour Birkenau is a must, especially if you're staying in Krakow. More than a million people were killed by the Nazis in both extermination camps, which is shown in brutal detail in the mostly intact barracks in Auschwitz. In the second camp at Birkenau, a short bus ride away, the stark reality of Hitler's Final Solution is evident in spite of the partial destruction of the camp. In the heart of Krakow's Jewish district of Kazimierz is Hotel Rubinstein, whose 15th-century building features a roof terrace with views of the city. The five-day Spirit of Krakow with Newmarket Holidays includes an escorted day trip to Auschwitz. Forming the highest range in the Carpathians, the Tatra Mountains — straddling Poland's southern border with Slovakia — are an adventure playground for all seasons. Come in the summer for superb hiking, biking, paragliding and swimming, or come in the winter for skiing and snowshoeing. Base yourself in the town of Zakopane, whose wooden villas built during the 19th and 20th centuries give off distinct fairy-tale vibes. Soak up the stately atmosphere of Grand Hotel Stamary, a sprawling 1905 hotel surrounded by pine woods and mountain views. Its indoor pool is what you need after a day's skiing or hiking. Explore! has an eight-day hiking tour of the Carpathian Mountains, including treks around Zakopane. By some miracle, Torun escaped destruction at the hands of the Nazis, leaving this walled gothic town between Warsaw and Poznan more or less intact. Wander the cobbled streets of its medieval quarter past baroque townhouses, red-brick gothic churches and the ruins of a medieval Teutonic castle, and look out for the 14th-century town hall, which houses Torun Regional Museum. It even has its own Leaning Tower of Torun, a slightly tipsy-looking 13th-century fortification that's on the Unesco world heritage list. Visit the House of Copernicus, where the astronomer was born, and get a taste of life in the 15th and 16th centuries. An 18th-century granary houses the pleasingly traditional Hotel Spichrz with beamed ceilings and an oak-lined restaurant near the castle ruins. Take a tour of Torun as part of Trafalgar's 11-day Best of Poland holiday, which also includes Warsaw, Krakow and Gdansk. Poland's third-largest city was a textile powerhouse back in the 19th century but fell on hard times during the 20th. Rejuvenated, renovated and reinvented, it's now a dynamic city with its old industrial complexes refashioned as shopping and business centres. Manufaktura is the most impressive example, combining shopping, restaurants, entertainment and businesses including a cinema, the Museum of the Factory and the MS2 Museum of Art. Not surprisingly, Vienna House by Wyndham Andel's Lodz is set in a former textile factory that now includes a top-floor spa and indoor pool. Take a private walking tour of Lodz old town with Viator to get a handle on the city's history and top sights. • Best things to do in Krakow• Best affordable summer destinations in Europe Which do you think is the best place to visit in Poland? Please let us know in the comments
