Day by day, with short driving days for families.
A road trip with children stands or falls with short driving days and enough time for swimming and playing. On this route, you therefore see per day where you drive, sleep and what you can do.
Compiled and checked by Arjan (Zuidlaren) · Sources are in the text · updated 20 October 2026 · About this page
A route of 12 to 14 days from south to north; Poland is big, so choose two regions rather than everything (our assessment). Check the travel times in your route planner.
Tagesplan
Kraków and the Wieliczka salt mine.
🎟️ Tours: Viator: Wieliczka · GetYourGuide: Krakow
🛏️ Nights 1–3 (Kraków): our tip: Art & Garden Residence → View rooms on Booking.com
Zakopane and the Tatras, with Morskie Oko.
🎟️ Tours: Viator: Zakopane · GetYourGuide: Morskie Oko
🛏️ Nights 4–6 (Zakopane): our tip: Willa Monte Rosa → View rooms on Booking.com
Masuria: canoeing and swimming.
🎟️ Tours: GetYourGuide: Masuria kayak
🛏️ Nights 7–10 (Mikołajki): our tip: Villa LeLux → View rooms on Booking.com
via Malbork to the Baltic Sea near Gdańsk.
🎟️ Tours: Viator: Malbork · GetYourGuide: Gdańsk
🛏️ Nights 11–14 (Gdańsk): our tip: White House Gdańsk Wrzeszcz → View rooms on Booking.com
Overnight stay
Location: Masuria Species: Camping
Many campsites are located directly on a lake, with pier and canoe. Quiet and close to nature (our experience).
Also via Official website
Ad · affiliate linkLocation: Poland Species: Agroturystyka
Staying in the countryside at a farm or family; Sometimes with a tent or motorhome. A good, often favorable way to see the real Poland.
Location: Poland Species: Rules
The Polish State Forestry Administration has designated areas where you can stay in the tent under conditions. Read the rules before you go.
Excursions
Location: Wieliczka Species: Mine
Under the ground you walk past salt lakes and chapels carved entirely of salt. You visit the mine with guidance; Wear good shoes.
Also via Viator · Official website
Ad · affiliate linkLocation: Malbork Species: Castle
A huge brick castle of the Teutonic Order, UNESCO World Heritage site. Children can discover knights, towers and cellars there.
Also via Official website
Ad · affiliate linkLocation: Białowieża Species: National Park
One of the last primeval forests in Europe, on the border with Belarus. In the national park you can see European bison. Read the travel advice for the border area beforehand.
Also via Official website
Ad · affiliate linkPreparation
Travel time, best travel time and travel days are our assessment; the distance was calculated with OpenStreetMap from Utrecht to the capital. Check the journey times per stage in your route planner.
Heading to Morskie Oko? Read Morskie Oko with Kids: Parking, Entrance and the Walk.