TO CELEBRATE MY MOTHER'S 80TH BIRTHDAY WE'RE PLANNING A MOTHER AND DAUGHTER TRIP TO HER POLISH BIRTHPLACE. WHAT ARE THE "MUST SEES", IS IT BETTER TO DRIVE OR USE TRAINS, AND CAN WE GET TO BAVARIA EASILY TO VISIT FAMILY? S. HALL, NAREMBURN
Krakow and Warsaw are the standouts. You might also include Zakopane, a pretty ski town and summer resort just south of Krakow, with a distinct style of architecture set against the backdrop of the Tatra Mountains. Czestochowa is an important pilgrimage site, venerated for its Black Madonna, while the Masurian Lakes are a popular summer playground. Auschwitz is not for everyone but it's a terrifying reminder of what can happen when we give power to delusional madmen with hatred in their hearts, all too relevant at the moment.
All the cities on your list can be accessed easily using the Polish train system, no need to drive. Same goes for getting to Bavaria, which presents no real problem by train, although a non-stop flight from Warsaw to Munich would be the quickest option.
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