Poland is a country that continues to surprise us each and every time we visit! We fell in love with it ever since our first trip in 2018, and have now been back multiple times. One of the hardest parts about planning a vacation here is what Poland outfits to add to your packing list. Don’t worry, though! We’ve put together 5 Poland outfit tips and ideas, whether you’re heading on a summer adventure to the mountains or taking a winter trip to the city.
Planning Your Visit to Poland
🇵🇱 Check out all our Poland articles to help plan your visit. We share info on epic cities like Wroclaw and Krakow, as well as the best food in Poland you must try!
🚂 If you’re just going between the main cities, definitely book the train and reserve your seats in advance. You can also check out the different bus options if you’re traveling on a budget. We’ve used both and they are very easy and efficient.
🚗 We love getting outside the big cities to see the beautiful small towns of Poland. Compare rates with DiscoverCars and book from a major airport to save money. Also, we found the one-way fee to be super low and actually saved money compared to backtracking on our route.
☀️ It’s essential to scan through activities and tours on Get Your Guide before you go. This way, you can see what you might need tickets for and get some fun ideas for your visit.
♥️ One last tip! Never travel abroad without insurance. We personally use SafetyWing, which has a variety of different plans for every kind of vacation.
How to Start Your Poland Packing List
If you are planning a trip to Poland, you can easily fit a week to 10 day trip into a carryon size suitcase. The overall aesthetic and style in Poland is very reserved, and nothing that is overly flashy.
In the cities, you’ll find everyone wearing smart and simple Poland outfits with neutral colors. This means jeans and sweaters during the chillier months, and shorts and a nice top in the warmer weather. In the peak summer months, dresses are also common, but only when it’s extremely hot.
Alternatively, the style is very relaxed down in the mountains and rural areas. You won’t find the high fashion of cities like Milan Italy or Paris, but you’ll still want to put some effort into your Poland packing list for photos! Hopefully, our Poland outfit guide gives you some inspiration so you can stay both comfy and cute on your visit.
5 Fun Poland Outfit Ideas & Tips
1. Poland Outfits for Every Season
Poland has all the seasons that come with central Europe. Unless your trip falls exactly in the middle of summer, you’ll want to be prepared for almost all types of weather.
Winter: Obviously, it’s going to be cold! Expect snow, wind, and generally chilly weather. However, this is also the season of the amazing Christmas markets, so don’t immediately rule it out.
The key for your winter Poland outfits is thermals and layers. If you want some more specific tips for winter in this region, you can read our Germany Christmas Market outfit guide.
Spring & Fall: Funny enough, these seasons can be quite similar weather to winter in Poland. This is especially true if you’re traveling on the edges of the winter months in October, November, March, or even April.
During this time, you’ll want air on the side of caution with your Poland outfits. We visited in April on our last trip and still needed our winter jackets and hats!
Yet, when the sun was shining, we definitely were able to de-layer. A rain coat is something you won’t want to forget on your Poland packing list, as the weather can be unpredictable.
Summer: This is one of the best times to travel to Poland, but know it can be very busy. Tourism in Poland has been growing rapidly in recent years. Still, you still won’t find nearly as many travelers as in Italy or Greece.
Your Poland summer outfits should be made up mostly of lightweight clothing. Shorts, dresses, shirts, and summer tops are all perfect. With that said, don’t totally skip out on some light layers, as the temperatures can cool down quickly at night.
2. What to Wear in Poland on Travel Days
As we mentioned earlier, there are a few ways to get around Poland. For the most freedom, you can rent a car (see prices here) to explore between destinations. There are also well-connected train and bus systems that are very affordable.
If you are planning mostly cities, then we say take the train! We’ve had great experiences using the trains in Poland, and they’re as nice as those in any other modern European country. We even took the bus from Krakow to Zakopane on our last visit.
You’ll want to dress as comfortable as possible when using public transportation. I typically wear pants as part of my Poland outfit, even in the summertime. I’d completely understand if you want to go for shorts, but that’s just my personal preference.
Just make sure it’s something loose and comfy that you can easily sit for awhile in. On top, go for a t-shirt with a sweater or sweatshirt to keep warm. Keep in mind, they often blast the air-conditioning on the buses and trains.
3. Poland Outfits for City Exploring
You’ll surely want to include cities like Gdansk, Wroclaw, and Krakow on your Poland itinerary. The big city of Warsaw is not to be missed either!
This is when you’ll want some Poland outfit ideas that are good to explore all day in. The hard part about this is picking something that looks good in photos for all the beautiful shots you’ll undoubtedly get, and also fits the weather.
I often stick to shorts and a nice top with some neutral comfortable walking shoes for the city. Honestly, I’ve worn this pair for years all over the world, and it’s still one of my favorites.
On warm days, I recommend a summer dress that you’re okay to walk steps in. If you pick a colorful (but not flashy style), it will look great against the bright buildings.
I also love to wear a cross body bag as my purse. There are so many different styles now to fit your own travel style. I’ve been using this for a while now, or a small leather strap purse in the cities.
Poland is extremely safe, and we were never stressed during our visits. Just know you’re better off not putting your purse on the back of a chair while out enjoying the amazing restaurants in Wroclaw or the best food in Krakow. Having a crossbody bag will help keep all your important stuff on you!
→ How to Find the Mysterious Wroclaw Lamplighter at Sunset
4. Hiking and Adventure
While the cities are so much fun, some of our favorite memories from Poland have been in the Tatra Mountains of the south. This is one of the most scenic areas in the country, and one that we would return to in a heartbeat.
However, it isn’t just south Poland that has some great hikes. The Baltic coast in the north has some insane walking and hiking trails that every adventure lover will appreciate.
Overall, the style in Poland is very relaxed and based on performance and comfort. Even on a clear day in the mountains, I always make sure to pack some warm extra layers. Also, it’s super important to always have a lightweight, waterproof jacket.
Some of the most magical hikes are from the town of Zakopane Poland. Be sure to check out the famous Kasprowy Wierch trail on your visit!
It was a clear and sunny day when we took off, but by time we made it to the top of the mountain several hours later the fog had rolled in. It was actually really cool to see, but we definitely needed our warm Poland outfits on this day. The Morskie Oko hike is a much easier path for families and children.
5. Shoes With Your Poland Outfit
This is a big one, but something you might forget on your Poland packing list. The cities are extremely walkable, so it wasn’t uncommon for us to do 15,000 to 20,000 steps in a day.
When picking the right shoes, it’s good to remember that you’ll be strolling on cobblestone streets and uneven walkways. I did pack black boots that had a very small heal for my last trip and didn’t have an issue wearing them.
Nevertheless, the majority of days I would stick to sneakers with my Poland outfits. If you plan to do lots of hiking, then I would definitely consider some actual hiking boots.
The downside is they can take up lots of extra space in your luggage. Make sure to consider the exact trails you will be doing to plan accordingly.
Have any questions on this article or want to share more fun Poland outfit ideas? Let us know in the comments below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
