It's about an hour and a half train ride from Warsaw. I'd never heard of it before going there in 2017. It was amazing, I wish I'd stayed there longer than the day I spent there. It's old city is a World Heritage Site and for good reason, it's gorgeous. Copernicus was born there, his house is still there, as well. The best part, I didn't run into other Americans. It's a tourist town, but not for Americans, apparently, it was full of mostly Polish tourists.
Barrel aged vodka. It's like a smooth drinking whiskey at that point. Polish and Lithuanian in origin.
And um, if you find a good bottle, I'm sure we can discuss terms...
Given everything going on you may enjoy watching these videos before bed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV98XaAlg1o
Short story: be prepared to spend a day at the Warsaw Rising museum, which educates visitors on the experience of a Warsaw resident from the moment of the invasion through the end of the war. If you don't know much of the history you will likely leave feeling exhausted and floored. We intended to spend 2-3 hours there and spent 8.
https://www.1944.pl/en/article/the-warsaw-rising-museum,4516.html
The last time we were in Poland was 10 years ago this week. The weather was mild but the sun was scarce. The dollar went a very long way, which should still be the case today. We set a goal of 3 days there with one day devoted to seeing my Aunt.
With that context understand we spent 8 am to close at the Warsaw rising and strolled around old town / environs east by the stadium where my Aunt lived.
Old town is pretty. Copernicus museum was nice enough https://www.kopernik.org.pl/en
Soccer stadium tour - may be showing games?
South of the stadium there is a war equipment graveyard https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g274856-d2716183-Reviews-Museum_of_Military_Technology-Warsaw_Mazovia_Province_Central_Poland.html
We did a Russian bath thing that was nice this time of year. Can't recall the name. The restaurant scene left a lot to be desired. I would avoid any "chain" looking traditional Polish food places. They were awful. The Soviets really did a number on Warsaw culturally: one need only look at the eyesore that is the Palace of Culture and Science that dominates the skyline. With that said you should reign in expectations on cuisine and hopefully you're pleasantly surprised.
Unfortunately Warsaw is the least pretty big city I have ever visited and this time of year it is cold and dark. The rising museum is life changing. The rest felt like checking the box.
If I were to do it again I would try to find a walking tour or food tour and do those things.
I spent 3 months in Poznan and traveled all around the country. Nothing matches the enormity of Auschwitz, obviously. That said the two sites that I remember blowing me away were the Uprising Museum in Warsaw and the salt mines in Krakow.
The trips where we get to go somewhere for 1-3 months and instruct are some of the best deals out there.