After many years of living abroad, I moved back to Poland. The country of my birth. I wasn’t expecting such a big change. I was wrong.

Everyday life with calm and coffee

I started to travel more around Poland. I visited cities I hadn’t seen in years and small villages I had never been to before.

Each trip showed me a different side of the country. I began to see how much this place had changed. New train stations, better roads, restaurants that don’t close at 6 p.m., and coffee that tastes like coffee, not punishment.

Poland made huge progress in the last few decades. You can see it in everything from public transport to public toilets (yes, really).

People speak more languages, especially English, and services are smoother.

Of course, it’s not perfect. Accommodation can be very expensive. I’ve had moments looking at hotel prices where I asked myself if the bed came with gold sheets. But even with that, it’s worth it.

One of the things I notice the most is how safe I feel here. I can walk at night in most cities without worry. Public transport works well and doesn’t feel like an extreme sport. The crime rate is low, and people still help each other.

There’s a kind of quiet order in daily life. Not the boring kind — more like the peaceful kind where your bus shows up and nobody yells.

Visit Poland for the people

Another big reason I love living here is the people. Polish people are warm, helpful, and once you break the ice, very talkative.

If you’re a guest, you’ll be fed until you lose the ability to stand up.

They offer you food, they make time for you, and they care — sometimes too much.

When you land in Warsaw, it’s surprisingly easy to escape into nature. Within two or three hours, you can be standing in the woods, staring at a lake, wondering why you ever thought you needed a beach.

It doesn’t take much planning, either. Sometimes me and my wife just pack some snacks and end up somewhere green by accident.

There are forests so quiet you can hear your own thoughts. Sometimes that’s nice, sometimes not, depending on the thoughts.

Seasons that know how to behave

Polish weather is also something I really appreciate. Summers are warm, but they won’t melt you. You can actually enjoy being outside without turning into a sweaty shadow of yourself.

And if you prefer cooler air, just wait for the October.

Golden fall in Poland is a show. Trees turn orange, yellow, and red, and it feels like the whole country put on a nice coat just to impress you. The light changes, the air smells like leaves, and suddenly every walk feels like the beginning of a romantic film.

You start making plans to bake something, even if you don’t have an oven.

The food helps too.

Polish food is made to keep you full, warm, and a little sleepy. You never leave the table hungry, and if you try, someone will stop you. It’s been like that here for ages.

It’s worth mentioning the food scene is growing fast, especially in cities. You can find everything now — street food, sourdough bakeries, and cafés that look like they were designed by someone who owns too many plants and listens to jazz all day.

Oh, and the cakes in Poland are dangerous.

Visit Poland for the unexpected joy

So after a few years of living, I can say Poland isn’t loud. It doesn’t scream for attention. But when you give it time, it gives something back. Living here again helped me see that. I feel proud of this place.

It’s not just where I was born. It’s where I feel at home.

So I invite you to Poland—it has a room for you. It has stories to tell, hands to shake, and a meal to offer. Whether you’re coming for a weekend or for the next chapter of your life, visit Poland.

Let it surprise you.