With Rick Steves, Poland’s top cities are yours to discover! This slim guide excerpted from Rick Steves Central EuropeRick's firsthand, up-to-date advice on Kraków, Warsaw and Gdańsk’s best sights, restaurants, hotels, and more, plus tips to beat the crowds, skip the lines, and avoid tourist trapsTop sights and local Wander the cobblestone streets of Warsaw’s Old Town or learn about Jewish history in Kraków's Kazimierz neighborhood. Enjoy handmade pierogi, chat with locals as you sip wódka, and stay at a charming B&B Helpful maps and self-guided walking tours to keep you on track With selective coverage and Rick's trusted insight into the best things to do and see, Rick Steves Snapshot Kraków, Warsaw & Gdańsk is truly a tour guide in your pocket.
Exploring more of Poland? Pick up Rick Steves Central Europe for comprehensive coverage, detailed itineraries, and essential information for planning a countrywide trip.
Rick Steves is an American travel writer, television personality, and activist known for encouraging meaningful travel that emphasizes cultural immersion and thoughtful global citizenship. Born in California and raised in Edmonds, Washington, he began traveling in his teens, inspired by a family trip to Europe. After graduating from the University of Washington with a degree in European history and business, Steves started teaching travel classes, which led to his first guidebook, Europe Through the Back Door, self-published in 1980. Steves built his Edmonds-based travel company on the idea that travelers should explore less-touristy areas and engage with local cultures. He gained national prominence as host and producer of Rick Steves' Europe, which has aired on public television since 2000. He also hosts a weekly public radio show, Travel with Rick Steves, and has authored dozens of popular guidebooks, including bestselling titles on Italy and Europe at large. Beyond travel, Steves is an outspoken advocate for drug policy reform, environmental sustainability, and social justice. He supports marijuana legalization and chairs the board of NORML. He has funded housing for homeless families and donates to anti-hunger and arts organizations. In 2019, he pledged $1 million annually to offset the carbon emissions of his tour groups. Steves is a practicing Lutheran with Norwegian ancestry and continues to live in Edmonds. He has two adult children and is in a relationship with Reverend Shelley Bryan Wee. Despite health challenges, including a prostate cancer diagnosis in 2024, Steves remains committed to his mission of helping Americans travel with greater purpose, empathy, and understanding of the world. His work reflects a belief that travel, done right, can be both transformative and a force for peace.