An American In Poland: where should I go, what to see?

I'm coming to Poland for a 10-day bus trip in September. The itinerary is full of touristy things, but I might duck that stuff if I can find better stuff to do! We'll be in Krakow, Zakopane, Poznan, Wrocław, Gdansk and Warsaw. Are there restaurants or coffee shops that I can't miss? Where are the great local bars? I want to go to ordinary places like the drugstore or the public library to see a slice of daily life. I'm learning a little Polish, and I want to try it out!

Suggestions and recommendations, please! Dziękuję!!

Don't miss Pardon To Tu bar in the building of the Yiddish theatre in Warsaw (where I am now).

Hi Currian,

I see your from Columbus, I myself is Danish but were living in Mansfield OH, for almost 10 years.
Anyways I'm now situated in Krakow so my advice if you wanna experince ''Polish life'' during the day, go to for example Alchemia in the Kazimierz district of Krakow during the day and have a coffee, after that have a small walk in Nowa Huta (old communist neighborhood of Krakow) and then if the wheather allows it go to this lake in the Ruczaj district (unfortuantly I can't remember the name) which is absolutely beautiful surrounded by rocks, not many tourist knows of this place but its amazing, and also small adventure because it's somehow a bit forbidden to enter :-)

My other advice for you is just to stay away from the big places (Restaurants, bars etc) and instead just go explore and enter smaller less touristic bars and cafes, then I'm sure you will experience real Polish life.

Best of luck, and I hope you'll enjoy your stay in this lovely country!

I hope you'll be adopting the buddy system or be in a group, or something. I wouldn't advise any chick to travel alone, anywhere she's not super-familiar. Heck, I wouldn't advise a dude to do so, either.

On public transport she will be fine. I wouldn't advice hitchhiking alone, obviously. But can't see much problem in the cities she is going to.

Libraries... do you think that Polish libraries are any different them American ones? Drugstores! Mate you've wated a flight. The Olympics are on if you want to see something special in Europe!

No worries: I'm actually going with my Dad, so buddy system is in place...but I'm hoping to explore a little on my own!

Thanks for all the ideas!

Also, can anyone tell me which court you would go to if you were charged with a crime like DUI, shoplifting or assault? I'm a criminal lawyer with an extra day in Warsaw, and I want to see what my job would be like over there.

I could hook you up if you'd like to see a criminal court case in Warsaw, just let me know when you're here, here's my email b_nowicki AT op.pl

In Gdansk go to Pikawa on ul.Piwna in the old town. It's the best coffee shop there. Try their szarlotka-apple pie-with ice cream. My favorite bar is Absinthe.

Drugstores? Rossman or any apteka. Nothing special.

If you're interested in history, the museum of the uprising in Warsaw and the Solidarity museum in Gdansk.