Holidays, weekends and travel in Poland 2025–2026 official calendar and my experience of life, work and leisure

Official public holidays in Poland in 2025 (statutory holidays) and long weekends are collected below in a short list and in detailed tables for 2025–2026. This is a guide for planning your vacation, trips and budget: when shops are closed, how best to travel (train, car, BlaBlaCar), where to eat on holidays and how to avoid crowds.

I have been living in Poland for several years now - I moved here before the war, first as a traveler, because I always wanted to travel. I liked to travel with a backpack, spend the night in different cities, catch the spirit of old streets and discover new places. Over time, Poland became my second home, and now I know how to plan my weekends, when it is better to take a vacation, which days public holidays and official weekends, when shops are open and when they are not, and most importantly, how to make every day of life here a little easier and more enjoyable. So below is not just a list of dates, but my "Polish diary" with tips and life hacks.

Official public holidays in Poland 2025 - short list

• January 1 — Nowy Rok (New Year)
• January 6 — Three Kings Day (Święto Trzech Króli)
• April 20–21 — Easter / Poniedziałek Wielkanocny (Easter and Easter Monday)
• May 1 — Święto Pracy (Labor Day)
• May 3 — Constitution Day (3 Maja)
• June 19 — Bože Ciało (Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ)
• August 15 — Wniebowzięcie NMP (Assumption of the Virgin Mary; also Polish Army Day)
• November 1 — All Saints' Day (All Saints' Day)
• November 11 — Independence Day (Święto Niepodległości)
• December 25–26 — Christmas

This block will help you navigate what official weekends are in Poland in 2025 - briefly and to the point.

When I first started working in Poland, the first thing I did was save it on my phone. official holiday calendar. Then I realized for the first time how clearly everything is organized here: every year there are fixed public holidays (statutory holidays), during which offices, schools, and even large shopping malls are closed. Some of them “fall” on convenient days, creating long weekends, while others, on the contrary, disrupt the work rhythm.

Holidays in Poland in 2026

The 2026 calendar is also quite convenient — there are several “golden” weeks when you can get almost a week of rest by spending only one or two vacation days. I’m already planning my trips around these dates.

When stores are open and when they are not

This is a question that initially surprised me quite a bit. In Ukraine, we are used to supermarkets being open almost all the time. In Poland, it is not like that at all. And if you don't take this into account, it is easy to be left without bread on a holiday.

• All major stores (Biedronka, Lidl, Carrefour, Auchan) are closed on public holidays, including Easter, Christmas, New Year's Day, Boże Ciało, August 15 and November 1.
• Frog and Carrefour Express may be open, but are usually staffed by owners, not employees, and have shorter hours (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
• Orlen, BP, Shell gas stations — they save lives! There is always a minimum set of products and coffee there.
• Shopping malls — closed on all public holidays, even on Sunday handlowa (working Sunday) they only work according to a schedule that changes every month.

My life hack: I always keep Żabki and Orlen that work in my area marked on Google Maps. And if I know that a holiday is approaching, I buy everything I need in advance: water, bread, something for breakfast. The Poles do the same - queues in stores on the eve of Boże Ciało or November 1 are already a national tradition.

How to plan vacations and long weekends

After several years in Poland, I have understood one rule: you don't have to wait for summer to have a good rest. You just have to combine it correctly. holidays and official weekends. For example, if Boże Ciało falls on a Thursday, just take Friday and you have four days to travel. Poles do this en masse, so train and BlaBlaCar tickets sell out a week in advance.

My list of “golden days” 2025

• May 1–4 — a combination of Labor Day and May holidays.
• June 19–22 — Boże Ciało + Friday off.
• November 8–11 — Independence Day + Monday off.

My list of “golden days” 2026

• May 1–4 — May holidays.
• June 4–7 — Corpus Christi.
• November 11–15 — long autumn break.

I often use these periods to change the scenery — go to the mountains, to the sea, or simply to the Masurian lakes. If you are planning a train trip, buy PKP Intercity tickets in advance — prices can be half as low in 2–3 weeks.

The best way to travel in Poland

I've tried almost everything: buses, trains, BlaBlaCar, and my own car. Each option has its own advantages, and it all depends on where and when you're going.

🚗 Car

It's most convenient if you plan to visit several places in one weekend. For example, in May I do the following route: Warsaw → Lublin → Zamość → Rzeszów → Krakow → Zakopane → Warsaw. It's a great mini-trip in three days. Fuel is more expensive during holidays, so fill up the day before. There are toll areas on the A1 and A2 motorways, but you can take the free S-roads - a little longer, but with beautiful views.

🚆 Train

PKP Intercity is a great option if you are going to big cities. The trains are comfortable, with Wi-Fi and power outlets. Buy tickets in advance on the PKP.pl website - the earlier, the cheaper. My favorite route is from Warsaw to Gdańsk: the sea, seagulls, the smell of coffee at the station - pure pleasure.

🚌 Buses

FlixBus is indispensable for short trips and those who are saving money. Tickets are sold out during holidays, but the prices are still nice. The downside is delays during peak days.

🤝 BlaBlaCar

This is generally a cultural phenomenon. I have traveled several times with drivers who later became friends. But I always advise you to read reviews and agree on luggage in advance. This option is ideal for the Boże Ciało holiday, when everyone is heading to the mountains - you can find a ride in just an hour.

✈️ Airplane

If you want to see the north or west of Poland, LOT or Ryanair flights are fast and inexpensive, especially if you book tickets in advance. For example, from Krakow to Gdansk - 1 hour and then the sea!

Where and how to eat on the road

Food is a topic that often decides whether a trip will be comfortable or stressful. Poland has no shortage of food, but finding an open cafe on holidays is quite a challenge. Over the years of living here, I have developed a whole system for not going hungry.

1. Żabka is your best friend

These small green shops are a real salvation. They are in almost every city and town, even near train stations and bus stops. In Żabka you can always buy hot coffee, a sandwich, a salad, water and energy drinks. Even on holidays, some of them are open, because the owners open them. I have saved myself there more than once when all the big supermarkets were closed.

2. Bary mleczne — the cheapest lunch in Poland

If you want to eat home-style and inexpensively, look for a “bar mleczny”. It’s something like our canteens. They prepare traditional Polish dishes there: Russian pierogi (dumplings with potatoes and cheese), scabowy (chop), żurek (sour soup with rye sourdough). A portion costs 15–25 PLN, and everything is fresh. On holidays, some bars are closed, but in large cities there is always an open place.

3. Orlen and other gas stations

Don't laugh - I had the best hot dogs of my life at Orlen. There is coffee, hot dogs, sandwiches, soups in cups and even full meals like “Go Active” with chicken and rice. Prices are a bit higher, but it is convenient, clean and fast on the go. And, most importantly, they work 24/7 even on Christmas.

4. Lidl and Biedronka "to go"“

Many modern supermarkets have small snack corners. You can buy fresh salads, baked meat, rolls, cheesecakes. I often take lunch with me in a thermos — soup and toast — and just eat it by the lake or on a park bench. Poland is very safe for such spontaneous picnics.

5. My personal advice

• Always keep a thermos of tea or coffee in the trunk, especially in winter.
• Don't be shy about buying lunch "for two days" before the holidays - you'll thank yourself later.
• In small towns, look for family bakeries (piekarnia) - they have the freshest buns and coffee.
• Use the app on the go TooGoodToGo — you can buy leftovers from restaurants cheaply.

Where to go on weekends or holidays

Poland is incredibly diverse. I've traveled almost all of it, from the Baltic Sea to the Tatra Mountains, and I can honestly say there's something to see here at any time of year. Below are my favorite destinations by season.

🌸 Spring is the time of cities and ancient parks

Poland blooms in spring. I like to walk around Krakow when the chestnut trees on Wawel Hill are in bloom, or enjoy Warsaw's Łazienki. And then there's Poznań with its old market and violet ice cream. Spring is the time when the city is already alive, but not yet choked with tourists. If you take a few days off for Easter or Boże Ciało, it's the perfect time for such trips.

☀️ Summer - sea and lakes

If you have a car, be sure to go north. The Baltic Sea is not tropical, but it has its own atmosphere. Gdansk, Sopot and Gdynia form a wonderful Tricity - three cities with different characters. In the evenings there it smells of the sea and waffles, and during the day you can just wander along the shore.

And one more tip — the Masurian lakes. If you like peace, fishing, boats — this is paradise. I rented a hut by the lake several times and just spent three days in silence, listening to the ducks. The perfect “reboot.”.

🍂 Autumn - mountains, apples and silence

In September and October I always go to the mountains - Zakopane or Bieszczady. There are fewer tourists, accommodation is cheaper, and the colors are incredible. If you don't want to stand in lines at Kasprowy Wierch, go to smaller places: Krosno, Sanok, Nowa Ruda.

And another tip: go to apple and wine fairs in Lublin or Sandomierz. This is authentic Poland, without the pretentiousness.

❄️ Winter - Christmas markets and hot chocolate

In December, Poland is a fairy tale. Christmas markets in Krakow, Wroclaw, Poznan are something incredible. The smell of cinnamon, mulled wine, holiday lights. Even if you don't spend money, just walking around the city center already adds to the mood.

Many people go to the mountains for New Year's, but I choose small towns where it's quiet. For example, Częstochowa or Toruń - they're cheaper, quieter, and also beautiful.

When is the best time to go and how to avoid crowds?

• Avoid going out. on Friday evening — all of Poland is stuck in traffic jams.
• If you want to go to the sea or the mountains, leave early in the morning on Thursday or Saturday.
• For Boże Ciało and August 15, book accommodation at least a month in advance.
• July and August are the highest prices, but June and September have great weather and fewer tourists.
• Use Google Maps to plan taking into account “Peak Hours” — peak hours.

I often leave the city at 5:30 in the morning - and by 9 am I'm at the sea or on a lake, while most people are still waking up. Then a leisurely breakfast, coffee from a thermos, and the whole day is yours. Small habits make a vacation real.

How to behave on holidays in Poland

These are not mandatory rules, but they are worth knowing. Poland is a very traditional country, and holidays are taken seriously here. Everyone goes to visit family, cemeteries, churches, and there is a sense of respect on the streets.

• Don't make noise on the street on All Saints' Day (November 1) - it's a day of remembrance.
• Do not drink alcohol in public during Boże Ciało - processions take place even in small towns.
• Don't be offended if something is closed. It's not indifference, it's just tradition.
• Always have some cash on hand - many terminals may not work during holidays.

My personal “secrets” of a comfortable life in Poland

1. Plan your holidays in advance. At the beginning of the year, I make a list of long weekends in Google Calendar and add a reminder 2 weeks in advance — then I always have time to buy tickets cheaply.
2. Make a “holiday basket.”. I have a plastic box in the trunk: a bottle of water, snacks, napkins, a blanket. On holidays, it's like a little camping ground.
3. Combine business with pleasure. If you work remotely, take your laptop and head to a hotel by the lake for a few days. The fresh air is good for both work and inspiration.
4. Communicate with the locals. Poles are very open if you are genuinely interested in their customs. Once in Krakow, a neighbor brought me homemade pies “so I wouldn’t be alone on Christmas.” These moments are real Poland.

My favorite routes for short trips

• Warsaw – Krakow – Zakopane — classics. Mountains, cuisine, architecture.
• Poznan – Wroclaw – Klodzko — for lovers of old cities and beautiful photos.
• Gdansk – Sopot – Gdynia — the sea, walks, sunsets.
• Lublin – Zamosc – Rzeszow — history, peace and cheap housing.
• Olsztyn - Mykolaiki - Gizhitsko — Masurian lakes, boats, fishing.

I often take a bike with me - Poland has great cycling routes, for example along the Vistula. If you want to go without a car - you can rent a bike right near the station via the Nextbike or Bolt app.

Tips for Ukrainians who have just moved

• Download apps JakDojade (transport), BlaBlaCar (travel expenses), TooGoodToGo (food), PKP (trains).
• Follow days off from work — even the post office or city council may not be open during the holidays.
• Buy a “monthly card” or “bilet miesięczny” — the savings on transport are insane.
• Use Google Translate in camera mode — it's very convenient to read Polish ads in stores.

And most importantly, don't take holidays as a problem. It's an opportunity. An opportunity to travel, relax, see new things. Poland is truly a beautiful country, and it's worth experiencing.

I've been living here for several years now and I can honestly say that Poland teaches you to balance. Here, people know how to work, but even better, how to relax. And every holiday, even the smallest one, is perceived as a chance to be closer to yourself and the people around you.

So don't put off life for "later." Plan your weekends, check your calendar, and seize opportunities for short escapes from your routine. Because every day we spend in peace and joy is also a small holiday.

And if you are looking for a part-time job or seasonal work between trips, take a look, you might be interested.
work abroad.

Life is not just about work. Poland showed me that the ability to appreciate a day off is also an art. And if you learn to plan your holidays wisely, the year will be completely different: warmer, calmer, and happier.

 

Updated: November 4, 2025