Sitting on the banks of the Oder River, Opole is one of Poland’s prettiest cities. The attractive Old Town is lined with beautifully restored buildings, with the Młynówka Canal flowing through the historic centre. As well as a fantastic open air museum, Opole’s Bolko Island Zoo is one of its most popular attractions.

For music lovers, Opole is a wonderful place to explore. Every summer it hosts the National Festival of Polish Song, which celebrates local singers, songwriters and performers. Culturally, Opole is a fascinating city. It’s known for its active German population, one of the few communities to survive the war. Today, the German influence shines through in the form of bilingual street signs, fantastic beer and plenty of bratwurst stalls.

Opole steps up as the capital of the Opolskie Province, with efficient train connections to major cities like Warsaw, Wroclaw, Katowice and Kraków. Katowice Airport is the closest air travel hub, with the 140-kilometre drive to Opole taking around 1.5 hours. Once in town, the best way to explore the charming medieval centre is by foot or bicycle.

With a history dating back to the 9th century, Opole is one of Poland’s oldest cities. As a result, it’s peppered with historic attractions, including the 10th century Church of St. Adalbert, the 14th century Church of the Holy Cross and the magnificent Piast Tower.