Poland Lures Czech Tourists Away: Numbers Up Nearly Fivefold in Four Years

Poland is rapidly gaining popularity among Czech tourists, gradually pulling clients away not only from local hoteliers but also from neighbouring Slovakia. According to Poland's statistical office, fewer than 98,000 Czech guests stayed in Polish hotels and guesthouses in 2021 — last year that figure reached 482,000, a 17.5% year-on-year increase and nearly a fivefold jump over four years.

Jan Papež, deputy chairman of the Association of Czech Travel Agencies, says Czechs' interest in Poland began rising noticeably about six years ago and has been growing ever since. "Many people are tired of the heat in the south, and among northern countries, Poland is closest to us in language and mentality," he explains. Part of the sharp statistical jump reflects the collapse in travel during the pandemic, but the growth in this direction is clear even compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Bookings Climbing at Double-Digit Rates

Czech tour operators report that the boom is continuing this year as well. At Čedok, bookings to Poland are up roughly 20% — a pace comparable to last year's market-wide growth. Travel agency Invia.cz reports similar trends.

According to Jan Papež, 30-40% of Czech tourists heading to Poland already book through travel agencies — the destination has become attractive not just for niche or regional agencies but for major tour operators as well.

Klára Divišková, a Čedok spokesperson, says the most sought-after destinations are Kraków, Gdańsk and the Baltic coast resorts, along with mountain areas — the Polish side of the Jizera Mountains and the Krkonoše. Czech travellers are drawn to modern hotels with quality wellness facilities and excellent dining — often at very reasonable prices. The company has seen the sharpest rise in demand over the past two years, as Czechs increasingly discover Poland as an attractive holiday destination.

Baltic Coast and Active Holidays

Families with children are drawn to the Baltic for its wide sandy beaches with a gentle slope into the water. According to Invia.cz, the most popular resorts include Kołobrzeg, Rewal and Międzyzdroje, as well as Dziwnów, the Hel Peninsula, Świnoujście and Stegna. Those looking to combine a beach holiday with culture and gastronomy tend to choose the Tricity area — Gdańsk, Gdynia and Sopot.

Despite the steady growth, Poland can currently satisfy only part of tourists' demand. According to Invia.cz, the country has broken into the top 20 popular destinations, but it remains far behind the popularity of Croatia, Greece or Italy. Croatia remains the undisputed favourite — Czechs travel there, as Papež wryly puts it, "like to a summer cottage," generation after generation, often knowing the locals personally. "The Poles have no ambition to compete with those countries. They want to compete with Slovakia, Hungary and, to some extent, Austria — and they're succeeding," the expert notes.

The growing interest in Poland is also linked to a trend toward active holidays, especially among younger travellers for whom simply lying on a beach is no longer enough. According to Jan Bezděk of the DER Touristik CZ group, Poland is ideal for those who want an active holiday — combining Baltic beaches with cycling and hiking routes, thanks to its mild climate.

Spa tourism is also popular — for example, the resort town of Świeradów-Zdrój. Among mountain destinations, the wellness hotels in the Polish part of the Krkonoše in Karpacz stand out, already drawing some clients away from Czech hoteliers. Beyond the mountains, cities and Baltic coast, the Masurian Lakes region in northeastern Poland is also gradually gaining popularity.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by seznamzpravy.cz