The largest metropolitan areas in Poland are the Upper Silesian Coal Basin centred on Katowice (3.5 million inhabitants); the capital, Warsaw (2 million); Kraków (0.75 million) Łódź (1.3 million); the Tricity of Gdańsk-Sopot-Gdynia in the Vistula delta (1 million); Poznań (0.9 million); Wrocław (0.9 million); and Szczecin (0.7 million). Kalisz (in eastern Greater Poland) is considered to be the oldest town of Poland, because it was mentioned by Ptolemy in II cent. AD as Calisia. That town was situated in Magna Germania on the Amber Trail. Gniezno in central-western Poland, some 50 km east of Poznań is traditionally considered the oldest town in Poland as a cradle of the Polish state which in 10^th century became one of the main towns of the early Piast dynasty, founders of Poland. According to the Polish legend 3 brothers Lech, Czech and Rus were exploring the wilderness to find a place to settle. Suddenly they saw a hill with an old oak and an eagle on top. Lech said: this white eagle I will adopt as an emblem of my people, and around this oak I will build my stronghold, and because of the eagle nest [Polish: gniazdo] I will call it Gniezdno [modern: Gniezno]. The other brothers went further on to find a place for their people. Czech went to the South (to found the Czech Lands) and Rus went to the East (to create Russia and Ukraine).

Warsaw (Polish: Warszawa) is the capital city of Poland and its largest city. It is located in east-central Poland on the Vistula River roughly 370 km (230 mi) from both the Baltic Sea coast and the Carpathian Mountains. Its population as of 2007 was estimated at 1,704,717, with a metropolitan area of approximately 3,350,000. The city area is 516.9 sq km (199.6 sq mi), with an agglomera- tion of 6,100.43 sq km (2,355.4 sq mi). Warsaw is the 8th largest city in the European Union.

Kraków (Krakow or Cracow) is one of the oldest cities in Poland, with a population of 756,336 in 2007 (1,400,000 in the Kraków-Tarnów sub-region). Situated on the Vistula river in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7^th cent. It was the capital of Poland from 1038 till partitions of Poland and of the Grand Duchy of Kraków from 1846 to 1918. It is now the capital of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship. Kraków lies in the southern Poland, on the Vistula River in a valley at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains, between the Jurassic Rock Upland (Polish: Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska) to the north and the Tatra Mountains 100 km (62 mi) to the south.

Gdańsk is Poland's principal seaport as well as the capital of the Pomeranian Voivodeship. The city lies on the southern edge of Gdańsk Bay (of the Baltic Sea), in a conurbation with the spa town of Sopot, the city of Gdynia which together form a metropolitan area called the Tricity (Trójmiasto), with a population of over 1,000,000. Gdańsk population is 460,000. Situated at the mouth of the Motława River is connected to Vistula River. Together with the port of Gdynia, Gdańsk is also an important industrial centre. Historically an important shipbuilding centre, Gdańsk was a member of the Hanseatic League. The city was the birthplace of the Solidarity movement (read more..) which, under the leadership of Lech Wałęsa, played a major role in bringing an end to communist rule across Central Europe.

Łódź (pronounced "wootch") is Poland's second largest city (population 770,000) and an important industrial centre. It is located in the centre of the country and serves as the capital of the Łódź Voivodeship. The city, dubbed the Polish Manchester, has been famous for its textile industry, flourishing especially during the fin de siècle. The movie ‘Promised Land’ based on a novel by the Nobel laureate Władysław Reymont, depicts those times. The coat of arms contains a boat, alluding to the city's name which literally means "a boat". Łódź is one of the most important culture centres in Poland. This powerful 19^th century industrial metropolis once again becomes the fastest developing city in the country. This is one of the reasons why the city was chosen the European Capital of Culture 2016.

Poznań is a city in west-central Poland with 570,000 inhabitants. Located on the Warta River, it is one of the oldest cities in Poland, making it an important historical centre and a vibrant centre of trade, industry, and education. Poznań is Poland's 5^th largest city and 4^th biggest industrial centre. It is also the administrative capital of the Greater Poland Voivodeship. Poznań is a town steeped in history, as it was the first capital (with Gniezno) of Poland and seen by many as the birthplace of the Polish nation. Poznań's cathedral is the oldest in the country, containing the tombs of the first Polish rulers. Today it is a diverse and vibrant town, with much to divert the traveller. It has a stunningly rejuvenated central square, thriving night-life, fascinating museums and many attractions in the surrounding area.