Poland in October: tips for making the most of your autumn in Poland

The cover photo features autumn in the city of Gdańsk

Weather in Poland in October

Please note that in 2024, nature accelerated, and changes in nature usually happening in Poland in October are already visible from the turn of September and October.

The weather in Poland in October differs each year and is difficult to predict – one day, you can enjoy sunny weather, and the other is cold and rainy (usually, no frosts can occur in Poland in November). The average temperature in October in Poland is 9°C / 48°F (just like in April). The average rainfall level in Poland in October is 46 mm (lower than in September).

The Polish name for October – październik (quite a tongue twister, isn’t it?), comes from the word paździerze, meaning the dry stalks of flax.

In October, days in Poland get noticeably shorter, and in this transition month, you can be surprised by how early the sun goes down in the evening. The length of the day goes from 11 hours 35 min. on October 1 to 9 hours 39 min. on October 31. The sunrise on October 31 will be at 6.30 am, and the sunset will be at 4.08 pm(data for Warsaw).

October gives us the last chance to admire fall foliage in Poland or collect chestnuts and acorns. In late October, the leaves wither and fall from the trees. Do not delay – use nice weather for walks every day, delight in the last days of Golden Polish Autumn, and charge your body batteries before winter.

Read more about the autumn weather in Poland and the changes in nature you can’t miss.

Dates to remember in Poland in October 2024

October is one of Poland’s few months with no public/bank holidays.

Teachers’ Day in Poland (Dzień Nauczyciela)
In Polish schools, there are usually no regular classes on this day. Students give teachers flowers and/or other gifts. Typically, there is an inauguration event for first-grade students (called in Polish ślubowanie), and older kids either do not go to school or have some fun activities.

Time change (zmiana czasu)
On Sunday night, October 27, at 03:00 am, clocks are turned backward by 1 hour to 02:00 am. The change to summertime in Poland occurs on the last Sunday of March. Poland switches back to regular time on the last Sunday of October. The European Union lawmakers wanted to end the twice-a-year (March and October) custom of time changes throughout the European Union, leaving member states the freedom to decide their standard time. But the coronavirus pandemic has put these plans on hold. Click here to find out more in our post about the time changes in Poland.

Halloween
Halloween celebrations are relatively new in Poland. A few years ago, buying a pumpkin this time of year in Poland was almost impossible! Now, pumpkin carving and decorations are increasingly popular in Polish schools and homes. In bars and restaurants in Poland, there are themed Halloween parties for adults and costume parties for kids. More and more children in Poland dress up in costumes for Halloween and travel from house to house playing trick or treat (in Polish: cukierek albo psikus).

Read more about public holidays and dates to remember in Poland in autumn.

 Sunday trade ban in Poland in October 2024

In October 2024, there is no shopping Sunday in Poland. The next shopping Sunday is on December 15. Click here to read our post about shopping Sundays in Poland. Read our post with the list of online stores in Poland delivering groceries to your home.

Things you can’t miss in Poland in October

Pumpkin – the queen of October

In October, the harvest of potatoes, carrots, parsley, beets, and celery ends in Poland. Pumpkin takes over and becomes the queen of October!
Until recently, pumpkin was not popular in Poland. It was grown mainly in home gardens and used for pumpkin in vinegar preserves or for their dried seeds (as a snack). However, a dozen or so years ago, Poles finally fell in love with pumpkin, and pumpkin dishes have entered the menu of Polish families – the most popular of them include soups (typical for Poland!), cakes, and bread and rolls with pumpkin seeds.

Make the most of the last fresh local products

As nature prepares for the wintertime, it’s also time for us to fill pantries. Vegetable stalls in Poland in October still offer various species of forest mushrooms; however, there are usually fewer of them than in September. Polish seasonal fruits are almost gone compared to summer, but you can still enjoy local apples, pears, and all kinds of plums. The Polish grapes are fully ripe already. You can experiment with rare and nutrient-rich Polish fruits available in October: quince (pigwa), rosehip (dzika róża), cranberry (żurawina), or hawthorn berry (głóg). 

Polish apple a day

Poland is a paradise for everyone who loves apples and believes that “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” (and Polish version: “Jedno jabłko dnia każdego i lekarza nie trzeba żadnego” or “Kto przed snem jabłko zażywa ze smakiem, ten swojego doktora uczyni biedakiem“). Poland is the fourth-largest producer of apples (3 million tons per year!). The diversity of apple trees in Poland disappeared with the development of industrial orchards; however, in recent years, we have seen “the come back” of old varieties of Polish apples, including antonówki, kosztele, szare renety, sztetyny, malinówki, papierówki. They don’t look so perfect, but their taste is unique! The Botanical Garden in Warsaw/Powsin has collected and grown over 400 old varieties of apple trees!

Apple picking in Poland – the last chance this season

Apple picking in Poland

You will find some options for apple picking in Poland on this website (myzbieramy.pl); you can search by region. Please note that you need to contact a selected orchard to book a slot in most cases.

Some farms offer vegetable picking, too.

How about a tour of an apple juice press plant and apple orchards?

The Nasza Tłocznia press plant offers such tours in Central-Eastern Poland, 45 km south of Warsaw. The plant was created based on a family orchard farm, where apple trees had been grown for generations, in the heart of the Polish orchard farming area – here, the first apple trees were grown over 400 years ago.

Tours are dedicated to kindergartens, schools, organized groups, and individuals (April-November). An English language option is available. Attractions include:

• An educational walk among apple trees. You will explore an organic apple orchard and learn more about fruit development, ripening, and harvesting.
• Apple picking.
• Pressing apple juice. You will see how fresh juice is pressed from the fruit you pick yourself.
• Tasting. You will try freshly pressed juice from different apple varieties, including those suitable for people with allergies.
• Pickup truck ride. A ride between orchards in an original 1974 vehicle.
• Bonfire with roasting apples and sausages. You can enjoy a moment by the campfire, roasting apples you have picked yourself. The option of a guided tour with meals is also available.
• Attractions for children. There is a trampoline, table tennis, tug of war, skill games, Baba Yaga’s house, and lots of space to play.

Photo source: Nasza Tłocznia

Exploring Warsaw in autumn: ideas for things to do

For those who plan to visit Warsaw in autumn, we recommend September and October. There are no longer crowds of summer holiday tourists; residents are at work and school. You can easily explore Warsaw’s attractions. Here, everyone will find something for themselves – something for those who appreciate nature, for those interested in history, and certainly for gourmets – regardless of whether you want to try Polish traditional cuisine, are looking for vegan options or cuisine from around the world – Warsaw will not disappoint you!

Our post Autumn in Warsaw includes:

• The best places in Warsaw to admire autumn leaves and fall foliage
• Pumpkin farms in the Warsaw area
• Festive illuminations and light displays in Warsaw
• Ideas for things to do in Warsaw in autumn – INDOOR
• Ideas for things to do in Warsaw in autumn – OUTDOOR
• Events in Warsaw in autumn – concerts, festivals, a marathon

Click here to read our post on things to do in Warsaw in autumn

The best places in Poland to admire autumn leaves and fall foliage

October gives us the last chance to admire fall foliage in Poland. In late October, the leaves wither and fall from the trees. Do not delay – use every day with nice weather for walks, to delight in the last days of ‘Golden Polish Autumn’, and to charge your body batteries before winter.

Our post Autumn leaves and fall foliage in Poland presents our picks for the most spectacular fall foliage spots in different parts of Poland. Below, you will find a selection.

Arboretum Forest Educational Center in Rogów near the city of Łódź, 100 km from Warsaw

Maple leaves in fall foliage colors in this garden look fabulous in October! The Arboretum Forest Educational Center in Rogów is one of Poland’s most extensive (over 50 hectares) botanical gardens. The Arboretum in Rogów has one of Europe’s most valuable plant collections. It’s “a forest park”, located in the thinned-out area of the forest.

Photo source: www.arboretum.sggw.pl

Rogalin Landscape Park, 20 km from the city of Poznań

Rogalin Landscape Park was established to protect the largest cluster of centuries-old oaks growing in the Warta River valley in Europe. There are 960 oaks in the Park with a trunk circumference of more than 300 cm!

The name comes from the village of Rogalin, where there is a Baroque-Classicist palace from the 18th century with a large park surrounding it, which is part of the Landscape Park.

Click here to discover more fall foliage spots in Poland in our post.

Ideas for autumn weekend getaways in Poland

The city of Gdańsk – over 1000 years of tradition, one of the largest ports on the Baltic Sea, amber, architectural gems, beaches

Gdańsk – located on the Baltic Sea – is one of the oldest cities in Poland but also the most beautiful and exciting – numerous monuments, rich history, and Baltic beaches.

A walk along cobblestone streets among colorful tenement houses. A visit to one of the many fascinating modern museums. A walk along the sea.

Gdańsk witnessed events that had an impact not only on the history of Poland but also on the history of the world. This city is considered to be the symbolic place of the outbreak of World War II, and this is also where Solidarity was founded.

Finding accommodation in Gdańsk is easy. There are many hotels in different price ranges located close to the main tourist attractions and a wide selection of apartments for short rent if you prefer that option. 

There are plenty of restaurants in Gdańsk serving traditional Polish dishes, but also restaurants with international cuisine. As in other large cities in Poland, finding a child-friendly restaurant with a special kids menu, a play area, and changing facilities is not difficult. 

How to get there? What are the top attractions? Find out more in our post about visiting Gdańsk.

The Białowieża Forest – bison, ancient forests, hiking and biking trails

The Białowieża Primeval Forest (Puszcza Białowieska) was created without human intervention and is the only natural place in Poland entered on the UNESCO World Heritage List. 

It is a unique place on a European and global scale – most of Europe’s natural forests have been cleared in the last few hundred years. Crops, meadows, pastures, villages, and cities took their place. The Białowieża Primeval Forest is exceptional in Europe. It is here that for thousands of years, uninterrupted natural processes have been taking place. As a result, this forest is characterized by an extraordinary abundance of fauna and flora.

Białowieża National Park (17% of the area of the Polish part of the Białowieża Primeval Forest) is a protected area famous for its ancient forest that survived in its natural state to this day and large bison population, as well as hiking and biking trails. It is a perfect place for all those who love nature. The area gives a unique opportunity to observe nature, exceptional biodiversity, and rare species of fauna, as well as flora. The Białowieża Forest is known worldwide for the European bison – the largest land mammal in Europe.

How to get there? What are the top attractions? Find out more in our post about visiting Białowieża.

The city of Łódź in central Poland – challenging to pronounce, easy to visit

The city of Łódź is the fourth-largest city in Poland (after Warsaw and Kraków). It is an exciting and fun destination for families to visit for a weekend trip. The city is located in the center of Poland and is well-connected with the rest of the country. 

Our post about visiting Łódź covers the main tourist attractions as well as things to do in Łódź with children: The Zoo in Łódź and its new part – ‘Orientarium’; “Aquapark Fala” – water park in the city of Łódź; Science and Technology Center, playing/learning space for children aged 3-10, planetarium; “Mandoria” – the biggest year-round indoor theme park in Poland, 16 km from Łódź.

How to get there? What are the top attractions? Find out more in our post about visiting Łódź.

Click here to read our post covering 10+ ideas for a weekend getaway in Poland.

Best museums for children and teens in Poland

Keeping kids entertained can be challenging, especially on rainy days that limit what you can do outdoors. Luckily, there are museums in Poland where you can spend a family day out, combining education, fun, and interactive experiences to challenge developing minds.

Our new post includes info about the following museums in Poland:

• “Bricks & Figs” – a museum of LEGO minifigures and sets in Kraków
• “Wheels & Heels” – a museum of Barbie dolls and toy cars in Kraków
• Chocolate Factory Museum in Warsaw
• Museum for Children in Warsaw
• “MovieGate” in Wrocław – original costumes and props from the most significant film sets
• Museum of Gingerbread in Toruń
• “HistoryLand” in Poznań – history of Poland presented in Lego bricks
• Science museums in Poland: Gdańsk, Gdynia, Wrocław, Kraków, Poznań, Łódź, Toruń, Warsaw
• “Instagram museums” to visit with teenagers: Gdańsk, Wrocław, Kraków, Poznań, Łódź, Warsaw, Katowice

Click here to find out more in our post presenting the best museums for children and teens in Poland.

A fun Halloween in Poland: ideas & links to online stores delivering Halloween accessories in Poland

To save you time and suggest some fun Halloween ideas, we have collected selected links to online stores delivering in Poland.

Our post A fun Halloween in Poland covers ideas and links to online stores delivering in Poland:

• Pumpkins! Dynie! Decorating or carving
• The Halloween home decorations – for those who want to go wild!
• An online costume party and virtual trick-or-treating (not such a bad option, considering the Polish climate;)
• A candy/toy hide-and-seek – the Halloween version
• Halloween-themed home-made treats​
• A Halloween piñata!

Click here to read our post on how to celebrate Halloween in Poland.

Subscribe to our monthly newsletters in English to explore Poland and learn about Poland! Once a month, you will receive a Newsletter: ‘Explore Poland with Kids‘. You will find there family-friendly destinations in Poland – beautiful places in Poland worth visiting with children – from city break destinations to hiking in the mountains (lots of practical tips!); things you can’t miss in Poland in a given month; dates to remember, holidays, observances in Poland in a given month so you can mark your calendars accordingly.

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