Malbork Castle: the world's largest brick fortress in a day from Warsaw

Plan for the day

• 06:30 — train from Warsaw Central to Malbork.
• 09:45 — arrive, walk from the station to the Nogat and see the castle from the far bank.
• 10:15 — enter the castle and tour it with an audio guide.
• 13:00 — lunch in town.
• 14:00 — second part of the castle: walls, courtyards and exhibitions.
• 16:00 — stroll along the Nogat and have a coffee.
• 17:30 — return train, reaching Warsaw late in the evening.

What to see

• The High Castle, the oldest part of the fortress.
• The Grand Masters' Palace with its great refectory.
• The Middle Castle and its imposing interiors.
• The defensive walls, moats and drawbridges.
• The view of the castle from the Nogat riverside promenade.

Where to eat

There are plenty of places near the castle serving Polish food: sour rye soup, pierogi, fish from the Vistula Lagoon and pork cutlet. Many have terraces with a view of the walls. To save money, eat in the town centre rather than right at the castle entrance. After the castle, leave an hour for a quiet walk through the town and along the river before you board the train. On weekends book lunch early, as tour groups fill the restaurants quickly.