Świdnica, 55km south-west of Wrocław, holds the UNESCO-listed Church of Peace plus a well-restored Old Town square. The town's pierogi and bigos rooms make a clean lunch loop with the church visit.
Must order: Bigos in the Rynek; the local hunter's stew at any of the town's traditional rooms.
Tip: Combine with Książ Castle in a single day-trip tour if you want a fuller day.
The Karkonosze (Giant Mountains) sit at Poland's south-west corner, 110km from Wrocław. Mountain-Silesian food at the trail-head villages: oscypek smoked sheep cheese, mountain-style bigos, apple cider.
Order: Grilled oscypek with cranberry jam at a Karpacz mountain restaurant.
Tip: Best in autumn (September-October) for the foliage and mushroom season at the markets.
Trzebnica, 25km north of Wrocław, is the Polish pilgrimage town to St. Hedwig of Silesia, with the 13th-century basilica at its core. Polish bistro lunches and pilgrim-town pastries (Trzebnickie ciasteczka).
Order: Trzebnickie ciasteczka cookies from the bakery near the basilica.
Tip: Easy half-day; combine with the apple orchards in the surrounding countryside in autumn.
Lower Silesia's wine route runs south-west of Wrocław through small wineries growing Riesling, Pinot Noir and Solaris on the lower slopes of the Sudety. The Polish wine country, by car.
Order: Whichever Polish Riesling is on tasting at the visited winery; pair with bread and Polish cheese.
Tip: Bookings essential; smaller wineries (Winnica Adoria, Winnica Saint Vincent) take groups by appointment.
Książ Castle, the Pearl of Lower Silesia, sits in the Wałbrzych Mountains 75km south of Wrocław. The on-site restaurant serves traditional Polish food, the right lunch break for a castle day trip.
Order: Traditional Polish soup of the day with the castle's own bread.
Tip: Train to Wałbrzych is 20 zł each way. Allow at least four hours for the castle and lunch.