Tour Overview
Welcome to Poland! In Poland, the past is not another country- in fact it’s just along the road. Although Poland has emerged from the grim, gray decades of communism to rebuild itself as a proud and independent member of the New Europe, there are few places where history feels as close as it does here. Only a few hours drive from Krakow’s bustling, medieval market square or the gleaming skyscrapers and gourmet restaurants of Warsaw, you can still find rural landscapes of wooden cottages and narrow fields. Here the fields are still turned by horse drawn plough, the hay is cut and stacked by hand, and families dressed in their Sunday best cram into tiny, 16th century churches. This itinerary explores the eastern part of Poland. Visit the exciting sites of Krakow- the Old Market Square, Wawal Castle, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Wieliczka…. The lovely Tatra and Pieniny Mountains… see the Museum of the Former German Nazi Concentration Camp at Auschwitz and Wadowice- the home of Pope John Paul II… enjoy privately guided tours of Warsaw’s Old Town and the Royal Castle, and explore Lublin, the biggest city in eastern Poland with its famous Neogothic castle and magnificent 17th century cathedral.Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: Krakow, PolandWelcome to Krakow. Today when you arrive you will be met at the International Airport by your local English-speaking tour guide, who will take you to your hotel, assist you with check in, and can also recommend the best way for you to spend the rest of the day. Krakow is Poland’s third largest city and the country’s most popular tourist destination by far. As the Royal Capital for half a millennium, it absorbed more of Poland’s history than any other city, and, miraculously, Krakow was the only large city to escape World War II unscathed. Its stunning, well-preserved collection of medieval and renaissance architecture is unrivalled, from the Old Town with its soaring Gothic Churches, to the splendid Wawel Castle and Cathedral, and the former Jewish District of Kazimierz, with its poignant, silent synagogues. No other city in Poland has so many historic buildings and monuments, and nowhere else will you encounter such a vast collection of art.
Overnight: 3* hotel in Krakow. Day 2: Krakow- Wieliczka- Krakow
After breakfast at the hotel, explore the most significant historical landmarks of Krakow with your English-speaking guide. First, your guide will show you around Old Market Square, the largest medieval town square in Poland and reputedly in all of Europe. See the charming houses, stylish cafes, colorful flower stalls and the old Draper’s Hall where you will find numerous souvenir shops. Your next stop is a visit to St. Mary’s Church, situated in Old Market Square and world famous for the breathtaking wooden altar, carved by the well-known medieval sculptor Veit Stoss. Then you visit the magnificent Wawel Castle, the former royal residence and the political and cultural center of Poland until the early 17th century. Wawel Castle is spectacularly set on a hill by the Vistula River. Tour one of the castle’s showpieces- the Royal Apartments, giving you an insight into how the monarchs and their families once lived. You’ll see magnificent old tapestries adorning the walls- probably the largest collection of its kind in Europe, and one of Wawel’s most precious possessions. The national temple, the Wawel Royal Cathedral has witnessed most of the coronations, funerals and entombments of Poland’s monarchs. Many outstanding artists had a hand in the gradual creation of the cathedral, and have left behind a wealth of magnificent works of art. Wandering around is like a tour through Polish history itself. This is sure to be one of the highlights of your visit. After lunch and a short break, you will drive to Wieliczka and visit the Museum of the Wieliczka Salt Mine- a fabulous landmark on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The mine is renowned for the preservative qualities of its microclimate as well as for its health giving properties, and is full of dark, intriguing corridors and astonishing sculptures made of salt. You visit three levels of the mine, walking through an eerie world of pits and chambers all hewn by hand from solid salt. Some have been made into chapels, with altarpieces and figures, others adorned with statues and monuments- all carved out of salt. After your visit, return to Krakow.
Breakfast
Overnight: 3* hotel in Krakow Day 3: Krakow- The Tatra and Pieniny Mountains- Krakow
This morning depart by private car with your English-speaking guide to Zakopane in the Tatra Mountains. Nestled at the foot of the Tatras, Zakopane is the most famous mountain resort in Poland. In the high season: after a short walking tour of Zakopane, transfer to Sromowce, a village located an hours drive from Zakopane, where you will experience a rafting trip to a well known town in the Pieniny Mountains, Szczawnica. The rafting trip is about 1.5 hours in duration. When we arrive in Szczawnica, enjoy a walking tour of this picturesque village located along the Grajcarek River. Then, return to Krakow. In the low season: after a short walking tour of Zakopane, enjoy an hour ride on a sleigh (or horse cart, depending on the weather) around Zakopane and have some free time to explore this pretty little village before returning to Krakow.
Breakfast
Overnight: 3* hotel in Krakow Day 4: Krakow- Auschwitz- Wadowice- Krakow
After breakfast today, depart via private car to Oswiecim. The Polish name may be unfamiliar to outsiders, but the German name- Auschwitz- is certainly not. The Auschwitz concentration camp was established in April 1940 by the German Nazis and came to be the largest experiment in genocide in the history of humankind. It is estimated that this death factory eliminated some 1.5 million people. It is now considered the largest mass cemetery in the world and has become a very important center of strengthening peace and understanding among nations. Next you will visit Wadowice- the birthplace of Pope John Paul II. Here you will see the Pope’s family home next to the wonderful Neobaroque Basilica. On the way back to Krakow, stroll around the former Jewish Quarter of Krakow called Kazimierz. This tiny area northeast of Corpus Christi Church became, over centuries, a center of Jewish culture like nowhere else in the country. In WWII, the Jewish people were slaughtered by the Nazis and with them disappeared all the folklore, life and atmosphere of the quarter. Today only architecture reveals that this was once the Jewish Town. Finish off the evening with a delicious dinner in a Jewish Restaurant to the accompaniment of a Jewish band playing cheerful Klezmer music.(Note: Klemzer Music in high season only)
Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight: 3* hotel in Krakow Day 5: Krakow- Warsaw
Today you will be driven to the train station to embark on a relaxing 3-hour train ride to Warsaw. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Warsaw has rebuilt itself from the rubble of World War II to become a thriving capital city on the banks of the Vistula River. It’s Poland’s most cosmopolitan, dynamic and progressive city, dotted with luxury hotels, gourmet restaurants and elegant shops, and home to a rich and varied cultural scene. In a way, Warsaw epitomizes the Polish nation- a blend of old and new both in spirit and appearance, respecting tradition but racing towards the future. Enjoy a walking tour around Warsaw’s picturesque Old Town together with a local English-speaking guide. Warsaw’s Old Town (Stare Miastro) was rebuilt from the foundation up on what was, after WWII, a heap of rubble; around 90% of the houses were destroyed. The monumental task of rebuilding took place between 1949 and 1963 with the goal of restoring the city to its 17th and 18th century appearance- today there is not a single building in the area that looks less than 200 years old. UNESCO’s decision to include Warsaw’s Old Town on the list of World Heritage Sites is testament to the quality of work done by the Polish restorers. After the walking tour, check into your hotel with assistance from your guide.
Breakfast
Overnight: 3* hotel in Warsaw Day 6: Warsaw
Today you will visit two places, which are a great source of historical significance and knowledge of the city’s past. First, the Royal Castle; it was founded in the 14th century, but its heyday was in the mid-17th century, when it became one of Europe’s most splendid royal residences. A good part of the castle’s interior is now a museum, providing an insight into how royalty once lived. The rooms are once again richly decorated and crammed with objects d’art as they were two centuries ago. Your second visit is to the Museum of the Warsaw Uprising, which tells the more recent story of the tragic days in 1944 when most of the citizens of Warsaw decided to rebel against the yoke of the German occupation. The rest of the day is free for independent explorations.
Breakfast
Overnight: 3* hotel in Warsaw Day 7: Warsaw- Wilanow- Lublin
Today visit Wilanow, a park and palace complex which served as the summer residence for Jan III Sobieski, noted for his victory over the Turks at the gates of Vienna in 1683. A guided tour of Wilanow Palace will lead you through many rooms fitted out with period furniture and decoration in various styles. Highlights include the two-story Grand Entrance Hall, the Grand Dining Room, and the Gallery of Polish Portraits, featuring a collection of paintings from the 16th to 19th centuries. Then, transfer to the train station to board a train for Lublin. The journey is approximately 2 and one half hours. Upon arrival in Lublin, you will be met and driven to your hotel, where your guide will assist you with the check in procedures. Lublin is the largest city in the eastern part of Poland and has always been one of the country’s most important cities. Probably due to its border location, it often took the lead at crucial historical moments when the country’s fate hung in the balance.
Breakfast
Overnight: 3* hotel in Lublin Day 8: Lublin
Begin exploring Lublin today with a short walk around town with your local English-speaking guide. Then, visit the imposing castle, which was started in the 14th century and stands on a hill to the northeast of Old Town. What remains was rebuilt as a prison in the 1820’s and remained as such until 1944. During the Nazi occupation, over 100,000 people passed through this prison before being deported to the death camps. Most of the edifice is now occupied by the Lublin Museum. On display are paintings, silverware, porcelain, woodcarvings and weaponry. At the eastern end of the castle is the exquisite Chapel of the Holy Trinity. It’s interior is entirely covered with unique Byzantine wall frescoes painted in 1418. They are possibly the finest medieval wall paintings in Poland. Lublin Castle is just a few steps away from the stunning Old Town; slightly hidden from the city’s main streets it astonishes its visitors with wonderful renaissance houses and a very interesting medieval street system. Next to the Old Town you will find the magnificent 17th century cathedral- the painting of the Virgin Mary here is said to have shed tears in 1945, so it is a source of pride and reverence for local believers. After the walk around the old part of the city, visit the old town underground corridor system, dating back to the 15th century, where contemporary tourists can discover more about Lublin’s merchandise past, or you can choose to visit the Old Jewish Cemetery, claimed to be the oldest in Poland. Later, visit the Lublin Folk Museum, showing the everyday life and traditions of the Polish countryside, or visit the beautiful Botanical Gardens, whose beginnings go back to the 17th century.
Breakfast
Overnight: 3* hotel in Lublin Day 9: Lublin- Kozlowka- Kazimierz Dolny- Warsaw
In the morning, check out of the hotel and depart with your guide and private car to Kozlowka, a small village near Lublin boasting a superb Baroque Palace, built in the mid-18th century. The residence was acquired by the Zamoyski family in 1799 and today houses the Museum of the Zamoyski Family. It features original furnishings, ceramic stoves and a large collection of paintings, mostly dating from the 17th to 19th centuries. Additionally, there is a beautiful French garden around the palace to be seen. Next stop is Kazimierz Dolny. Positioned on the bank of the Vistula at the foot of wooded hills, Kazimierz Dolny is a charming, picturesque town, famous for outstanding renaissance architecture. Moreover, as it has always been a mecca for artists, its main square is bustling with wonderful petit art galleries and artistic cafes. Following your visit to Kazimierz Dolny, you continue on to Pulawy where you board a train bound for Warsaw. When you arrive, you will be met at the train station and escorted to your hotel.
Breakfast
Overnight: 3* hotel in Lublin Day 10: Warsaw- Depart
Private transfer from the hotel to Warsaw International Airport for your flight home.
Breakfast
