Introduction to Poland

Itinerary

1. Day 1 Arrival in Krakow

   Krakow may not be the largest city in Poland, but it is by far the most popular with travelers. Less industrial than Warsaw, Krakow was once Poland’s royal capital, and unlike the rest of the country, came out of World War II with its gorgeous architecture mostly unscathed. One glance at the city’s perfectly preserved and restored Old Town and it will be abundantly clear why Krakow is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. This compact historical district houses the largest square in Europe, where you can stroll, shop from the market, and sample some tasty Polish delicacies. Krakow’s cultural life is rich and there are more than enough classical and jazz concerts to attend during your stay. Just walk through Old Town any evening and you’ll find warmly lit cafes, restaurants and bars. Some of the most prominent sites in and around the city are linked with the grim, albeit highly important historical facts, as evidenced by the memorials in the Jewish Kazimierz district and the Auschwitz concentration camp located nearby - chilling and vivid reminders of World War II. You can also explore Poland’s natural wonders from Krakow, with visits to the atmospheric Wieliczka Salt Mine, and the Tatra Mountains all comfortable day trips.

   Upon your arrival to Kraków Airport, our driver will be waiting for you at the arrivals and will take you to your accommodation in Krakow. The journey should take about 30 minutes.

   

   Settle in and Enjoy

   If you've just arrived, before starting on tours, head out and get a feel for this unique city. If you're staying near the main square ("Rynek,") take a leisurely stroll, visit the Cloth Hall, and have a coffee with a view at Cafe Szal. If you start near the Kazimierz district, treat yourself to a delicious dinner at Starka restaurant. Either way, let yourself get charmed by Krakow.

   Suggestion to explore on your own

2. Day 2 Your First Full Day in Krakow

   

   Krakow Private Walking Tour

   Today you’ll get a feel for the story of the city with a private tour with a local expert. There's much to discover as you walk the famed Royal Route through the city's heart, on this tour filled to the brim with historical facts and anecdotes. You'll wander from the Barbican and St. Florian's Gate to the spectacular royal hilltop Wawel Castle, visiting the Main Square with its Cloth Hall and St. Mary's Basilica along the way.
   

   • Activity Level : Moderate
   • Duration : 3 hours

   Included in your vacation package price

   Discover the Royal Castle Complex

   The glorious ensemble that is the Wawel Castle, perched on top of the eponymous hill just south of Krakow's Old Town, is perhaps Poland's most important collection of buildings, and a reminder of when Krakow was the proud capital of Europe's largest empire, which stretched from the Baltic to the Black Sea. A symbol of national pride, hope, self-rule and not least of all fierce patriotism, Wawel offers a uniquely Polish version of Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey rolled into one. You can explore on your own, but if you'd prefer a local guide, we recommend the tour below.

   Suggestion to explore on your own

   Explore Krakow's Jewish Legacy

   Discover the atmosphere and the spirit of Jewish life in Krakow. Before WWII, Jews made up 25% of Krakow's population, helping create the city's unique identity. Delve into this heritage by seeing some of the most significant sites related to Jewish culture and life. Kazimierz is Krakow’s most unique neighborhood, combining its heritage as the Jewish Quarter with a more recent reinvention as the city’s bohemian headquarters. You can also explore food and music at the Klezmer Hois, where you can enjoy a three-course authentic Jewish meal, complete with a live Klezmer band.

   Suggested activities for an additional cost, depending on your choice

   

   Kazimierz Highlights of Jewish Heritage Private Tour

   This three-hour excursion will show you some of the most important sites of Jewish culture in Krakow. These include seven synagogues (you'll go inside two of them), Helena Rubinstein House, "Schindler's List" film locations, and much more. We invite you to learn about the 800 years of Jewish history and discover what the Jewish community was before, during, and after the war.

   • Activity Level : Moderate
   • Duration : 3 hours

   Suggested activities for an additional cost, depending on your choice

   

   Jewish Dinner and Klezmer Concert in Kazimierz

   In the heart of Krakow’s former Jewish district Kazimierz, you will find one of the most well-established restaurants in the city named "Klezmer Hois". Inside the sixteenth century building awaits for you an artistic and culinary offer referring to the pre-war Jewish Kazimierz. We invite you to discover the taste of Jewish cuisine and the charm of klezmer music.

   • Activity Level : Easy
   • Duration : 2 hours

   Suggested activities for an additional cost, depending on your choice

   Watch the video

3. Day 3 Your Second Full Day in Krakow

   

   Wieliczka Salt Mine Group Tour With a Private Driver

   Prepare to be amazed at the devotion that drove miners to carve figures, monuments and altar pieces into the walls of an 800-year-old salt mine. This underground world has earned a place on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list. As you descend 360 of the tour's total 800 steps into the salt mine, you'll feel like you're entering a vast underground city complete with huge caverns and underground lakes, 135 meters beneath the surface. One of the most unique aspects is the largest underground chapel, devoted to Saint Kinga, a Hungarian princess who is said to have spurned a marriage proposal by the Polish king by tossing his engagement ring into a salt mine in Transylvania.

   • Activity Level : Moderate
   • Duration : 4 hours

   Included in your vacation package price

   Watch the video

   Sample Unique Polish Cuisine

   Krakow's food scene is rich in delicious food, from traditional pastries to open-faced sandwiches that make for beloved late-night snacks. You can try a variety of dishes by joining one of the food tasting tours or a folk show for a memorable and fun way to explore the city's culinary heritage.
   

   Suggested activities for an additional cost, depending on your choice

   

   Krakow Food Tasting Group Tour

   If you want to discover a rich, multidimensional world of traditional Polish food and beverages, we invite you to join this exceptional tasting expedition! You will have a chance to try Polish dishes that are inevitably connected with the country's folklore, history and culture. During the tour, your guide will share with you all the intriguing tales and anecdotes related to the Polish cuisine.

   • Activity Level : Moderate
   • Duration : 4 hours

   Suggested activities for an additional cost, depending on your choice

   

   Krakow Home Cooked Small Group Tour

   Do you want to learn how to make pierogi like an expert? Join this Krakow tour to get an inside guide to cooking Polish food in the home of a local home cook. There's no better way to get in touch with Poland's rich culinary traditions.

   • Activity Level : Light
   • Duration : 4 hours

   Suggested activities for an additional cost, depending on your choice

4. Day 4 Your Third Full Day in Krakow

   Dark History

   A visit to Krakow isn’t truly complete without an excursion to the Auschwitz concentration camp, where well over a million were murdered during WWII. The victims were primarily Jews, but also included many tens of thousands of Poles, Roma, prisoners of war, and others. We offer tours of this death camp, and its memorial. For a better understanding of the Holocaust's effects on Krakow, visit the city's Jewish ghetto, and the factory Oskar Schindler used to shelter many people marked for death, as part of a private tour.

   Suggested activities for an additional cost, depending on your choice

   

   Ghetto and Schindler's Factory Private Tour (Non-refundable)

   This three-hour tour with an expert local guide will give you an immersion into Krakow's Jewish culture, centering around the tragic events of World War II. From the Jewish Ghetto to Schindler's Factory, you'll see all of the most significant sites of Jewish history here. Along the way your guide will answer your questions and tell you everything you need to know about the life, times and tragedies of the Jewish people in Krakow.
   

   • Activity Level : Moderate
   • Duration : 3 hours

   Suggested activities for an additional cost, depending on your choice

   

   Auschwitz-Birkenau Group Tour with a Private Driver (Non-refundable)

   We invite you to visit one of the most expressive and symbolic locations in Poland. You'll explore the Auschwitz Museum and Birkenau Camp, a place that should be experienced and seen at least once in your lifetime. You'll have a private tour to the museum, where you'll join a group of about 30 people.

   • Activity Level : Moderate
   • Duration : 7 hours

   Suggested activities for an additional cost, depending on your choice

5. Day 5 Traveling to Warsaw by Train / Arrival in Warsaw

   You'll be heading north to Warsaw today. There are frequent trains between Krakow and Warsaw, one every two hours or so. We will provide train tickets with seat reservations based on your preferred departure time and arrange for a transfer from your accommodation to the train station. The journey takes about 3 hours. If you'd like to take your time while enjoying more privacy, we can also organize a private transfer with stops along the way in Lodz or Czestochowa. It makes the journey longer but adds a visit to your choice of these remarkable destinations.

   

   You can upgrade your transfer

   Warsaw by Private Transfer with a Tour in Lodz

   Upgrade for an additional cost

   Warsaw, the capital of Poland and its largest city, has bounced back from the devastation of World War II, reconstructing the historic center, and earning UNESCO World Heritage status in the process. This is a bustling metropolis with a charm that’s distinct from other cities in Poland. Here you’ll find art museums and theaters galore, with lively performances and exhibitions throughout the year, as well as frequent festivals of all sorts. The culinary scene here is top-notch, with several well-respected restaurants offering classics of Polish cuisine and modern masterpieces from European gastronomy. Warsaw has distinct neighborhoods that are perfect for exploring on foot, but it’s also fun to get an appreciation for the size of the city by being chauffeured. You can explore different layers of Warsaw’s history, from World War II to its Jewish heritage and communist past. You’ll definitely want to sample the local cuisine while you explore the city, and there’s no shortage of opportunities to do so, from street stalls to fine dining. When you’re ready to go farther afield, the region surrounding Warsaw offers gorgeous lakes, castles and other notable cities and villages. There is no shortage of ways to enjoy your time in this vibrant city.

   When you arrive at the Warsaw train station, a driver will meet you there and take you directly to your accommodation in the city center.

   

   Views and Foods

   If you've just arrived, we suggest visiting the Krakowskie Przedmiescie, a famed street that forms the northern end of the Royal Way. Here, you can climb to the top of the St. Anna's Church Bell Tower, which provides an amazing view of the Royal Castle and the Old Town. After this not insignificant exercise (there are 150 steps to climb), treat yourself to a nice dinner at the nearby U Fukiera restaurant. Through delicious Polish cuisine, you'll start immersing yourself in the local culture. Smacznego!

   Suggestion to explore on your own

6. Day 6 Your First Full Day in Warsaw

   

   Best of Warsaw Private Tour in a Communist Minibus

   This best of Warsaw private tour in a Communist-era minibus is perfect whether it's your first visit or you’ve been before. It gives you a solid introduction to Warsaw’s key historic and cultural landmarks. You’ll also discover hidden spots that most tourists miss. It’s a smart choice if you're short on time but want to experience the city's true character.

   • Activity Level : Light
   • Duration : 3 hours

   Included in your vacation package price

   

   Chopin Concert Tickets

   While you are in Warsaw, we invite you to book an evening to appreciate the work of the greatest Polish composer Frederic Chopin. Poland’s capital city also happens to be Chopin’s hometown, so it’s a very special place to listen to his music. You'll also enjoy the historical venue itself as you'll find yourself surrounded by painting collections of outstanding well-known artists.

   • Activity Level : Easy
   • Duration : 1 hour

   Included in your vacation package price

7. Day 7 Your Second Full Day in Warsaw

   

   Warsaw Food Tasting Group Tour

   Today you'll find that Polish food is far more than just pierogi. During this in depth exploration of the local cuisine, you wil learn interesting stories behind the dishes you discover. You'll get to know why Poles complain about the quality of their bread, why people often miss the food from the 70s, and why you can't always trust an invitation "for a cup of coffee." This tour will make for a full meal, as you'll try a dozen different dishes in several quaint eateries, representing both modern and traditional food. This is a great way to combine lunch with active city exploration.
   

   • Activity Level : Moderate
   • Duration : 4 hours

   Please ask your travel advisor for the cost to add this to your package

   A Millenia of Jewish History

   Standing on the site of the former Warsaw Ghetto, the relatively new POLIN Museum has become one of Europe's most famous museums devoted to Jews. There, you can explore over a millennia of Jewish history, from Poland's first Jewish settlers, to the period just after World War II. It's a vast place, with impressive architecture and plenty of content to read, watch, and interact with. After you've delved into the past, fill yourself up at the museum's restaurant, which offers Jewish, Polish, and international dishes, some kosher.

   Suggestion to explore on your own

8. Day 8 Departure Day

   Based on your flight time, we'll arrange for a transfer from your accommodations to Warsaw's main airport.