Best of Poland Tour 2024 Welcome to Poland – Witamy w Polsce!
Poland with its rich history and lovely nature is a pretty and interesting country. Wherever you go, to the south, north, east, or west – you will find something interesting. Many places in Poland are real gems and thus have been placed by UNESCO on the list of world cultural heritage. You may admire lovely landscapes and architecture. Traveling with my company as a small or big group gives You complete flexibility, with itineraries to suit You. Although I am based in Warsaw, I am able to pick you up from any airport or railway station in Poland.
Below you may find a sample of popular routes starting from Warsaw:
Best of Poland tour 2024 – Welcome to Poland – Witamy w Polsce!
Highlights:
- Warsaw City tour
- Wroclaw Old Town Tour
- Cable car ride to Kasprowy Wierch (Tatra Mountains)
- Local folklore highlanders show in Zakopane
- Cracow Tour – Wawel Royal Hill, Royal Cathedral, the former Jewish district Kazimierz, the wooden altar at St. Mary’s Bassilica
- Auschwitz – Birkenau Tour
Inclusions:
- group up to fifteen travelers
- transportation with a luxury air-conditioned minibus – MERCEDES SPRINTER or smaller groups MERCEDES VITO
- hotel accommodation in 5*, 4* or 3* hotels in Warsaw, Wrocław, Cracow and Zakopane – depends on the group’s budget
- English speaking tour leader services
- licensed, city guides in Warsaw, Wrocław, Cracow
- local museum guides in Auschwitz – Birkenau Museum, Wieliczka Salt Mine, Malbork Castle
- local diversified meals included
- entrance tickets – included
- tour insurance in Signal Iduna
- parking fees
The minimum number of travelers is two .
The itinerary below is a sample- this tour can be customized to group needs.
Day 1
Day 1 – ARRIVAL IN WARSAW
On arrival at Frederic Chopin Airport, You will be met in the airport arrival hall & transferred to the Marriott Hotel.
Spend two nights there. Time to settle in relax and maybe take your first walk around Warsaw. Warsaw – the capital of Poland is beautifully located on the major Polish river – Vistula. The city was founded in the early 14th century and soon became one of the most important towns. In the course of time, it gradually gained political and social importance and King Zygmunt III Waza transferred the Royal official seat from Cracow in 1596. The reconstruction of Warsaw after World War II, which was raised to the ground during World War Two, became for Poles a matter of honor and was conducted with unprecedented determination. Up to today, Warsaw symbolizes the hard fight for survival. The Warsaw Mermaid on the coat of arms, holding her sword and raised shield, is the personification of this. Today Warsaw is the capital of the country known to have played a leading role in the breakdown of the Iron Curtain.
Day 2
Route: Warsaw
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel: Marriott Hotel Warsaw
After breakfast, You will explore Warsaw. Five hours Warsaw City Tour.
During this five-hour tour, You will see remnants of the former Jewish district together with the Ghetto Heroes Monument, the financial and commercial center, the tallest building in Poland and at the same time a socialist realism relic of the previous era – the Palace of Culture and Science. You will admire representative townhouses and former magnate residences on the Royal Route and have a walk across the Łazienki Royal Park – the summer residence of the last Polish king Stanislaw August Poniatowski, where we will see among other things the Palace on the Water and Amphitheatre with the scene on the water.
Itinerary:
- Old Town & New Town – the history of Phoenix, who rose from the ashes. Unique stories and legends. You will learn about what the Warsaw Mermaid and the one of Copenhagen have in common and explore the mystery of the unique crucifix from St. John’s Cathedral.
- Monument to Ghetto Heroes – You will learn the history of the prewar Jewish District
- New Warsaw – relics of the Polish People’s Republic- Palace of Culture &Science and a modern commercial and financial center.
- Łazienki Royal Park – a walk across the most charming of Warsaw’s parks, where You will explore: Palace on the Water-pearl of classicistic architecture in Europe, Theatre on the Island, Old Orangery and Myślewicki Palace.
Driving tour through Warsaw including Praga district and the panorama view of Warsaw from the
30th floor of the Palace of Culture and Science.
Light lunch at U Szwejka Restaurant. After lunchtime on your own.
Evening dinner at the local restaurant.
Day 3
Route: Warsaw- Auschwitz-Cracow
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotels: Marriott Warsaw, Andel’s Hotel Cracow
Drive to Cracow after breakfast. On the way tour at Auschwitz-Birkenau former Concentration Camp. The concentration camp in Auschwitz was established by Nazis on the outskirts of the town Oswiecim in 1940. After the war, the camp was turned into a museum displaying evidence of the genocide. Block no. 11, known as the Death Block, was where people were murdered also at the “Wall of Death”. Outside the camp, there is a gas chamber, where 70, 000 people were killed in 1940-1943. In 1941, 3 kilometers from Oswiecim, in the former village of Brzezinka, the Nazis established a new camp called Auschwitz II Birkenau. In 1942-1945, approx. 1. 5 million people lived and died here. Most of them (90%) were Jews, others were Poles, Gypsies, Russians and prisoners from 28 countries of Europe, people of all nationalities and political and religious persuasions. Since 1944, transports of prisoners from all over the continent entered directly through the “Gate of Death”. In 1979, Auschwitz – Birkenau Concentration Camp was listed a UNESCO World Culture and National Heritage Site. Drive to Cracow. Check-in at Andel’s Hotel. Free time. Dinner at your own.
Day 4
Route: Cracow
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, *Dinner (payment by the group)
Hotel: Andel’s Hotel
After breakfast departs for a half-day Cracow City Tour. Our tour starts in front of the main gate – St Florian’s Gate which leads us to the center of the city. The medieval defensive walls – Barbican are well preserved and they have remained up till now in their original form. Via Floriańska Street – a part of the Royal Route – we get to the Main Market Square which is the heart of the city. It used to be a commercial, administrative and religious center of Krakow, so that is why today we could admire the most important buildings – the Renaissance Cloth Hall, the medieval Tower of the Town Hall and the Gothic church of Saint Virgin Mary – the famous for the biggest medieval wooden altar sculptured by Wit Stwosz. On the way to Wawel Hill, we will pass through the University District which is one of the oldest universities in Europe founded in 1364 by king Casimir the Great. At last but not least, we reach Wawel Hill, one of the most important places in Krakow, where You explore Wawel Castle and the Cathedral-both were built at the very beginning of the existence of the Polish state – in the 10th century. Krakow’s Cathedral used to be a coronation and burial site for Polish kings from the 14th to 18th centuries and a national pantheon. The Wawel Royal Castle, rebuilt by Italian artists Niccolo Castiglione and Mateo the Italian in the 16th century, holds a unique collection of 16th-century Flemish tapestries.
Jewish prewar district – Kazimierz and Podgórze District Tour- Jewish population had played an important role in the Kraków regional economy since the end of the 13th century, granted the freedom of worship, trade and travel by Boleslaw Pious the duke of Greater Poland issued already in 1264. Kazimierz, as the town founded by king Casimirus the Great in the 14th century, was originally a Christian city. By the end of the fifteenth century Jews had been expelled. Before the Second World War Cracow was an influential center for the 60,000 Polish Jews. The Krakow Ghetto was formally established on 3 March 1941 in the Podgórze district, not in the Jewish district of Kazimierz. During that driving & walking tour, You will have a chance to see all seven of Kazimierz’s Synagogues, one of them active and connected with a Jewish Cemetery. Then the route will lead us to Podgorze District, the location surrounded by buildings that witnessed the Holocaust. You will explore the Schindler’s Factory and the remnants of the Ghetto’s wall from the World War II period.
Itinerary:
- Remuh Synagogue with the old Jewish cemetery
- Wolnica Square (old meat market)
- Progressive Synagogue (Tempel)
- New Square with former Ritual Slaughterhouse for poultry
- Sites from the Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List
- The building that used to be a Ritual Bath
- Former main ghetto square
- Remnants of the ghetto wall
Free evening.
Day 5
Route: Cracow- Salt Mine Wieliczka -Zakopane
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel: Crocus – Zakopane – https://hotelcrocus.pl/en/
After breakfast drive to Wieliczka Salt Mine (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE) one of the wonders of Poland. Wieliczka is the oldest European Salt Mine, located 13 kilometers from Cracow. Wieliczka is an impressive underground world of chambers, halls, galleries, salt lakes and sculptures carved from rock salt. It offers a fascinating journey through airy chambers carved from the rock salt on three levels between 64 and 135 meters before the ground. Duration 3 hours. Drive to Zakopane -on the way lunch at restaurant Czarci Jar in Zakopane –https://czarcijar.pl
Check-in at Crocus Hotel in Zakopane – free afternoon
20:00 – dinner at Karczma przy Młynie
with live folk music.
Overnight at Crocus hotel.
Day 6
Route: Zakopane-Częstochowa-Wrocław
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel: Mercure
After breakfast Tour of Zakopane- the capital of the Tatra Mountains and skiing in Poland. Today You will discover the beauty of this town-exploring cemetery on Pęksowym Brzysku, Wielka Krokiew ski jump, riding on a cable car up to Gubałówka Hill. A visit will be ended with the culinary experience of tasting the famous Polish cheese “OSCYPEK” (smoked sheep’s milk cheese). Drive to Czestochowa where You will visit the Jasna Gora Monastery with the miraculous Black Madonna picture. Also, You see the interesting Way of the Cross painted by Jerzy Duda-Gracz and the Treasure Room with an impressive collection of precious gifts given to the monastery. After sightseeing drive to Wrocław (Breslau). Check-in at Mercure Centrum Wrocław
Free evening – dinner on your own.
Day 7
Route: Wrocław
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner on your own
Hotel: Mercure Centrum Wrocław
A morning city tour of Wrocław including :
- Grunwaldzki Bridge
- Cathedral Island
- Tumski Bridge (love bridge)
- Market Hall
- Wrocław University
- Market Square
After the tour, we will drive to Książ Castle – where You will explore magnificent interiors. After the tour in the Książ Castle, we will be headed to Świdnica where You will explore the Church of Peace (World Heritage Site) the largest wooden church in the world
Return to Wrocław in the late afternoon. Overnight at Mercure.
Day 8
Route: Wrocław-Gdańsk (Danzig)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner on your own
Hotel: Hansa
After breakfast drive to Gdańsk. On the way to Gdańsk, we will stop in Gniezno which was the cradle of the Polish state in the early Middle Ages. In Gniezno You will explore:
The Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Old Market Square
Continue to drive to Gdańsk After arrival accommodation at your hotel Hansa Hotel.
Free evening.
Day 9
Route: Gdańsk
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner on your own
Hotel: Hansa
Gdańsk has a thousand-year history, a city located at the crossroads of important commercial and communication routes, an extensive port and mercantile traditions – all this makes Gdańsk a meeting place of many cultures, nationalities and denominations.
The first information about Gdańsk dated from 997. The defensive and urban complex as well as a port started to really form in the second half of the 10th century.
Gdańsk joined the League of Hanseatic Cities (1361) and the fast development of the port are just some of the factors contributing to the strong position of Gdańsk in Europe.
Although much of Gdańsk was destroyed during World War II– approximately 66%, the city has emerged as one of the most beautiful Baltic cities. Its history of changing between Prussian and Slavic rule has made way for a rich cultural experience for anyone who visits. The tragic event in December 1970, and then August 1980 and the martial law period are the successive dates symbolizing the fight of the citizens of Gdańsk against the prevailing communist regime. It was Gdańsk that became the cradle of “Solidarność” which was to transform the then map of Europe. History has come full circle. Today Gdańsk – a half-a-million, dynamically developing agglomeration – is vibrant with life as before and again deserves to be called “the Pearl of the North.”
After breakfast half day Gdańsk City Tour (driving & walking)
Highlights:
- Upland Gate- a part of the city’s former fortifications and one of its main gates
- Long Market – a magnificent street with grand mansions decorated with Renaissance and Baroque facades
- Main Town and Artus Court- where Hanseatic League meetings took place
- St. Mary’s Basilica, a part of the largest brick church in Gdańsk
- Oliwa Cathedral is famous for its impressive baroque pipe organs. You will enjoy an organ concert in this Gothic Cathedral
Lunch at Bar Przystań in Sopot -https://barprzystan.pl/en/#home where You will try probably the best fishes in Poland. After lunch, You will enjoy the Baltic Sea breeze walking the longest wooden pier in Europe. Return to Gdańsk overnight. Free dinner this evening.
Day 10
Route: Gdańsk- Malbork- Warsaw Meals: Breakfast, Lunch After breakfast we head towards Warsaw. On the way we will stop at the stunning Teutonic Knights Order Castle in Malbork.
You will explore the Castle with the internal museum guide – Duration 3 hours.
Drive to Warsaw-Lunch on the way to the capital of Poland. Time to say „GOODBYE” to Poland in Polish „DO WIDZENIA” Departure transfer to the airport for your flight back home.
| Tour dates | Double room rate | Single room rate |
|---|---|---|
| October – November | 2,620 Euro /per person + air | 2,700 Euro /per person + air |
| December – January | 2,620 Euro/per person+ air | 2,700 Euro /per person + air |
| January – February | 2,620 Euro /per person + air | 2,700 Euro /per person + air |
| February – March | 2,620 Euro /per person + air |
2,700 Euro /per person + air |
| March – April | 2,620 Euro /per person + air | 2,700 Euro /per person + air |
| April – May | 2,620 Euro /per person + air | 2,700 Euro /per person + air |
| May – September | 2800 Euro/per person + air | 2,900 Euro /per person + air |