Itinerary proposal Krakow, Poland

Day 1 – KRAKOW

“Witamy w Polsce!” “Welcome to Poland!” Arrival in Krakow. Check in at your hotel (depends on arrival time). Meeting with your guide and depart for your sightseeing tour of Krakow – one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

Krakow, a royal city with a long and rich tradition, is majestically situated on the Vistula River.
Here, history becomes intertwined with the present day.

In 1040 King Kazimierz Odnowiciel (Casimir the Restorer) transferred the capital of the country from Gniezno to Krakow. Under the reign of King Kazimierz Wielki (Casimir the Great) during what was known as “The Golden Age”, trade, crafts, art and science underwent their most intensive development. In 1364 the King founded the Academy of Krakow, which later became the Jagiellonian University, one of the oldest universities in Europe. Many eminent Poles such as Nicolaus Copernicus, John Paul II and Wisława Szymborska graduated from this university.

The structure of this city of culture was largely left unscathed by World War II and it is a living museum of magnificent palaces and historical treasures. There are 300 ancient buildings and 58 churches and palaces in the area of the Old Town. You can walk along the Royal Route starting from the Barbican and finishing at the Wawel Hill, known as the “Polish Acropolis”, with its Castle and Cathedral. Here Polish kings were crowned and buried. In the Old Town you can explore the oldest and longest mediaeval square in Europe, the Main Market Square. St Mary’s Church is, known especially for its magnificent hand carved altar masterpiece, created by the famous sculptor

Wit Stwosz, is in the Main Market Square.

In 1978, in appreciation of the exceptional historic and artistic value of Krakow, UNESCO included it on its first list of the World’s Cultural Heritage. The city is Poland’s cultural capital and one of the most splendid towns in Europe, is a gem of historic architecture.
It was chosen as a “Capital of European culture” for the year of 2000. Krakow, described as the “Rome of the North”, is an ancient city with a modern spirit.

Discover the stunning, historic and culture packed city of Krakow. You will begin your tour by visiting the picturesque Main Market Square with the impressive Cloth Hall which has been the local market place for centuries. Visit the St. Mary’s Church with the extraordinary Wit Stwosz wooden altarpiece with more than 200 carved figures and hear the famous silver trumpet of the bugler from the Tower of the Church.

Time for lunch at a local restaurant located in the Old Town area. “Smacznego!”

You will have a chance to taste traditional Polish cuisine.

After lunch continue your tour by visiting the charming Gothic courtyard of Collegium Maius (Great College), the oldest building of the Academia Cracoviensis. Stroll along Kanonicza and Grodzka streets to reach the Royal Castle situated on the Wawel Hill. Explore the stunning interiors and royal chambers with a local licensed guide. Wawel Cathedral is also a must see Wawel Castle sight. This cathedral was the sight of royal coronations and burial site for Polish kings. Richly decorated chapels, some dedicated to past rulers, contain examples of elaborate art pieces and relics.

After the tour free time.

Dinner at a local restaurant or hotel. Overnight

Day 2 – KRAKOW – WIELICZKA-AUSCHWITZ BIRKENAU-KRAKOW

Breakfast at the hotel.

After breakfast your tour escort will meet you at the lobby of your hotel and you will leave by coach for your visit to the Wieliczka Salt Mine - one of the wonders of Poland, impressive underground world of unique sculptures, chambers and salt lakes (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE LIST).

Wieliczka is the oldest European salt mine, situated 13 km from Cracow. Wieliczka is an impressive underground world of salt chambers, halls, galleries, fabulous salt lakes and beautiful sculptures carved from the rock salt. It offers a fascinating journey through airy chambers carved from the rock salt on three levels between 64 and 135 metres below the ground. Due to its pure clean air, Wieliczka, apart from its role as a most attractive underground site, has been granted the status of a health resort. In 1978, Wieliczka was acknowledged as a monument of national culture and registered in the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list. On the world scale of sites it is exceptional and is one of the wonders of Poland.

Lunch at a local restaurant. After the meal leave for your visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau former Concentration Camp – one of the most terrifying and touching places in the world (UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE LIST)

Auschwitz - a concentration camp, established by the Nazis in 1940 in the suburbs of the town of Oswiecim, which was occupied by the Germans during the Second World War. The name of the town was changed to Auschwitz, which also became the name of the camp and is a symbol of martyrdom. Originally the camp was to be a place for the extermination of Poles. In 1942 it became the site for the greatest mass murder ever committed against citizens of many countries. European Jews were especially targeted as part of Nazi plan for the complete destruction of that nation. Some 1.5 million people of 28 nationalities died there as a result of starvation, forced labour, executions, torture and criminal medical experiments. Twenty-eight one-storey brick blocks, surrounded by a barbed wire fence, comprise the oldest part of the encampment. It is entered through a gate topped with the inscription “Arbeit Macht Frei”, meaning “Work Makes Free”. In some of the blocks there are exhibitions of piles of artificial limbs, spectacles, shoes and suitcases that were once the property of the victims. In the second part of the camp, which is called Birkenau (Brzezinka), are situated the ruins of gas chambers and crematoria. It is the largest “cemetery” in the world.
You will see the cell that imprisoned St. Maximillian Kolbe. In 1979 the site of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp was entered on the UNESCO international
list of world heritage sites. The National Museum of Auschwitz-Birkenau is one of the most important research sources for the history of the 20th-century humanity.

After the visit return to Krakow for dinner and overnight.

Day 3 - DAY TRIP FROM KRAKOW

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we invite you to discover and explore beautiful sights located nearby Krakow. Please find our propositions below:

Full day trip to Zakopane

Discover the beauty of the Tatra Mountains. Join our trip to Zakopane – lying just a short distance from Krakow. Get to know the rich culture of the Tatra highlanders and enjoy the fabulous mountain landscapes from the Gubalowka Hill. The excursion includes a sightseeing tour of the city – the Wielka Krokiew ski jump, the Krzeptówki sanctuary, the wooden church in Jaszczurowka, visit to the Tatra Museum and the Chocholow village, famous colorful Krupowki street and funicular railway ride up the Gubalowka Hill. A visit to Zakopane is a great opportunity to indulge in a culinary experience and taste famous Polish regional dishes such as oscypek (smoked sheep’s milk cheese) or kwasnica (sauerkraut soup).

Trip to Ojcow National Park

If you are staying in Krakow for a few days it’s worth taking a little break in sightseeing and discover the beautiful area of Ojcow. The Ojcow National Park (located only several kilometers away from the city of Krakow) is the smallest national park in Poland.It is made up by an impressive mixture of mountains, forests, caves, rivers and gorges with the beautiful Pieskowa Skala Castle situated on top of the hill. The 14th-century Castle, funded by King Kazimierz Wielki (Casimir the Great), deserves a special notice as it is one of the most beautiful monuments of the Renaissance architecture in Poland. Nowadays the Castle houses an exhibition of Renaissance art, with a particularly rich collection of antique furniture and it is a department of the State Art Collection of Wawel. The Castle is surrounded by numerous impressive rock formations characteristic for the Jurassic landscape, with a famous rock in the shape of a massive club called Maczuga Herkulesa (Hercules Club).

Dunajec River Raft Trip

Discover the most spectacular gorge of Europe – the Dunajec River gorge. This is undoubtedly one of the Poland's prime tourist attractions and gives you a chance to admire some of the most amazing scenery in the Polish highlands. You will be impressed by the views of the Pieniny mountain peaks and vertical rocky slopes next to the river. Usually referred to as "the raft trip down the Dunajec river", this is in fact a rather leisurely drift in large wooden punts. Highly experienced guides make sure you have a smooth ride and keep you informed about the sights you see and the history of the trips, which goes back to 1840s .
The voyage down the winding Dunajec offers breathtaking views of mighty limestone cliffs plunging into the water as well as stunning native vegetation both protected by the second oldest international national park in the world. Also, while sailing down the river you can spot some rare bird species including the Black Stork. The Dunajec raft ride is by no means the only attraction. There are many interesting

mountain trails on both sides of River, where you can admire beautifully set castles including Czorsztyn and Niedzica. The voyage lasts two to three hours, depending on the water level of the river.

Trip to Czestochowa – Jasna Gora Monastery, Black Madonna Shrine

Czestochowa is a town with a 700-hundred-long tradition, picturesquely situated among Jurassic hills, which are unique landscape relicts. Czestochowa is a spiritual capital for the Poles. It is famous for its historic monuments, especially the Jasna Gora Paulite Monastery, which is one of the most important cultural monuments in the catholic world. It is the 5th greatest centre of pilgrimage in the world, just after Varanasi, Mecca, Lourdes and Rome. The Sanctuary in Czestochowa became really famous and known for its role as a victorious defensive fortress during the Swedish invasion in 17th century. It strengthened the belief in the extraordinary powers of the sanctuary and the celebrated icon of the Black Madonna which is displayed there. The conviction that the Holy Virgin of Czestochowa acts as a royal protector of Poland was emphasized by the fact that in 1920 the Polish Episcopate proclaimed her the Queen of Poland. For centuries the magnificent painting of Black Madonna, thanks to numerous miracles attributed to the image, has turned Czestochowa into one of the major religious shrines in the Christian world. Discover and explore the town regarded as “the beating heart of the nation”, where pilgrims from all over the world arrive.

Day 4 – DEPARTURE

Breakfast at the hotel.

Today we say goodbye to Krakow. Check out of your hotel. “Do widzenia!” a nostalgic “Until we meet again!” but a promise to return

Thank you for visiting Poland