Itinerary proposal Warsaw, Poland
Day 1 – WARSAW
“Witamy w Polsce!” “Welcome to Poland!” Arrival in Warsaw. Check in at your hotel (depends on arrival time). Meeting with your guide for a sightseeing tour of Warsaw including sites such as the:
Old Town (the Old Town Market Square, the Barbican, the Castle Square with the Royal Castle and statue of King Zygmunt III Vasa – the king who transferred the capital of the country from Krakow to Warsaw over 400 years ago, the house of Madame Curie, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist)
Royal Route (the Holy Cross Church – where Chopin’s heart is kept, Nicolaus Copernicus monument, the Parliament, Presidential Palace, the Chopin Monument and the Palace on the Water in the Lazienki Royal Park – the former summer residence of Poland’s last king)
Other places of interest (the Palace of Culture and Science, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, former Jewish district with the Warsaw Ghetto Heroes Monument)
Warsaw - the capital city of Poland since 1596, is beautifully sited on the major Polish river, the Vistula.
It 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 Polish capital there from Krakow. Because of its capital status Warsaw had to defend
itself a lot of times, especially during the two World Wars. The reconstruction of Warsaw became for all Poles a matter of honour and was conducted
with unprecedented determination. Up to this day Warsaw symbolizes for Poles the hard fight for survival. The Warsaw Mermaid on the coat of arms, holding her sword and raised shield, is a personification of this. Today Warsaw is the capital of a country known to have played a leading role
in the breakdown of the Iron Curtain and has subsequently become one of the most successful and advanced of post-communist countries. With its modern appearance it is to some extent a new city, but at the same time an old one with a rich and beautiful tradition formed over the last 700 years. Warsaw is on the UNESCO list of cultural treasures of the world’s heritage.
Free time after the tour.
Dinner at a local restaurant or hotel. Overnight.
Day 2 – WARSAW – WILANOW
Breakfast at the hotel.
After breakfast your tour escort will meet you at the lobby of your hotel and you will depart to the magnificent Wilanow Palace and its beautiful gardens.
The Wilanów Palace. A splendid example of Baroque architecture, it was built in the 17th century as a summer residence for King Jan III Sobieski, prominent Polish sovereign and victor over the Turks in the Relief of Vienna in 1683. At present, the Palace serves as a branch of the National Museum. Visitors find particular delight in the sumptuous 17th-19th century interiors and the gallery of Polish portraits from the16th –19th centuries. The Palace has undergone numerous additions and alterations. It is in the form of an Italian Baroque residence with ornamentation evoking the King’s military successes. A vast geometric Italian garden and orchards are laid out to the rear of the Palace. Wilanów with its magnificent chambers is one of the best-preserved palaces in Poland and the parkland surrounding the residence is one of the most beautiful of its kind. For many centuries Wilanów was the residence of some of Poland’s most influential and aristocratic families, such as the Czartoryskis, the Lubomirskis and the Branickis. Nowadays, one of the palace wings is kept as a state residence for distinguished foreign guests of the Polish Government. Wilanow Palace is the final stage in the Royal Route leading from the Royal Castle via the Łazienki Palace and Park. It is regarded as the “Polish Versailles”.
After sightseeing tour transfer back to the city center. Free time to explore the city on your own, time for shopping.
Overnight at your hotel.
Day 3 – DAY TRIP FROM WARSAW
Breakfast at the hotel. Today we invite you to discover and explore beautiful sights located nearby Warsaw. Please find our propositions below:
1.Zelazowa Wola – the birthplace of Frederic Chopin
Zelazowa Wola, a charming village on the Utrata river, bordering the National Kampinos Forest is a birthplace of the genius Polish composer and virtuoso, Frederic Chopin. It is a place situated about 50 km from Warsaw, with an idyllic country atmosphere and folklore scenery that so often inspired the great pianist. Surrounded by the large, beautiful park, admirably laid out, with many species of plants brought here from various parts of the globe, the birth-house of the all over the world known author of mazurkas and polonaises exists to this day. With all the rooms perfectly restored, with a collection of family portraits and other family belongings, Chopin’s estate was turned into a museum. The house interiors remind of the Polish nobleman’s mansion and are equipped with furniture of this period. It is covered with a steep roof and overgrown with Virginia creeper. The memory of the great composer has been enhanced by his monuments scattered in the park: the obelisk of 1894, the monument chiseled in bronze and the bust carved in stone.
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2.Kazimierz Dolny and Pulawy
Discover the charming town of Kazimierz Dolny, located on the Vistula’s River east bank about 140 km from Warsaw.
The beginnings of Kazimierz go back to the 14th century, but the real development occurred in the 16th and 17th centuries, when it was a large grain-trade centre. At that time most of those beautiful Renaissance streets, houses, churches and granaries were built there. The oldest monuments of the town are the Tower, which is a relic of the wooden castle, the church of St John and Bartholomew, and the 14th- century Castle. From the Tower and the “Hill of the Three Crosses” one can enjoy a panoramic view of that fascinating and picturesque area of Kazimierz Dolny. In the town centre you can admire the mediaeval Market Square and adjacent streets, which decide about that unique town’s atmosphere. There are a number of antique shops, art galleries and cosy cafes there.
Complete your tour by exploring more of Poland’s treasures at the impressive Czartoryski’s Palace surrounded by a romantic garden in Pulawy.
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3.Torun
Explore the mediaeval city of Torun - one of the most beautiful cities of Poland. Picturesquely located on both banks of the Vistula River, at a site of intersection and ancient trade routes, it has been propagating its traditional economy and openness to the world for nearly 800 years. The city was founded in the first half of the 13th century by the Teutonic Knights.
It is famous for the biggest number, after Krakow, of authentic works of Gothic art and architecture in Poland.
The authenticity of the medieval and Gothic skyline was one of the arguments supporting the decision to add Torun to the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites in 1997. The majority of ancient buildings are located around the beautiful Old Town Square with its monumental
Gothic Town Hall and Regional Museum, with a rich collection of mediaeval art, portraits of Polish kings and the Gallery of Polish
Painting. There are many other significant monuments such as the Artus Hall or exquisite old Gothic churches. Torun is also the birthplace of the world famous astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus – who “stopped the Sun and moved the Earth”. He was born here on February 19th,
1473 at St. Anne Street, today 17 Copernicus Street, which now houses a museum dedicated to the astronomer.The most famous product of Torun is the Torun gingerbread. The tradition of the baking of these aromatic cookies in the town of Copernicus is almost as long as the history of Torun. One says that no visitor to our city can leave Torun without gingerbread.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Day 4 - DEPARTURE
“Do widzenia!” a nostalgic “Until we meet again!” but a promise to return. Depart Warsaw.
Thank you for visiting Poland