Day by Day Itinerary
DAY 1: Arrival
Individual arrivals to the hotel.
In the evening, meet and greet with the tour leader and a representative followed by a short introduction & welcome dinner.
Overnight in Warsaw
DAY 2: Warsaw - city tour, Warsaw Uprising Museum & Chopin piano concert
Start your day with a full-day tour of the city that covers the very best of fascinating Warsaw: the charming Old Town (painstakingly rebuilt from scratch after WW II); the historical Jewish Ghetto area; the vibrant downtown and the elegant Royal Route with the Palace on the Water in the Lazienki Gardens, one of Europe’s finest 18th-century royal residences.
In the afternoon, your next stop is the Museum of the Warsaw Uprising, widely regarded as the best new museum in Poland, and dedicated to the uprising of 1944, the consequences of which scar and define the city to this day. Alternatively, you can choose to have free time to explore the cobbled lanes of the Old Town and spot the details of restoration on the facades of the historical houses.
In the evening, enjoy a delicious traditional Polish dinner in a stylish restaurant. We conclude the day with a private piano concert of works by Chopin, a Polish composer-pianist revered worldwide as the greatest master of Romantic music.
Overnight in Warsaw
DAY 3: Boat cruise & Teutonic knights
Shortly after an early breakfast, we board our bus and head northwards to the Baltic Sea. We will travel through the Warmia (Ermland) region, stopping in the Ilawa Lake District to visit a marvel of 19th-century German engineering: the Ostroda-Elblag Canal, a system of canals combined with a narrow-gauge railway. Your boat cruise will let you take in the natural and technical wonders of this top Poland attraction.
In the afternoon, A tour of Malbork (Marienburg) Castle, a triumph of architecture and one of the biggest medieval castles in Europe. Between 1309-1459, it was the seat of the mighty Order of Teutonic Knights. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with meticulously restored interiors such as the great halls, magnificent high towers, and even a central heating system.
Drive to Gdansk in the evening. Check in to a comfortable hotel.
Dinner and overnight stay in Gdansk
DAY 4: Gdansk
We start in the Old Town of Gdansk. Gdansk’s past as the richest Polish port city has made it one of the top tourist destinations in Poland. Its Old Town is full of maritime atmosphere and packed with unique Hanseatic-style architecture. During sightseeing, you will see the Old Town, St. Mary’s (the largest Gothic church in Poland), the Neptune Fountain, and the Artus Court. After, we take you to the Oliwa district with a beautiful 13th-century cathedral famous for its set of incredibly complex pipe-organs. After an organ recital, you will have free time in Gdansk.
On the way to the Old Town in the afternoon, we stop at the famous Gdansk (formerly Lenin) Shipyards, the birthplace of the Solidarity movement led by Lech Walesa.
Overnight stay in Gdansk
DAY 5: Torun – City of Copernicus
After breakfast, we bid farewell to Gdansk and head south towards Torun, another red brick pearl!
Lunch break followed by a tour of Torun Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This delightful historical city is rich in original Gothic structures that survived numerous wars and invasions, including a magnificent town hall, medieval fortification walls, the Polish “leaning tower of Pisa”, as well as the superb St. James’ church. The town has always been famous for its gingerbread. Taste it in different shapes and sizes! The town may for many be the surprise hit and leave a lasting impression on you.
Overnight stay in Torun.
DAY 6: The first Polish capital
On the way to Wrocław (Breslau), we will stop in Gniezno, the first Polish capital. The town is a must-see to understand the early history of Poland. A true gem, the cathedral was the coronation site of five Polish kings. Its centerpiece is the tomb of Saint Wojciech (Adalbert). The cathedral is renowned also for the bronze Romanesque gate.
Afternoon arrival at Wroclaw, a city located in the Lower Silesia region.
Dinner in a superb restaurant. Overnight stay at a centrally located hotel in Wroclaw
DAY 7: Lovely Silesia (The Church of Peace & Wroclaw)
Enjoy free time in the morning & explore on your own the old town, see the breathtaking university hall or go on a complimentary trip to Swidnica, a small town located 70 kilometres away from Wroclaw. Swidnica is home to the huge wooden Church of Peace, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was one of the three places in Silesia where Protestantism was permitted after the Thirty Years’ War and the church itself was built without using a single nail.
Shortly after lunch, we will take a short walk in the Old Town led by an experienced local guide.
Overnight stay in Wroclaw hotel
DAY 8: Auschwitz-Birkenau & Zakopane
Morning visit to eastern Silesia, at the edge of the town of Oswiecim there are two gruesome reminders of the former German death camps that now make up the Holocaust Memorial, kept so that humanity will never forget one of the worst periods in its history. We will visit the older camp Auschwitz I (the museum) and II Birkenau, a concentration and extermination camp.
After lunch, continue south to Zakopane, the principal Polish mountain resort located at the foot of the majestic Carpathian mountain range.
Later, take a horse carriage ride to one of the best local restaurants. Enjoy a lively highlander show with live music and dance where you will see the folk customs that are still thriving in this region, and get a taste of the local cuisine and the strong “highlander tea”.
Overnight stay in Zakopane hotel
DAY 9: Polish mountains
In the morning, see the exquisite local wooden architecture in Zakopane before hopping onto the funicular railway to Mt. Gubalowka, one of the most beautiful peaks in the Tatras, to view the dramatic scenery. The tour will be incomplete without visiting one of the most famous Polish cemeteries “Na Peksowym Brzyzku”, where several people of culture, science, and art are buried, as well as a wide range of individuals much deserving to Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains. The local tombstones and crosses combine the folk traditions and art trends dominating in the 19th and 20th century.
After lunch, there is time for some souvenir hunting along Krupowki Street in Zakopane. Next, check-out and departure from Zakopane. Arrival in Krakow.
Overnight stay in the beautiful Old Town hotel
DAY 10: Wieliczka Salt Mine & free time in Krakow
Start the day with descent into the underground chambers of the Wieliczka Salt Mines for an unparalleled and eerie tour of the medieval galleries, chapels and halls carved out of rock and salt deposits. All you’ve heard about this place is true: there is nothing like it in the world.
Rest of day at leisure to explore on your own.
Overnight stay in Krakow
DAY 11: All flavors of Krakow
Morning City tour promises to be a feast for the senses and includes: exploring the medieval section of the town that has the main town square, the largest square in Europe; the fascinating churches with different architectural styles; and the most beautiful streets brimming with old-world charm. The world’s biggest wooden altar (carved by Veit Stoss between 1477-1489) opens its wings in the Church of the Virgin Mary each day and we will be there to witness the magical moment. From one of its twin towers every hour, you can hear the Hejnal, the haunting alarm-call played by a trumpeter. We will also take a comfortable walking tour of the legendary Wawel Castle, covering the Cathedral and the Belfry.
Lunch break and free time to explore the Old Town’s streets on your own.
Later in the evening, treat yourself to a sumptuous dinner in one of Krakow’s finest restaurants. You will have a chance to learn how to prepare delicious pierogi, our national dish, a type of dumpling filled with meat, vegetables, or fruit.
Overnight stay in Krakow
DAY 12: Black Madonna & return to Warsaw
After breakfast, begin your last highlight of the tour –Czestochowa. Along with Rome, Fatima in Portugal, and Lourdes in France, the Jasna Gora Monastery of Czestochowa belongs to the most important and inspiring pilgrimage points in Christendom. We will see not only the famous Black Madonna but also the monastery premises on a tour led by a resident Pauline monk.
Arrival in Warsaw at approx. 18.00. Drop-off possible at one of the following hotels: the Chopin Airport, Hotel Novotel Airport, Hotel Airport Okecie and Hotel SOFITEL Victoria.
optional add-on: Based on your next destination, we can provide the best rates for the overnight hotel of your choice .
