Itinerary
Your journey through Poland begins in picturesque Krakow. Meet your Travel Director at 17:00 for a walk around the Rynek Główny, Europe's largest and most beautiful town square. See the famous Sukiennice Cloth Hall, St. Mary's Church and the many historic townhouses, palaces and churches. Be sure to listen for the trumpeter's call! Later, enjoy getting to know your fellow guests over a fabulous dinner.
This morning, you can join an Optional Experience to visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine. In the afternoon, ascend Wawel Hill to see the Renaissance castle with a Local Expert. Visit the cathedral, the final resting place of the Kings of Poland and the former seat of Archbishop Karol Wojtyła, later known to the world as Pope John Paul II. Head across the former Jewish Quarter of Kazimierz, and then to Podgórze to see Ghetto Square.
Journey into the Tatras, the highest range of the Carpathian Mountains. Stay in the resort town of Zakopane, famous for its wooden houses and winter sports. On arrival, join your Travel Director for an orientation of the town. Spend free time shopping for local specialties in the markets of Krupówki Street or ascend a nearby mountain for panoramic views across the Tatras into Slovakia.
In the evening, enjoy a rousing dinner, accompanied by Goral Highlander folklore entertainment at a local restaurant.
Travelling past the birthplace of Pope John Paul II to your first stop, the city of Oświęcim, better known throughout the world by its German name, Auschwitz. With a Memorial Guide-Educator, experience a moving visit to the Auschwitz Memorial and Museum.
Continue along the Oder River to the city of Wrocław, known in Polish as Miasto Spotkań, or the meeting place. Throughout its long history, Wrocław has belonged to Poland, Bohemia, Austria, Prussia and Germany. With your Local Expert, see the brightly coloured facades of the noble mansions and the flower markets at Plac Solny. Take in the Baroque splendour of the Rynek, and be introduced to Wrocław's cheeky gnomes.
This evening, there is an opportunity to join your Travel Director for a craft beer at the Piwnica Świdnicka, the oldest restaurant/cellar in Poland, founded in 1273.
Continue on to Poznan where you will drive out to Ostrów Tumski, known as Cathedral Island. It's considered as the birthplace of Poland in the 10th century and is a fascinating place of legend, often overlooked by other visitors. Explore Poznań and immerse yourself in the city's rich history on a guided walking tour. Discover the story behind the famous St. Martin's croissant, a beloved local delicacy, and enjoy a delicious tasting.
Stop at Gniezno to visit the cathedral and see the famous two-winged bronze doors. Then continue to Toruń, founded by the Teutonic Knights in 1233 and birthplace of astronomer, Nicolaus Copernicus. Join a Local Expert to discover this outstanding example of medieval architecture, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spend time exploring at your own pace.
Follow the Vistula River north to magnificent Gdansk, Poland's Baltic trading port with more than 1000 years of history. As evening descends, a dinner of Baltic specialities is highly recommended, followed by a walk through Gdańsk's illuminated historic district.
Spend the morning with a passionate Local Expert and learn captivating and fun facts about the city. From across the harbour see Westerplatte, the scene of the first fighting between Polish and German troops in 1939, and stop at the Gdańsk Shipyards, where Lech Wałęsa formed the anti-Soviet Solidarność in 1980. Continue through the medieval city, where buildings date back to the time of the Hanseatic League. Enjoy a free afternoon and perhaps choose to visit the elegant seaside town of Sopot.
With a Local Expert, visit the Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork, founded in 1274 by the Teutonic Knights on the banks of the Nogat River. The castle is a stunning example of a medieval fortress and the largest brick Gothic castle in the world. Next, travel south to the capital of Warsaw. With the rest of the day at your leisure, perhaps attend an evening concert of Poland's best-loved composer, Frédéric Chopin?
See the Palace of Culture and the Chopin Monument in Łazienki Park with a Local Expert. Visit the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes, followed by a walk through Warsaw's Old Town, entirely rebuilt since World War II. At dinner, enjoy a fine selection of local dishes at a cosy Warsaw restaurant.
Time to say goodbye to your new friends as your journey through Poland comes to an end.
Trip Inclusions
- Kraków: Join your Local Expert to trace Kraków's development around Rynek Główny and the streets that formed the city's medieval core. You'll see the layers of architecture shaped by royal patronage, mercantile guilds and university life, noting how each period left its mark on the Old Town's pattern.
- Kraków: Visit Wawel Cathedral with your Local Expert, stepping inside the burial place of Poland's monarchs and statesmen. You'll see chapels added across successive dynasties and the cathedral where Karol Wojtyła, later Pope John Paul II, served as Archbishop of Kraków.
- Zakopane: Explore Zakopane with your Travel Director, moving along Krupówki Street to see examples of the Zakopane Style, developed in the late 19th century from local timber-building methods. You'll pass stalls selling Highlander woodcarving and textiles, and view the market area that continues to draw craftspeople from the surrounding Tatra villages.
- Auschwitz: Visit the Auschwitz Memorial and Museum with a Memorial Guide Educator, viewing preserved barracks, guard towers and the barbed-wire perimeter of the former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp.
- Wrocław: Explore Wrocław with your Local Expert, moving through the Rynek to see its restored facades and the adjacent Plac Solny, known for its long-standing flower market. You'll also encounter several of the city's bronze gnomes, originally installed in the 1980s and now scattered across the centre.
- Poznan: Join a Local Resident to explore Poznań's Old Town, pausing at the Renaissance town hall, rebuilt after the 16th-century fire, and the adjoining market streets. You'll see facades restored after wartime damage and note how the square links to the streets leading towards the university quarter.
- Gniezno: Visit Gniezno Cathedral to see the monumental bronze doors cast around 1175, noted for their detailed panels showing scenes from the life of St. Adalbert. Inside, you'll also view chapels and crypts that reflect the cathedral's long association with Poland's earliest rulers and archbishops.
- Toruń: Explore Toruń with your Local Expert, moving through streets lined with Gothic brickwork shaped by the Hanseatic League. You'll see the market square, the leaning tower, and sections of the medieval walls that still outline the town's original plan.
- Gdańsk: Join your Local Expert to view the harbourfront, including the vantage point towards Westerplatte, before stopping at the shipyard gates linked to the Solidarity movement of the 1980s. Continue into the medieval streets where Hanseatic brickwork and merchant houses define Gdańsk's historic layout.
- Malbork: Explore Malbork Castle with your Local Expert, walking through one of Europe's largest medieval brick fortresses. You'll see the High Castle with its cloisters and chapter house, the Middle Castle's great refectory, and the defensive walls that reflect the Teutonic Order's building programme from the late 13th century.
- Warsaw: Your Local Expert will show you the city's highlights. See the Old Town, Palace of Culture and visit the Chopin Memorial in the Lazienki Park before paying your respects at the Ghetto Heroes Memorial.
- Air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom
- An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door
- From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with a local specialty representing the destination.
- Complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi where available
- Kraków: Dine in a local restaurant with your Travel Director and fellow travellers, enjoying regional dishes and relaxed conversation that marks the beginning of your travels together.
- Zakopane: Enjoy dinner accompanied by Góral Highlander music and dance, with performers using regional instruments such as the fiddle and shepherd's flute. You'll hear the sharp, rhythmic patterns typical of the Tatra Highland.
- Poznan: Take part in a St. Martin's croissant tasting and learn how the protected regional recipe is prepared, from the layered dough to the poppy-seed filling. You'll hear how the pastry became tied to Poznań's 11 November tradition while sampling a croissant made to the certified specification.
- Warsaw: The Polish capital is currently enjoying a culinary renaissance - find out what the buzz is all about during your end-of-tour dinner with wine at a favourite restaurant.
- Dining Summary: 4 Dinners (D), 9 Breakfasts (B)
- Itinerary and inclusions are subject to change
- Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included
Trip Reviews (5)
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Insight Vacations Europe, Britain & the World (2026-27)
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