POLAND
Warsaw, Krakow and Gdansk
Poland has a proud national heritage going back more than 1,000 years - during its golden age in the 16th century, it was the largest nation in Europe. Poland has its own personality, blending the romantic qualities of Western Europe and austere fortitude of Russia. It is a land full of UNESCO World Heritage sites, grand castles, and a lush rolling countryside, dotted with medieval towns and friendly rural villages. Poland is a great destination for history lovers but is also attractive to those interested in architecture, or who want to explore their Jewish Heritage, with visits to the new Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw and the Lodz Ghetto. Poland is also an easy country to explore with the comfort and convenience of a private guide and driver. Lakani World Tours can create a travel itinerary best suited for you – depending on your time, interests, and budget. Here are just a few suggestions on cities your holiday can include: Warsaw – Poland’s capital and its largest city, Warsaw boasts of a charming Old Town (the Staré Mesto) that has been painstakingly rebuilt from scratch after WW II. Enjoy a walking tour of the old neighborhoods and former Jewish Ghetto, then visit the Royal Łazienki Palace Park, with its famous Palace on the Water, Belvedere Palace, and the monument to Chopin. Other interesting sites include the ultra-modern and poignant Warsaw Uprising Museum, St. Cross Church, where Chopin’s heart is kept in a pillar. A memorable evening experience is a classic Polish meal, followed by a private Chopin piano concert. Kraków –was one of the first designated UNESCO sites, with a city plan dating back to the 13th century, and the largest medieval town square in Europe. The city offers interesting Gothic, Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture, the best restaurants in Poland, and being a vibrant university town, atmospheric cafes. Tours of the fascinating underground carved chapels in the Wieliczka’s Salt Mine, Nowa Huta, a Socialist utopian experiment, and sobering Auschwitz- Birkenau museum are also recommended. Gdansk – Set in northern Poland, on the Baltic coast, this Hanseatic city is home to the Solidarity Monument, a tribute to the shipyard workers who started a chain reaction of peaceful revolutions throughout Eastern Europe. Explore the charming galleries and shops on Mariacka Street, the Gothic-style Church of Our Lady, and Malbork Castle, once the seat of power for the Order of the Teutonic Knights. If you have more time, consider exploring the castle district of Wroclaw, or an extension to the Baltic nations or other Eastern European countries.