5 minute read
The Spirit of Kraków
Savour the preserved medieval glories of Poland’s former Royal capital, and pay a moving visit to poignant Auschwitz.
Wawel Castle
Auschwitz Day One – Fly to Poland from the UK Fly to Kraków, meet your tour manager and transfer to your hotel. After check-in, head out to take your first look at the city, or head for a café or local beer cellar. Our tour manager will be on hand to point you in the right direction, and to make dinner suggestions. A vibrant, bustling city, Kraków is no museum piece, but a lived-in space crammed full of cafés, restaurants and bars, and is especially lively in the evening when it offers an everwidening choice of eateries, from traditional Polish, Russian, German, Lithuanian and Jewish cuisine to some of the latest foodie fads and fashions.
Day Two – Included Kraków city tour
Exploring mostly on foot in the company of a friendly guide, on our included guided tour of the city you’ll see the highlights of this seat of Polish kings and former home to much-loved Cardinal Karol Wojtyla (better known around the world as Pope John Paul II). The focal point of Stare Miasto, Kraków’s mesmerising medieval heart, is the Grand Square, Rynek Główny One of Europe’s largest medieval squares, it is surrounded by buildings of breath-taking beauty, and churches with towers and intricate spires. At its centre stands the vast Sukiennice (Cloth Hall), which now serves as a covered market. Here, the upper floor is a fascinating art gallery, while the ground floor cafés are perfect places to stop and rest. Close by, the Mariacki Church is one of Poland’s finest buildings and contains a fantastically intricate wooden altarpiece. And to both the north and west the medieval and Renaissance splendour continues – the University District is especially appealing. After the tour, you’re free to continue exploring. Head away from the stunning views of the River Vistula to visit the opulent State Rooms of Wawel Castle, and don’t miss the art treasures of the Czartoryski Palace, close to Florianska Gate and the three-metre-thick defensive
Available Mar to Nov 2023
Fly direct from these airports. Prices from
• Birmingham £599 • Bristol £549 • Edinburgh £585 • Gatwick £529 • Glasgow £585 • Leeds/Bradford £625 • Luton £525 • Manchester £645 • Newcastle £625 • Stansted £525
Personalise your holiday
• Folklore Evening – from £47 • Wieliczka Salt Mine (half day) – from £40 • Room for Sole Use from £115
Please note: The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately 45 minutes.
Baltic Sea
Poland
Auschwitz-Birkenau
Czech
Kraków
Slovakia
• Enjoy a guided tour of Poland’s stunning former Royal Capital • Discover the great square of Rynek Glówny, medieval Europe’s largest old town square • Wander the market stalls and galleries of the vast Sukkennice Cloth Hall • Don’t miss the stunning Mariacki church • Take in Wawel Castle and its views • Visit the Kazimierz district, the former centre of Jewish culture • Enjoy Kraków’s vibrant café culture • Visit sobering Auschwitz-Birkenau • Four nights’ carefully chosen three-star bed and breakfast accommodation at the Hotel
Wyspiański, Kraków* (upgrade hotel available for a supplement) • Return flights to Kraków, with coach travel and transfers throughout • Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager
Krakow
Wieliczka Salt Mines Czartoryski Palace Barbakan
walls of the Barbakan, at the northernmost point of the Old Town. South of Wawel Hill lies the Kazimierz district, the historic centre of Jewish culture in the city until the events of 1941 forced the residents into a temporary home in the ghetto across the river before their eventual, tragic, final journey to Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Day Three – Included day trip to Auschwitz-
Birkenau Today includes an unforgettable excursion to the remains of the most infamous of all the Nazi concentration camps, which lie some 70km southwest of the city. This harrowing and thought-provoking pilgrimage will provide a very real insight into the horrors of the Final Solution as you tour the buildings of the camp, many left as they were discovered in 1945. Returning to the city, you’ll be free to explore. Visit the Kazimierz quarter or the poignant Pharmacy Under The Eagle Museum, across the river in the Podgórze district that became Kraków’s cramped wartime ghetto.
Day Four – Optional excursion to Wieliczka
salt mines Today you’re free to discover more of the city’s sights, perhaps returning to a place of interest or looking for souvenirs of your visit. Alternatively, join our optional excursion to the astonishing salt mine at Wieliczka, just a short journey from the city. This UNESCO-listed monument was first excavated a thousand years ago. And, while its vast underground chambers no longer function as a mine, it remains one of Poland’s most fascinating attractions. Subterranean walkways lead past some remarkable natural and man-made wonders, including a full-sized chapel carved out of the salt and, on the very lowest level, a stupendous concert hall. A museum of mining gives an in-depth impression of what life was like for the miners, and your visit will end in the subterranean gift shop and café before you return to the surface by lift. Later, make the most of your final evening in Kraków, reliving the excitement of the last few days. Day Five – Fly back to the UK Depending on your flight time, you may have time to catch a final glimpse of this majestic city before we transfer you to the airport to check in for your flight home.
our product manager loves...
Centred on the renowned Rynek Glowny or market square, the town of Krakow is one of the most beautiful in Eastern Europe.
your hotel choices
This modern, comfortable hotel features a sleek restaurant, a bar, and a terrace, overlooking a garden, contemporary rooms have TVs, desks, and free Wi-Fi. INX Design Hotel, Kraków HHHH Bed & Breakfast from £584
Rooms are colourful with bold patterns and include mini-bars, TVs, and free Wi-Fi. There’s a laid-back bar, a chic restaurant, a lobby lounge, and a gym with a Finnish sauna.
Hotel Wyspiański
what our cutomers say...
Every aspect of the tour was firstclass. Kraków is a beautiful city that needs to be seen – we’ll be back for a second trip for sure. Linda
INX Design Kraków
