Suggested Itinerary
Day 1 – Krakow
Scheduled flight to Krakow from your preferred airport – transfer with our professional guide in our private executive coach to the 3* Legend Hotel in central Krakow.
Day 2 – Cloth Hall, St Mary's Basilica, Wawel Royal Castle & Wawel Cathedral
Guided tour of Krakow taking in the important sights of the city – Cloth Hall, with a splendid Renaissance edifice and an ornate roof adorned with grotesque masks, is the world's oldest shopping mall having been in business in the middle of the Grand Square for 700 years – St Mary's Basilica, Krakow's principal church since the 14th century, is particularly famous for its wooden altar carved by Veit Stoss – the stately halls and exquisite chambers of Wawel Royal Castle on the banks of the Vistula River were home to three dynasties of Poland's monarchs, and its collection of the 16th century monumental Flemish tapestries is matchless (and, while the Czartoryskich Museum is closed for refurbishment, the temporary home of Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Lady with an Ermine’) – Wawel Cathedral, Poland's national sanctuary with a 1,000 year old history, was the coronation site of Polish monarchs and is home to a wonderful art collection from Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque to Classicist and Modern.
Day 3 – Jagiello University & the Jewish Quarter
The 630 year old Jagiello University buildings, including the Collegium Maius (The Grand College), were rebuilt in the 15th century as a splendid late Gothic edifice around a vast courtyard with surrounding arcades and its alumni include the astronomer Copernicus and Pope John Paul II – a guided tour of the Jewish Quarter, the centre of Jewish life in Krakow for over 500 years before it was systematically destroyed during World War II, takes in the Old Synagogue, the Pharmacy Museum and the Oscar Schindler Museum.
Day 4 – Wieliczka Salt Mines & Niepolomice Castle
Established in 1978 as a UNESCO World Cultural & Heritage Site, nine centuries of mining at the magnificent Wieliczka Salt Mines produced 200 kilometres of passages and 2,040 caverns with the highlight of our tour being the underground cathedral where the wall decorations, altar, statues, floor, ceiling and even the chandeliers are all made of salt – Niepolomice Castle, originally constructed as a royal hunting lodge in the 14th century, was rebuilt in the 1550s in the late Renaissance style and after extensive restoration in the 1990s is now home to an art gallery and museum.
Day 5 – Krakow & Auschwitz
Free morning to enjoy Krakow at your leisure to explore the city or to take an optional excursion and guided tour of Auschwitz, one of the most notorious German concentration camps – transfer to the airport for our scheduled flight home.
Tour Features
Full programme of included excursions
Professional local guide
Scheduled flights to Krakow
Executive coach in Poland
One free place per 10 paying passengers
Guided tour of Krakow
Cloth Hall
St Mary's Basilica
Wawel Royal Castle
Wawel Cathedral
Jagiello University & Collegium Maius
Jewish Quarter - guided tour
UNESCO listed Wieliczka Salt Mines
Niepolomice Castle
Auschwitz
Hotel
Four nights on bed and breakfast basis in superior rooms at the 3* Legend Hotel in Krakow. Located a ten minute walk from the old town, facilities at the hotel include a restaurant and bar and all rooms are en suite.
Tailor-make this tour
Your tailor made tour
Here are some more suggested places of interest:
- Nowy Wisnicz Castle - built by Casimir the Great in the 14th century, the Castle was once the residence of the Lubomirski Princes, mighty magnates that shaped Polish politics for more than 400 years
- Pieskowa Skala Castle - within the Ojców National Park and overlooking the picturesque Pradnik River valley, locally referred to as ‘a pearl of the Polish Renaissance’ the 14th century castle is home to a fine collection of European art from the 15th to 19th centuries
- Oscar Schindler Museum - located in one of the former Oscar Schindler factory buildings, the museum contemplates the story of Krakow under Nazi occupation
Tour Reviews
Reviews for Krakow’s Art & History
I have just returned from a 5 day trip to Krakow. Just writing to tell you how much I enjoyed the holiday, it was very well organised, and some very experienced and informative guides were provided. In particular, I would like to mention our tour manager who was with us every day, he was helpful, polite and could not do enough for us. He provided us with an excellent commentary on the history of Poland, Krakow and all the places we visited. His knowledge of the history and art around us was an inspiration and the way he described it to us was totally absorbing. I am sure I speak for everyone in our group, - we all thoroughly enjoyed our time in Krakow, so thank you again for organising such a memorable trip.
IP, Hove October 2019
I have just returned from 4 night in Krakow organised through you. I just wanted to tell you how impressed I was with our guide who was magnificent. Not only was he polite, helpful and very attentive but his knowledge on the history of Krakow and indeed the whole of Poland was second to none.
EB, Hove October 2019
We had a great time in Krakow. There were so many highlights, but I could pick the Rynek Underground that people really enjoyed (we have a similar thing (Jorvik) in York), the Salt Mine, all the wonderful buildings, especially the University, and of course Auchswitz which everyone ought to see even though it is so harrowing.
PH, Ilkley October 2018
The holiday to Krakow was a great success. The hotel was very well situated, the reception staff very friendly and the food excellent. Our guide was excellent and incredibly knowledgeable, although it was difficult to get a word in edgeways and ask a question. The visits were all excellent. All in all a highly successful trip. Many thanks to you and your staff for all your hard work in making everything run so smoothly.
AT, Woodford Green July 2017
Thank you for all your help and patience organising this trip for us. We thoroughly enjoyed it. You and our guide Gregory ensured that our trip went without a hitch and was both educational and enjoyable. Our hotel (the Wyspianski) was very centrally located just five minutes from the old town, and was of a high standard, even though it was only designated as 3 star. We had a wonderful group of travellers and they all made easier my first venture as a group leader.
JB, Chelmsford October 2016
Thank you all for all the support with our holiday in Krakow. I couldn’t have asked for more. The holiday was a great success – we’re still talking about it – all thanks to you.
CB, Stamford December 2014
Just to let you know that the trip to Krakow was a great success and no-one died, broke bones or anything else. Everything ran like clockwork and we all had a good time. The guides were excellent. Many thanks for all your help and support.
CB, Stamford September 2014
Having finally recovered from all our travels, we must thank you for all the hard work you put in to help make the trip to Krakow so successful. Juliet and I have had lots of notes of thanks from others who went with us and it is clear that all enjoyed the trip enormously. Agnes was delightful. She was obviously very proud of Krakow and wanted us to really enjoy it, which we did.
PW, Oxford May 2011
Call us on
020 7064 4970
to tailor this tour
for your group
Tailor make your group tour
Remember this itinerary is just our suggestion. Tailor make this tour exclusively for your group to suit your members’ budget or preferences. You could:
- stay at a 4* hotel
- on half board basis
- for more (or fewer) days
- include different excursions – see ‘Tailor-make this tour’ tab for suggestions
- include UK airport coach transfers
- bring a specialist lecturer
- include all entrance fees & gratuities
Call us on
020 7064 4970
to tailor make the perfect tour
for your group
