Tour of Poland Treasures

Meet your guide and the rest of the group in the hotel lobby this evening for a drive along the beautifully renovated Royal Route, passing historic monuments and residences before stopping at Castle Square for a walk through Old Town. We will stop at a local restaurant for a welcome dinner of typical Polish dishes served with the famous Polish vodka, “Zubrowka."

Overnight in Warsaw (D)

Today you will be introduced to the highlights of Warsaw. Our morning sightseeing includes a visit to Old Town and its impressive Royal Castle, the seat of the kings of Poland. Old Town was beautifully restored after World War II. On May 3rd In 1791 the Constitution was proclaimed at this castle, making it the 2nd oldest constitution in the world, after the US Constitution. We will visit the Canaletto Room with 23 of his paintings, the Magnificent Knight’s Hall housing six large paintings by Marcello Bacciarelli, the Throne Room and the Marble Room which has 22 portraits of Polish kings, and the most impressive of all the chambers in the castle, the Ballroom.

Lunch is served at a local restaurant in Old Town before we continue our drive past the National Opera House and Town Hall to the former Warsaw Ghetto. Later, we will visit the famous Wedel chocolate factory for a taste of their delicious hot chocolate at the “Wedel Old Fashioned Shop”. 

This evening, enjoy an unforgettable musical journey through Frederic Chopin’s world famous compositions at a piano recital. Sparkling wine will be served during intermission.

Overnight in Warsaw (B, L)

Our tour of Poland Treasures continues as we leave Warsaw. Today we depart for Zakopane in the Tatra Mountains, one of the most popular vacation resorts in Poland. We will stop in Czestochowa for lunch and to visit the Jasna Gora Monastery and the Black Madonna Shrine with its miraculous icon.

We arrive in Zakopane in the evening. This beautiful resort town is located in the valley between Gubalowka and Giewont, at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. Zakopane used to be a small mountain village but became a favorite artist’s retreat at the beginning of the 20th century.

Overnight in Zakopane (B, L)

In the morning, you will have a sightseeing tour of Zakopane, whose wooden architecture blends with the natural landscapes and it is copied in other parts of Poland and is known as Zakopianski Style. You will visit the Jaszczurowka Chapel, a great example of the wooden architecture in Zakopane, and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima at Krzeptowki, which was built by the people of Zakopane to thank the Lady of Fatima for saving the Pope after an attempt on His life. Admire the breathtaking views of the Tatras from the top of Gubalowka* Mountain and shop for souvenirs of arts and crafts of the Highlanders (Gorale) in the local shops.

After lunch on your own we continue on to Krakow. En route take a spectacular rafting trip on the Dunajec River** in Pieniny National Park. Tonight’s dinner will be served upon arrival at your hotel.

Overnight in Krakow (B, D)

*Funicular to Gubalowka Mountain (subject to confirmation on spot; service depends on the weather and funicular technical conditions)
** Dunajec Raft Trip (subject to confirmation on spot; service depends on the weather and level of the river)

In the morning we will visit Wawel, the Royal Castle, home to three dynasties of Poland’s monarchs. These stately halls and chambers have priceless art, ancient objects and valuable period furniture as well as a unique collection of 16th-century tapestries. We will visit the 18 chapels of the Wawel Cathedral, real architectural masterpieces, and the place of the cult of St. Stanislaw and St. Jadwiga, Queen of Poland. The Polish kings were crowned and buried in the Cathedral. It is also the home of the Zygmunt bell, dating back to 1520 and ranked as the world’s largest.

After visiting Wawel, we continue to Old Town and its restored Main Square with magnificent homes and palaces. We will stop at St. Mary’s Basilica to view the beautiful wooden altar by Wit Stwosz. Cloth Hall, in the middle of the square, was built before 1349 and renovated in the 16th century and has many interior shopping stalls.

We’ll have lunch before we drive to Auschwitz to visit the Martyrdom Museum of the infamous Nazi concentration camp.

Overnight in Krakow (B, L)

In the morning time on your own. Coffee and cake at the famous Krakow caféteria and a visit to Czartoryski Museum that presents most valuable art collection in Poland, and one of the most valuable in Europe. “The Lady with an Ermine” by Leonardo da Vinci or the “Landscape with the Good Samaritan” by Rembrandt van Rijn, as well as many other masterpieces of not only painting, but also sculpture, crafts, military, applied arts are presented in the renovated interiors of the museum.

Dinner with folklore show to end your day in Krakow. 

Overnight in Krakow (B, D)

Today we leave for Torun, stopping in Lowicz on the way, a typical Mazovian town famous for folk art such as colorful costumes and beautiful paper cut-outs. A local family serves lunch in their home at the foot of the former Lowicz Castle. Enjoy a typical Polish welcome of bread and salt before being served by the young married couple in their lovely house. Chat with them about their daily life and have your dessert outside in a beautiful garden. We depart for Torun and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Torun (B, L)

After breakfast, we go sightseeing in Torun, the birthplace of Nicolaus Copernicus and one of the most magnificent historic cities of Poland. Torun’s Old Town is on Unesco’s Heritage List for its magnificent 13th century Town Hall, beautiful churches and historic streets preserving the city’s past glory. We will visit the Copernicus Museum before we have lunch at a local restaurant.

Later we drive to Gdansk and take a stroll through Old Town before checking in to our hotel.

Overnight in Gdansk (B, L)

Today we have an in-depth city sightseeing tour of Gdansk. Starting at the Upland Gate, part of the city’s former fortifications and one of its main gates, we pass by a brick building which housed the Prison Tower and the Torture House, relics of the 15th-century Gothic defense walls. Next to the Prison Tower we see the Golden Gate which opens on to Long Market, a beautiful street with grand mansions decorated with late Renaissance and Baroque facades, a feast for the eyes, where the richest burghers of Gdansk once lived. We’ll see a building used for Hanseatic League meetings at Artus Court in Main Town, known as the most beautiful Court, among all of Europe’s Hanseatic cities. Behind Artus Court, we find the Tower of St. Mary’s Basilica, part of the largest red-brick Gothic church in Gdansk. We will drive by the elegant boutiques and gabled terraced houses of Mariacka Street on our way to Malbork, where we will have lunch before visiting the Teutonic Knights Castle, one of Poland’s greatest tourist attractions and the largest brick building in Europe.

We return to Gdansk where you will have some free time for shopping for Baltic arts and crafts and unique amber jewelry.

Overnight in Gdansk (B, L)

After breakfast we drive to Gdynia, youngest of the tri-city complex, which also includes Sopot the famous and fashionable seaside resort. Here you can still see the oldest and longest wooden pier in Europe. We will also visit Oliwa Cathedral famous for one-of-a-kind pipe organ, to enjoy a concert. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon we drive for Warsaw.  

Overnight in Warsaw (B, L, D)

After breakfast, optional transfer to the airport for the return flight home. (B)