Discover Historic Krakow

After you arrive in Krakow, the city is yours to explore. You may wish to wander the ancient, cobbled streets, soaking in the sights of grand facades, or stroll along the edge of the Vistula River and watch as the sun dances on the water's surface. You could visit the market square to peruse the shops, relax in one of the cosy cafes, explore the local museum or enjoy a first taste of craft beer at the pub, surrounded by impressive architecture from the Middle Ages.

If you’d like some recommendations on how to spend your free time, our friendly expert Tour Manager is on hand at the hotel to give you advice on the must-see sights, restaurants and experiences to take full advantage of your time in Krakow.

After breakfast, we'll embark on a walking tour of Krakow with a small group of your fellow travellers, uncovering the city’s ancient secrets one cobblestone at a time as we navigate its intricate streets. During our tour, we'll visit the city’s iconic market square Rynek, a bustling area lined with exquisite medieval buildings.  In the centre of the square stands the Cloth Hall, which has been a hub for textile trading since the 16th century. Here, locals go about their day, chatting and enjoying coffee at the many street cafés.

We’ll get a feel of life as a local for ourselves as we stroll through the square, browsing vibrant stalls selling beautiful, locally-made amber jewellery.

Overlooking the square is St. Mary’s Church, richly adorned with fine paintings, gold leaf, and silverware -its opulence might even lead one to mistake it for a cathedral! The church features stunning 14th-century stained glass that creates a kaleidoscope of colours with striking beams of light in the chancel below. Since medieval times, a trumpeter has sounded a bugle call from the top of one of the church's two ornate spires – they sound the call four times in succession, to the north, east, south and west. Originally, it’s thought that it was sounded to signal the opening of the city’s four gates, but then it was used to warn of a potential attack, and to close the gates from invaders. It’s still played now, every hour on the hour, with the noon call broadcast on national Polish radio.

On our tour we will also see the impressive Florian Gate and the remnants of the medieval fortifications that defended the once-capital of Poland, as well as the church where Pope John Paul II held Mass for a grateful congregation. Other sights include the University and Collegium, where the famous astronomer Copernicus theorised that the Earth was not the centre of the solar system – this was extremely brave at the time, as it derailed centuries of scientific thinking, and went against the church’s beliefs that the Earth was the centre of the universe!

Later, we'll visit the 11th century Wawel castle district, a series of buildings which dominate over Krakow. This area, situated on a bend of the Vistula River, served as the political and cultural capital of Poland for over 500 years. Among the many buildings in the district are the Royal Palace, the Cathedral, the Senators’ Hall, the Treasury, and the Armoury.

We'll see the cathedral which is the final resting place of the Polish monarchs. You can tour the Palace and Royal Chambers which boast an impressive array of rooms restored to their original stunning Renaissance and Baroque state, filled with fine furniture, works of art, and Europe’s largest collection of tapestries. You'll have free time to explore the rest of the complex, including the wonderful three-tiered Renaissance courtyard.

This afternoon, you can either enjoy free time in Krakow or opt for a tour of the famous Salt Mines, a fascinating underground world that has been in production since the Middle Ages. Be awed by the chapels, chambers, and saline lakes as you explore this otherworldly site and uncover the truth behind its intriguing history. Your Tour Manager will provide information on the timing and costs of this optional tour.

Our destination for this morning requires no introduction: Auschwitz-Birkenau. We carefully considered whether it was appropriate to include this location as part of our itinerary, but our philosophy is to inform our travellers about all aspects of the countries we visit.

Auschwitz-Birkenau has been left virtually untouched as it was when it was liberated as a Nazi concentration camp in 1945. It is now a museum and monument, and this morning’s guided tour will be led by a local guide - many find it to be an extremely moving experience. In a small group of your fellow travellers, we'll first visit Auschwitz and then nearby Birkenau, where we can see the notorious watchtower and appreciate the sheer scale of the atrocities that took place.

Alternatively, you have the option to spend the morning in Krakow, where you can explore its beautiful attractions, sights, shops, museums, and galleries.

In the afternoon, you're in for a real treat as we indulge your taste buds with a traditional Polish food tour. Due to its turbulent history, Polish cuisine is rich and diverse, influenced by various cultures. During a walking tour through the historic streets of the Jewish District, we'll delve into the city's gastronomic heritage while sampling traditional dishes, including Polish vodka and craft beers. Our friendly and knowledgeable guide will introduce you to the best street food Krakow has to offer and will take you to the places cherished by locals. You'll learn about the cultural traditions and history behind the places we visit and the foods we sample. Be prepared—you're going to need a healthy appetite for this tour!