Poland is buzzing with innovative energy, and while a generation of creatives take up space in its cities and shift their country’s focus from the past to the future, its profoundly important past is honored in museums, monuments and moving memorials.
Having survived the ravages of war and the fall of communism, Poland’s cities have a strong sense of place and a uniquely personal history. Warsaw now rivals Berlin and Prague as a cool European hotspot, with a progressive plant-based restaurant scene, neon-lit bars and quirky gallery scene flourishing beneath Gothic spires and a former railway station turned lively food market. In Kraków, moving memorials to Holocaust victims and essential elegies mark important moments and movements in Poland’s history.
1 Arrive Warsaw, PolandWarsaw’s gothic spires and historic boulevards frame a city that thrives with dynamic culture, contemporary art and high-energy entertainment. In the meticulously restored Old Town, elegant architecture sits alongside lively cafes and trendy vintage fashion stores, while the Praga district offers a striking contrast with its gritty, artistic flair and hidden treasures.
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2 Warsaw | Medieval History & Tastes Of WarsawDiscover Old Town’s fairy-tale façades, continuing to the Royal Castle and 14th-century Cathedral of Saint John. Afterward join your food expert guide today for a culinary walking tour of Warsaw. Follow your guide across the city center, sampling the delights of authentic Polish cuisine, from appetizers to main course and dessert. Visit a variety of traditional and modern venues, all hand-selected to provide not just the best local food, but also a filling historical and cultural experience.
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3 Warsaw | Warsaw Bike TourEnjoy a relaxed bike ride down the famous Royal Route and the edge of the picturesque Old Town, taking in the iconic landmarks as your guide paints a picture of each site’s place in history. Admire the panoramic views from the city beach and feel the cool breeze as you ride along the Vistula River, discovering the natural beauty of its riverbanks. Highlights also include external visits to the Palace of Culture and Science, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, National Stadium, Grzybowski Square, University Library – Warsaw Uprising Memorial, and Saskia and Krasinskich Gardens.
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4 Kraków | Royal Capital Turned Pillar Of ResilienceNo need for a clock in Kraków, where a trumpet’s tantara sings out from the tower of St Mary’s Basilica to mark every hour. It’s an age-old reminder of the city’s history of conflict and the battle scars it bears, but it’s also a thoughtful tribute to how past and present can thrive side by side. Kraków’s historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of castles and cathedrals, striking 15th-century altars and 800-year-old monasteries, klezmer concerts and Poland’s oldest synagogue.
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5 Kraków | Medieval ArchitectureVisit the Royal Castle and the Cathedral located on Wawel Hill. The city’s centerpiece ismagnificent Market Square, the location of St. Mary’s Church with its famous 15th-century altar created by Wit Stwosz. Before leaving the town center, stroll through the impressive medieval university complex. Travel out of central Krakow to Kazimierz, the historic Jewish Ghetto, where Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory is now a museum chronicling the city’s wartime experiences.
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6 Kraków | Legacy Of The HolocaustThe Auschwitz-Birkenau complex is also an unmissable, unforgettable experience that exposes the horror of the Holocaust and pays tribute to over one million Jews and tens of thousands of other victims, including Poles, Roma, and Soviet prisoners of war.
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7 Depart Kraków
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