Full Wonders of Poland Circuit

Welcome to your tour with Europamundo! We’ll transfer you to the hotel and you’ll have some free time. In the afternoon, you’ll find information about the start of your tour on the boards located at the hotel reception.

We’ll start the day with a panoramic tour of WARSAW with a local guide. Home to nearly two million people, this political and economic hub of Poland boasts a blend of modern architecture and meticulously restored historic buildings. We’ll stroll through the charming old town, featuring many old buildings, the Royal Palace, and cobbled streets, all restored after their destruction in World War II and now declared a World Heritage Site. We’ll visit the Palace of Culture, a skyscraper gifted by the Soviet Union, reflect on the history of what was once the largest Jewish ghetto in Europe, and wander through Lazienki Park, home to the Chopin Monument. You’ll have free time in the afternoon to visit museums, such as the National Museum and the Warsaw Rising Museum, or to explore the lively city center filled with shops and activities. Note: Depending on the number of passengers, the city tour may be operated on a regular tourist service.

We’ll depart for the forested, hilly region of Lesser Poland, often known by its Polish name Małopolska. Our first stop will be in Kielce, a vibrant town founded in the 11th century, with an elegant center featuring its cathedral, bishop’s palace, and charming gardens. There will be time to explore the city and enjoy lunch. Traveling along smaller roads, allowing us to fully appreciate the villages and landscapes, we’ll continue travelling through Lesser Poland. We’ll discover the magnificent small town of Tarnow, founded in the 14th century, with its spacious central square, medieval streets, and Renaissance and Gothic architecture influenced by Polish, Jewish, and Hungarian cultures. Before World War II, nearly half of the city´s population was Jewish, and its ethnographic museum serves as a reminder of the Roma community, who were persecuted during the European conflict. We’ll then continue to Krakow, arriving in the late afternoon. We recommend taking a stroll through the lively Market Square.

In the morning, we’ll enjoy a panoramic tour of Krakow with a local guide. Founded in the seventh century, the capital of Lesser Poland boasts an Old Town recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. During our visit, we’ll see its charming medieval streets, the Market Square, one of the largest in Europe and the heart of the city, and Wawel Hill, located at Wawel Castle, former residence of Polish kings. In the afternoon, you’ll have free time. If you wish, you can join an optional excursion to the Wieliczka Salt Mines, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, featuring carved galleries, underground churches, and over 300 km of tunnels.

After breakfast, we’ll depart for Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, a small town set among beautiful surroundings known for its monastery and chapel complex, the “Calvary,” a UNESCO World Heritage Site and pilgrimage destination. Next, we’ll make a brief stop at the wooden church in Barwald Dolny before heading to Wadowice, the birthplace of Karol Wojtyla, Pope John Paul II. You can visit either his museum house or the basilica where he was baptized, with time for a walk and lunch. We’ll then visit Auschwitz, the former Nazi concentration camp where over a million people perished during World War II. Now a memorial and museum, it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ll tour Birkenau, where trains from across Europe arrived. On our way to Katowice, we’ll stop at the Nikiszowiec neighborhood, built in the early 20th century for miners and their families. This area, known for its unique architecture and vibrant community life, is currently under consideration for UNESCO World Heritage status. In Katowice, the capital of Silesia, you’ll have free time to explore this modern city and financial hub. Accommodation will be in Katowice.

We’ll continue our route to Opole, where you’ll have time for a coffee in this active small town with its wellpreserved old town, known for the National Festival of Polish Song. Leaving the town, we’ll visit the Village Museum (tickets included), an openair museum showcasing life in rural Poland in the late 19th century and the region’s wooden architecture, featuring mills, a church, and farms. We’ll then continue to Wroclaw, a city founded in the 10th century and capital of Lower Silesia, reflecting Polish, Czech, Austrian, and German influences. Its old town, rebuilt after World War II, has one of the most beautiful squares in Poland. The city is also famous for its numerous bridges and canals. In the afternoon, we’ll include a boat ride on its canals. You’ll have free time to explore the city.

We’ll travel to the region of Greater Poland and reach its capital, Poznan, one of the oldest cities in the country. Its old town features the impressive Market Square, where the Town Hall is surrounded by colorful Renaissance buildings, creating a cheerful and inviting atmosphere. At noon, in this square, you’ll witness the charming 16thcentury tradition of two mechanical goats butting heads at the sound of the clock. You’ll have time for lunch and a stroll. We’ll then continue to Toruń, a Gothic walled city with a magnificent historic center, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the birthplace of Copernicus. If you wish, you can visit his museum/home. Afterward, we’ll travel to Gdansk, formerly Danzig, arriving in the late afternoon. Its historic center is charming and full of life. We highly recommend taking an evening stroll to soak in the vibrant atmosphere.

After breakfast, with our guide and bus, we’ll visit the European Solidarity Center, an immense contemporary building that commemorates the history of the "Solidarity" union, which played a pivotal role in the fall of the Soviet Union, and highlights the monument dedicated to the fallen workers. Afterward, we’ll pass by the Museum of the Second World War (closed on Mondays). Next, we’ll head to nearby Sopot, an elegant seaside resort with a large beach on the Baltic Sea and a lively atmosphere. Its wooden pier, offering stunning views, is one of the longest in Europe. You’ll have time to stroll and enjoy lunch. We’ll then return to Gdansk, where you’ll have free time to explore this magnificent city.

We’ll continue to Malbork, where we’ll explore its impressive castle (tickets included for the green route), one of the largest medieval castles in Europe, built in the 13th century by the Teutonic Order and designated a World Heritage Site. Afterward, we’ll head to Frombork, located on the northeastern coast of Poland. This peaceful village is home to a stunning walled complex where Nicolaus Copernicus is buried. You’ll have time to stroll and enjoy lunch. Next, we’ll visit the Elblag Canal, the longest navigable canal in Poland and a 19thcentury industrial gem. We’ll tour the museum dedicated to this engineering marvel, where boats are pulled over land on rails to overcome elevation changes. We’ll then continue our journey to Warsaw, the capital of Poland, arriving by the end of the day.

After breakfast, our journey will come to an end, leaving you with wonderful lasting memories.