Day 1: Arrive Warsaw
Welcome to Poland! Upon arrival at Warsaw Chopin Airport, you will be transferred to your hotel in the heart of the Polish capital. After settling in, enjoy a welcome dinner where you will meet your tour director and fellow travelers. The evening is free to take a leisurely stroll through the illuminated streets of Warsaw’s revitalized city center.
Day 2: Warsaw
Today’s guided tour explores the Polish capital’s most iconic sights. Begin in the UNESCO-listed Old Town, a meticulous reconstruction of the original medieval city that was destroyed during World War II. Walk through Castle Square and visit the Royal Castle, once the seat of Polish kings. Continue to Lazienki Park, Warsaw’s largest park, where you will see the iconic Chopin Monument and the Palace on the Water, a stunning neoclassical building seemingly floating on a lake. In the afternoon, explore the Warsaw Rising Museum or the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, two powerful institutions that tell the story of Warsaw’s wartime experience and its rich Jewish heritage. The evening is yours to sample Polish cuisine at a traditional milk bar or one of the city’s acclaimed restaurants.
Day 3: Warsaw to Gdansk
Depart Warsaw and travel north through the Polish countryside, making a significant stop at Malbork Castle, the largest brick castle in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Built by the Teutonic Knights in the 13th century, this colossal fortress spans 21 hectares and is a masterpiece of medieval military architecture. After a guided tour of the castle, continue to Gdansk, the historic Baltic port city. Check into your hotel and enjoy an evening walk along the Motlawa River embankment, where the iconic Gdansk Crane — a 15th-century port crane — still stands as a symbol of the city’s maritime heritage.
Day 4: Gdansk
Spend the full day discovering Gdansk, one of Poland’s most beautiful cities. Your morning walking tour takes you along the Royal Route, beginning at Upland Gate and leading to the magnificent Long Market, lined with colorful, ornate merchant houses. See the Neptune Fountain, the symbol of Gdansk’s connection to the sea, and step inside St. Mary’s Church, one of the largest brick churches in the world. In the afternoon, visit the Solidarity Square and the European Solidarity Centre, an interactive museum that tells the powerful story of the Solidarity trade union movement that began in the Gdansk Shipyard and eventually led to the fall of communism across Eastern Europe. Spend the remainder of the day exploring the amber shops for which Gdansk is famous — Baltic amber, known as Baltic gold, has been treasured here for millennia.
Day 5: Gdansk to Torun to Poznan
Travel south to Torun, one of Poland’s oldest and best-preserved cities. Torun’s entire medieval Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, its Gothic brick architecture largely untouched by war. Walk the Copernicus Trail, visiting the house where Nicolaus Copernicus was born in 1473 and the university that bears his name. Don’t miss the chance to try pierniki, the famous Torun gingerbread that has been baked here since the Middle Ages, and visit the Gingerbread Museum to learn the craft yourself. After lunch, continue to Poznan, arriving in the late afternoon. Check into your hotel and take an evening stroll through the beautifully illuminated Old Market Square.
Day 6: Poznan to Krakow
Begin with a morning tour of Poznan, centered on the Old Market Square, one of Poland’s most impressive Renaissance squares. At noon, gather with the crowd to watch Poznan’s famous mechanical goats butt heads above the Town Hall clock tower — a quirky tradition dating back to 1551. See the colorful merchants’ houses, the Baroque parish church, and the former Jesuit college. In the afternoon, transfer south to Krakow, Poland’s former royal capital and cultural heart. Upon arrival, check into your hotel and enjoy a free evening to begin exploring this magnificent city on your own.
Day 7: Krakow
Today is dedicated to Krakow, a city that largely escaped wartime destruction and retains its medieval architectural integrity. Your guided tour begins at Wawel Hill, home to the Royal Castle and Cathedral, the coronation and burial site of Polish monarchs for centuries. Walk down to the Main Market Square, Europe’s largest medieval town square, dominated by the Renaissance Cloth Hall and the twin towers of St. Mary’s Basilica. Be sure to be in the square at the top of each hour when a trumpeter plays the hejnal — a five-note melody that breaks off mid-tune in memory of a 13th-century watchman shot by a Mongol arrow while warning of an attack. In the afternoon, explore Kazimierz, Krakow’s historic Jewish Quarter, famous for its synagogues, atmospheric courtyards, and the vibrant street art and cafes that have revitalized this neighborhood. The evening is free to enjoy Krakow’s legendary dining and nightlife scene.
Day 8: Krakow to Zakopane
Take a day excursion south to Zakopane, Poland’s premier mountain resort nestled at the foot of the Tatra Mountains. Enjoy breathtaking alpine scenery as you approach this charming town known for its distinctive wooden architecture in the Zakopane Style. Walk along Krupowki Street, the lively pedestrian thoroughfare lined with restaurants, souvenir shops, and street performers. Experience highlander culture with an oscypek cheese tasting — this smoked sheep’s cheese is a regional specialty shaped into decorative spindles. Ride the Gubalowka funicular for panoramic views of the Tatras, or simply breathe the fresh mountain air and admire the traditional wooden houses and chapels. Return to Krakow in the evening.
Day 9: Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial & Return Krakow
Your concluding day is devoted to a deeply moving visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, located approximately 70 kilometers west of Krakow. A guided tour of both Auschwitz I (the original camp) and Auschwitz II-Birkenau (the vast extermination camp) provides a sobering and essential understanding of the Holocaust, the largest mass murder in human history. Walking through the infamous Arbeit Macht Frei gate, seeing the exhibits of personal belongings, and standing on the railway platform where millions arrived is an experience that stays with every visitor. The tour emphasizes remembrance, education, and the importance of confronting history to build a more humane future. Return to Krakow in the afternoon where your tour concludes. Your tour director can assist with evening departures or additional nights in Krakow.
