Authentic Heart & Soul of Poland

From $3,900 pp

  • Duration

    12 Days

  • Bookable From

    Year-round

  • Trip Style

    Privately Guided

  • Country

    Poland

  • Physical Rating

    Average

Overview

Experience the authentic heart and soul of Poland on this privately guided journey through its history, heritage, culture, and breathtaking landscapes.

Begin in Kraków, where medieval charm meets poignant history, from the Old Town’s cobbled streets to the powerful Auschwitz Memorial. Descend into the extraordinary Wieliczka Salt Mine before heading to Warsaw, where resilience and innovation shine in its beautifully restored Old Town. In Gdańsk, walk the Royal Way and witness the maritime spirit of the Baltic coast, with a day trip to the vibrant port city of Gdynia. Along the way, savor Polish flavors, from handmade pierogi to fresh seafood, and end your adventure with a Chopin concert in Warsaw.

You'll travel in 1st class train cars and stay in 4* hotels and boutique hotels throughout. First, you'll be based in Kraków for 5 nights, then spend 2 nights in Warsaw, 3 nights in Gdansk, and then 1 final night in Warsaw.

This journey through Poland’s past and present is an unforgettable deep dive into its rich cultural essence.

Highlights

  • Explore Kraków’s UNESCO-listed Old Town and Wawel Castle.
  • Visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial for a profound historical experience.
  • Descend into the mesmerizing chambers of Wieliczka Salt Mine.
  • Discover Warsaw’s resilient history and enjoy a hands-on pierogi-making class.
  • Stroll through Gdańsk’s historic streets and admire Hanseatic architecture.
  • Experience the maritime atmosphere of Gdynia’s waterfront.
  • Conclude with an elegant Chopin concert in Warsaw.
The main square of Krakow, Poland is shown from underneath some orange archways with a church in the distance set against a blue sky.
Warsaw is shown at sunset from up above the town's main square.
The port of Gdansk, Poland is shown with several colorful boats in the foreground at dusk with the warmly lit city in the background.
The inside of the Wieliczka salt mines near Krakow, Poland are shown in a dimly lit setting, with a pool green water on the ground.

The flow of this trip includes 5 days with half-day experiences planned (shared & private guided experiences), 2 free days, 1 transfer day (no activities except taking the train from Krakow to Warsaw), and 1 full-day of experiences (two experiences, one in the morning and one in the afternoon).

This allows for a thoughtful mix of immersive and educational tours as well as leisure time to explore on your own or rest.

Seasonal Notes

Poland can be visited year-round.

The low season is from October through April. Temperatures are cooler, there’s a higher chance of rain (or snow), and fewer crowds. During winter, some attractions may have reduced hours, while cities like Kraków and Warsaw remain lively, with cozy cafés, museums, cultural events, and a more relaxed atmosphere. Special times to visit:

  • November: A good time for history enthusiasts with Poland's Independence Day on the 11th with parades and celebrations.
  • December: A magical time to visit, thanks to Christmas markets in Kraków, Wrocław, and Gdańsk.
  • January & February: Great months to visit the Tatra Mountains, particularly Zakopane, the country’s winter capital.

The mid-season is in May, June, and September, making these months ideal for exploring Poland’s historic cities and natural landscapes. The weather is generally mild, with pleasant temperatures and fewer tourists than in peak summer. September, in particular, offers warm days and crisp evenings, perfect for comfortable sightseeing, autumn hues, harvest festivals, walking tours, and outdoor dining.

The high season is in July and August, when Poland experiences its warmest temperatures, often reaching 77–86°F (25–30°C). This is the best time for beachgoers visiting the Baltic coast, but major cities like Warsaw and Kraków can be crowded. Additionally, many Poles take their vacations in August, so accommodations and attractions may be busier.

Traveling during the low or mid-season is a great way to experience Poland more sustainably, helping distribute tourism throughout the year while enjoying a more intimate and immersive visit.

Itinerary

Day 1 Kraków [Poland] (arrival day)

You will be picked up by our driver from Balice Airport according to your flight schedule.

For the rest of the day, you are free to recharge after the flight. Take this time to relax and prepare for tomorrow's exciting sightseeing adventures.

Accommodation: 4* Boutique Hotel

Day 2 Kraków

The first half of your day in Kraków will be devoted to sightseeing the Old Town with your private guide. The tour lasts 4 hours and is done on foot.

More about today’s sightseeing:

Kraków – the city of living history! The most popular tourist destination in Poland - and not without reason! Famous for the marvelous Old Town with its mysterious, narrow streets and countless treasures of medieval and Renaissance architecture. For those new to Kraków, we propose a walk around the city with a licensed guide. It is a perfect introduction to future in-depth Kraków expeditions. You will walk around the Main Market Square with its beautiful townhouses (where, at every hour you can listen to the Cracovian Anthem played from the tower of the St. Mary’s Church) and admire the historical buildings. You cannot miss the St. Mary’s Church, a gothic structure well known for the wooden altar by Veit Stoss (there are over 200 sculptured characters). You also cannot miss the Cloth Hall, a renaissance equivalent of a shopping mall, where traders still sell some original, hand-made souvenirs, regional products, etc. Then you will head for the historical buildings of the Jagiellonian University (one of the oldest in Europe). On your way to Wawel Hill, the location of the Royal Castle, you will also visit Krakow’s most beautiful churches: St. Peter’s and Paul’s Church, or St. Adalbertus Church.

The afternoon is at your leisure.

Accommodation: 4* Boutique Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 Auschwitz

Today you will visit Oświęcim, the town where the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum is located. The guided tour of the Memorial takes about 3.5 hours.

More about today’s sightseeing:

Auschwitz tours are obligatory for every citizen of the world visiting Poland. The Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum – which is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List – makes an unforgettable impression on every visitor. Every year, millions of visitors walk through the gate with the cynical motto “Arbeit macht frei”. The camp was started by the Nazis as a concentration camp for Polish political prisoners. In 1942 it became a focal point for the extermination of Jews. Over a 5 year period, the Nazis killed 1.5 million people: Jews, Poles, Gypsies, Russians, and many others.

First, the guide will lead you through Konzentrationslager Auschwitz I, showing the surviving prison blocks, the gas chamber, and the crematorium. The second part of your visit will cover the Auschwitz II Birkenau camp, where you can ascend the watchtower above the entrance gate to catch a view over the whole area of both concentration camps. Today, most of the buildings house collections of original documents, as well as personal effects – or their remains – which are all that we have to remember the prisoners by.

Accommodation: 4* Boutique Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Day 4 Wieliczka

Visit another UNESCO Heritage Site in Poland – the famous Wieliczka Salt Mine. You are going to join the guided tour in a group of max. 30 people (private tours are not possible at the Salt Mine), with a local, English-speaking guide. During the sightseeing, there are many steps to do (around 800), mostly leading down. The way up is done with an elevator.

More about today’s sightseeing:

We invite you for an underground journey through the labyrinth of corridors, chambers, and drifts. The history of the Wieliczka Salt Mine dates back to the 13th century, and the mine was still producing salt until 2007. Today, it is the largest mining museum in the world, where you can admire the equipment and mining technologies even from the Middle Ages. The tour begins with a descent down the stairs to a depth of 64 meters below sea level (a lift can be used if necessary). Visitors are led through the numerous chambers and are shown underground lakes, caves, and mine corridors lined with salt sculptures. The biggest attraction is the Chapel of St. Kinga – a place of worship carved from salt rock, in its entirety, by the miners. At the end of the tour, you will reach 135 meters below sea level.

You will be back in Kraków around 14:00. The afternoon is at your leisure.

Accommodation: 4* Boutique Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Day 5 Kraków

Enjoy some free, unstructured time in Kraków.

Accommodation: 4* Boutique Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Day 6 Kraków - Warsaw

In the morning, your driver will meet you at the hotel and take you to the train station in Kraków. The train ride will take about 3 hours.

The rest of the day in Warsaw is at your leisure.

Accommodation: 4* Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Day 7 Warsaw

Today, you will discover Warsaw through a pierogi-making class followed by a Warsaw City Tour (driving and walking) with your local guide. Your driver will meet you and take you to learn how to make the most famous Polish dish, before taking you sightseeing. The sightseeing will take 4 hours.

More about today’s sightseeing:

Become a real Warsaw insider! The tour starts with a short walk around the Old Town. The area of the Old Town was completely destroyed during the Defensive War in 1939 and the Warsaw Uprising. Today you can see it rebuilt: the Royal Castle, the townhouses, and the churches. Warsaw’s Old Town is living proof of the great efforts of its citizens to restore the beauty of their city. Leaving the Old Town by the Royal Route, you will continue to the former Jewish ghetto to hear the world-famous story of Warsaw’s Jews and see the sites of their heroic fight against Nazi Germans during the war. The last stop is the Łazienki Royal Park with its magnificent greenery, lakes, streams, animals, and 18th-century houses.

Accommodation: 4* Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Day 8 Warsaw - Gdańsk

In the morning, your driver will meet you at the hotel and take you to the train station in Warsaw. The train ride will take about 3 hours.

In the afternoon, you will enjoy a private guided walking tour around Gdańsk Old Town. Your guide will meet you at your hotel. The sightseeing lasts 3 hours.

More about today’s sightseeing:

Visit Gdańsk, which boasts historic buildings, a medieval port, and atmospheric restaurants! The best idea to deepen your knowledge about Gdańsk is to be with our professional and licensed guide who will lead you through the narrow streets of the Old Town. You are going to walk along Długa Street (the main street of the Old Town), guarded by huge stone gateways – Brama Wyżynna (Upland Gate) and the richly decorated Brama Złota (Golden Gate). Along the street, you can admire unique examples of Hanseatic architecture of the townhouses that used to belong to rich merchants, as well as the most characteristic site – Neptune’s Fountain. Długa Street is a part of the Royal Way because it was used by Polish Kings to parade along its length while visiting the city. Finally, you cannot miss the biggest brick church in the world – St. Mary’s Church, as it dominates the heart of the historic center of Gdańsk.

Accommodation: 4* Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Day 9 Gdańsk

Enjoy an unscheduled day in Gdańsk. You can use your time to simply relax in the city, or you can visit one of the amazing museums, such as the European Solidarity Center. Please note that the Museum of World War II is closed on Mondays.

Accommodation: 4* Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Day 10 Gdynia

Today you will discover a different part of the Tricity: Gdynia (the third city in the Tricity area is Sopot).

More about today’s sightseeing:

A tour from Gdańsk to Gdynia offers a perfect mix of coastal charm, maritime history, and modern attractions. Just a short 30-minute drive or train ride away, Gdynia is known for its scenic waterfront, vibrant marina, and the ORP Błyskawica warship. Visitors can stroll along Kościuszko Square, enjoy fresh seafood at a seaside restaurant, or relax on the city’s beaches. For stunning views, head to Kamienna Góra or the scenic cliffs of Kępa Redłowska. A day trip to Gdynia perfectly complements a visit to the Tricity area, offering a refreshing contrast to the historic streets of Gdańsk.

Accommodation: 4* Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Day 11 Gdańsk - Warsaw

Today, your driver will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the train station for your train back to Warsaw.

In the evening, you will be taken to a Chopin concert.

Accommodation: 4* Hotel
Meals: Breakfast

Day 12 Warsaw (departure day)

Time to say Goodbye to Poland. Your driver will take you to the Warsaw Chopin Airport according to your flight schedule.


Meals: Breakfast

Customization

This trip was custom-designed for clients staying in a shared double room at 4* accommodations during the month of September.

If you're interested in a similar itinerary with more or less time in each city, different locations or activities, or a different accommodation type, contact us!

Route Map

The route map for a 12 day itinerary through the heart and soul of Poland, starting in the south in Krakow, going through the center in Warsaw, and heading up north to Gdansk and Gdynia.

Inclusions & Exclusions

  • 11 nights of 4* accommodations, including breakfast

  • Airport transfer in Kraków and Warsaw with an English-speaking driver

  • Train tickets (1st class): D6 Kraków to Warsaw, D8 Warsaw to Gdańsk, D11 Gdańsk to Warsaw

  • Transfers to and from the train stations in Kraków, Warsaw, and Gdańsk with an English-speaking driver

  • D2: Kraków City Walk: local English-speaking guide, entrance tickets to St. Mary's Church and to the Wawel Cathedral

  • D3: Auschwitz-Birkenau Tour: private transportation with an English-speaking driver, entrance tickets for the group guided tour

  • D4: Wieliczka Tour: private transportation with an English-speaking driver, entrance tickets for the guided tour

  • D7: Pierogi-making class; Warsaw City Tour: local English-speaking guide, private transportation

  • D8: Gdańsk City Walk: local English-speaking guide

  • D10: Gdynia Tour: private transportation, English-speaking guide

  • D11: Chopin concert

  • International flights to/from Poland

  • Lunches & Dinners

  • Travel insurance

  • Optional tips for drivers/guides, etc.

  • Optional activities

  • Everything not listed as included

Pricing

Prices exclude flights to/from the destination.

Prices are for double room occupancy unless indicated otherwise.

  • Deposit per person

    30% of the trip price

  • Shared Room - sleeps 2 - price per person

    $3,900

Sustainability

We are a family-owned Polish company with female management, specializing in custom tours - a team of local experts committed to providing a genuine experience.

We focus on having an environmentally-conscious office environment: we don't print unnecessary documents, we have a remote work policy to cut down on commuting to work (and some of us even use solar panels to produce electricity).

When it comes to organizing our tours, we are big fans of using trains instead of cars for transportation whenever possible.

Health & Safety

Be sure you have traveler's insurance.

FAQs

What does the Physical Rating of "Average" mean?

This itinerary involves a moderate amount of walking, especially during guided city tours which typically last 3-4 hours. Expect cobblestone streets and uneven surfaces in some places. Some sites, like the Wieliczka Salt Mine, require descending 800 steps, though an elevator is available for the return. (If needed, the elevator can be taken down as well).

There is also a fair amount of sitting during transfers. The trip includes three 3-hour train rides (Kraków to Warsaw, Warsaw to Gdańsk, Gdańsk to Warsaw) and several shorter car transfers within cities.

The Auschwitz visit requires 1.5 hours of driving each way. While days are active, there is built-in free time to rest and recharge.

Days 5 & 9 are completely at your leisure; Day 6 has no planned activities other than the transfer from Krakow to Warsaw; and the activities on the remaining days typically are half-day experiences with the remainder of the day being free time.

What are the accommodations like?

You'll be staying a 4* accommodations throughout.

Krakow: 5 nights in a 4* boutique hotel
Warsaw: 3 nights in a 4* hotel
Gdańsk: 3 nights in a 4* hotel

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Group Size

  • Min: 2
  • Max: 10

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