Escorted Short Breaks

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Krakow

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Poland's stunning jewel

Join us for a few days in the ancient capital of Poland. Though steeped in history and almost crushed by the Communist yoke, Krakow has been reborn as a vibrant university city with a lively cafe culture and a youthful exuberance that thrives among the glorious treasures of the past.

Krakow is a visual masterpiece, its UNESCO-listed architectural treasures rivalling any in Europe. Although history radiates from its every pore, Krakow is no museum-piece - it's a lived-in space crammed with cafes, restaurants and bars that make it one of Central Europe's most 'happening' places.

Day One

Fly to Krakow and transfer to your hotel. After check-in, head out to take your first look at the magnificent Rynek Glowny, the city's great central square - the largest in medieval Europe - and perhaps head to a cafe for hot chocolate, or to a local beer cellar to try the local brew.

Day Two

Today begins with our included walking tour of Krakow's mesmerising medieval heart, after which you're free to explore. Historians and art lovers will be enchanted by the State Rooms of Wawel Castle, the stunning wooden altarpiece of the Mariacki church and the treasures of the Czartoryski Palace.

For those choosing to return to the Rynek, its centrepiece - the Sukiennice (or 'cloth hall') - is well worth a visit. Behind its many-arched facade, you'll find market stalls to browse, cafes where you can sit and relax, and even an art gallery on the upper floor.

Day Three

Today you're free to visit more of Krakow's many sights or join our half-day excursion to Auschwitz-Birkenau. On this harrowing and thought-provoking pilgrimage you'll tour the buildings of the death camp and gain a real sense of the horrors of the "Final Solution".

Later, return to the city, perhaps to explore the historic centre of Jewish culture that is the Kazimierz quarter, or to visit the poignant 'Pharmacy under the Eagle' museum across the river in the Podgorze district - the cramped, Wartime ghetto.

Day Four

Transfer back to the airport for check-in and your flight home.

Shopping

Krakow's Old Town offers shopping opportunities aplenty amid its medieval splendour, especially on ul Florianska, which runs north from the Rynek. Traditional Polish wares sit alongside international brands, and especially fascinating are the remaining grocers' stores, still plying their trade despite the encroaching competition from the modern supermarkets.

Wining and dining

Food is central to Polish life, and the regional cuisine is a diet-threatening mix of Russian, German, Lithunian and Jewish flavours. Try traditional soups such as zurek (sour rye soup with sausages and potatoes) or barszcz (beetroot, sometimes with dumplings), and meat dishes such as hunter's bigos (stew) or pierogi (pockets of dough filled with meat, cabbage and cheese). Beer is also a national passion, second only to traditional vodka, drunk neat and chilled.

Nightlife

On many nights Poland's jazz capital comes alive in a number of small - often cellar - bars, while the city's classical traditions are reflected in regular concerts. And, as in other 'emerging' Central European cities, those in search of cutting-edge music and dance will not be disappointed.

 
 

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