Highlights of Poland
Experience Overview
Plunge into an adventure across Poland as you shop for folklore fare in Krakow and sample traditional dumplings in Warsaw. A day of dedicated Krakow sightseeing kickstarts the vacation as your Local Expert guides you up to Wawel Royal Castle, and through Podgórze to Ghetto Square. In the cradle of the Polish nation, spoil yourself with the Poznan Choice to unveil the secrets of the local delicacy, the St Martin’s croissant, or uncover the history of the city on a walking tour with a Local Expert. Travel to the foot of the Tatra Mountains of the Tatras Mountains for a Zakopane Dinner of delicious local dishes, accompanied by the soul rousing folklore entertainment of the Goral Highlanders.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 4 Dinner (D)
- 9 Breakfast (B)
Choice Highlights
- Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Poznan: Meet a resident of Poznań who will share insights into local life on a walk through the Old Town.
- Poznan: Enjoy a tasting of St. Martin's croissant, a local delicacy and learn about how its recipe is protected by European Union law!
Additional Included Highlights
- Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
- Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
- We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
- From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
- Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
- If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
Authentic Dining
- Kraków: Delight in Polish specialties during a delicious meal in the heart of the city.
- Zakopane: Meet Poland's Goral Highlanders and share their culture at a dinner with local specialties and music.
- Warsaw: The Polish capital is currently enjoying a culinary renaissance - find out what the buzz is all about during your end-of-tour dinner with wine at a favorite restaurant.
Insight Choice
- Poznan: Meet a resident of Poznań who will share insights into local life on a walk through the Old Town.
- Poznan: Enjoy a tasting of St. Martin's croissant, a local delicacy and learn about how its recipe is protected by European Union law!
Make Travel Matter
- Toruń: Meet an artisan baker to uncover the secrets of the traditional Torún gingerbread during a delicious tasting. Baked following a traditional recipe and using only local and natural ingredients, these colorful treats are a true delight. This experience advances UN Global Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Top Rated Highlights
- Kraków: During your orientation with your Travel Director, walk around the beautiful town square, Rynek Glówny. See the famous Sukiennice Cloth Hall, St. Mary's Basilica and the many historic townhouses, palaces and churches.
- Kraków: The medieval heart of Krakow is rich in legend, a kind of Polish Camelot. Join your Local Expert for an in-depth exploration of this historic holy grail.
- Kraków: Visit the cathedral atop Wawel Hill accompanied by your Local Expert.
- Zakopane: Stay in the resort town of Zakopane, famous for its wooden houses and winter sports. On arrival, join your Travel Director for an orientation of the city. Spend free time shopping for local specialties in the markets of Krupówki Street or ascend a nearby mountain for panoramic views across the Tatras into Slovakia.
- Auschwitz: Experience a powerful and moving visit with a Local Expert. See the Auschwitz memorial and museum, which bears witness to the atrocities of the Holocaust.
- Wrocław: See the noble mansions and flower markets of the Plac Solny, absorb the Baroque splendor of Rynek and be introduced to Wroclaw's cheeky Gnomes as you explore with your Local Expert.
- Gniezno: See the winged doors when you visit the cathedral.
- Toruń: Led by your Local Expert, explore this outstanding UNESCO World Heritage Site, founded by the Teutonic Knights in 1233.
- Gdańsk: There’s no better way to experience sightseeing than with one of Eastern Europe’s best storytellers. Meet Agnes, a passionate Local Expert who will share captivating stories about the city and its flora and fauna. You’ll explore the medieval city and see the historical sights of Weterplatte and the Gdańsk Shipyards.
- Malbork: Visit the 13th century fortified gothic brick castle belonging to the Teutonic Order, the largest castle in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Warsaw: Your Local Expert will show you the city's highlights. See the Old Town, Palace of Culture and visit the Chopin Memorial in the Lazienki Park before paying your respects at the Ghetto Heroes Memorial.
Well-being
- Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
- Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
Trip Details
Product Code: 28122
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Family, 55+, Luxury
Tour Operator:
Insight Vacations (CA)
Supplier Code: 97.221B
Starts: Krakow, Poland
Finishes: Warsaw, Poland
Duration: 10 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $3,405 ($340 /day)
Itinerary
Your journey through Poland begins in picturesque Krakow. Meet your Travel Director at 17:00 for a walk around the Rynek Główny, Europe's largest and most beautiful town square. See the famous Sukiennice Cloth Hall, St. Mary's Church and the many historic townhouses, palaces and churches. Be sure to listen for the trumpeter's call! Later, enjoy getting to know your fellow guests over a fabulous dinner.
Accommodation: Vienna House Andel's Cracow, Kraków
Meals: Dinner
This morning, you can join an Optional Experience to visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine. In the afternoon, ascend Wawel Hill to see the Renaissance castle with a Local Expert. Visit the cathedral, the final resting place of the Kings of Poland and the former seat of Archbishop Karol Wojtyła, later known to the world as Pope John Paul II. Head across the former Jewish Quarter of Kazimierz, and then to Podgórze to see Ghetto Square.
Accommodation: Vienna House Andel's Cracow, Kraków
Meals: Breakfast
Journey into the Tatras, the highest range of the Carpathian Mountains. Stay in the resort town of Zakopane, famous for its wooden houses and winter sports. On arrival, join your Travel Director for an orientation of the city. Spend free time shopping for local specialties in the markets of Krupówki Street or ascend a nearby mountain for panoramic views across the Tatras into Slovakia. In the evening, enjoy a rousing dinner, accompanied by Goral Highlander folklore entertainment at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Hotel & Residences, Zakopane
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Traveling past the birthplace of Pope John Paul II, your first stop will be the city of Oświęcim, better known throughout the world by its German name, Auschwitz. With a Memorial Guide-Educator, experience a moving visit to the memorial and museum of Auschwitz and a stop at Birkenau. Travel along the Oder River to the city of Wrocław, known in Polish as Miasto Spotkań or the meeting place. During its long history, Wrocław has belonged to Poland, Bohemia, Austria, Prussia and Germany. With your Local Expert, see the brightly colored facades of the noble mansions and the flower markets on the Plac Solny. Take in the Baroque splendor of the Rynek, and be introduced to Wrocław's cheeky gnomes. This evening, join your Travel Director for a Craft Beer at the Piwnica Świdnicka, the oldest restaurant/cellar in Poland, founded in 1273.
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Hotel, Wroclaw
Meals: Breakfast
Continue on to Poznan where you will drive out to Ostrów Tumski, known as Cathedral Island. It's considered as the birthplace of Poland in the 10th century and is a fascinating place of legend, often overlooked by other visitors. Explore Poznan with Insight Choice. Choose to immerse yourself in the history of the city and enjoy a walking tour. Alternatively, learn the secrets behind the St. Martin’s croissant, a local delicacy, and enjoy a tasting.
Accommodation: Sheraton Poznań
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Stop at Gniezno to visit the cathedral and see the famous two-winged bronze doors. Then continue to Toruń, founded by the Teutonic Knights in 1233 and birthplace of astronomer, Nicolaus Copernicus. Join a Local Expert to discover this outstanding example of medieval architecture, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, meet an artisan baker for a taste of gingerbread, baked following a traditional recipe and using only locally sourced ingredients. Spend time exploring at your own pace. Follow the Vistula River north to magnificent Gdansk, Poland’s Baltic trading port with more than 1000 years of history. As evening descends, a dinner of Baltic specialties is highly recommended, followed by a walk through Gdańsk's illuminated historic district.
Accommodation: Radisson Hotel & Suites Gdansk
Meals: Breakfast
Spend the morning with a passionate Local Expert. Learn captivating and fun facts about the city and see the Westerplatte, the scene of the first fighting between Polish and German troops in 1939, and the Gdańsk Shipyards where Lech Wałęsa formed the anti-Soviet Solidarność in 1980. Continue through the medieval city, where buildings date back to the time of the Hanseatic League. Enjoy a free afternoon and perhaps choose to visit the elegant seaside town of Sopot?
Accommodation: Radisson Hotel & Suites Gdansk
Meals: Breakfast
With a Local Expert, visit the Castle of the Teutonic Order in Malbork, founded in 1274 by the Teutonic Knights on the banks of the Nogat River. The castle is a stunning example of a medieval fortress and the largest brick Gothic castle in the world. Next, travel south to the capital of Warsaw. With the rest of the day at your leisure, perhaps attend an evening concert of Poland’s best-loved composer, Frédéric Chopin?
Accommodation: The Westin Warsaw
Meals: Breakfast
See the Palace of Culture and the Chopin Monument in Łazienki Park with a Local Expert. Visit the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes, followed by a walk through Warsaw’s Old Town, entirely rebuilt since World War II. At your dinner, enjoy a fine selection of local dishes with wine at a cozy Warsaw restaurant.
Accommodation: The Westin Warsaw
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Time to say goodbye to your new friends as your journey through Poland comes to an end.
Meals: Breakfast
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
Insight Vacations (CA)
Part of The Travel Company (TTC) family of brands, Insight Vacations began operations in 1978 and is based in Cypress, CA. Journeys are featured to destinations, such as the U.S. and Canada, Europe, Latin America, North Africa, Asia, the UK and Ireland. The company offers are a variety of tours under the classifications of Regional Journeys, Country Roads, Discovery Journeys, Easy Pace trips, and Special Interest tours. Insight is the ideal name for the tour operator, as the journeys provided by Insight Vacations allow travelers to gain further insight into whatever destination they wish to explore. For example, Discovery Journeys are the ideal choice for first-time visitors to Europe. Itineraries include Dine-at-Home or Farm-to-Table experiences so travelers can learn more about how locals live and dine. Regional Journeys allow trip-goers to see a specific location in Europe that they have always wanted to see – Poland, Switzerland, Italy, etc. The carefully planned trips enable customers to immerse themselves in one specific region or country and to become acquainted with its culture, traditions, and people. For anyone seeking travel off the beaten track, Insight Vacations offers Country Roads – trips that lead travelers off the well-tread tourist trail to explore hidden gems where visitors can savor the local produce with Farm-to-Table dining. Some trips are offered under the Easy Pace travel style – the ideal trip choice for trip-goers who wish to slow their pace during their vacation. During these tours, vacationers stay at least 3 nights at each destination, giving them some additional time to explore a place and enjoy it. Regardless of the travel style, many of the vacations offered by Insight Vacations begin with Relaxed Starts – giving travelers time to sleep in a little, spend more time at breakfast, or explore an area on their own. The tour company prides itself on providing business class tours that features luxury coaches with 40 seats. While most coach touring operators provide vehicles with 53 seats, Insight Vacations has re-configured its motor coaches to hold up to 40 guests. This gives passengers extra leg room while traveling and offers them more space and privacy.
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