The Spirit of Krakow
Newmarket Holidays is offering up to 10% off tours to popular destinations until Thursday, 30 April.
5days from
£581*per person
Overview
Uncover the history, culture and elegant architecture of Poland’s former royal capital, and pay a moving visit to Auschwitz.
Discover one of only a handful of major Central European cities to have survived the centuries unscathed. Kraków is a colourful university seat buzzing with life and post-Communist enthusiasm that is becoming one of Europe’s must-see destinations. Our escorted break lifts the veil on this great visual masterpiece, whose UNESCO-listed treasures rival any found across the continent, and also pays a respectful visit to the preserved remains of infamous Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Discover one of only a handful of major Central European cities to have survived the centuries unscathed. Kraków is a colourful university seat buzzing with life and post-Communist enthusiasm that is becoming one of Europe’s must-see destinations. Our escorted break lifts the veil on this great visual masterpiece, whose UNESCO-listed treasures rival any found across the continent, and also pays a respectful visit to the preserved remains of infamous Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Itinerary
- Fly to Poland from the UK - Fly to Kraków, meet your tour manager and transfer to your hotel. After check-in, head out to take your first look at the city, or head for a café or local beer cellar. Our tour manager will be on hand to point you in the right direction, and to make dinner suggestions. A vibrant, bustling city, Kraków is no museum piece, but a lived-in space crammed full of cafés, restaurants and bars, and is especially lively in the evening when it offers an ever-widening choice of eateries, from traditional Polish, Russian, German, Lithuanian and Jewish cuisine to some of the latest foodie fads and fashions.
- Included Kraków city tour - Exploring mostly on foot in the company of a friendly guide, on our included guided tour of the city you'll see the highlights of this seat of Polish kings and former home to much-loved Cardinal Karol Wojtyla (better known around the world as Pope John Paul II). The focal point of Stare Miasto, Kraków’s mesmerising medieval heart, is the Grand Square, Rynek Główny One of Europe’s largest medieval squares, it is surrounded by buildings of breath-taking beauty, and churches with towers and intricate spires. At its centre stands the vast Sukiennice (Cloth Hall), which now serves as a covered market. Here, the upper floor is a fascinating art gallery, while the ground floor cafés are perfect places to stop and rest. Close by, the Mariacki Church is one of Poland’s finest buildings and contains a fantastically intricate wooden altarpiece. And to both the north and west the medieval and Renaissance splendour continues – the University District is especially appealing. After the tour, you're free to continue exploring. Head away from the stunning views of the River Vistula to visit the opulent State Rooms of Wawel Castle, and don't miss the art treasures of the Czartoryski Palace, close to Florianska Gate and the three-metre-thick defensive walls of the Barbakan, at the northernmost point of the Old Town. South of Wawel Hill lies the Kazimierz district, the historic centre of Jewish culture in the city until the events of 1941 forced the residents into a temporary home in the ghetto across the river before their eventual, tragic, final journey to Auschwitz-Birkenau.
- Included day trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau - Today includes an unforgettable excursion to the remains of the most infamous of all the Nazi concentration camps, which lie some 70km southwest of the city. This harrowing and thought-provoking pilgrimage will provide a very real insight into the horrors of the Final Solution as you tour the buildings of the camp, many left as they were discovered in 1945. Returning to the city, you'll be free to explore. Visit the Kazimierz quarter or the poignant Pharmacy Under The Eagle Museum, across the river in the Podgórze district that became Kraków's cramped wartime ghetto.
- Day at leisure with optional Wieliczka Salt Mine excursion - Today you're free to discover more of the city’s sights, perhaps returning to a place of interest or looking for souvenirs of your visit. Alternatively, join our optional excursion to the astonishing salt mine at Wieliczka, just a short journey from the city. This UNESCO-listed monument was first excavated a thousand years ago and, while its vast underground chambers no longer function as a mine, it remains one of Poland’s most fascinating attractions. You’ll traverse a two-and-a-quarter mile route, covering 800 steps, through the mine’s impressive subterranean walkways. Though challenging, this route offers rewarding sights of some remarkable natural and man-made wonders, including a full-sized chapel carved out of salt and, on the very lowest level, a stupendous concert hall. A museum of mining gives an in-depth impression of what life was like for the miners, and your visit will end in the subterranean gift shop and café before you return to the surface by lift. Later, make the most of your final evening in Kraków, reliving the excitement of the last few days.
- Return to the UK - Depending on your flight time, you may have time to catch a final glimpse of this majestic city before we transfer you to the airport to check in for your flight home.
What's Included
Holiday Highlights
- Enjoy a guided tour of Poland’s stunning former royal capital
- Don’t miss the stunning Mariacki church
- Visit poignant, sobering Auschwitz-Birkenau
- Take in Wawel Castle and its stunning riverside views
- Discover the great medieval square of Rynek Główny
- Wander the market stalls and galleries of the vast Sukiennice Cloth Hall
- Visit the Kazimierz district, the former centre of Jewish culture
- Enjoy Kraków’s vibrant café culture
Our Price Includes
- Four nights' bed and breakfast accommodation at your chosen hotel
- Return flights to Kraków
- Tour of Kraków
- Coach travel and transfers throughout
- A visit to Auschwitz
- Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager
- All mandatory local taxes and charges
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Dates and Prices
Accommodation
Wyspianski Hotel Krakow -
Introduction
With a central location, this modern, comfortable hotel is just 500m from Kraków’s Market Square.
Facilities & Amenities
A sleek restaurant serves Polish and international dishes, a terrace overlooks a lovely garden, and guests can pick up some holiday souvenirs in the gift shop, as well as unwind in the trendy lounge bar.
Rooms
Twin and double rooms are contemporary, with a relaxed feel and pops of colour, feature TVs, desks, and free Wi-Fi.
Premium twin and double rooms offer air conditioning along with additional space with a comfortable sofa, fridge, and tea-and-coffee making facilities.
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Radisson Blu Hotel, Krakow -
Introduction
Housed in a contemporary building, this sleek hotel is within walking distance from the medieval main square.
Facilities & Amenities
A relaxed restaurant served international dishes, and there is a chic bar with a piano, along with a wellness centre, a spa, and an exercise room.
Rooms
Refined guestrooms feature mini-bars, TVs, tea/coffee-makers and free Wi-Fi, and boast views of the city.
Other Information
Hotel transfer times
The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately 45 minutes.
Foreign Office Travel Advice
Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.
Special requirements
If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.
Access for customers with limited mobility
The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting.
For this tour specifically, it is important to note:
- There is walking involved on most days.
- The tour of Krakow is approx. 2 hours long (with breaks), is done on foot and does include some cobbled streets.
- The included visit to Auschwitz involves approx. 4 miles of walking across ground that is uneven / cobbled and can be wet and slippery. There are also steps both outside and within each block.
- The optional Wieliczka Salt Mine tour involves descending 800 steps (returning to the surface by lift) and as such there is no wheelchair accessibility for this excursion.
If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
If you would like any further information on the suitability of this tour, please call us for a chat.
Combining hotel transfers
We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.
Itinerary changes
Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.
Holiday code
N1047Holiday provided by Newmarket Holidays (for Metro Travel Offers)
BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE: This holiday is sold and operated by Newmarket Holidays (ABTOT 5509, ATOL 2325, ABTA V7812), you can be 100% sure that your money is safe.