1
Fly to Krakow, meet your tour manager and transfer into the heart of the city and your hotel. Time permitting, take your first look at the city, or head for a cafe or local beer cellar. Our tour manager will be on hand to point you in the right direction, and to make dinner suggestions.
2
Our included guided, mainly walking tour of the city, in the company of our friendly guide, will bring to life this seat of Polish kings and former home to much loved Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, who was destined to become John Paul II. The focal point of Stare Miasto, Krakow's mesmerising medieval heart, is the great square of Rynek Glowny, medieval Europe's largest such space, surrounded by buildings of breathtaking beauty, churches with towers and intricate spires, and at its centre the vast Sukkennice or Cloth Hall, which today serves as a covered market, its upper floor a fascinating art gallery, and its ground floor cafes perfect places in which to rest awhile. Close by, the Mariacki Church is one of Poland's finest buildings, and both north and west of here the medieval and Renaissance splendour continues, with the University district especially appealing.
Following the tour, continue your exploration. Perhaps the opulent State Rooms of Wawel Castle might draw you away from the stunning views of the River Vistula. Don't miss the stunning wooden altarpiece of the Mariacki church, or the art treasures of the Czartoryski Palace, close to Florianska Gate and the three-metre thick defensive walls of the Barbakan fort, at the northernmost point of the Old Town. South of Wawel Hill lies the Kazimierz district, historic centre of Jewish culture until the events of 1941, which forced the population into the ghetto across the river, a temporary home before the tragic final journey to Auschwitz‑Birkenau. The rest of the day and evening are free.
3
Today we have included an excursion to Auschwitz-Birkenau, some 70km southwest of the city. This harrowing and thought-provoking pilgrimage will provide a very real insight into the events of the Final Solution, as you tour the buildings of the camp, many left as they were discovered in 1944. You'll return to the city, perhaps to explore the Kazimierz quarter, or to visit the poignant 'Pharmacy under the Eagle' museum, across the river in the Podgorze district, the cramped, post 1941 ghetto. This evening, dine in the city once again.
4
Today is free to discover more of the city's sights, perhaps to return to a place of interest, or to look for souvenirs of your visit, although many will wish to join the optional excursion, making the short journey to the astonishing salt mine at Wieliczka, a UNESCO-listed monument that was first excavated a thousand years ago, and whose vast underground chambers, which while no longer functioning as a mine, remain one of Poland's most fascinating attractions, with subterranean walkways leading past some remarkable natural and man-made wonders, including a full-sized chapel carved out of the salt and, at the very lowest level, a stupendous working concert hall. A museum of mining gives an in-depth impression of what life was like for the miners, and the visit ends with the subterranean gift shop and cafe, before you are returned to the surface by lift. Spend a final evening in Krakow, reliving the excitement of the last few days.
5
Dependent upon your flight time, catch a final glimpse of the majestic city, before transferring to the airport for the return flight to the UK.