Poland: A Jewish Heritage Tour

Day 1- June 14, 2026

Fly from US to Krakow, Poland (Flight TBA)

Flights are not included in tour pricing. 

Day 2- June 15, 2027

Arrive at Krakow Airport.  Meet our driver for transfer to the hotel.

Group Dinner 

Day 3- June 16, 2027

Private half day walking tour of Krakow Old Town – pick-up from hotel’s lobby

Private visit to WAWEL ROYAL CASTLE – the political and cultural center of Poland until the early 17th, the Wawel Royal Castle is like the cathedral – a symbol of Poland’s national identity. The castle is now a museum. The Royal Chambers are the most impressive exhibition that let you imagine how the royalty once lived.

- Highlight
The most valuable items are the magnificent tapestries – probably the largest collection of its kind in Europe. The collection contains some 360 tapestries arranged in series which illustrate Biblical themes such as: Adam and Eve in Eden, The Story of Noah and The Building of the Tower of Babel.

Afterwards, walk along the Old Town with the Main Market Square with magnificent houses and palaces. In the middle of the square is the Cloth Hall built before 1349, but altered in the 16the century. Inside are many shopping stalls and on the first floor is the National Museum which has a collection of Polish sculptures and paintings from the 18th to the 20th century. Also in the square is the magnificent extensive Gothic Church of Our Lady with the famous wooden altar created by Wit Stwosz.

Tour duration: approx. 4 hours

Break for lunch or shopping (on own)

Private half day tour of Kazimierz – pick-up from hotel’s lobby

Kazimierz – historical center of Krakow’s Jewish religious and social life, was incorporated into Krakow in the 18th century. The tour of this district takes you to the most important monuments in this area.
*Synagogues and Jewish cemeteries are closed on Fridays afternoons, Saturdays and Jewish Holidays*

Join other individuals in a regular group tour of Schindler’s Factory Museum with English speaking guide/educator
*reservation is possible 90 days before arrival, not earlier – pre-payment is required to guarantee the booking*

The main exhibition “Krakow Under Nazi Occupation, 1939-1945” shows the dramatic choice that people made. Key phases of the period come in for special attention, including notorious Sonderaktion of November 1939 (during which 183 people were arrested, most of university professors), as well as the creation and liquidation of the Jewish Ghetto. “Krakow Under Nazi Occupation: 1939-1945" showcase life during the war for Poles and Jews, concentrating at least some of its narrative on the disruption of Polish-Jewish relations against the backdrop of Nazi brutality. The atmosphere of the era is evoked by recreations of typical Cracovian interiors and street scenes. At the same time it presents the history of Krakow Jews and the tragedy of Jewish community being a part of the tragedy of the rest of the population. While visiting Krakow and Kazimierz district, it is a must to visit this museum.

Day 4- June 17, 2027

Private excursion to Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial – pick-up from hotel’s lobby

Transfer to Oswiecim (approx. 1,5 hrs driving + 30 minutes to complete the formalities/security checks at the Memorial).

Private tour with English speaking guide/ educator *reservation is possible 90 days before arrival, not earlier*

 Auschwitz - Birkenau considered as the biggest Nazi’s concentration camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau was established on 14th June 1940 and liberated in January 1945.  About 1.5 million people of 28 nationalities lost their lives here, mostly Jews. Prisoners were unloaded onto the  specially designed ramps, poisoned with Zyclon B or exhaust fumes and burned in piles or crematories. Fellow prisoners were forced to service the gas chambers and assist the cremation of the bodies and their robbing. During the camp evacuation in January 1945 thousand of inmates died in so-called death march. When the camp was liberated there were about 7 000 prisoners, all in terrible conditions. After the retreating only part of the camp was destroyed by Germans. What has remained became the symbol of homicide. Today the site is the museum and is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Tour duration: approx. 7,5 hours. The tour with a guide lasts around 3.5 hours. There is no lunch break.

Day 5- June 18, 2027

Transfer to Krakow Main Railway Station.
Take direct 1st class morning train to Warsaw (train journey takes approx. 2,5 hours)
Transfer to the hotel in Warsaw.

Chopin Concert at 06:00PM
It was a genius of Frederic Chopin that made Poland famous in the music world. It is mazurkas, etudes, polonaises and scherzos that have become a test and measure of nay pianist’s talent. Your stay in Poland gives you an excellent opportunity to sample his music in his native country.
*Transportation to/from concert – not included*

Day 6- June 19, 2027

Full day private tour of Warsaw – pick-up from hotel’s lobby

Warsaw – the capital of Poland also the largest city in our country situated in the middle course of the Vistula (Wisla) river. Settled in 10th century however the Old Town was established in 14th & 15th centuries. In 16th century Warsaw was frequently the meeting place of the Polish parliament. Through centuries the residence of many Polish kings. Plundered and destroyed by enemies Warsaw was always erasing from the ruins. During the II World War 87% of city’s buildings were destroyed. Some of museum remained almost untouched while the others were bombed to ground.

Visit to St. John’s Cathedral and walk through the Market Square. Afterwards you will pass the late-Gothic structure by John Baptist of Venice. The New Town Market you can see the Church and Monastery of Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and the house where Maria Sklodowska-Curies was born. At the Krasinski Place stop by the Monument of Warsaw’s Uprising. Afterwards,
drive via Royal Route with its aristocratic residences, Tomb on Unknown Soldier, building of Warsaw’s Grand Opera and National Theatre House erected by Antonio Corazzi and Baroque church erected in the 17th century where is the urn with ashes of F. Chopin’s heart brought from Paris and placed here. Short stop at the Royal Lazienki Park to see the Monument of Frederick Chopin, a secessionist sculpture.

During your tour of Warsaw we invite you to the famous Warsaw chocolate factory “Wedel” to taste the delicious hot chocolate at the “ Wedel Old Fashioned Shop”.

Continue to Warsaw Zoo, where you will have a private tour of the former villa of Jan Zabinski. Dr. Zabinski was the director of the Warsaw Zoo before and during WWII. Upon the creation of the Warsaw Ghetto, Dr. Zabinski and his wife started hiding Jews in his villa and, unbelievably, in the Zoo itself. This was documented in Diane Akerman’s excellent book, The Zookeeper’s Wife.

Tour duration: approx. 6,5 hours

Day 7- June 20, 2017

Private full day tour of Jewish Heritage in Warsaw – pick-up from hotel’s lobby

Tour of the former Jewish Ghetto area including the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes erected in 1948 which symbolizes the heroic defiance of the Ghetto uprising in 1943. Drive along the Path of Remembrance marked by 16 granite blocks commemorating the Jews who were murdered in the Warsaw Ghetto. Stop by the Bunker Monument, a small mound, topped with a boulder, commemorating the location of the bunker in which the commander of Ghetto Uprising, Mordechaj Anielewicz, died. Stop in Umschlagplatz where you see the monument composed of black and white marble blocks, commemorating the
names of hundreds of thousands of people from the ghetto, who passed through Umschlagplatz on their way to death camps. Drive to Jewish Cemetery on Okopowa Street where you will see the graves of many famous people buried there and the touching monument to the pedagogue and writer Janusz Korczak, which depicts him accompanying Jewish orphans to a Nazi death camp. Afterwards. Drive to see the Nozyk Synagogue, the only remaining historical synagogue in the city. The interiors feature the Ark, the cabinet that contains the Torah scroll.

*Synagogues and Jewish cemeteries are closed on Friday afternoons and Saturdays*

 Private visit to the Museum of the History of Polish Jews “Polin” – the first museum to present the history of Polish Jews, a bridge to past and present day of Jewish community in Poland. See the main exhibition, splendid example of the synagogue, as well as the temporary exhibits, collection of documents, photos, letters and documentary movies. One of the museum that necessarily should be visited while in Warsaw.

*Polin Museum is closed on Tuesdays*

 Tour duration: approx. 8 hours

Day 8- June 21, 2027

Private full day excursion to Lodz – pick-up from hotel’s lobby at 08:00am

Lodz - a city where three traditions crossed: Polish, Jewish and German. The first step will be put in the magnificent interiors of Poznanski Palace – that belonged to the Poznanski family, who were among the wealthiest Jewish clans in the city. The industrial empire of Poznanski was a self-sufficient district which included the owner's residence, factory, workers housing complex, church
and a hospital. Now, housing the Historical Museum of Lodz is proud of its splendid dining room, special exhibitions devoted the Artur Rubinstein and Jerry Kosinski. *Poznanski Palace is closed on Mondays*

See the Jewish Cemetery – the largest one in Europe. About 160 000 people are buried there. Today the Cemetery has an area of 39,6 hectare. In more than 100 years of the history of the Cemetery many meritorious for our city and its history people like known rabbis, fabricants, physicians, politicians, social activists etc. were buried at this Cemetery. Their tombstones often show high class of stone and metal craftworks.

Driving times:

Warsaw>Lodz – approx. 2 hrs (140 km) one way

Standard tour of Lodz takes approx. 4 hours

Tour duration: up to 8 hours

Day 9- June 22, 2027

Day at leisure- Enjoy exploring Warsaw on your own. Take time for shopping, checking out cafe's and having a little down time after a rigorous schedule. 

Day 10- June 23, 2027

Private full day transfer to Gdansk via Malbork.

After breakfast, we depart for Warsaw. En route, we stop in Malbork to visit the Teutonic Knights Castle. It is the largest brick building in Europe and one of Poland’s greatest tourist attractions. Lunch on your own at a local restaurant. In the afternoon we drive for Gdansk.

Driving times:
Warsaw>Malbork – approx. 4 hrs (325 km) – depends on traffic
Malbork>Gdansk – approx. 1,5 hrs (70 km) – depends on traffic
Standard tour of Malbork takes approx. 3 hours

Day 11- June 24, 2027

Private half day walking tour of Gdansk – pick-up from hotel’s lobby at 09:00am

Today, we tour Gdansk in depth. We start from the Upland Gate - a fragment of the city's former fortifications and one of its main gates. Just behind it, we pass by a baked-brick construction consisting of the Prison Tower and the Torture House - relics of the 15th century Gothic defense walls. The Golden Gate, situated next to the Prison Tower, opens onto Long Market - a magnificent street, with grand mansions decorated with late Renaissance and Baroque facades. A real feast for the eyes!!! It is here that the richest burghers of Gdansk once lived. Next, we come upon the Main Town and the Artus Court - a building used for Hanseatic League meetings. It is renowned as the most beautiful court among all of Europe’s Hanseatic cities. Just behind it stands the tower of St. Mary's Basilica, a part of the most precious and largest red-brick Gothic church in Gdansk. On our way back we pass by Mariacka Street, with its gabled terraced houses and elegant boutiques.

Tour duration: up to 4 hours

Afternoon at leisure – time to explore the city on own.

Day 12- June 25, 2027

Transfer to Gdansk Airport. Flight TBA.