Things to do in

Lesser Poland

Spend an hour and fifteen minutes in an air-conditioned bus, as you depart Krakow for a confronting day of reflection at the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp complex, a solemn place that leaves a lasting impression on all visitors, and an important memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. Visit the museum and memorial in the suburbs of Oświęcim, about 60 kilometers west of Krakow. Upon arrival meet a professional guide who will show you around the site and speak of its dark history. Receive a lunch box, to take a break with during the tour. Discover the tragic history of the largest concentration camp of the Holocaust, funded by the Nazi party in 1940, Auschwitz-Birkenau became both a symbol of human suffering and a witness to physical and emotional exhaustion. Learn how it became the final resting place for millions of people, mostly Jews, put to their death in the hideous gas chambers. Pass through the gate with the inscription “Arbeit Macht Frei" (work sets you free) to enter Auschwitz I, where your guide will show you around the preserved area and explain the history of this place.  Then, spend about one hour at the second camp at Birkenau, where mass killings took place as part of the Nazi “Final Solution to the Jewish Question”, before meeting your driver for the return journey to Kraków.

Join a guided tour of the Wawel Royal Hill, one of the most important hills in Poland. This was where Polish kings and queens reigned over Poland. Your guide will tell you about the secrets of the royals and show you the most important places within Wawel Hill.  After meeting your guide, you will pass by the most expensive hotel in Cracow, which has hosted HRH Prince Charles and President Bush. You are then going to stop by the house of Jan Długosz, the legendary Polish historian, from where you will have a magnificent view over Wawel Hill. Then, start to go uphill, passing through the Arms Gate, and stopping by the monument to Tadeusz Kościuszko, one of the most important Polish heroes. Walk past the entrance to the Wawel Cathedral. Continue in the direction of the center of Wawel hill and the medieval courtyard, and head to the Austrian Hospital, from where you will be able to see a beautiful panorama of Krakow. You are then going to pass by Sandomierska Tower and go downhill through the Bernardyńska Gate, eventually leading to the cave of the Wawel Dragon. 

Spend your day at Energylandia, the biggest Amusement Park in Poland, offering an impressive number of varied attractions situated on 35 hectares of land, designed with all age groups in mind - children, teens, and adults.  Delight in a fun day out at one of Europe's biggest amusement parks. Discover a fairy tale place for the little ones and adults alike, with attractions for every age. Whiz down thrilling rides and roller coasters, and enjoy spectacular live shows by professional artists. Spend time with the kids in the family zone, with activities to keep the whole family happy. Adrenaline-seekers can head to the rides, and take a turn on the second fastest roller coaster in Europe — if they dare. Bring your swimsuit and splash around in the water park, with 1,800 square meters of pool space, all included in the ticket price.

Admire the Wawel Royal Castle and see other monuments from the Vistula River, Krakow's historic waterway. Listen to the audio commentary as you sit back and relax, enjoying the comfort of a traditional yet modern vessel. Head to the open deck for panoramic views of Krakow's landmarks. Witness the charms of Krakow’s districts, such as Saltwator and Kazimierz, and see such sights as the Dębnicki Bridge, "Church on the Rock," and Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology.

Enjoy one of the best views in Zakopane with a cable car ride up to Gubałówka. Marvel at the spectacular views of the High Tatras that are covered with snow up until May. Visit Krupówki, the most popular street in the heart of Zakopane, where you can experience the ambience of the mountain region and enjoy the aromas of local foods coming from the traditional restaurants. After your tour of Zakopane, take a break for some rest and relaxation in the thermal pools. Enjoy outdoor and indoor swimming pools, water slides, whirlpool baths and many other attractions in the heart of the mountains.

After collecting your audioguide at the local Tourist Information Centre, listen to the commentary as you walk along Kanonicza Street to the Wawel Hill. Wawel has been the monarch’s residency from the 11th century and is also the site where Polish royals were crowned and buried.  Once you've arrived at the Royal Castle, hear about the role of each building, and the stories behind them. You will learn about the history of Main Courtyard, the Arcaded Courtyard, as well as the Crown Treasury and Armory. End the tour at the famous Dragon’s Den.

Visit the most famous salt mine in Europe. The Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of the UNESCO monuments and has been gathering salt for over 700 years. It’s one of the most beautiful facilities of this type in the world. An English-speaking driver will pick you up from the city center or from the hotel if private transport is selected. With an air-conditioned, comfortable bus/van you will reach Wieliczka town in about 25 minutes. Meet your guide, and walk down the wooden stairs to a depth of 65 meters. The guide will explain the rules of a salt mine as well as various legends and stories about mine’s past. The tour takes place in the underground corridors and chambers, well prepared for visitors. Certain points on your way are dedicated to famous people who decided to visit Salt Mine in the past, for example, Chopin or Goethe. There will be many stories about mining and the progress of the works over the years. After a while, you will encounter a huge chapel carved underground. It’s considered one of the most beautiful chapels in the world – St. Kinga Chapel, where the artists carved a church in salt. It’s time to get some photos and have a quick rest before proceeding with the tour. After a short break, you will proceed to a huge area with an underground lake, where the world’s first underground balloon flight took place. There will be a few places to buy souvenirs as well. Don’t worry there is no need to climb these hundreds of steps again to go to the surface. There is a mining elevator that helps you get out of the mine. It’s time to meet your driver at the place of departure to the mine, and have a safe journey back to Krakow.

You will get to know the Main Market Square. Your local tour guide will take you on a fascinating journey back into the Middle Ages. You will walk above the ground, between the Cloth Hall and St. Mary's Church, and then cover the same path underground, while going 4-7 meters down to the Underground Museum. You will travel back in time and experience what the Main Square looked like 750 years ago. You will learn about the history of the Market Square, which was the setting for the ceremonial meetings of the kings and foreign envoys, and a place where cloth, salt, barrels, shoes, as well as coal, lead and copper were traded. It was also a place where you could meet witches, thieves and alchemists, where the martens were put around the neck of the condemned man, and public flogging was held at the pillory. Over the centuries, the level of the Krakow market has risen up significantly, thus after descending into the underground, you will go back a few hundred years, to the times before the city was founded in 1257. With a little bit of imagination and help from your guide you will discover the atmosphere of the medieval Market Square while walking along the underground route and listening to the colorful stories. You will see the exposed foundations of former commercial buildings, medieval roads, hygienic utensils, used more than 600 years ago, or authentic 11th-century tombs, which will allow you to learn about the burials of vampires and witches. Why Travelers Choose This Tour With your tour guide you will visit the fascinating -and according to many - the best- museum in Kraków, that is the Underground Museum and do it without queuing in a ticket line. You will feel the atmosphere of the medieval Market Square. You will learn first-hand the history of the Main Market Square - the icon of Krakow, because your guide will be a local Krakow resident. You won't get similar knowledge neither from books nor the internet! Meeting point We will meet you at the entrance to the Rynek Underground Museum, Rynek Główny 1, 31-042 Kraków. Sightseeing part I (~ 0.5h) Our professional guide will take you for the first part of the walk during which you will get to know the Main Market Square and its monuments, located above the ground. You will learn where the former medieval cemeteries were located, where the martens were put around the necks of convicts, where the pillory was located and where public flogging took place. Sightseeing part II (~ 1h) Your guide will take you for the second part of the walk to the Underground Museum, where you will descend 4-7 meters below the surface of the Market Square to travel back in time and discover Krakow's medieval realities. End of the tour You will end your tour at the Main Market Square. You may then choose to go to the one of many local restaurants, recommended to you by your guide, and enjoy a delicious dinner. You can also join us on another tour, which starts at 7:30 pm.

The "Lady with an Ermine" portrait embodies the Renaissance idea of an image as an illusion of natural vitality. Da Vinci managed to achieve this thanks to his detailed knowledge of anatomy, and his skill with light features. Combining these he was able to create a three-dimensional figure on the image plane. The original background, which was painted over in black in the 19th century, was also modelled with light just like the figure, which must have added to the impression of the model emerging from the shadows. The painting was purchased in Italy in around 1800 by Adam Jerzy, the son of Princess Izabela Czartoryska, and later donated to the Museum in Puławy. The portrait became the property of the Republic of Poland in 2016.

Wawel Castle was the residence of the royal family of Poland till 1795. It is a source of great Polish pride and stands as one of the most spectacular buildings on the top of Wawel Hill. During your tour of the castle, you will get the chance to witness the grandeur of Poland’s past as you pass through the magnificent halls of the castle. Presently, the castle also houses a museum that includes beautiful artefacts preserved from the historic times when kings and queens ruled the country. During your tour, you may also visit the Royal private apartments adorned with exquisite tapestries, paintings and chandeliers. The castle serves as a premier art museum and also includes an Oriental Art section with the largest collection of Ottoman tents on the European continent. This 14th-century castle built by King Casimir II the Great was at the top of its opulence in the 16th century when King Sigismund the Old commissioned the castle to be expanded and built into what it looks like today. Once you are in the castle, you will be transported into the era of kings and queens as your guide shares information about the royals who once lived in the castle and the myths surrounding this beautiful place. You may also get to see the Wawel exhibition, which displays objects uncovered during archaeological excavations around the region. It also includes scale models of buildings and other architectural elements. Wawel Castle is recognized as a Unesco World Heritage site and is known to have immense cultural and historical significance in Poland.