Krakow
Wawel Castle
Sukiennice
Krakow
Jagiellonian University
Krakow Market Square
St Mary's Basilica
Collegium Maius
Krakow
Wonderful churches, including 14th century St Mary’s, packed with artistic treasures
The Wawel with its Royal Castle and Cathedral
Fabulous Museums – the Czartoryski Museum, National Museum and more
Krakow is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, home to a succession of artists and architects over centuries who have all contributed to its cultural heritage. Largely spared from any destruction, it boasts the best-preserved collection of historic buildings in Poland. This tour, in the company of renowned author and art historian, Andrew Spira, looks at this cultural legacy in detail in a host of churches, museums, galleries, palaces and civic buildings.
Available Departures |
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| 29 - April - 2025 | £ 1275.00 | Travel Info Book Now |
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Provisional Timings London Gatwick Departing: 29th April 2025 at 09:25 Returning: 02nd May 2025 at 14:25 |
Day 1: Fly from London Gatwick to Krakow and transfer to your hotel for a four-night stay.
This afternoon we visit the Jozef Mehoffer House. Jozef Mehoffer was one of the turn of the 20th century's artisitc elite being a skilled stained-glass artist who collabrated with Stanislaw Wyspianski on the interiors of numerous churches in Krakow. We visit his house where the artists of the Mtoda Polska (Young Poland) movement used to meet and is filled with elegant furnishings, Art Deco to impressionist-era art, sketches, designs and stained glass. Evening welcome drink and lecture ‘Slavs of the West: the historical and cultural background of Poland’ and dinner with wine at a local restaurant or the hotel.
Day 2: Full day Krakow.
A full day tour starting with Wawel Cathedral, the official seat of the Archbishop of Krakow - it is a national sanctuary and has served as the coronation site of many Polish monarchs. Next onto Wawel Royal Castle and its State Rooms, the first site in the city to be granted World Heritage status. It now houses an art museum with an important collection of Italian Renaissance art. In the afternoon we will visit the gorgeous Churches of St. Francis of Assisi and St Anne, Basilica of the Holy Trinity and St. Mary’s Basilica, which reflect Poland’s strong Catholic tradition. Second lecture, ‘Krakow: science and art, medieval and modern’ and dinner with wine at a local restaurant or the hotel.
Day 3: Full day Krakow.
We continue our exploration of Krakow’s myriad of treasures today including the National Museum, Poland’s largest museum, which houses a superlative collection of Polish art, the European Culture Centre, Europeum, attached to the National Gallery but with a collection of European Art and to Jagiellonian University, the 13th oldest university in the world, dating back to 1364 and its oldest building, the Collegium Maius, with its atmospheric courtyard. After free time for lunch (not included) we visit the Bishop Erazm Ciołek Palace, which now houses the Krakow National Museum and the fantastic Princes Czartoryski Museum. We finish the day with a visit to St Florian’s Gate and Furrier’s Tower, part of the city’s defences dating from the 14th century.
Day 4: Kazimierz District and transfer to the airport.
This morning we visit the atmospheric Jewish district of Kazimierz, whose story was so movingly told in Spielberg’s superb film, Schindler’s List. Transfer to the airport for the return afternoon flight to London Gatwick.
NB: Exact order of excursions may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion
Please note this tour has been classed as Demanding due to the amount of walking involved on all days of the itinerary. There is limited coach transfers included on the touring itinerary so this tour is not suitable for those with walking difficulties.
Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 25 passengers.
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED
Modern four-star “boutique” hotel located in the heart of Kraków, on a quiet street within walking distance of the main sights. The hotel houses a lobby bar, stylish restaurant, fitness room, sauna and stylish rooms with all modern facilities including TV, safe, free wifi and hairdryer.
Grand Ascot Hotel Website
Andrew Spira
Andrew Spira graduated from the Courtauld Institute of Art before completing a MA degree in Museum and Gallery Management at City University, London. He worked at the Temple Gallery, London (specialist in Byzantine and Russian icons), and as a curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum where he specialised in 18th century British Art and Design, and Metalwork. He also specialises in Russian art, publishing ‘The AvantGarde Icon: Russian Avant-Garde Art and the Icon Painting Tradition’ in 2008 (Lund Humphries). For 20 years he has been taking tours to cultural sites in western Europe, Russia, Armenia and Georgia. He was Programme Director at Christie’s Education for 10 years before going part-time to focus on his current research project - on personal identity and the way it is reflected in the material culture of western Europe from the Middle Ages to the present day.
We both really enjoyed this tour.Andrew was an excellent and extremely knowledgeable guide .He shared his knowledge in a very accessible way.The itinerary was very full and varied.The hotel was very good, modern and the breakfasts and evening meal delicious.
Review by Vince who travelled 30-April-2024
Review by Anonymous who travelled 26-April-2023
Review by Anonymous who travelled 26-April-2023
A brilliant trip that was interesting and well organised
Review by Winter who travelled 26-April-2023
This was an excellent tour. The only thing which I felt was sorely missing was any kind of printed itinerary with a timed schedule of visits. We didn’t have any idea of what we were doing each day, and this is not how I like to travel. Also, Polish history is long and complicated and it would have been really helpful to have had a reference summary of key dates as well as names of important kings and rulers. It was very hard to keep it all in our heads amidst the fast flow of information. The local guide, Carolina, was excellent. We were also obliged to use museum guides, some of whom were better than others. Generally, we wanted more day-time input from Andrew Spira, whose knowledge is excellent. We requested that he talk to us more during the daily visits, rather than just give evening lectures, and he was happy to do this, which we appreciated. I think that he should be more involved with the daily programmes on your future trips.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 26-April-2023
We particularly liked our hotel - convenient location, attentive staff, comfortable beds. We also found the visit to Nova Huta (which sounded like a filler in the brochure) extremely interesting. Our local guide, Monika, was very hardworking and conscientious. The only thing we did not enjoy was the meal out at a 'characterful local restaurant', but that may be because we are too spoilt to like traditional Polish food.
Review by Perkins who travelled 08-May-2019
As i wear two hearing aids, the lack of in the ear headphones made it virtually impossible to hear the guide unless I stood right next to her. I was disappointed that we were not given a list of all the participants to help remembering names. The hotel was within easy walking distance of the Market Square, quiet, clean and offered an excellent spread for breakfast. Having the talks on the history of Poland from Andrew Spira was excellent. The guide certainly knew her stuff but tended to talk a bit too much in my opinion. I wouldn't have missed this opportunity to visit Krakow - it's a fascinating city.
Review by Valentine who travelled 08-May-2019
I would just like to say that there was a LOT of walking on this trip, and I felt very sorry for those who had even slight walking problems. More advance warning might be good. Also, could the trip to Nova Huta be omitted in favour of a little time for personal exploration? Finally, our lovely guide Monica hardly stopped talking for 5 mins over the whole period, so a few handouts would have been helpful to give her -and us - a break. Generally, an inspirational holiday THANKYOU!
Review by Steavenson who travelled 08-May-2019
Energetic but comprehensive and enjoyable tour. The salt mines were amazing. Although all the group managed to negotiate that visit very well, I feel in retrospect that access to the mines and the length of the visit should have been highlighted.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 08-May-2019
Local guiding very intense- perhaps more relaxed itinerary and delivery of information ?
Review by Bryson who travelled 03-April-2019
A short break between museums might be better. Visiting a Jewish Quarter on Friday late afternoon is not ideal! Rather too much detailed information from the charming Tour Guide. Tour Manager's talks were excellent. Unfortunately we did not receive a detailed itinerary with timings. Criticisms above are minor and overall the holiday was a very enjoyable experience. Thank you.
Review by Ireland who travelled 03-April-2019
Tour very good and lots to see, the pace was sometimes exhausting. 1/2 day for own 'experiences' could be a good 'to catch one's breath'.
Review by Goodhew who travelled 03-April-2019
Andrew's lectures were excellent and we would have liked more input from him during the day. The local guide was knowledgeable but gave far too much information. Did not enjoy the armoury department of the National Museum. Two museums in a row was too much, would have liked a break inbetween and comments on the architecture. We loved Krakow.
Review by Anonymous who travelled 03-April-2019
