Overview:
Experience historic Krakow before continuing to Zakopane and Tatra National Park with the highest mountains in Poland! Krakow Old Town has been preserved since Middle Ages and is best explored on foot, car will give you access to unique sights nearby – Wieliczka Salt Mines, Ojcowski National Park and Auschwitz. Zakopane is 100 km from Krakow and surrounded by the Tatra Mountains.
Package price per person based on availability and sharing a standard twin or double room:
Departure Dates:
| Season |
Prices per person from |
| Apil - June; September - October |
£ 695 |
| July - August |
£ 745 |
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Krakow
Upon arrival in Krakow, pick up your rental car at the airport and drive to Krakow. Check-in at the Hotel Chopin or similar for three nights stay.
Day 2: Free day to explore Krakow
Breakfast at the hotel and time to explore the city and surroundings. Preserved since the Middle Ages, Krakow’s urban layout is arranged in such a way that all streets lead to the Main Market Square, the city's central space. The Gothic St. Mary's Church, towering over the Main Market Square of Krakow, houses Wit Stwosz's masterpiece, Europe's largest Gothic altar. From the taller tower of St. Mary's, the bugle call is sounded every hour. The central part of Krakow's Main Market Square, one of the largest in Europe, paragon to St. Peter's Square in Rome and St Mark's in Venice, is taken by the Cloth Hall, known as Sukiennice - a rare example of a medieval building that has been used for commercial purposes for centuries. From the Main Market Square you can follow Grodzka Street to Wawel Hill with Wawel Castle - one of the most magnificent Renaissance residences in Europe & Wawel’s Cathedral.
In the afternoon we suggest visiting Wieliczka Salt Mine, located 13 km from Krakow. Wieliczka Salt Mine is a unique world-class attraction, included in the UNESCO "Human Heritage" List. According to a legend, salt resources were brought here from Hungary by Blessed Kinga, who married a Polish king. She dropped a ring to a Hungarian salt mine shaft to say "farewell" to her homeland. Salt recourses were soon discovered in Wieliczka. When excavation started - Kinga's ring was found in a first salt lump. A tour of the Mine includes beautiful chapels sculpted in salt (Blessed Kinga's chapel is the most beautiful one), spacious chambers, crystal grottoes and underground ponds. All this at average depth of 250 m below ground level.
Overnight in Krakow.
Day 3: Krakow – Jura Krakowska - Czestchowska - Ojcow National Park and Eagles' Nests Track – Krakow (~ 220 km)
The most attractive sights of the park are the spectacular isolated rocks such as Hercules’Club, Deotyma Needle. The Park has approximately 400 caves. One of the most interesting is Lokietek Cave (320 m). The ruins of the Gothic castle in Ojców and the Renaissance residence in Pieskowa Skala are major attractions within the park. Additionally, the track of Eagles’ Nests Track –group of Medieval fortresses incl. impressive ruins of castle in Ogrodzieniec.
Overnight in Krakow.
Day 4: Krakow - Nowy Wisnicz - Lipnica Murowana - Debno Podhalanskie - Zakopane (~180 km)
On the route to Zakopane, stop at the Nowy Wisnicz - an interesting combination of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles, the castle of Nowy Wisnicz used to be the residence of the Kmita and Lubomirski noble families. The castle nicely combines features of defensive and residential architecture with a particularly picturesque landscape.
Also you can make a stop at the two wooden churches listed on the UNESCO Heritage List - Lipnica Murowana and Debno Podhalanskie.
Overnight in Zakopane at the Hotel Mercure Kasprowy or similar.
Day 5: Zakopane
Free time to explore the city. Zakopane is located 1000 m above sea level and surrounded by Tatra Mountains (Rysy Mountain - 2.400m above sea level). The funicular to Gubalówka has a beautiful view over the Polish and Czech Tatras. A walk along the Krupówki Street, the main pedestrian precinct of town, provides you with a wonderful opportunity for shopping. Friendly street vendors offer local goods (lamb-wool sweaters, walking sticks and wooden figures to mention a few). Many local restaurants, decorated in rustic style, offer a wide choice of Polish and regional specialties.
In the afternoon we suggest a visit to Aqua Park Bukowina Tatrzanska with its hot springs.
Overnight in Zakopane.
Day 6: Zakopane and Tatra National Park
Day in Zakopane to visit Tatra National Park. The Tatra range forms part of the Western Carpathians bordering the Slovak Republic. The Tatra National Park was granted the status of UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve of world-wide importance in 1993. The 300 km of well-marked tourist trails are graded to denote different levels of difficulty for a hike out in nature.
You can also join a walking tour in one of the valleys (Koscieliska or Chocholowska).
Overnight in Zakopane.
Day 7: Zakopane – Chocholow - Sucha Beskidzka - Kalwaria Zebrzydowska - Krakow (~ 135 km)
Return to Krakow via Chocholow. Chocholow is a village with many examples of traditional wooden architecture which are found in the mountainous region. Sucha Beskidzka, a castle called Little Wawel due to its ressemblance to the Krakow Wawel Castle is well worth a visit on todays trip. Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, the UNESCO-listed hillside stations of the cross, was frequented by young John Paul II.
Overnight at the Hotel Chopin or similar in Krakow.
Day 8: Departure from Krakow
Depending on your departure time, free time to explore Krakow before returning your car at Krakow airport. Return flight back to UK.
Package Includes:
- Direct return flights from London to Krakow (other airports availble upon request)
- 1 piece of check-in luggage per traveller
- 8 days car hire (Category B incl. Collision Damage Waiver)
- 4 nights' accommodation in 3* Hotel Chopin, Krakow
- 3 nights' accommodation in 3* Hotel Mercure Kasprowy, Zakopane
- Breakfast daily
- 24 hour emergency service
- ATOL protection
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