Day 01: Arrive Warsaw

Welcome to Warsaw, Poland’s capital! Upon arrival at the airport, we are met by our private chauffeur and driven to our hotel. Balance of the day is at leisure to rest or start savouring Warsaw’s many attractions. We enjoy a two-night stay in Warsaw at the elegant Puro Hotel, which is located right in the heart of the city.

Overnight: Puro Hotel Warsaw, Warsaw (2 nights)

Day 02: Warsaw

Our Poland experience starts with a private tour of Warsaw accompanied by our own local English-speaking guide. We first wander the streets of Old Town*, painstakingly restored after World War II. Today, the area’s inclusion as a UNESCO World Heritage Site speaks volumes of the effort involved in its history and restoration. The historic centre of Warsaw is home to St. John’s Cathedral, Warsaw’s oldest church and the location where the first constitution in Europe was sworn way back in 1791. We also see the Royal Castle, former residence of Polish kings and the seat of parliament. Explore the lovely Old Market Square guarded by the Mermaid, symbol of Warsaw. Walking through the Barbican, the old city’s fortifications, we reach New Town, offering many restaurants, churches, and the famous Monument of the Warsaw Uprising, which took place in August 1944. This uprising lasted for 63 days with little outside support. It was the single largest military effort taken by any European resistance movement during World War II.

In the afternoon, an optional tour to Wilanow Palace & Park is available (pre-booking necessary, contact Bestway for details). See the beautiful interiors of the Great Crimson Room, the North Painting Gallery, which includes portraits of Polish kings, and the King’s Bed-Chamber, with a canopy over the bed made from 17th century Turkish fabric. The palace is surrounded by a baroque park. (B)

Day 03: Warsaw/Gdansk (Train)

After breakfast, our private chauffeur will transfer us to the rail station to take the high-speed Pendolino train to Gdansk. Water and tea or coffee is included in our rail ticket. Upon arrival in Gdansk, our private chauffeur will be waiting to transfer us to our hotel. Gdansk has a rich history as the most prosperous Baltic trading port during the Renaissance era. By 1754, it had the largest population of any Eastern European city! We enjoy a two-night stay in Gdansk.

Our afternoon offers free time to explore the city, or, take part in an optional tour of Malbork Castle* (pre-booking necessary, contact Bestway for details). This classic medieval fortress is one of the oldest castles in Europe. Magnificently located on the banks of the Nogat River, the castle is most famous for serving as a fortress for Teutonic knights during the Middle Ages. In December 1997, it was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Overnight: Puro Hotel Gdansk, Gdansk (2 nights) (B)

Day 04: Gdansk

This morning, we embark on a lovely private walking tour of Gdansk with our guide. We start our tour from Upland Gate, a fragment of the city’s fortifications dating from the 16th century. Just behind it, we pass by a baked brick construction consisting of the Prison Tower and the Torture House, relics of the Gothic defense walls of the 15th century. The Golden Gate, situated next to the Prison Tower, opens into the Long Market, a true feast for the eyes. Patrician mansions decorated with late Renaissance and baroque facades line either side of this beautiful street. Next, we see the Main Town Hall, with a life-sized figure of King Sigismund Augustus on the top. Just behind the Artus Court building rises the tower of St. Mary’s Basilica, a part of what is believed to be the largest brick church in the world. On our way back, we pass by Mariacka Street, with its gabled, terraced houses and elegant boutiques, leading to the Long Wharf on the Motlawa River. At the river’s edge stands the characteristic Gdansk Crane, where our tour ends. Afternoon is free. Gdansk is home to the well-known Gdansk Shakespeare Theater, as well as many other renowned theaters. Arrangements can be made to visit and enjoy a show at a theater as an optional activity. (B)

Day 05: Gdansk/Krakow (Train)

Following our morning meal, our private chauffeur transfers us to the rail station for our high-speed Pendolino train to Krakow. Water and tea or coffee is included in our ticket. On arrival in Krakow, we are met and transferred by our private chauffeur to our hotel. Remainder of the day is free to relax or start exploring Krakow on our own. The location of our hotel makes it very convenient to walk around the lovely Old Town. We enjoy a four-night stay in Krakow.

Overnight: Puro Hotel Krakow, Krakow (4 nights) (B)

Day 06: Krakow

A private guided walking tour through scenic Krakow* is the highlight of the day. For centuries, Krakow was the capital of Poland, drawing great scholars and artists from around the world. Among them was the master of Gothic architecture Veit Stoss, who created the magnificent 13-meter-high altarpiece in the Basilica of the Virgin Mary, which we will visit. Thankfully, Krakow survived World War II relatively undamaged, and, therefore, has a wealth of genuine architectural treasures to offer. It was the first European city to be included on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites. Another highlight we visit is the Main Market Square, dating from the 13th century. This square is the largest medieval town square in Europe. Then, we explore Wavel Hill, the site of one of the largest castles in Poland. As the home of Poland’s kings for centuries, Wawel Castle offers an incredible diversity of architecture, including medieval, Renaissance and baroque structures. Balance of the day is free. (B)

Day 07: Krakow – Excursion to Auschwitz & Birkenau

Today, we visit the haunting Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial*, considered to be the largest concentration camp of the Nazis. It was here where approximately 1.5 million people from 28 nations lost their lives, most of whom were 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 in the cremation of the bodies. When the camp was finally liberated in January 1945, there were only some 7000 prisoners, all in dire conditions Today, the site is a museum and is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. We will have a private tour lasting approximately 3.5 hours. Balance of the day is free. (B)

Day 08: Krakow

We start the day with a visit to the famous Wieliczka Salt Mines, which in 1978, were accorded UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

We are transferred by our private car to the mines, where we join a group tour with an English-speaking guide. In operation for more than 700 years, Wieliczka is famous for being one of the oldest salt mines in Europe. Our route in the mine leads us through galleries, chambers and chapels on three levels. All the altarpieces, figures and monuments we see here are carved right from the surrounding salt. The highlight is the richly ornamented Chapel of St. Kinga. (B)

Day 09: Krakow/Warsaw (Train)

After breakfast, we are transferred to the rail station for our high-speed Pendolino train to Warsaw. Water and tea or coffee is included in our train ticket. Upon arrival in Warsaw, we are transferred to our hotel by our private chauffeur.

Balance of the day is free. This evening, we have an opportunity to join an optional Chopin Concert (pre-booking necessary, contact Bestway for details). It was the genius of Frederic Chopin who made Poland famous in the musical world. His mazurkas, etudes, polonaises and scherzos have become a measure of a pianist’s talent.

Overnight: Puro Hotel Warsaw, Warsaw (1 night) (B)

Day 10: Depart Warsaw

After an immersive journey through this unique country, we bid farewell to Poland. Our chauffeur will transfer us to the airport or the train station for our departure. Or, continue another adventure with Bestway tours to different regions of Eastern Europe. Please ask Bestway for details. (B)

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

Departure Dates & Prices

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Notes

Inclusions

Participants

This tour operates on a minimum of 02 participants.

Customised Itinerary

If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you.

Contact Info
You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call 1-604-264-7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1-800-663-0844.

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