Tour Overview
Discover the heart and soul of Poland on this enriching eight-day journey from Kraków to Warsaw, where history, art, and culture intertwine at every turn. Begin in enchanting Kraków with a welcome dinner cruise along the Vistula River before delving into the city’s storied treasures—its medieval Old Town, the magnificent Wawel Castle and Cathedral, and the rare beauty of Da Vinci’s Lady with an Ermine. Venture underground to explore the UNESCO-listed Wieliczka Salt Mine and visit the serene Benedictine Abbey in Tyniec. Gain deeper insight into Poland’s Jewish heritage with guided visits to the Plaszow Concentration Camp and Schindler’s Factory, complemented by a culinary walking tour celebrating the region’s diverse influences. Continue to Warsaw via the historic town of Kielce for a sobering exploration of antisemitism in Poland. Once in Warsaw, immerse yourself in the capital’s musical and artistic legacy—from the world of Chopin to the masterpieces of the National Museum and Royal Castle. Conclude your journey with an intimate dinner and reception at the home of renowned historian Dr. Alexandra Richie, a fitting finale to a week steeped in discovery, reflection, and the enduring spirit of Polish culture.
Program Pricing
$8,299 $7,799 per person based on double occupancy
$10,099 $9,599 single occupancy
$329 taxes and fees are additional. Flights are not included in the price of the tour.
We impose a surcharge of 3% on the total transaction amount on credit card products, which is not greater than our cost of acceptance. We do not surcharge debit cards or e-checks.
Download the Flyer
Download the official From the Rubble: Remembrance and Rebuilding in Poland flyer for a listing of inclusions, accommodations, and other useful information.
Full Tour Itinerary
June 22, 2027 - Day 1
Arrive Krakow
Individual arrivals into Kraków John Paul II International Airport (KRK) / Welcome Reception and Dinner
Accommodations: Hotel Saski Kraków, Curio Collection by Hilton (R, D)
June 23, 2027 - Day 2
Poland’s Stolen Art
Art and architecture tour of Kraków Old Town (UNESCO World Heritage Site) / Lunch on own / Wawel Castle / Wawel Cathedral / Jagiellonian University and botanical garden / Princes Czartoryski Museum with private viewing of DaVinci’s Lady with and Ermine / Reception and Lecture
Accommodations: Hotel Saski Kraków, Curio Collection by Hilton (B, R)
June 24, 2027 - Day 3
Salt Mines and Benedictine Abbey
Wieliczka Salt Mine (UNESCO World Heritage Site) / Included lunch / Benedictine Abbey in Tyniec / Evening at leisure
Accommodations: Hotel Saski Kraków, Curio Collection by Hilton (B, L)
June 25, 2027 - Day 4
The Jewish Experience in Krakow
Guided tour of Płaszów concentration camp / Guided tour of Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory Museum / Culinary walking tour celebrating the region’s diverse influences
Accommodations: Hotel Saski Kraków, Curio Collection by Hilton (B, L)
June 26, 2027 - Day 5
Transfer to Warsaw
Antisemitism in Poland tour in the city of Kielce / Lunch on own / Arrive Warsaw, afternoon and evening free
Accommodations: Hotel Bristol, Autograph Collection (B)
June 27, 2027 - Day 6
Warsaw and Music
Guided tour of Fryderyk Chopin Museum / Holy Cross Church / Walking tour in Łazienki Park / Lunch on own / Afternoon at leisure / Private Reception and Chopin concert
Accommodations: Hotel Bristol, Autograph Collection (B, R)
June 28, 2027 - Day 7
Warsaw and Art
National Museum / The Royal Castle / Reception and Dinner at the private home of Dr. Alexandra Richie
Accommodations: Hotel Bristol, Autograph Collection (B, R, D)
June 29, 2027 - Day 8
Departures
Transfer to Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) for individual flights home
(B)
Program Inclusions
- Travel with Expert Historian Alexanda Richie, DPhil • Full-time logistical Tour Manager
- Expert local battlefield guides
- Roundtrip Airport Transfers (when arriving & departing on scheduled group tour dates)
- Four (4) nights accommodations in Kraków at Hotel Saski Kraków, Curio Collection by Hilton
- Three (3) nights accommodations in Warsaw at Hotel Bristol, Autograph Collection
- Private, first-class, air-conditioned motor coach transportation
- VIP access to sites not offered on other tours
- Entrance fees to all sites, museums, and historic attractions in itinerary
- Video oral history presentations from the Museum's collection
- Gratuities to guides, drivers, porters, and servers • Personal listening devices on all included touring
- 7 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 4 Receptions, and 2 Dinners
- Beer, wine, and soft drinks with included lunches, receptions and dinners
- Informative map book including useful battlefield maps and archival images to be used throughout your journey
Reading List
Nonfiction
Art
- The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert M. Edsel: Tells the story of the men who sought to save the world’s greatest art from the Nazis in Northwest Europe.
- What the Ermine Saw: The Extraordinary Journey of Leonardo da Vinci’s Most Mysterious Portrait by Eden Collinsworth: The story of a da Vinci painting housed in Kraków.
- Flemish Tapestries at Wawel Castle in Cracow: Treasures of King Sigismund Augustus Jagiello by Jerzy Szablowski: A deep dive into the Wawel tapestries.
- The Rape of Europa: The Fate of Europe’s Treasures in the Third Reich and the Second World War by Lynn H. Nicholas: About the looting and recovery of Poland’s art during and after World War II.
Polish History
- God’s Playground: A History of Poland (Volume 1: Origins to 1795 and Volume 2: 1795 to the Present) by Norman Davies: Two volumes that cover Poland’s 1,000-year history.
- Poland: A History by Adam Zamoyski: Originally written shortly before the fall of the Soviet Union, the latest edition reflects on the Soviet era in the context of Poland’s rise, fall, and rebirth.
- Quarks, Elephants & Pierogi: Poland in 100 Words by Mikołaj Gliński, Matthew Davies, Adam Żuławski, and Magdalena Burdzyńska: A funny introduction to Poland.
- Warsaw: A City at War, 1939-45 by Prit Buttar and Lottie Taylor: The history of Warsaw’s six-year struggle through World War II.
- Warsaw 1944: Hitler, Himmler, and the Warsaw Uprising by Alexandra Richie: The story of the Warsaw Uprising in which the Poles fought off German troops and police, street by street, for 63 days.
Holocaust
- The Kraków Ghetto Pharmacy by Tadeusz Pankiewicz: An eyewitness account of the Kraków Ghetto from its pharmacist.
- The Volunteer: One Man, an Underground Army, and the Secret Mission to Destroy Auschwitz by Jack Fairweather: The true story of a Polish Resistance fighter who infiltrates Auschwitz and then tries to warn the Allies about the Nazis’ plans for the “Final Solution.”
Postwar
- The Taste of Ashes: The Afterlife of Totalitarianism in Eastern Europe by Marci Shore: Looks at the aftermath of totalitarianism in Eastern Europe.
- Fear: Anti-Semitism in Poland After Auschwitz by Jan Gross: A study of Polish Holocaust survivors who returned home only to face continued violence and antisemitism.
- Cursed: A Social Portrait of the Kielce Pogrom by Joanna Tokarska-Bakir: An in-depth investigation into the July 4, 1946, Kielce pogrom.
Historical Fiction
- The Night Portrait: A Novel of World War II and Da Vinci’s Italy by Laura Morelli: A novel about the creation of da Vinci’s Portrait of a Lady with an Ermine and the woman who fought to save it from Nazi destruction.
- Schindler’s List by Thomas Keneally: The US edition of Schindler’s Ark, a fictionalized story based on the historical figure and the inspiration for the film.
Films
- Katyń (2007): A Polish historical drama about the 1940 Katyn massacre.
- Man of Marble (1977): Set near Kraków during the 1970s about a documentary filmmaker’s investigation into a bricklayer who was briefly hailed as a hero but then disappeared into obscurity.
- Man of Iron (1981): The sequel to Man of Marble focusing on the Gdańsk shipyard strikes.
- Schindler’s List (1993): Steven Spielberg’s historical drama following Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist who saved thousands of Jews from the Holocaust by employing them in his factories.
Online Resources
- YouTube: "Hermann Göring's Aircraft Collection Today" by Mark Felton. Göring's collection of WWI aircraft is now in the Aviation Museum in Kraków.
- Article: "Poland’s Monuments Men: Estreicher, Lorentz & Others" by Anna Legierska.
- Article: "Interview with Dr. Alexandra Richie, Author of Warsaw 1944"
For tour questions or for more information, the Travel Sales Team is available
Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Central.
Call: 1-877-813-3329 x 257
Email: travel@nationalww2museum.org
Alexandra Richie, DPhil
Alexandra Richie is a historian of Germany and Central and Eastern Europe specializing in defense and security issues. She completed her BA (Hons) in political science at the University of Victoria and went on to study at St. Antony’s College, Oxford, where she wrote her doctoral thesis, “The Political Manipulation of History in East and West Germany.” Richie is also the author of Faust’s Metropolis: A History of Berlin, which was named one of the top 10 books of the year by Publishers Weekly, and Warsaw 1944: Hitler, Himmler, and the Warsaw Uprising, which won the Newsweek Teresa Tora nska Prize for best nonfiction book of 2014 and the Kazimierz Moczarski Prize for Best History Book 2015. She has contributed to many articles, documentaries, radio, and television programs, and is the Past Convener of the Presidential Counselors at The National WWII Museum. Richie is also a member of the Senate at the Collegium Civitas University in Warsaw, Poland, and the Władysław Bartoszewski co-chair of History and International Studies at the Collegium Civitas.
Krakow
Hotel Saski Kraków, Curio Collection by Hilton, is one block from Old Town’s main plaza and the Cloth Hall. Stylish guest rooms are decorated with modern furnishings and original artwork. Amenities include Wi-Fi, espresso machine, 55-inch HDTV, bathrobe, slippers, safe, minifridge, USB port, and iron with ironing board.
Warsaw
Located on the Royal Route next to the Presidential Palace and in the Old Town of Warsaw, the five-star Hotel Bristol, a luxury collection hotel, is a city landmark and destination since 1901. The lovely property has multiple restaurants, cafes, and bars, as well as luxury spa and wellness center.
