Along The Vistula River

Day 1
KRAKOW (D)

Arrival in Krakow, a cultural capital of Poland, picturesquely located on the Vistula River. Orientation walk along the Old Town, UNESCO site. Memorable welcome dinner on board of the ship with perfect views of medieval glory of Krakow.

Day 2
KRAKOW-WISLA-PSZCZYNA-WYGIELZOW-KRAKOW (B, L, D)

Today we will depart south, towards the Beskidy Mountains, to the small town of Wisla, where nearby, the Vistula has its source. In Wisla, a center of folk traditions of the Beskid highlanders, we will visit the neoclassical Evangelical church and the Beskid Museum showing the regional culture of Silesian highlanders.Travelling still along the Vistula, we will reach Pszczyna which boasts the Pszczyna Castle, a gem of Upper Silesia. The castle, now a museum, has retained its rich, historic décor and was granted a honorary diploma for meticulous reconstruction. We will continue to the village of Wygielzow with the open air Vistula Ethnographic Park featuring valuable, traditional architecture of the Krakow region. You will feel the true spirit of rural Poland there.

Day 3
KRAKOW (B, D)

Guided tour of Krakow, the first European city included in the UNESCO list of the most precious places of the world. Krakow is the city of humanism, whose sites capture the essence of Polish history and where the world’s greatest sculptor of the Gothic, Veit Stoss lived and worked for nearly 20 years.Our tour will take us to the Wawel Royal Castle with priceless Flemish tapestries that present the Renaissance north-European art at its height and to the Wawel Cathedral, where Poland’s kings were once crowned.Wawel Hill beautifully located by the Vistula, gives perfect opportunity for a romantic walk along the river and admiring the splendour of old ages or lunch at a restaurant located on the Viking ship.
Late afternoon excursion to Tyniec Abbey picturesquely situated on a limestone hill on the bank of the Vistula. Enjoy a private organ concert and dinner served by the monks at the Tyniec Abbey. During our culinary celebration we will taste delicious, natural food prepared by the use of traditional methods by Benedictine monks. Example menu from the Benedictine Heavenly Food restaurant: Sister Salomea’s fillet of duck in chanterelle sauce, the provincial’s salmon with almonds or St. Scholastica’s vegetable salad. There is also an opportunity to purchase the products made by the Benedictines, all of them with ecological ingredients and no additives, just to mention: „Angelic” or „Meditation” jam; herbal teas, juices, pickled mushrooms, honey etc.

Day 4
KRAKOW-NIEPOLOMICE-BARANOW SANDOMIERSKI (B, L, D)

Departure for Niepolomice, located on the trade route at the Vistual River crossing, with the gracious Royal Castle, a summer residence of Polish kings. Our trip along the Vistula River will take us as well to Baranow Sandomierski, with the beautiful Renaissance residence known as „little Wawel”. The castle houses a museum with some period furnishings and decoration. Afternoon tour of castle followed by the medieval feast held in the castle interiors with old music entertainment and sophisticated Polish delicacies.

Day 4
BARANOW SANDOMIERSKI-SANDOMIERZ-KAZIMIERZ DOLNY (B, L)

A delight to visit today will be Sandomierz with over thousand-year-old history, called „little Rome” because of its location on the seven hills by the Vistula. The impressive wealth of finely preserved historic monuments have earned Sandomierz a reputation as one of the most beautiful towns in Poland.
Continue to Kazimierz Dolny, charming Renaissance town with historical architecture, picturesquely set on the bank of the Vistula River. Thanks to its pleasantly bohemian flavor, Kazimierz is commonly called Mekka of artists. Its heart is formed by the Rynek with an old wooden well right in the middle. The square is lined with fine merchants’ houses, old churches, granaries.

Day 5
KAZIMIERZ DOLNY-JANOWIEC-KOZLOWKA-KAZIMIERZ DOLNY (B, L)

After breakfast take a boat trip on Vistula River to reach Janowiec castle, originally erected at the beginning of the 16th century.
Excursion to Kozlowka to visit a late-Baroque residence, which belonged to the Zamoyski family. The palace interiors have their authentic decorations and furniture dated from 19th and 20th c. You can admire ceramic stoves, crystal mirrors, a vast collection of paintings, and get an idea of the lifestyle, artistic taste and mindset of a Polish aristocrat at the turn of the twentieth century. Of particular value is also unusual, Europe’s only Gallery of the Art of Socialist Realism. Drive back to Kazimierz Dolny for overnight.

Day 6
KAZIMIERZ DOLNY-GORA KALWARIA-WARSAW (B, L)

Departure for Gora Kalwaria, situated on a high escarpment over the Vistula valley. See the Jewish synagogues and cemetery and have a walk through the market square with neoclassical town hall and market halls from the early 19th century.
Continue your drive to Warsaw, the capital of Poland, but also one of the most important cities situated along the Vistula River. Even the legend about the very beginning of Warsaw is connected with the river.
Legend speaks of Warsaw’s past. One of them tells a mermaid – half woman half fish – swimming in the waves of the blue Vistula River in front of Mazovian fisherman and foretelling of the founding of an indestructible city. Another account speaks of the founders of the city, Wars and Sawa, lovers whose names were combined to give Warsaw its name.

Day 7
WARSAW (B, D)

A half day sightseeing tour of Warsaw including the city highlights. A walk around the streets of Old Town. Painstakingly restored following originals designs the meticulous reconstruction of the historic center was only completed as late as 1954. Today the area’s inclusion on UNESCO’s World Heritage List speaks volumes for the effort involved. The burgher houses that line the Old Town Square are particularly striking, with many boasting intricate details on the facades. The historic center is also home to numerous churches, including the St John’s Cathedral. The important city’s landmark is the Royal Castle, formerly a residence of Polish kings and the seat of parliament. Afterwards, drive along the historical Royal Route.
End the tour by the Vistula River where we invite you on a river trip. Take a journey on board of the river tram. Admire Warsaw’s seven bridges and enjoy your lunch served on board the ship.
The afternoon includes a fascinating journey through Frederic Chopin’s compositions. Enjoy a private piano concert with glass of sparkling wine during the interval and listen to the world-famous Chopin’s mazurkas and polonaises. Professional musicians will guarantee masterly interpretations of the composer’s music and truly memorable performance.

Day 8
WARSAW-ZELAZOWA WOLA-LOWICZ-CZERWINSK-WARSAW (B, L)

A trip to the little village of Zelazowa Wola, worldwide known because Frederick Chopin was born here in a manor that houses today Chopin’s biographic museum with the composer’s and his family portraits and other memorabilia.
A special treat in Lowicz, we invite you for a home-hosted lunch served by the young couple of artists, who will welcome you in their charming wooden cottage at the base of Lowicz castle ruins. Meet the family and enjoy traditional Polish hospitality.
Drive to Czerwinsk nad Wisla (Czerwinsk town by Vistula River), famous for the stone basilica, one of the oldest examples of Romanesque architecture in Poland.
Drive back to Warsaw. Evening walk along the Vistula River. Have a free time in one of the pubs situated on the promenade along the river.

Day 9
WARSAW- PLOCK -TORUN (B, L)

Morning departure along the Vistula River for Torun with stops in the following riverside towns:
Plock, a town perched on a cliff high over the Vistula river. Plock seen from the other side of the river, still evokes its illustrious past, its skyline being marked with a half a dozen old church towers. It is one of the oldest settlements in Poland.
Finally arrival in Torun, one of the most magnificent historic cities in Poland, a wealthy Hanseatic port and the birthplace of Copernicus. We will stroll the lovely Gothic Old Town, UNESCO World Heritage Site, along one of the charming, narrow streets uncovering Torun’s past glory

Day 10
TORUN-GDANSK-OLIWA-GDANSK (B, L)

Morning departure for Gdansk. Upon arrival sightseeing of Gdansk, a remarkable city owing to the millennial history, architectural heritage and historical significance. The history of Gdansk is full of events which have influenced the history of Poland and Europe.
We will enjoy a walk through the Old Town which delights with Hanseatic architecture and take an unforgettable trip across the Bay of Gdansk facing the Baltic Sea, beside the delta of the Vistula, on one of the Gdansk Shipping Company boats. From the deck you will admire the most picturesque spots of the area: Westerplatte, Sopot, Gdynia and the Hel Peninsula. Gdansk, Sopot and Gdynia, so called Tricity, offer an enticing blend of history and brash newness. Each city has its own specific personality.
Our panorama tour will take us to picturesque Oliwa district to visit the Cathedral with the world-famous organs. It is said that the sounds of the Oliwa organs are so fantastic that they made their constructor faint -once he heard them for the first time. Enjoy a private organ concert.

Day 11
GDANSK-MALBORK-SZTUM-GDANSK (B, L)

Leave for Malbork caste, formerly the seat of the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, which represents one of the largest, defensive, medieval systems in Europe and was put on the UNESCO list. The Museum’s highlight is the exhibition of amber, one of the world’s most interesting collections of the type.
Lunch at a local restaurant located in one of the castle’s wings. Continue to another medieval riverside town, Sztum, to see the former Teutonic castle which also was the residence of the Grand Master of the Order. Overnight in Gdansk.

Day 12
GDANSK (B)

Transfer to the airport for your flight back home.