Grand Tour of Poland

Board your overnight flight to Gdansk.

Welcome to the historic port city of Gdansk! Upon arrival, your driver will be waiting with a signboard and will transfer you to your hotel.

The evening is at your leisure to settle in and explore the nearby Old Town.

Your guide will pick you up from your hotel this morning for a fun-filled exploration of Gdansk's highlights with children in mind. See the best of the Old Town and learn about Polish history and culture through fun activities, tasks, and games.

Sights include the Golden Gate (Langgasser Tor), the Fountain of Neptune, the Muzeum Gdanska, the Motlawa River Embankment (Dlugie Pobrzeze), and St. Mary's Church—all woven into an engaging walking tour suited for families.

Skip-the-line tickets are included at the Amber Museum, housed in an old mill. Interactive exhibits illustrate how amber is naturally formed, how it is extracted, and how it has been used in medicine, as a magical stone, and as an artistic material. Both adults and children will be delighted with natural and handmade treasures made out of amber, from a prehistoric 'sunken lizard' to a full-size guitar.

Continue to the Osrodek Kultury Morskiej, a branch of the National Maritime Museum. It's a must-do for active kids who like to learn through play—the hands-on exhibits are both fun and educational. Let your children's imagination run wild with computer simulators, remote-controlled ships, and amazing stories about maritime life. Skip-the-line tickets are included.

Morning transfer to Torun by private car, departing at 9am (approximately 2 hours 30 minutes driving time).

Afternoon: Old Town and Gingerbread. Meet your guide at a town center location. A trip to Torun with kids is incomplete without a visit to the Living Museum of Gingerbread. On this 2-hour private tour, explore the heart of Poland's gingerbread legacy.

Start at Rynek Staromiejski (Old Market Square), where Gothic architecture and the Nicolaus Copernicus statue set the stage for a walk through history. Your guide will share fascinating tales of Torun's vibrant past as you journey to the museum, skipping the lines for exclusive access.

Inside, history comes alive as you shape and decorate your own gingerbread in an interactive workshop. Hear stories of exotic spices that once fueled Torun's trade and prosperity while admiring the museum's medieval charm—a hands-on experience that blends tradition, culture, and fun.

Then continue to the Town Square in Old Town for an extended walking tour. Explore charming streets and iconic landmarks such as the Cathedral of St. John Baptist and Evangelist, the medieval defensive city walls, and the remains of the Teutonic Castle. Walk along the Vistula River promenade and admire Torun's iconic cityscape while listening to fascinating history and legends.

Morning transfer to Warsaw by private car, departing at 9am (approximately 3 hours 30 minutes driving time).

The remainder of the day is at your leisure to settle in and explore the city.

Meet your guide at a city center location and embark on a journey to discover the legends of Warsaw's Old Town and explore the world of science at the Copernicus Science Centre.

Your private guide will lead you to the Old Town Market Square, where your children will be given the important task of finding the legendary Warsaw Mermaid to discover the story of the city's origin. You will go on a magical journey back in time to the Middle Ages as the guide shares interesting stories about the rich merchants, knights, and kings who built Warsaw, its beautiful tenement houses, palaces, and churches.

Sights include the Archcathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist and the Nicolaus Copernicus Monument.

Visit the Copernicus Science Centre, which impresses children and adults alike with interactive and educational exhibits. With skip-the-line tickets, immerse yourself in interesting facts, games, and experiments that make science fun. The robotic theater and planetarium are a must-see.

The remainder of the day is at your leisure.

A full free day to enjoy Warsaw at your own pace. Recommendations for tours to be added later based on your interests.

This morning, transfer to Krakow by private car, departing at 9am (approximately 3 hours 30 minutes driving time).

The remainder of the day is at your leisure to explore Krakow's beautiful Old Town.

A full free day to enjoy beautiful Krakow. Recommendations for tours to be added later based on your interests.

Visit two of Poland's most spiritually and historically significant places: Czestochowa, home to the famous Jasna Gora Monastery, and Wadowice, the birthplace of Pope John Paul II. This is a journey that provides deep insight into Poland's religious heritage, cultural traditions, and the life of one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century.

The Family Home of John Paul II is now a modern museum dedicated to his life and legacy. The building preserves the apartment where he spent his childhood. The museum presents photographs, personal belongings, school records, and family memorabilia. Visitors learn about his early education, his love for literature and theater, and the challenges he faced during World War II. Exhibits show his journey from priest to bishop, then Archbishop of Krakow, and finally his election as Pope in 1978. Multimedia presentations explain his global influence and his role in promoting peace, interfaith dialogue, and human rights.

Before entering the museum, you will visit the parish church where the future Pope was baptized. Then your accredited guide takes you through the family home of the Holy Father.

The Jasna Gora Monastery is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Europe. Established in 1382, it is run by the Pauline monks and attracts millions of visitors each year. The most sacred object in the monastery is the painting of the Black Madonna (Our Lady of Czestochowa). The icon is believed to have miraculous powers and holds great importance in Polish Catholic tradition. The chapel where the icon is displayed is richly decorated with gold ornaments and votive offerings. The monastery complex includes a large basilica with impressive Baroque architecture, and the treasury contains religious artifacts, gifts from kings and popes, and historical items related to Poland's struggles for independence.

Upon arrival, your driver will accompany you to the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa. You will be guided by one of the Pauline Monks who shows you the treasury filled with priceless gifts and the chapel of the miraculous painting of the Black Madonna.

The Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of the best-preserved mines of its kind in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Enjoy a personalized experience on this 4-hour tour from Krakow, with private round-trip transport by luxury vehicle, skip-the-line entrance, and a guided group tour of Wieliczka's underground wonders.

Over 700 years old with more than 300 km (186 miles) of tunnels, the mine is located about 135 meters (440 feet) underground. You will be amazed to find entire chapels, sculptures, chandeliers, and walls carved from salt.

The remainder of the day is at your leisure.

Embark on an unforgettable Vistula River sightseeing cruise that reveals the beauty of Krakow in daylight from a completely new perspective. Great fun and unforgettable emotions as you glide past Wawel Castle, the Jewish district of Kazimierz, and the city's riverside landmarks.

The remainder of the day is at your leisure.

Transfer to Zakopane by private car.

The remainder of the day is at your leisure to enjoy the mountain air and alpine scenery of the Tatra Mountains.

A full day at your leisure to explore Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains. Recommendations to book on your own:

A second full day at your leisure to enjoy the mountains, trails, and alpine town at your own pace.

Morning transfer to Krakow airport by private car. Board your flight to Chicago.