4 HOURS TOUR
The Gems Of Wawel
STATE ROOMS WITH TAPESTRIES, GARDENS AND COURTYARDS OF WAWEL, VISIT TO THE CATHEDRAL
See one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Site from inside , unique collection in the world of XVI century tapestries of the King Sigismund II Augustus especially verdures which show intriguing wildlife, woven in the best brussels manufactures. If not tired and interested in art it is possible to enter the Crown treasury or see unique collection of XVII century Ottoman turkish tents. Visit to Wawel Cathedral and stroll in the romantic gardens and courtyards and have a cup of coffe or cold drink looking at majestic view.
5 HOURS TOUR OUTSIDE CRACOW
Lipnica Murowana and Kalwaria Zebrzydowska
Come to Lipnica Murowana to see old wooden houses in the middle of the square and the church of St. Leonard – one of the oldest wooden monuments in Poland since 2003 on UNESCO list. Later one hour drive to Kalwaria-a charming and tranquil pilgrimage site, often referred to as “The Polish Jerusalem”, famous of the mysteries of Lord’s Passion performed every year during the Holy Week. Sanctuary was built in XVII by Nicolas Zebrzydowski. It’s mannerist architectural complex and pilgrimage park on UNESCO list. After visit of Sanctuary return back to Cracow or for additional request, it is possible to drive in 15 minutes to Lanckorona which is a tourist attraction for the well preserved 19th century wooden houses in its center.
4 HOURS TOUR OUTSIDE CRACOW
Wadowice
THE BIRTH PLACE OF JONH PAUL II AND SANCTUARY OF DIVINE MERCY AND SANCTUARY OF JONH PAUL II IN CRACOW
One hour drive to Wadowice a small charming town where the pope John Paul II was born and spent his childhood. A visit to the museum which was his family home before and now presents the life of JPII, see nearby Basilica where he was baptized. Drive to Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Cracow-Lagiewniki to see the image of Jesus Merciful in convent chapel where Sister Faustina Kowalska used to pray and the new church consecrated in 2002 by JPII. Short drive to Sanctuary of pope John Paul II built in the years 2011-2016 and admire the mosaics of father Marko Ivan Rupnik, known mosaicist all round the world.
4 HOURS TOUR OUTSIDE CRACOW
Ojcowski National Park and Pieskowa Skała Castle
There are many ruins of the defensive castles located at the top of the mounts called the Trail of the Eagle Nests at Cracow-Częstochowa higlands. Some of the castles are still very well preserved like beautiful renesance castle at Pieskowa Skała located at the Prądnik Valley. Not very far from Pieskowa Skała Castle there is 30 meters high limestone stack called the Club of Hercules. There are many huge caves in the Prądnik valley and unique species of plants and animals especially bats that live in the caves. Most of them are in Ojcowski National Park.
4 HOURS TOUR
Jewish Quarter
GHETTO, KL PLASZÓW
Visit of the Kazimierz -Jewish Quarter with the possibility to enter active synagogue – the Remuh synagogue and other synagogues which were changed into museums. Retracing Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List”, the streets, courtyard where the movie was filmed, visit of the Jewish Ghetto and Schindler’s Factory Museum – which takes minimum one hour visit. At the end drive to Plaszów concentration camp where one can see monuments located in the middle of the green area where before was located the camp.
4 HOURS TOUR OUTSIDE CRACOW
Wieliczka Salt Mine
Unique place, inscribed on UNESCO List. Underground chambers and chapels with many sculptures made of rock of spisa salt. Unforgettable excursion! Breathe deep in the mine as it is a good place to cure all kinds of respiratory diseases, allergies and many others. The tourist route is nearly 3 km long, and it is situated between 64 and 135 m below ground.
4 HOURS TOUR
GOLDSMITHS’ Guild in Cracow
THEIR WORKS AND VISIT TO PRESENT GOLDSMITH’S WORKSKOP WITH POSSIBILITY TO CREATE OWN JEWELLERY.
Stroll along old streets of Cracow and visit few churches where one can see the example of goldsmith’s work such as: embossing, carving and many others. Visit to one of the tiny museums which contains old religious items which are rarely presented to public. The last atraccion of this tour will be the possibilty to create own piece of jewellery in the workshop of one of the known Goldsmith in Cracow.
ONE DAY TRIP OUTSIDE CRACOW
Black Madonna Shrine of Jasna Góra in Częstochowa
The most important pilgrimage destination for Roman-Catholics in Poland. This defensive shrine, attracting every day thousands of pilgrims, is famous for its miraculous icon of Virgin Mary of Częstochowa ( known as Black Madonna). There are also museums where you can see many old valuable votive offerings, jewelry donated by kings and queens since XIV century, various dresses of Black Madonna made of coral, diamonds, amber and many precious stones, golden rings and others.
ONE DAY TRIP OUTSIDE CRACOW
UNESCO wooden churches route in Beskidy mountains
Drive to Binarowa church of Saint Michael the Archangel which unique polychrome makes impression on everyone who enters the church. Stop in Sękowa church of SS. Philip and Jacob to take a picture of this wooden gem. Admire the beauty of Beskidy Mountain to reach Powroźnik the oldest Greek Catholic Church with iconostasis and many icons. Now it is changed into Roman Catholic church. On the way back stop to take pictures of picturesque valleys and mountains.
Dunajec river gorge rafting trip
A picturesque drive through the mountainous Podhale – the highlanders region. Raft trip made by raftsmen who steer safely between the white rocks to admire the astonishing beauty of the Pieniny Mountains and the gorge of the Dunajec River. On the way it is also possible to see a masterpiece of wooden architecture from XV c. the church of Archangel Michael in Dębno inscribed on UNESCO List, accessible only when it doesn’t rain.
Two or Three days trail
of street art in Poland
See the art which is in perpetual change and diversion. The richest and the biggest collection of murals are in Warsaw and in Silesia especially Katowice –and neighborhood and other cities like Lódz, Wrocław and Gdynia and Gdańsk. Each street art tour can be different because some works disappear and new ones appear all the time. Murals like the neighborhood, one painting attracts another. Some artists want to stay anonymous but some are well known and can be spot at the work. See Kraków street art at Kazimierz district and Podgórze and Nowa Huta. Some controversial murals – one of them painted by Bolognese artists called Blu and the oldest ones for instance of Jan Suchowiak from 1960 ties.
THREE DAY TRIP OUTSIDE CRACOW
Northern gems of Poland:
Toruń, Malbork and Baltic Seaside
Stroll in the old medieval streets and squares of Toruń expanded by Teutonic Knights in XIII century, see house where Nicolaus Copernicus, the know astronomer who „stopped the sun and moved the earth” was born and visit Gingerbread Museum. Sightseeing of the largest gothic castle built by Teutonic Knights in Malbork using red bricks, served as their main seat. It was the largest fortress in Europe never conquered. Both Torun old town and Malbork castle are on UNESCO list. Visit of the Baltic seaside and metropolitan area of three cities Gdańsk, Gdynia and Sopot and beautiful peninsula de Hel
THREE DAY TRIP OUTSIDE CRACOW
Eastern gems of Poland:
From Zamosc to Bialowieza, land of catholics, orthodox, muslims and jews
Sit at the main square of Zamosc and admire the beauty of the original „Renaissance Pearl” founded in 1580 where east and west co-existed peacefully for centuries. Stop in Lublin which was immortalized by Issac Singer in the novel „The Magician of Lublin”. Before WWII in Lublin lived big community of Jews, many of them were exterminated in Majdanek, Bełżec and Sobibór concentration and extermination camps. See the oldest nature reserves around Białowieża where the largest European bison herd can be observed. Retrace the Podlasie Tartar Trail – several villages associated with the culture and customs, religion and cuisine of Muslim Tartars. See numerous orthodox churches around Białowieża, Hajnówka or Białystok
TOURS ON SPECIAL REQUEST
Genealogy travel, ancestry travel, searching the roots to create family tree. Before you plan your trip prepare as many documents as possible, copy them and send them to us. Doesn’t matter you don’t know the language the document is written: Polish, German, Russian or Latin, we can sent it to genealogist who will be able to read it. We can check archives, contact people -it is done mostly by emails and by phones, it can take time but the results can be outstanding. Second part of this research is the trip to see the places and people who are your far relatives, and you can experience the unforgettable filling that the missing part you searched was found.
Educational tours for schools, students, tours on special request. We can arrange lectures for special topics. The most requested ones are related with WWII, everyday life in communist era, customs and tradition in Poland- for example making Christmas ornaments, visit painted houses in Zalipie, see handmade palms during Palm Sunday, participate in processions and local traditional feasts. We can visit stain glass workshop, observe the work of sculpturer, goldsmith and create own piece of art.
Polish food tour. Try some polish specialties. See local, colorful food markets at the city and in the countryside. Learn how to make few typical polish dishes: mushroom soup, dumplings, cookies with rose and collect the food recipes. Know Cracow bagel, Krakow pretzel called locally “obwarzanek”. Try typical polish liquors like bison grass vodka, fruit liquors and hear the stories how to drink them. And finally the desserts! Visit the place where you can try traditional Jewish sweets, John Paul II -pope’s cream cake and best ice-cream called in polish “LODY” in town.
ABOUT US
I’m professional guide, member of FEG and Federation of Cracow guide associations who cooperate with many licensed guides in Europe from 1997.
We can provide number of options to choose: private tours, group tours, help with finding accommodation in Krakow and other places, airport and door to door transfers.
We specialize in private and small group holidays to Krakow, Poland and Berlin, Vienna, Prague and Budapest.
Our experience and knowledge can bring the finest private and small group adventures available.
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Let’s Take An Adveture!
Visit Cracow and Poland with a highly proffesional
and personal attention
I’m the licensed city guide in Cracow since 1995, and tour leader since 1987, graduated from Jagiellonian University in English and Roman Languages in linguistics and literature. One of my hobbies, when I don’t work as a guide, is drawing and painting polish landscapes and charming places of my town. It will be a pleasure to take you for a stroll in my city or for a trip to many interesting places around Cracow.
Call or write
tel: 0048 602 51 32 19
e-mail: kamrein@wp.pl
BERLIN, Germany
Visit the city with green belts of forest, parks and lakes that is in perpetual change, progress and diversion. The cranes still emerge in skyline with its dance of innovation after reunification in 1991 when Berlin once again became the German capital. The wealth and quality of Berlin cultural life with world class museums, opera, theatre, music which will not disappoint anyone. In history, this city occupies a unique position. From Hitler’s dark times, heavy bombing in 1945 to being brutally sliced in half by wall and its people were physically and ideologically separated till November 1989. See the city that never sleeps and has restless energy with plenty of bars, nightclubs and in fine weather, street cafes, beer gardens in the parks. Berlin continues to be a city of fascinating extremes.
The highlights of Berlin
• Visiting the Pergamon Museum and Egyptian Museum
• Daniel Libeskind’s Jewish Museum and Holocaust Memorial
• Brandenburg Gate and Reichstag dome and views of the city from above
• East Side Gallery and Haus am Checkpoint Charlie Museum
• Potsdamer Platz-Berlin’s largest-scale new development
• Lunch at the top of KaDeWe the most known department store and watching people at Ku’damm (Kurfurstendamm) shopping strip
• Seeing Berlin aboard Bus 100
• Passing Berlin’s lakes, rivers, canals to reach Potsdam’s palaces and park
MUNICH, Germany
With approximately 1.5 million inhabitants, Munich is the third-largest city in Germany and the Capital of Bavaria. In 1158 the city was first mentioned in documents as "apud munichen" ("near the monks"). The city is filled with historical, beautiful churches as St. Peter’s Church , Frauenkirche, museums like the BMW Welt Museum, palaces like Nymphenburg markets as Viktualienmarkt, and notable buildings -the known city hall at Marienplatz with the spectacle that no one should miss – the glockenspiel in the tower: every day at 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. - plus at 5 p.m. from March to October. Get a dose of Bavaria's iconic beer culture with food and beer in Munich, home of Oktoberfest and a collection of famous beer halls and beer gardens. Take one of the day trips from Munich especially to Neuschwanstein Castle which served as a model for the famous Disneyland castle.
PRAGUE, Czech Republic
Prague, a city called as “golden”, “hundred-spired”, “the crown of the world” or “a stone dream” since the Middle Ages has been known as one of the most beautiful cities of the world. It was established and developed at the intersection of strategic route connecting key centers on European continent.
Raised in various centuries and united in a whole, but not accordingly to one builder’s design, this city resembles a lively open-air museum where the past centuries have left their marks in art and architecture.
The historical core of the city is situated on both banks of the Vltava river (Moldau in German language) and consists of formerly independent urban units unified in the 18th century, which are worth to be visited:
1.Hradcany – the medieval castle district with Saint Vitus Cathedral and Old Royal Palace and Golden Lane which it is worth to see in the afternoon when is less crowdy . The best view of the city is from Strachov Monastery.
2. Mala Strana-Lesser Town with original the baroque palaces of nobility, gardens, charming squares and burgesses’ houses and church where you can see the little wax sculpture of Infant of Prague know all round the world.
3.Charles Bridge and Old Town with Old Town Hall and Astronomical Clock.
4.Josefov – The Jewish Town perfectly preserved as Prague was not destroyed during WWII and listen the story of Golem created by rabbi Loew.
Enjoy river cruise on Vltava river, excellent Czech beer and local food, open air markets and unique atmosphere of Prague.
The largest city of Austria, once the capital of huge Habsburg empire conjure countless images:
-elaborate imperial palaces like Hofburg, Schonbrunn
-coffee houses called Konditorei with Baroque mirrors where rich cakes (Sacher torte) and variety of coffee are served on silver plated trays
-angelic Vienna Boys Choir
-Art Nouveau masterpieces and secession
-white stallions of Spanish Riding School that perform for audience.
Then there is Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Schubert, Brahms and Strauss who composed the famous waltz in which mighty Danube river is pictured forever blue in numerous hearts and minds.
Highlights of Vienna and surroundings:
*unusual architecture of Hundertwasser
*a streetcar ride round Ringstrasse
* a night on the wine and Viennese’s schnitzel and music in Grinzing Heurigen (wine hall)
* see Gustav Klimt’s “Kiss” in Upper Belvedere
* Schonbrunn Place and park
* visit to Imperial Treasury (the Schatzkammer of Hofburg).
VIENNA,Austria
SALTZBURG, Austria
Protected by the three hills with fortress on the top of the one, the old town is cut by Salzach river, has plenty of churches as it was the seat of the prince-bishop and many monasteries for good thousand years. Much of Saltzburg’s past prosperity was dependent upon salt mines which now changed into museums. The city that delivered Mozart to the world has much to recommend: his birthplace, his residence and even chocolate and liqueurs. However in more recent years the nearby hills have been alive thanks to the 20th Century Fox movie (awarded with 10 Oscars) with Julie Andrews “The Sound of Music”, whose enormous success has been unbroken for over 30 years. It was based on Maria von Trapp’s autobiography ” The Story of the Trapp Family Singers”. Take Sound of Music tour or/and enjoy the Sound of Saltzburg dinner show in the evening in this beautiful city.
SALTZBURG
AUSTRIA
The broad Danube river runs through the middle of the city, dividing hilly Buda from the Pest plain. This is one of the most beautifully situated cities in Europe. The visitors can find side by side the remains of fortress and buildings from Roman times, still operating Turkish bath, Gothic and Baroque buildings and incredibly rich Art Nouveau architectural heritage. Budapest has Europe’s largest Parliament, largest functioning synagogue and the continent’s first underground railway. The city is always sparkling – especially illuminated in the evenings. Called as “Queen of the Danube” and there are 100 thermal springs and 12 medicinal bath within its boundaries. Don’t miss: *River cruise on Danube in the evening *visit at fruit and vegetable Fovam Market *one day trip to Szantendre and Denube Bent *view of Budapest from Gellert Hill when it’s getting dark *Hungarian vine and pancakes
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