Highlights of Poland

This seven-night escorted tour with Explore Worldwide takes in Poland’s key cities and some of its most distinctive landmarks. It begins in Warsaw, a capital almost entirely rebuilt after the devastation of World War II, where the Old Town’s cobblestones hide reminders of a turbulent past alongside open-air cafés and street performers.

Next, a train trip heads west to Wroclaw, a city spread over a dozen islands and threaded with more than 120 bridges. Its gnome statues, found on doorsteps and corners, hint at local folk tales and a 1980s protest movement. From here, the tour moves south to Krakow, a city spared the worst of wartime destruction and home to a medieval market square and a sprawling castle complex. The nearby Wieliczka Salt Mines invite descent into underground chambers carved from salt, while the Jewish Kazimierz district recalls World War II’s layered history.

Optional excursions include a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau. The tour ends in Krakow after a chance to try regional dishes and local drinks on the final evening, with free time to explore or absorb the city’s atmosphere before departure.

New to Poland? Our Poland guide has the practical essentials: money, plugs, visas and when to go.