Discover The Magic of Poland's Christmas Markets
Welcome to the Poland Christmas Market Tour! If you're looking for an extraordinary holiday experience, then you've come to the right place!
Come and explore the beauty and culture of Poland during this festive and magical time of year. Our tour will take you from the vibrancy of Warsaw to the charming beauty of the mountains and towns of the south. We'll explore the Warsaw Old Town, including Market Square, Barbican and Palace Square, warm up with some delicious hot chocolate from Wedel, Poland's oldest chocolate brand, learn how to make traditional Polish Christmas Eve dinner dishes with a local chef, visiting the Warsaw Christmas Market along the Barbican and the Ice Ring in the Old Town Square, see the Poznan Christmas Market and the 16th International Ice Sculpture Festival, take a demonstration style baking class and learn how to make the famous St. Martin croissants, take a Wroclaw City Tour & Christmas Market, shop at the iconic Hala Targowa, an indoor fresh food market, and enjoy a Tyskie Brewery Tasting & Krakow Christmas Market.
In Krakow we'll take a tour of Krakow Old Town, Krakow Historical Museum with the traditional 'Szopki', a unique European Christmas tradition, and experience a class in decorating Christmas ornaments. We'll then visit Zakopane and take a leisurely stroll down Krupowki Street, and if the weather permits, we'll take a cable car ride up Gubalowka Hill to get a breathtaking panoramic view of Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains. Back in Krakow we'll get creative at a local culinary school with a Christmas cookies baking class, before taking an incredible journey to the UNESCO Wieliczka Salt Mine and exploring the Krakow Christmas Market.
So what are you waiting for? Join us on Poland Christmas Market Tour and experience the spirit of Christmas in Poland!
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Tour of Warsaw Poland
Location: Warsaw, Poland
Accommodations: Polonia Palace Hotel
After a hearty breakfast, we'll meet our friendly local guide for a tour of all the sights of Warsaw! We'll explore the Old Town, including Market Square, Barbican and Palace Square, as well as getting a stunning view of the city from the top of the Palace of Culture and Science, weather permitting. We'll take a break and warm up with some delicious hot chocolate from Wedel, Poland's oldest chocolate brand founded in Warsaw in 1851. To finish off our sightseeing, we'll visit the Christmas Market along the Barbican and the Ice Skating Rink in the Old Town Square. You'll have plenty of time to browse the stalls with Polish arts and crafts, locally made foods, drinks and spices, all accompanied by traditional Christmas carols at this small but cozy Christmas Market. To round off the evening, we'll get together for our Welcome Dinner at the famous Polish restaurant, Ale Gloria.
Day 2: Cooking Class & Warsaw Christmas Market
Location: Warsaw, Poland
Accommodations: Polonia Palace Hotel
Today, we're off on an exciting adventure to learn how to make traditional Polish Christmas Eve dinner dishes with a local chef! Later, we'll explore the Warsaw Uprising Museum, one of the most visited places in the city, to pay tribute to those who fought in WWII. Finally, we can enjoy free evening in Warsaw, perhaps visiting the Christmas Market in the Old Town Square again or indulging in some pampering at one of the city's luxurious spas. We'll have plenty of recommendations for dinner, spas, and other festive activities to make our evening in Warsaw truly special!
Day 3: Poznan Christmas Market & International Ice Sculpture Festival
Location: Poznan & Wroclaw
Accommodations: Art Hotel
After a delicious breakfast, we'll set off for Poznan, the birthplace of Poland! While there, we'll get to explore the Christmas Market and the 16th International Ice Sculpture Festival. We'll also get to take a tour of the city and visit Poznan Cathedral and the Old Market Square. Plus, we'll get to take a demonstration style baking class and learn how the famous St. Martin croissants are made at the Croissant Museum in Poznan. Before we leave, we'll have some time to shop and enjoy a bite to eat at the Poznan Christmas Market. Then, it's off to Wroclaw, where we'll overnight for the next three nights. What a day!
Day 4: Wroclaw City Tour & Wroclaw Christmas Market
Location: Wroclaw
Accommodations: Art Hotel
This morning we'll kick off our Wroclaw city tour by heading to the Panorama Raclawicka rotunda building. Inside, we'll see a 374ft (114m) long and 49ft (15m) high painting depicting the Battle of Raclawice, a victorious fight for the Poles against the Russians that happened in April 1794. We'll continue our tour and explore the city's beautiful Old Town, including the Market Square with its lovely Christmas illuminations, Town Hall, and the Salt Market. Afterward, we'll stop for a traditional Polish lunch at the Pod Fredra restaurant located in Wroclaw's Market Square. This evening, you'll have some free time to explore. The Christmas Market is just a stone's throw away from our hotel, so you can sample some delicious food and drinks or visit one of the many recommended restaurants for dinner on your own.
Day 5: Hala Targowa Market & Wroclaw Christmas Market
Location: Wroclaw
Accommodations: Art Hotel
We start off our day in Wroclaw by taking a tour and shopping at the iconic Hala Targowa, an indoor fresh food market. Afterwards, we stop by the renowned UNESCO Centennial Hall which is over 100 years old and is surrounded by stunning parks and gardens. The remainder of the day is up to you; you can either explore the city's Christmas Market or take some time to relax at our boutique hotel. In the evening, we come together to savor a delicious dinner at a local Polish restaurant located in the center of Wroclaw's Market Square, featuring excellent Polish cuisine. Tomorrow morning, we will be leaving Wroclaw and travel to Krakow.
Day 6: Tyskie Brewery Tasting & Krakow Christmas Market
Location: Krakow, Poland
Accommodations: Wawel Queen Hotel
After breakfast in Wroclaw we are off to the beautiful city of Krakow! On the way, we will be making a stop at Tyskie Brewery in Tychy, Poland for a beer tasting. Once we arrive and check into our hotel in Krakow, we will all join together and explore Krakow's Christmas Market. As we stroll through the market, we will be able to listen to the Christmas carols playing in the background and start on some shopping. Try the variety of foods and drink for dinner on your own at the Christmas Market or we can make some restaurant recommendations. It's sure to be an exciting day!
Day 7: Tour of Krakow & Krakow Christmas Market
Location: Krakow, Poland
Accommodations: Wawel Queen Hotel
This morning, we'll begin our journey through Krakow with a tour of the must-see attractions. As Poland's third-largest city, Krakow avoided the devastation of World War II, leaving its medieval Old Town perfectly preserved and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. We'll then make a stop at the Krakow Historical Museum to view a stunning exhibit of Krakow's traditional Christmas Creches, or 'Szopki', a unique European Christmas tradition. After lunch together, we'll continue our festive experience with a class in decorating Christmas ornaments near Krakow. Enjoy free evening and dinner on your own in Krakow. Go explore the Christmas Market again on Europe's largest and most magnificent medieval Market Square!
Day 8: Day Trip To Zakopane
Location: Krakow, Poland
Accommodations: Wawel Queen Hotel
After a filling breakfast, we set off to Zakopane - Poland's Winter Capital - to soak in the vibrant highlander culture and take part in the Christmas traditions! We take a leisurely stroll down Krupowki Street, taking in the sights and sounds of the town. A short city tour later, we head to Sabala restaurant for a delicious lunch of regional specialties, including the famous 'oscypek' cheese. After lunch, we explore the local open market with its colorful arts, crafts and foods. Weather permitting, we then take a cable car ride up Gubalowka Mountain* to get a breathtaking panoramic view of Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains. Before we return to Krakow, we have some free time to explore the open market or grab an early dinner or dessert at one of the many restaurants and coffee shops on Krupowki Street. We will take our leave of the town late in the evening and drive back to Krakow.
Important note: *Cable car or funicular to Gubalowka Mountain is subject to confirmation once in Zakopane and depends on the weather and technical condition of the cable car.
Day 9: Christmas Cookies Baking Class & Wieliczka Salt Mine
Location: Krakow, Poland
Accommodations: Wawel Queen Hotel
Today we have a fun-filled day ahead! We'll start off the morning by getting creative at a local culinary school with a Christmas cookies baking class. Afterwards, we'll take an incredible journey to the UNESCO Wieliczka Salt Mine - an underground city with galleries, lakes, chapels and murals all carved from salt! This underground city is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a must-see! After the tour, you can explore the Christmas Market in Krakow and all the sights and shops it has to offer and finish shopping. We'll then wrap up the day with a Farewell Dinner at Wesele restaurant, located in the heart of Krakow's Market Square. Here, you'll get to taste some of the best old Polish and Krakow delicacies!
Day 10: Departure For Home
Location: Krakow, Poland
Accommodations: Wawel Queen Hotel
After a wonderful stay in beautiful Krakow, why not extend your vacation and enjoy one more night? Start the day with breakfast, then spend some time exploring the city before continuing your journey home. You're sure to find that the extra time spent in Krakow will make your vacation even more leisurely and enjoyable.
Tour itinerary may be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, such as inclement weather, health and safety considerations, travel restrictions, changes in the availability of attractions, or other logistical concerns.
What's Included
Nine Nights Accommodations: Double-occupancy, with en suite bathroom
- Two nights at the Polonia Palace Hotel
- Three nights at the Art Hotel in Wroclaw
- Four nights at the Wawel Queen Hotel Krakow
Transportation:
- Transportation where specified
Meals:
- Daily breakfast & lunch
- Dinner as outlined on itinerary
- Local beer, house wine, tea, and coffee with all included meals (Cocktail drinks and drinks consumed outside of mealtime are not included)
Activities:
- Daily visits to the Christmas Markets with opportunities to shop for Christmas gifts made by local artists
- Two hands-on Christmas cooking and baking lessons
- Complimentary white cooking apron with Poland Culinary Vacations logo
- Tyskie Brewery tour and beer tasting in Tychy, Poland
- Christmas ornaments factory tour and decorating class (opportunity to make your own piece to take home from Poland)
- Visit to 17th International Ice Sculpture Festival in Poznan (to be confirmed)
- Day trip to Zakopane in the Polish Tatra Mountains and Poland’s Winter Capital to experience the vibrant highlander culture and Christmas traditions
- Tour of UNESCO Wieliczka Salt Mine
- Excursions to cultural sites, all entrance fees and food artisan visits
Other Services:
- English speaking guides
- All luggage transfers
- Taxes and service charges
What's Not Included
- Airfare or other non-specified transportation to/from trip starting/ending point
- Meals and alcoholic beverages not specified in the itinerary
- Personal expenses such as laundry or telephone calls
- Passport or visa fees
- End of vacation gratuities for guides (not required, but greatly appreciated)
- Insurance of any kind