Krakow Poland Pierogi Festival
Come to Krakow, Poland in 2025 for the XXIII Pierogi Festival! Our Culinary Vacation in August 2025 is centered around it, so you can look forward to pierogi tasting, local beer, and live entertainment. So join us and celebrate the Pierogi Festival in style!
Experience all the best that Krakow has to offer with the Krakow Pierogi Festival in 2025! The festival is one of the most beloved events in Krakow, and it is held in the Maly Rynek (small square) behind Rynek Główny (the Main Square). With a wide selection of pierogi flavors and varieties, you can sample the best pierogi in Krakow Old Town with ease. From traditional Polish dumplings to more adventurous flavors, there is something for everyone at this Krakow August event. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the festival while you savor the delicious flavors of pierogi. With so many vendors and options, you are sure to find the perfect pierogi in Krakow Old Town. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to experience the best pierogi in Krakow!
Prior to the pierogi festival, your journey will begin with a luxurious stay at Nosalowy Park Hotel & Spa in Zakopane, where you can relax and enjoy the Wellness & SPA services. During your stay in Zakopane, you can sample some of the famous local delicacies, including oscypek cheese and highlander tea, as well as learning to prepare your own moskole: boiled potato pancakes with meat and/or cheese. Then, take a tour of Zakopane, and stroll along the famous Krupowki Street, where you can admire the stunning views of the Tatra Mountains. You will then take a thrilling rafting journey through the Dunajec River Gorge, and visit the art studio of Jan Zieder, a famous local wood carver and artist. Afterwards, you will explore Krakow Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and visit the magnificent 14th-century Wawel Castle Hill and grounds. Then visit and shop at the centuries-old Krakow tradition Stary Kleparz fresh food market. Then, take a tour of the famous Wieliczka Salt Mine, and visit and take part in the Krakow Pierogi Festival, enjoying traditional Polish dumplings to more adventurous flavors - there is something for everyone!
Experience the beauty of Poland and create lifetime memories with this one-of-a-kind tour!
Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Wellness & SPA & Welcome Dinner
Location: Krakow to Zakopane, Poland
Accommodations: Nosalowy Park Hotel & Spa
We'll be meeting in the lobby of our designated meeting hotel in Krakow at 10:00 a.m. for a group transfer by mini bus to the 5-star Nosalowy Park Hotel & Spa. Enjoy luxurious Wellness & SPA services in a convenient location and experience the traditional Zakopane hospitality. Along the way, we'll make a stop for a delicious home-made lunch in the village of Dolina Chocholowska where we'll get to sample the famous oscypek cheese and highlander tea (which includes vodka!). After settling into your comfortable hotel, take a leisurely walk around Zakopane or simply enjoy the relaxation! This evening, we'll gather for a festive Welcome Dinner at our hotel restaurant and savor the local specialties.
Day 2: Tour Zakopane, Stroll Krupowki Street & Gubalowka Hill
Location: Zakopane, Poland
Accommodations: Nosalowy Park Hotel & Spa
After a hearty breakfast, we embark on a unique cooking experience in one of the highlander villages in the Podhale region, learning the secrets of preparing the regional favorite, moskole: potato and flour pancakes often served with meat or cheese and other Polish and regional dishes. In the afternoon, we take a tour of the beautiful mountain town of Zakopane. Taking a leisurely stroll along the famous Krupowki Street, we admire the surrounding views of the Tatra Mountains and other mountain ranges. We then take a funicular or chair ski lift up Gubalowka Mountain* to get the best panoramic view of Zakopane. To round off the day, we recommend dinner on your own at Restaurant Sabala on Zakopane’s main street, where you can savor delicious regional and Polish food, drink and music while watching the world go by from the cozy terrace.
Important note: *Funicular or chair lift to Gubalowka Mountain is subject to confirmation once in Zakopane and depends on the weather and technical condition of the equipment.
Day 3: Dunajec River Rafting & St. Michael Archangel's Wooden Church
Location: Zakopane, Poland
Accommodations: Nosalowy Park Hotel & Spa
This morning, we're off to the picturesque Sromowce-Wyzne village, to embark on an unforgettable rafting journey through the stunning Dunajec River Gorge. (If the weather doesn't cooperate, we'll instead explore Czerwony Dwor - Zakopane's Cultural Center and other interesting attractions in the Zakopane area.) Our rafting trip is a top attraction of this region, and has been led by 'gorale' - the highlanders - since the 19th century. After rafting and lunch, we'll visit the spectacular timber church in Debno Podhalanskie village, where we can admire stunning paintings, sculptures and other carvings from the 15th and 16th centuries. This remarkable church is listed on UNESCO's World Heritage sites! In the afternoon, you'll have some free time to explore Zakopane, shop for local handicrafts, pamper yourself with spa treatments at our hotel, or take a leisurely stroll down Krupowki street. For dinner, we recommend the Mala Szwajcaria restaurant in Zakopane - a favourite among locals and tourists, for its delicious Polish and European dishes.
Day 4: Bukowina Cultural Centre & Legendary Chocholow Woodcraver
Location: Zakopane, Poland
Accommodations: Nosalowy Park Hotel & Spa
Today we take a journey to the charming highland town of Bukowina Tatrzanska! While there, attend a glass painting class at the local Culture Center & School of Dying Trades. After class, we enjoy a delicious lunch at Schronisko Bukowina Restaurant and shop for some local specialties at their store. On our way back to Zakopane, we'll be making short stops at wooden churches, manor houses and if time allows, a grocery store, and the villages of Chocholow and Witow, both on the Lesser Poland Timber Architecture Route. In Chocholow, we'll have the chance to visit the art studio of Jan Zieder, a local wood carver and artist. Here you can purchase one of his unique, hand-made carvings! Before we arrive in Zakopane, we make a short stop at Bacowka, a small mountain shepherd hut, to learn about how oscypek, the traditional local cheese is made. Enjoy a cheese tasting and learn about the unique shapes of each cheese. To finish off our fourth day in gorgeous Lesser Poland, we'll dine at Karczma Przy Mlynie restaurant in Zakopane, where we'll enjoy regional specialties with live folk entertainment!
Day 5: Oscypek Cheese & A Tour of Krakow Poland
Location: Krakow, Poland
Accommodations: Golden Queen Hotel
After an early breakfast, we’ll drive back to Krakow to explore the capital of Lesser Poland. Once we reach Krakow, we take a guided walking tour of the historic city. Being one of the few Polish cities that survived World War II, Krakow is full of preserved medieval architecture. On the tour, we visit the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the largest medieval town square in Europe, Market Square. We also visit the magnificent 14th-century Wawel Castle Hill and grounds. For dinner on your own, we recommend Biala Roza restaurant, which specializes in traditional Krakow cuisine. The restaurant is run by Chef Lukasz Cichy, who creates modern arrangements of flavors of the past using top quality regional products.
Day 6: Stary Klepar, Cooking Class & Wieliczka Salt Mines
Location: Krakow, Poland
Accommodations: Golden Queen Hotel
After a delicious breakfast, we'll make a stop at the centuries-old Krakow tradition, Stary Kleparz fresh food market! Here, locals and visitors shop for the freshest Polish food products, including breads, cheeses, meats, fruits, and vegetables! Next, we'll transfer to our Polish cooking class studio. Once we arrive at our cooking class location, a local Krakow chef will teach us how to make a tasty three-course Polish meal. Then, we'll take about three-hour walking tour of the famous Wieliczka Salt Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage site full of galleries, lakes, chapels, and murals - all carved from salt! You’ll walk into the mines down many stairs with cooler temperatures in some areas. You’ll want to bring layers of clothing. Don’t worry – you’ll take an elevator back to the surface after the tour. After our Salt Mine tour, you'll have some free time to explore the sights and shops of Krakow on your own. We recommend shops in Sukiennice, which offer a wide selection of quality Polish folk handicrafts. Since the annual International Folk Art Fair will also be happening on the main Market Square, you can also shop there for quality handicrafts and enjoy live entertainment. Finally, we'll have a festive Farewell Dinner at Wesele restaurant, which serves old Polish and Krakow delicacies and specialties located in the heart of Krakow's Market Square. Let’s celebrate the end of your Polish journey with your Poland Culinary Vacations friends!
Day 7: Departure or Extend Your Stay
Location: Krakow, Poland
We bid you farewell as you depart for home after breakfast at our hotel. If you're looking to make your vacation even more special, why not consider extending your stay in the beautiful city of Krakow? You may find that an extra night here will make your vacation even more relaxing 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
Six Nights Accommodations: Double-occupancy, with en suite bathroom
- Four nights Nosalowy Park Hotel & Spa in Zakopane
- Two nights Golden Queen Hotel in Krakow
Transportation:
- Arrival transfer from Krakow hotel at 10:00 a.m. to Nosalowy Park Hotel & Spa in Zakopane
- 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:
- Rafting through the Dunajec River Gorge
- Glass painting class at the School of Dying Trades in Bukowina Tatrzanska
- Two hands-on and/or demonstration-style Polish cooking lesson
- Complimentary white cooking apron with Poland Culinary Vacations logo
- 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
Embark on an unforgettable journey through Southern Poland from August 10 - August 16, 2025, perfectly timed with the renowned 2025 Krakow Pierogi Festival! This cherished Polish pierogi festival celebrates one of Poland's most iconic dishes, making it a must-see among Polish food festivals. Dive into the excitement of the Pierogi Festival Poland, where traditional and innovative pierogi flavors fill the air with delicious aromas. Known as Festiwal Pierogów Kraków 2025, this event is a summer highlight and a must-experience for any lover of Polish cuisine.
Although the Pierogi Festival Krakow 2025 dates align with our tour, your adventure goes far beyond! Discover Krakow in August, a lively time filled with various Krakow festivals and vibrant events. Journey with us to additional festivals in Poland and scenic landmarks, creating the ultimate Polish food festival experience. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to indulge in authentic flavors, explore historic cities, and immerse yourself in the rich culture of Southern Poland!