Europe
Join us for a memorable journey through southern Poland, exploring vibrant cities, breathtaking mountain landscapes, important spiritual sites, and moving historical locations. Throughout the entire trip, our hotel will be located in Krakow City Centre, giving you the comfort of staying in one of Poland’s most beautiful and historic cities while enjoying easy access to all excursions.
Visiting: Katowice, Krakow. Auschwitz- Birkenau, Wieliezka Salt Mines, Zakopane & Tatra Mountains
Day 01 – Thursday
We meet at Malta International Airport at 05:00 for flight FR4102 to Poland, which departs at 06:77 and arrives at Katowice Airport at 09:30. Upon arrival, we transfer by coach to the centre of Katowice, a dynamic city in southern Poland known for its modern architecture and industrial heritage. A vibrant cultural centre with flourishing music, art, and tech scenes. We enjoy the lively markets and entertainment spots.
When we arrive, we will have a city tour with the local guide to visit the main places of interest. Free time and departure towards Krakow, to the centre of Krakow where we will check in. Afterward, an outing with the tour leader.
Day 02 – Friday
Breakfast, and today we will have a beautiful tour of the city of Krakow with the local guide to see the main attractions, including the Old Town, the Royal Road, Wawel Castle, and Kazimierz (Old Jewish Quarter). The Sukiennice (Cloth Hall), as well as the Basilica of St. Mary where we will see the famous altar by Veit Stoss.
Free time, but for those who wish, you may join the tour leader for an optional cruise on the Vistula River.
Day 03 – Saturday
Discover with us the beauty of the Polish Alps where we will visit Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains. These mountains extend along the border between Poland and Slovakia and are the highest in the Carpathian Mountains. Zakopane is a very well-known resort for skiing, where both in summer and winter many tourists stroll along the main street, Krupowski – a street filled with cafés, restaurants, boutiques, and large horse carriages with drivers in traditional costume. We will take a tour around Zakopane and visit the Modern Church dedicated to the Madonna, which is a gift to Pope John Paul II. We will see typical local wooden houses and buildings, and visit a small art museum. Whoever wishes may take the cable car (extra charge) to enjoy a beautiful view of the town. We return to Krakow.
Day 04 – Sunday
After breakfast, a wonderful day awaits us as we discover the beauty of places closely linked to the great Saint Pope John Paul II. We visit the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy, where Saint Faustina is venerated—an important place of devotion located just outside Krakow. We then continue our journey through beautiful scenery that leads us to the hill of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, an entire site recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage location.
We also visit the monastery and the Sanctuary of the Miraculous Madonna, one of Karol Wojtyła’s favourite places. The highlight of this day will be the stop in Wadowice, the picturesque village where Saint Pope John Paul II was born. Among the most interesting places, we will visit the basilica as well as the house where he was born, which today is a museum.We return to Krakow.
Day 05 – Monday
A very interesting excursion to Auschwitz-Birkenau, where together we will experience one of the most memorable and significant places in modern European history. Today we will visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps (entrance extra); a bitter reminder of the Holocaust era where millions of people lost their lives. Here we will see the national death memorials, the railway track, and the remains of hundreds of barracks.
In the evening, we go out for a drink.
Day 06 – Tuesday
Breakfast and free time. Afterwards, departure to the Wieliczka Salt Mines, also known as the Underground Salt Cathedral of Poland and one of the most spectacular mines in the world. Together with the local guide we visit the mines, where we find various salt sculptures, small chapels including one dedicated to Saint Kinga, and long corridors stretching around 300 kilometres. These mines are also listed in the UNESCO First World List of Cultural and Natural Heritage.Afterwards, departure to Katowice Airport for flight FR7115 departing at 18:55 and arriving back in Malta at 21:35.
