Poland
Independent Warsaw and Krakow: Capitals Past and Present
Program No. 18187RJ
Experience the wonders of Poland as you stroll cobbled paths and enjoy the country’s rich social and cultural history, discovering a trove of museums, monuments and cafes at every turn.
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9 days
8 nights
13 meals
7B 4L 2D
At a Glance
Reduced to rubble during World War II, the city of Warsaw is once again a proud capital following a painstaking restoration and reconstruction made possible by the hard work of the Polish public. Discover this inspiring urban success story firsthand, then move from political capital to cultural capital as you continue the journey amid the impressive art collections and cozy restaurants of Krakow, where a maze of cobblestone alleyways contains the largest concentration of historical monuments and cultural treasures in Poland.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to 2 miles and 2 hours per day with periods of standing. Getting on and off the subway/motorcoach. Terrain includes cobblestones and uneven ground. Some stairs to negotiate.
Independent City Discoveries
Learn with a Group Leader and enjoy educational programming while also getting substantial independent time to explore on your own. Most Independent City Discoveries include lectures, self-guided excursions and passes for public transit and museums.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Enjoy a concert featuring the works of great composer and Polish native son Frédéric Chopin.
- Discover the Market Square with an expert in Krakow, where the surroundings have remained unchanged for almost 700 years.
- Hear a lecture on Jewish Renaissance in Poland, then set off to experience Krakow’s Jewish Kazimierz district and its modern-day renaissance.
Suggested Reading List
(20 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Independent Warsaw and Krakow: Capitals Past and Present
Program Number: 18187
Heart of Europe, The Past in Poland's Present
A history of Poland in reverse chronology from the Solidarity Movement to early civilization, condensed from the author's definitive three-volume history.
Kaleidoscope of Poland, A Cultural Encyclopedia
This encyclopedia of all things Polish features close to 900 entries and 600 images covering Polish customs, folklore, history, significant individuals, language, geography and more. An informative reference and handy supplement to the traditional guidebook.
Chopin in Paris, The Life and Times of the Romantic Composer
A biography of the famed composer Fryderyk Chopin.
Kingdom of Auschwitz
Otto Friedrich's slim book is an intensely personal account of the infamous Auschwitz death camp. He covers the entire history of Auschwitz in short chapters punctuated with eyewitness accounts and testimonies.
Eyewitness Guide Poland
An informative, visual guide to the history, culture and attractions of Poland.
Poland
In his epic style, Michener presents the sweep of Polish history from the earliest days to 1983 in this massively researched novel.
Krakow Map
A folded city map of Krakow with an inset map of the city center at 1:10,000, along with a metropolitan area and regional map.
The Essential Guide to Being Polish
"I invite you on this journey into the depths of the Polish soul," writes Lech Walesa in this nuanced guide to Polish history and culture. Co-author Anna Spysz is the former editor of the Krakow Post. One in a new series of cultural handbooks by New European Books.
The Zookeeper's Wife
A marvelous storyteller, Ackerman recalls madcap, bohemian Warsaw before WWII, the devastation of the city by Nazi bombs in 1939, the horrors of the holocaust and heroic efforts in the resistance in this moving tale of Antonina and Jan Zabinski, directors of Warsaw Zoo.
To Begin Where I Am, The Selected Prose of Czeslaw Milosz
Culled from a lifetime's worth of publications, these essays by the Lithuanian-born Polish poet and Nobel laureate Milosz address the Polish experience at home and abroad in the 20th century.
Poland Map
A self-folding, full-color map of Poland at a scale of 1:700,000, updated annually.
A Traveller's History of Poland
A wide-ranging, accessible and effectively condensed brief history of Poland through the 1990s. With a useful chronology and historical gazetteer, this book marches confidently through the centuries.
Polish Writers on Writing
Featuring 20th-century writers, including Nobel Prize winners Czeslaw Milosz and Wislawa Szymborska, this collection captures the brilliance and originality of a literary culture considered one of the most important and influential of our time.
Lonely Planet Polish Phrasebook
This handy pocket phrasebook includes pronunciation, basic grammar and essential vocabulary.
The Painted Bird
This acclaimed novel is based on the author's own experiences in World War II Poland. The often disturbing account of a young Jewish boy's journey through rural Poland as he tries to evade everyone from SS officers to anti-Semitic Polish peasants will leave an indelible impression.
Culture Smart! Poland
A concise, no-nonsense guide to local customs, etiquette and culture with a short overview of the land and people along with practical travel advice.
Poland, The First Thousand Years
A fluidly written, reliable history of the Polish state from the late medieval period to the 20th century, including the nation’s complicated and controversial relationships with oppressors like the Prussian Empire the Soviet Union.
The Magic Lantern, The Revolution of '89 Witnessed in Warsaw, Budapest, Berlin, and Prague
With a chapter each on Warsaw, Budapest, Berlin and Prague, this eyewitness account by an astute journalist and historian shows these vibrant cities during a time of great change.
The Romani Gypsies
Matras delves into the history of the Romani, an ancient and misunderstood European culture that has survived through modern times.
The Spies of Warsaw
Alan Furst sets his richly atmospheric tale of espionage and love squarely amidst the leafy boulevards, grand squares, stately mansions and elegant cafes of the glittering 1937 capital. With a map on the inside covers, this isn't just a gripping WW II-era thriller, it's a guide to Warsaw of today.
