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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DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
May 14 - May 22, 2025
Starting at
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This date is available to book as a private experience for your group!
9 days
8 nights
10 meals
7B 1L 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.
- With an expert in Krakow, discover the Market Square, 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
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.
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.
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.
Chopin in Paris, The Life and Times of the Romantic Composer
A biography of the famed composer Fryderyk Chopin.
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.
The Romani Gypsies
Matras delves into the history of the Romani, an ancient and misunderstood European culture that has survived through modern times.
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.
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 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.
Eyewitness Guide Poland
An informative, visual guide to the history, culture and attractions of Poland.
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.
Poland
In his epic style, Michener presents the sweep of Polish history from the earliest days to 1983 in this massively researched novel.
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.
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.
Lonely Planet Polish Phrasebook
This handy pocket phrasebook includes pronunciation, basic grammar and essential vocabulary.
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.
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.
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.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
9 days
8 nights
What's Included
10 meals (
7B, 1L, 2D
)
6 expert-led lectures
4 expert-led field trips
2 performances
An experienced Group Leader
7 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
In Transit to Program
Location:
In Flight
Day
2
Arrive Warsaw, Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
Warsaw
Meals:
D
Stay:
Hotel Mercure Warsaw Grand
Activity Note
Hotel check-in available from 2:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously). Getting on/off a motorcoach. Walking a short distance to dinner.
Afternoon:
Orientation: 5:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Program-related travel will be by private motorcoach unless otherwise noted. This is a Road Scholar Independent program. It is designed for participants who want high-level Road Scholar instruction, a few group activities, and who are capable and comfortable setting out on their own for a significant part of the day/night. There will be several hours each day of educational content. Most meals will be on your own (excluded from the program cost) to enjoy what you like, and there will be substantial free time for personal independent exploration. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Before dinner, we will take a motorcoach to the Old Town, where we’ll go on a short walk to dinner as we get oriented.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
3
Warsaw Old Town, Free Time
Location:
Warsaw
Meals:
B
Stay:
Hotel Mercure Warsaw Grand
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 12 miles, approximately 2 hours riding time. Walking/standing about 2 miles, up to 2 hours. Some stairs to negotiate. Extent/duration of walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
We will enjoy a field trip with the Group Leader by motorcoach and on foot, seeing sites including Lazienki Park, the Royal Route, the Chopin Monument, and the Palace on the Water, before driving along the Royal Route to the city center to see the Ghetto Monument.
Lunch:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Afternoon:
Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. For art lovers, we recommend the National Museum, a house of art from ancient to contemporary. Warsaw’s historic center is home to the Royal Castle, a symbol of Warsaw and of Poland herself, as well as the charming Palace on the Water. The former residence of Polish kings and the seat of parliament, it was deliberately razed to the ground by the Nazis during WWII, then subsequently reconstructed with extraordinary painstaking care, thanks to the generosity of the Polish public. At 5:00 p.m., we’ll meet for a hospitality hour at the hotel. Your Group Leader will be happy to help you organize your free time, or answer any questions you may have.
Dinner:
Explore local fare on your own.
Evening:
We will attend a Chopin concert at the Fryderyk Concert Hall in the Old Town, which we’ll head to by motorcoach. In Poland, Chopin’s music defines a nation and the country's long struggle for independence, described by German composer Robert Schumann as “cannons hidden among blossoms.” No one before Chopin, nor anyone since, has been able to create a sonic universe from the melodies and rhythms surrounding Poles.
Day
4
Polish Economy & Society, Polish Democracy, Free Time
Location:
Warsaw
Meals:
B
Stay:
Hotel Mercure Warsaw Grand
Activity Note
Extent/duration of walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
At the hotel, we will enjoy a discussion and lecture from a local expert on current Polish economic and social challenges. After a break, we will then take in a second lecture on the unique Polish experience of the second half of the 20th century, including the influence of Catholicism, Communism, and democracy. At 11:00 a.m., we’ll meet for a hospitality hour. Your Group Leader will be happy to help you organize your free time, or answer any questions you may have.
Lunch:
Explore local fare on your own.
Afternoon:
Free time. Suggestions include the Wilanow Palace, a precious monument of the Baroque, the Museum of the History of Polish Jews, and the Warsaw Rising Museum, an homage to the heroes of the Warsaw Uprising in 1944 and where the Polish spirit and pride is on full display.
Dinner:
Explore local fare on your own.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
5
Transfer to Krakow: the City of Art & Culture
Location:
Krakow
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Novotel Krakow Centrum
Activity Note
Luggage will be transferred via van directly to the Krakow hotel; only hand luggage needed. Walking 1/3 of a mile. Getting on/off a train; riding approximately 3 hours. Walking/standing for about 1.5 miles, up to 3 hours in Krakow.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
After checking out of the hotel and walking to the station, we’ll transfer via train to Krakow, which retains the largest concentration of historical monuments and cultural treasures in Poland. Upon arrival in Krakow, we’ll enjoy an expert-led walk in the old town, including the Market Square and St. Mary’s Church.
Lunch:
We will enjoy a light lunch at a local restaurant in Krakow.
Afternoon:
We’ll settle in at the hotel, then attend an orientation meeting and hospitality hour before adjourning for the evening.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
6
Krakow: Jewish Renaissance in Contemporary Poland, Free Time
Location:
Krakow
Meals:
B
Stay:
Novotel Krakow Centrum
Activity Note
Getting on/off a tram. Walking/standing about 1.5 miles, up to 2 hours. Some stairs to negotiate. Extent/duration of walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
At the hotel, we will take in two lectures from a local expert: “Krakow – the City of Art and Culture” and “Jewish Renaissance in Contemporary Poland.” After the lectures, we’ll set out on an expert-led field trip to Kazimierz, the ancient heart of Jewish Krakow, via public transportation. For almost 700 years, Krakow was home to a large Jewish community. In the past, Kazimierz was a distinct town with its own market square, town hall, and Poland’s oldest synagogue, called the Old Synagogue. Its thriving culture blossomed in the 16th century. Following the tragedy of WWII, Kazimierz was deserted, but today enjoys a far-reaching renaissance.
Lunch:
Explore local fare on your own.
Afternoon:
Free time. You may want to explore the rest of Kazimierz.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
7
Great Polish Masters of Art, Free Time
Location:
Krakow
Meals:
B
Stay:
Novotel Krakow Centrum
Activity Note
Walking/standing about 1 mile, up to 2 hours to and around Wawel Hill. Some stairs to negotiate. Extent/duration of walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
At the hotel, we will have a discussion and lecture with a local expert about the great Polish masters of art, such as Jan Matejko, Stanislaw Wyspianski, and Jozef Mehoffer. After the lecture, we will walk to Wawel Hill to enjoy an expert-led field trip. This fortified architectural complex is a testament to the golden age of Krakow in the “City of Kings.”
Lunch:
Explore local fare on your own.
Afternoon:
Free time. Suggestions include the Mehoffer House Museum, Matejko House Museum, and Royal Castle and Cathedral. You may like to visit the National Museum and take in its current exhibitions.
Dinner:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
8
The Great Personalities of Poland, Free Time
Location:
Krakow
Meals:
B,D
Stay:
Novotel Krakow Centrum
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach. Extent/duration of walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room.
Morning:
At the hotel, we will have a discussion and lecture with a local expert on the great personalities of Poland, including people like Chopin, Marie Curie-Sklodowska, Pope John Paul II, Lech Walesa, Czeslaw Milosz, and Wislawa Szymborska, who changed Poland and the world. At 11:00 a.m., we’ll meet for a hospitality hour. Your Group Leader will be happy to help you organize your free time, or answer any questions you may have.
Lunch:
Explore local fare on your own.
Afternoon:
Free time. True papal enthusiasts will enjoy visiting the Archdiocesan Museum, located in the former home of Pope John Paul II. The Collegium Maius was one of Europe's first universities and boasts astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus among its alumni.
Dinner:
We’ll transfer by motorcoach to a local restaurant. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
During dinner, we will enjoy a klezmer concert. The rest of the evening is at leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
9
Program Concludes
Location:
Krakow
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon. See your program’s “Getting There” information regarding transfers.
Breakfast:
In the hotel dining room. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on another rewarding program in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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MEALS
10 Meals
7 Breakfasts
1 Lunch
2 Dinners
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
- Sep 17, 2025 - Sep 25, 2025
- May 14, 2025 - May 22, 2025 (Warsaw to Krakow)
- Jun 11, 2025 - Jun 19, 2025 (Warsaw to Krakow)
- Sep 10, 2025 - Sep 18, 2025 (Warsaw to Krakow)
- Sep 17, 2025 - Sep 25, 2025 (Warsaw to Krakow)
Participant Reviews
Based on 14 Reviews
Sort By:
Hi folks, I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed my trip to Poland. It was my first time doing a Road Scholar trip and I really enjoyed the experience and the people I met. Our guides were wonderful and knowledgeable. Piotr Hardy, our guide in Warsaw was exceptional. He was patient and was able to talk on many topics. Agnieszka was harder to understand but clearly well versed as a guide in Krakow.
If I could make one suggestion - it would be a good thing to have two guides working together. Our group had people with differing abilities and personalities. I think a second person could give individual attention to those who clearly needed it.
The Whisper was brilliant and was a big help in crowded places. The itinerary was well balanced. Meals and hotels were more then adequate.
I do have a question about my name tag/lanyard. Can I mail it back? It is reusable and I probably wont be going on another trip for 9 months.
Looking forward to signing up for my next trip. Thank You, Lynn
— Review left November 4, 2024
A must experience even for the individual traveling alone. Thank you Road Scholar your future explorer. Cathy is
— Review left October 22, 2024
Warsaw and Krakow (Krakow in particular) are beautiful towns that are relatively uncommercialized. This was a rare chance to get a sense of historical Europe.
— Review left October 19, 2024
The Warsaw and Krakow independent trip is awesome. You will learn so much and still have enough individual time to explore your unique interests.
— Review left July 1, 2024
I LOVED the "Independent" way of learning! Walking tours or lectures in the mornings, then free to explore on our own. There was so much to see and do in both cities that I appreciated having the independent time to choose. And yet, I made friends with many of the participants and loved hearing their adventures and stories.
I would strongly encourage others to try this independent format. With support from our excellent guides, Krystian and Julia, my days were full and enriching. I am grateful to have made this trip to Poland. It has opened my eyes to a deeper understanding of a country and a people too often overlooked by travelers in the West. So if you can, GO TO POLAND!
— Review left June 21, 2024
Super disorganized trip. Each day felt like “winging it” as opposed to planned.
— Review left April 26, 2024
Don’t miss Poland
— Review left September 22, 2023
I enjoyed the program and group breakfasts and dinners. If I could change anything it would be a bit slower pace and better communication perhaps via texts or pop up reminders.
— Review left June 29, 2023
Poland is a welcoming destination, Completely safe, interesting history, great music, art, delicious food and very easy to get around.
— Review left June 23, 2023
An excellent introduction to Poland. We got a good primer on Polish history and a deeper understanding of the tragic story of Polish Jews. It was good to see Warsaw, and to at least see the ghetto site, but it made sense to spend more time in Krakow, with so many of its stunning sites undamaged. The leader was excellent, going the extra mile for individual interests. The instructors were good, with two outstanding. This was our first "independent" trip, and we would have preferred a few more group excursions and meals, partly to get to know other participants. But overall, a wonderfully rich experience.
— Review left October 16, 2019
This was a marvelous, well-organized, very educational trip with 21 interesting adults and one of the most outstanding, knowledgeable, agreeable leaders I've ever experienced. Well done Road Scholar! We will be back for more trips as soon as we can save up the money!
— Review left October 2, 2019
This program really enhanced our visit to Poland. We learned so much more than we would have if we had did this on our own. We particularly enjoyed the Independent format as it gave us both structure and ample opportunity to explore on our own.
— Review left May 27, 2019
A good balance between the educational lectures and free time. I learned a lot and had time to explore and discover.
— Review left April 26, 2019
If you've EVER wondered about Poland - this is the trip to take; sites, flavors, histories, horrors, successes, pride and more! We thought we "knew", but were really quite naive about an amazing country and resilient people who make Americans looks pretty "lazy". This was an important and humbling experience. PLUS - the vodka and chocolate are fabulous! This is a highly recommended "independent study" program. If you're "good to go" with some great suggestions, this one's for you.
— Review left April 19, 2019
