
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.
Featured Expert
All trip experts

Robert Gadek
Robert Gadek graduated from Jagiellonian University in 1995 with a degree in sociolinguistics, and since then served as director of the Judaica Foundation's Center for Jewish Culture in Kraców's Jewish quarter — Kazimierz. He is responsible for programs that strive to introduce Jewish culture to contemporary Poles, but also build bridges between Jews and non-Jews in Poland and on the international level. Since 2004, he has worked as deputy director of the Jewish Culture Festival in Kraców, the world's largest Jewish Festival presenting contemporary Jewish culture to an international audience of some 30,000 persons annually.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Robert Gadek
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Robert Gadek graduated from Jagiellonian University in 1995 with a degree in sociolinguistics, and since then served as director of the Judaica Foundation's Center for Jewish Culture in Kraców's Jewish quarter — Kazimierz. He is responsible for programs that strive to introduce Jewish culture to contemporary Poles, but also build bridges between Jews and non-Jews in Poland and on the international level. Since 2004, he has worked as deputy director of the Jewish Culture Festival in Kraców, the world's largest Jewish Festival presenting contemporary Jewish culture to an international audience of some 30,000 persons annually.

Maria Johann
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Dr. Maria Johann graduated from the Faculty of Management and American Studies Center at Warsaw University. She continued her studies, receiving her PhD in the Collegium of Management and Finance at the Warsaw School of Economics. She is currently employed in the Strategic Management Department at the Warsaw School of Economics as well as the marketing department at Warsaw Academy of Management. Dr. Johann is the author of about 40 publications and provides training in marketing for a variety of organizations.

Andrzej Filipiak
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Andrzej Filipiak earned his M.A.. in English and in American studies and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the American Studies Center at Warsaw University. He teaches courses on American political thought and history of ideas. His research concentrates on the Catholic intellectual tradition, and his publications include several articles on religion, politics and issues relating to church and state. Andrzej is an active member of the Community of the Crucified Love, a charismatic Catholic community in Poland.

Annamaria Orla-Bukowska
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Annamaria Orla-Bukowska is a social anthropologist teaching at the Institute of Sociology at Jagiellonian University in Kraków, where she earned a Ph.D. American born and raised, she has lived in Poland since 1985. Her general field of research is majority-minority relations, cultural pluralism, and collective identities. She has co-authored "Rethinking Poles and Jews: Troubled Past, Brighter Future," as well as a chapter on Polish collective memory in "The Politics of Memory in Postwar Europe.”

Krystian Wesolowski
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Krystian Wesolowski was born in Lodz, central Poland. Krystian is a graduate of the University of Lodz and a city guide in Warsaw and Lodz. Krystian completed a course co-organized by the Institute of History of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Krystian has several years of experience working as a group leader and pilot. Krystian was a private guide for guests of the U.S. ambassador to Poland. Krystian's interests are primarily the histories of the 19th and 20th centuries, in particular WW2 and Polish Jews.
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
Chopin in Paris, The Life and Times of the Romantic Composer
A biography of the famed composer Fryderyk Chopin.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
In his epic style, Michener presents the sweep of Polish history from the earliest days to 1983 in this massively researched novel.
Eyewitness Guide Poland
An informative, visual guide to the history, culture and attractions of Poland.
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.
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.
Poland Map
A self-folding, full-color map of Poland at a scale of 1:700,000, updated annually.
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.
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.
Lonely Planet Polish Phrasebook
This handy pocket phrasebook includes pronunciation, basic grammar and essential vocabulary.
The Romani Gypsies
Matras delves into the history of the Romani, an ancient and misunderstood European culture that has survived through modern times.
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.
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.
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.
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.