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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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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
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
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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.

Profile Image of Robert Gadek
Robert Gadek View biography
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.
Profile Image of Maria Johann
Maria Johann View biography
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.
Profile Image of Andrzej Filipiak
Andrzej Filipiak View biography
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.
Profile Image of Annamaria Orla-Bukowska
Annamaria Orla-Bukowska View biography
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.”
Profile Image of Krystian Wesolowski
Krystian Wesolowski View biography
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.
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