School trip to Krakow and Warsaw

This school trip explores Poland’s history, culture, and heritage through visits to two of the country’s most important cities: Kraków, the historic capital, and Warsaw, the modern-day capital. The contrasting character of these cities is reflected in Kraków’s medieval architecture and Warsaw’s dynamic contemporary skyline. The programme also includes visits to two significant sites near Kraków: the former Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp, and the Wieliczka Salt Mine, one of Europe’s largest historic salt mines, with origins dating back to the Middle Ages.
Itinerary: Krakow – Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum – Wieliczka – Warsaw
Duration: 5 days

Trip highlights:

Discovering Krakow’s historic treasures, including the medieval Old Town, Wawel Castle, and Kazimierz, one of Europe’s best-preserved Jewish quarters.
Visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, exploring the history of the Holocaust and the importance of remembrance.
Exploring the Wieliczka Salt Mine, a UNESCO-listed underground heritage site showcasing centuries of mining traditions and remarkable craftsmanship.
Experiencing Warsaw’s rich history and cultural heritage through the reconstructed Old Town, former Jewish Ghetto sites, the POLIN Museum, and the interactive Copernicus Science Centre.

St Mary’s Basilica, Kraków

Auschwitz-Birkenau German concentration camp: the main gate bearing the inscription ‘Arbeit macht frei’

Warsaw’s Old Town

Warsaw city centre

Castle Square in Warsaw

Itinerary

Day 1: Krakow – Old Town

Morning: Arrival in Krakow and transfer to the accommodation.
Afternoon: A guided tour of Krakow’s Old Town and Kazimierz, the city’s historic Jewish quarter. The programme includes the Main Square, St Mary’s Basilica, and Wawel Castle Hill. The tour continues in Kazimierz, one of the best-preserved historic Jewish districts in Europe, with a visit to the Remuh Synagogue.
Optional: guided tour of the Oskar Schindler’s Factory Museum.
Evening: Dinner at the accommodation.

Day 2: Krakow – Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum

Morning: Bus transfer to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum. A standard 3.5-hour tour of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum. Tour of the blocks at Auschwitz I (the "Death block", the execution wall, a gas chamber and the only surviving crematorium) and Auschwitz II (prisoner barracks, the ruins of the gas chambers and the memorial to the victims).
Afternoon: Return to Krakow.
Evening: Dinner.

Day 3: Krakow – Wieliczka – Warsaw

Morning: A guided visit to the medieval Wieliczka Salt mine, a unique attraction of European industrial culture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located around 10 kilometres from Kraków, promises a fascinating underground experience.
Afternoon: Departure to Warsaw / either by train or a private coach /. Check-in at the accommodation in Warsaw.
Evening: Dinner.
Optional: Bowling or karaoke night.

Day 4: Warsaw – Old Town – Warsaw Ghetto

Morning: A guided tour of Warsaw’s Old Town, including Castle Square with Sigismund’s Column, St John’s Cathedral, the Market Square, and the Barbican. Lunch.
Afternoon: A guided tour of the former Warsaw Ghetto, exploring the history of the Jewish community during the German occupation and the 1943 uprising. The programme includes the Nożyk Synagogue, the Monument to the Ghetto Heroes, the bunker on Miła Street, the site of the mass grave of the uprising’s leaders, and Umschlagplatz, the departure point for deportations to the Treblinka extermination camp. The day concludes with a guided visit to the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, which presents the thousand-year history of Jewish life and culture in Poland.
Evening: Dinner.

Day 5: Warsaw – Copernicus Science Centre

Morning Visit to the Copernicus Science Centre. Named after the Polish astronomer, the building contains over 450 interactive exhibits spread across 20,000 metres of exhibition space. It features six thematic sections covering different fields of knowledge.
Afternoon: Transfer to the airport. Departure from Warsaw.

Included Services

Services included in the price:

4 nights' accommodation, including breakfast
4 dinners (3-course menu with water)
All transfers as per above-mentioned itinerary
Private English-speaking guide
Entrance fees for all sightseeing

Price on request. Please complete the non-binding enquiry form below to receive your personalised offer.

FAQ

How long does the transfer from Krakow to Warsaw take for school groups? How are the transfers between destinations organised?
The journey from Krakow to Warsaw takes approximately 2.5 to 3 hours when travelling by direct high-speed train, or roughly 3.5 to 4 hours by private coach. This makes combining both cities into a single multi-destination study tour efficient and seamless for school groups. Local transfers are provided by coach according to the programme.
What are the main highlights of a guided tour of Krakow's Old Town?
Krakow’s historic centre offers centuries of royal and architectural heritage. Key stops include Europe's largest medieval Main Market Square, St. Mary’s Basilica with its famous wooden altarpiece, the historic Cloth Hall, and Wawel Castle Hill overlooking the Vistula River.
What historical sites are covered on a visit to Warsaw Ghetto during a school trip to Warsaw?
A guided tour focused on Warsaw's wartime Jewish history covers critical sites along the Memorial Route of Jewish Martyrdom and Struggle. Key stops include the Nożyk Synagogue, the Ghetto Heroes Monument, the underground bunker at Miła 18, and the Umschlagplatz monument, providing vital context before entering the POLIN Museum.
Is the programme flexible?
Yes. Depending on your group's interests and requirements, the itinerary can be adapted or extended. Please contact us to discuss the available options.

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