Poland, East Germany & World War II

Welcome to Warsaw! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. (D)

Royal Ceremonies Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour to get you acquainted with Warsaw, Poland’s capital city. Visit the medieval Stare Miasto (Old Town) and the Cathedral of St. John. Enjoy free time this afternoon and evening to explore more of the city. (B) TOUR HIGHLIGHT CULTURE & TRADITIONS Explore the historic city of Warsaw where you’ll visit the medieval old town and the impressive 14th-century Cathedral of St. John. The Cathedral has witnessed coronations of Polish kings, royal weddings, and funerals throughout Polish history. During World War II it suffered heavy damage as it was in the midst of the Warsaw uprising.

History Lessons Depart Warsaw and travel south, arrive early afternoon in Auschwitz/Birkenau for a moving guided visit of both former concentration camp sites. See the ‘Arbeit Macht Frei’ gates and other haunting reminders of the atrocities that took place here. Later, continue to Krakow. (B,D) 273 mi / 440 km TOUR HIGHLIGHT HISTORIC SPOTS A visit to Auschwitz and Birkenau is a sobering and moving experience; a chilling reminder of an era in human history we shall never forget. This opportunity to see the sites where so many lives were affected by the cruelty of the Third Reich during WWII is an unforgettable lesson in history and a cautionary tale for the future. In fact, the subject of the Holocaust is a mandatory part of German school curriculum, with almost all students having visited a camp or memorial.

Heroic Figures Enjoy free time this morning to start exploring the city of Krakow. Later, join a guided walking tour of Kazimierz, the Old Jewish Quarter, visit the Remuh Synagogue, and see the Oskar Schindler Factory. Later afternoon and evening, enjoy some leisure time to explore more and try some of the local dishes. (B) LOCAL FAVORITE HISTORY & HERITAGE A wealth of history to be discovered in Krakow’s Jewish Quarter. Hear the stories of the important role Kazimierz played throughout European history. Visit the Remuh Synagogue which dates back to the sixteenth century and is still active today.