Discover the Beauty of Southern Poland: Budget-Friendly Experience - Krakow, Wieliczka Salt Mines, Tatras, and More!

As we say in Poland – “to host our Visitor is like hosting God”, so no matter what God you believe in, even if you worship aliens or Mother Nature, on my trip you will feel and experience Polish hospitality to the fullest. We will start looking for the Lesser Poland treasures in the royal city of Kraków - where I will take you for a 3-hour Polish food & drink tour and show you around the most exquisite part of my beloved city - the Main Market Square (in the UNESCO-listed Old Town with the Wawel Castle). Krakow is a Polish "capital city" of culture, art, and history – the former capital of the country, the metropolis of the royal Polish past as well as the educational, scientific, and economic center of the region. It is a place that each year holds high positions in the rankings of the most beautiful and most-visited European cities. It is also one of the truly budget-friendly places where you can find thousands of options for affordable and enjoyable stays. The rich history is visible here almost everywhere, and the artistic spirit is simply hovering over the streets of the Old Town. The same streets, that prominent aristocrats, clergymen, writers, and artists have strolled through for ages. The capital of the Małopolska region is commonly associated with the UNESCO-listed Old Town, with St. Mary's Basilica, the Cloth Hall, and Wawel Royal Castle, as well as the legend of the Wawel Dragon and the culinary symbol of the city - obwarzanek (Jewish bagel). However, there are many more attractions for tourists – the richness of nature, wonderful monuments, including numerous objects of religious architecture, modern museums, regional cuisine delicacies, many European festivals, and hundreds of cultural institutions, cafes, and restaurants. As if that was not enough, the area around Krakow also has a lot to offer visitors, including Auschwitz-Birkenau (former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp), UNESCO Heritage Site - Wieliczka Salt Mines, the Ojców National Park, several monasteries (the oldest in Tyniec and Bielany), wooden churches, vineyards, green areas and hundreds of cultural events. Depending on your needs and preferences, the area around Krakow can be explored on foot, by bike, or by car. The time you spend with me in Krakow and the Lesser Poland region looking for the local treasures will certainly be unforgettable and I will do my best to make you feel comfortable and satisfied all the way during our trip. :)

On the second day we will see the priceless monument of world material culture that was entered into UNESCO's First World List of Cultural and Natural Heritage in 1978 - and will also find out what is so special about the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Together with the neighboring Bochnia it is one of the oldest salt mines in the world. These are also one of the oldest running companies. The picturesque underground landscapes owe their beauty to nature, which sculpted the rocks in unusual, varied, and complicated forms. Throughout history, the way of thinking about the “Wieliczka” Salt Mine has changed from an industrial plant to a world-famous tourist attraction, a place of special events, and even a health resort. We will take a walk through some of the 20 large chambers of the three-kilometer-long sightseeing route. The chambers accessible to visitors include a 3.5-kilometers section located from 64 to 135 meters below ground level and the last reaches out to a depth of 327 meters. The oldest localized part of the mine is the Goryszowski Shaft from the second half of the 13th century. It has been running continuously since the Middle Ages and is still used today. The salt underground is visited every year by nearly 2 million visitors from all over the world among which are politicians, crowned heads of state, and members of royal families. Kings and queens, princes and princesses, state leaders, artists, and scientists wander along the mine galleries and unanimously proclaim the mine beautiful, amazing, and one of the wonders of the world. Almost 99% of the galleries are not accessible to tourists (the total length of the passages linking about 3000 cavities, passages, ramps, excavation chambers, shafts, and small shafts exceeds 300 km) but we will discover all the secrets of this underground world, admire landscapes that can’t be found on the surface as saline lakes and beautiful underground chambers, including the extraordinary St. Kinga’s Chapel. We will learn about old mining tools and machines, the methods of salt extraction, and transport used in the past. At the end of our visit, we will take a deep breath in the Graduation Tower with the gentle hum of water flowing down the blackthorn branches and the salt mist in the air, in order to soothe our senses with a sea breeze. The trip is available for people of all ages and does not require above-average physical condition, but please bear in mind that there are more than 800 steps to climb ;)

Zakopane is a beautiful mountain town nestled into the peaks of the Tatra Mountains, the highest mountain range in Poland, which lies 100 km to the South of Krakow. This historic destination is very popular among tourists and well known for its year round outdoor activities including skiing, hiking, biking, and more! The highest town in Poland has unique style of architecture that you can observe in many of its homes and buildings. Zakopane style is a display of the connection between the culture of the Polish Highlanders (Górale) and the landscape of the mountainous Podhale region. The highest peak on the Polish side of the Tatras is Rysy at a height of 2,499 m, but we will go by cable car to the top of Mt. Kasprowy Wierch (1,985 m above sea level). From 1910, this area became so popular for ski tourists that an aerial tramway was constructed in 1936 and is now one of the oldest still working in Europe. The tram was modernized in 2007 and is very popular with visitors to the area. You will have the greatest views from the top as this is the Tatras National Park, boasting spectacular alpine landscapes with valleys, lakes, and a wide range of vegetation and rare species, including marmots, lynx, golden eagles, and brown bears. The region is not only known for its wild mountainous landscape but also for its deeply embedded folk culture. The Górale are a folk group with their own rich traditions, music, costumes, and cooking. Their typical homes, based loosely on the Podhale hut, have long roofs, with a chalet-like frame and use stone and wood-carved folk decorations. Polish Highlanders are also known for their specific dialect and for cultivating the oldest shepherding practices. When it comes to regional food, the Podhale Region is famous for its traditional specialties: oscypek (a traditional smoked cheese from salted sheep milk that is made in a strict traditional method) and moskole (baked potato pancakes with garlic butter). Oscypek is often served warm and grilled with a side of cranberry jam. You will find many vendors preparing and selling this delicacy on the streets of Zakopane. We will visit many interesting, traditional places in Zakopane: - Krupówki Street - the main street in the heart of Zakopane. This now famous street was once a narrow dirt pathway that served as a commute for local workers. Closed off from cars, today the street is filled with many restaurants, shops, cafes, and street vendors. - The magical cemetery in Pęksowy Brzyzek (founded in 1848) - its name comes from its founder, Jan Pęksa, while in the Highlander dialect, "brzyzek" means a cliff over a stream. From the 1920s, only people of merit for Zakopane, the Tatra Mountains, and Podhale were buried here. The cemetery has about 500 graves. Most of the tombstones are unique works of art, made of wood or metal, carved with Podhale motifs, and painted on glass. This is a special place in Zakopane, not only because of its history but also because of the memory of people who shaped today's Zakopane. Without their contribution, today's monuments, which are visited by thousands of tourists every year, would not exist. It is thanks to their work that Zakopane has this unforgettable climate and atmosphere. - After visiting the cemetery, it is worth going further along Kościeliska Street. There are historic buildings and highlanders' cottages nearby. We will stop for a cup of coffee and a piece of cake at the local inn, where a typical Highlander band plays every evening. - The original Władysław Hasior Gallery, a famous sculptor, painter, and stage designer associated with Podhale. Visiting the gallery, we enter the unique, somewhat fairy-tale, and specific world of the artist. Władysław Hasior used various types of old objects for his works, such as clocks, toys, and even newspaper clippings. The juxtaposition of such different objects results in a very interesting effect. In his work, the artist was faithful to the folk influences of the Podhale region, where he lived and worked. The works of Władysław Hasior, although they refer to modern artistic trends such as surrealism or abstract sculpture, refer to folk art and reach for traditional crafts. Such a combination of modern art with Podhale folklore gives very interesting visual effects. Currently, the permanent exhibition of the gallery includes about 150 of his works, with famous banners, spatial compositions, sculptures, and landscapes. - The Chapel of Jaszczurówka - located in the eastern part of the town, on the Oswald Balzer road to Morskie Oko Lake. The Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is one of the classic works in this region designed by famous Polish artist Stanisław Witkiewicz and built in the early 20th century (1904 - 1907). Made of wood on a stone foundation, it is one of the best examples of the Zakopane style. - When you want to admire the mountains closely there are a few ways to do it: we will take a cable car ride to the top of Kasprowy Wierch, which is located in the upper ridge of the Tatra Mountains. As for the Tatra conditions, it is not a very high peak - it is 1,985 m above sea level. Its name comes from Hala Kasprowa located at the foot of the peak, whose name, according to folk tales, comes from the owner of these lands - the highlander Kasper. On the top, there are also several very rare plants found only in the Tatra Mountains. - To relax after the intense experiences of the day I would recommend visiting The Chochołów Thermal Baths - one of the largest in Poland. We can spend there up to 3 hours in the evening to have a fun time in one of the thirty pools. You will have the opportunity to swim in the outdoor recreational pools, get some rest in a jacuzzi, or enjoy pontoon slides. There is also a separate zone for treatments, where you can use a so-called thermal barrel with sulfur water and a pool with brine-iodized water, a classic dry sauna, a bio sauna with juniper, an infrared sauna, and a glass Finnish sauna with a view of the Tatra Mountains.

The surroundings of the health resort Szczawnica are famous for unique mountain landscapes: on one side of the town you can see the wild, forested ridges of Beskid Sądecki, and on the other, Małe Pieniny (Lesser Pieniny), known for mountain meadows, on which graze large flocks of sheep. Not far away, beyond the Dunajec River, the white walls of rocks mark the low, but bold shapes of the peaks of the Central Pieniny. Szczawnica is recognised as the most popular town in the region among hikers, canoeists, visitors to the sanatoria, and all those who prefer mountains to beaches for their vacation. On the Szafranowka Mountain, the 700-meter-high alpine coaster is a hit with children and grown-ups alike, but we will go for something as fun and enjoyable - an exciting raft trip along the Dunajec River Gorge. On the morning of the first day, before taking the raft trip, we will start by climbing up two famous Pieniny peaks: the highest Trzy Korony (Three Crowns; 982 m above sea level) and Sokolica (747 m above sea level). From the top, you can view the picturesque Dunajec gorge from a completely different perspective. This hike will last about 4 hours and you need to remember about taking good boots, a raincoat, and some extra warm clothes, as the weather may quickly change.

On our last day in Pieniny, we will visit two famous castles of southern Poland, both situated on the banks of the Czorsztyńskie lake in the buffer zone of the Pieniny National Park. One of the biggest tourist attractions in the region, with a coastline of almost 30 km, the lake was created during the construction of a water dam on the Dunajec River in Niedzica. Today it offers endless possibilities for waterside recreation: bathing, diving, sailing, and fishing... and we will go for a gondola cruise between the Dunajec and Czorsztyn castle.

On a high hill, 50 meters above the surface of the sparkling Lake Czorsztyn, you can see the ruins of a 700-year-old castle in Czorsztyn. For centuries, it was one of the main Polish fortresses that guarded the Hungarian border. Over time, the abandoned ruin became an intriguing element of the Pieniny landscape, filled with mysterious legends and amazing views. The castle in Czorsztyn is one of the most interesting attractions of the Pieniny Mountains. Looking into its ruins, we have the opportunity to learn about the centuries-old history of the fortress, which was extremely difficult to conquer. Once the castle was as high as 95 meters above the bottom of the Dunajec valley. Today, these picturesque ruins are reflected in the calm surface of Lake Czorsztyńskie, which, like a sea, is spilled between the hills of the Pieniny Mountains. From the observation deck of the castle, we can see another fortress - the neighboring castle in Niedzica. Jezioro Czorsztyńskie and its surroundings offer many fun activities throughout the whole year. You will find here the Pieniny National Park and the historic settlement in Czorsztyn with villas from the 19th and the early 20th century. With good visibility, you can admire the stunning panorama of the Polish and Slovak Tatra Mountains. A great number of local restaurants serve exquisite regional dishes.

We will reach Kraków late in the afternoon and before we say goodbye, I would like to show you around the former Jewish district - artsy, bohemian, truly unique Kazimierz. Currently, Kazimierz is a mecca and an inseparable destination for tourists staying in Krakow. While walking through the mysterious streets, you can feel the spirit of Krakow's bohemians. It is a place vibrant with cultural life all year round, which brings people together for many reasons: interesting architecture, extraordinary history, klezmer music, and unusual culinary art. In the courtyards and alleys, the atmosphere of the past of Polish Jews has been preserved in many astonishing ways. On the tour, we will see the Kazimierz's Main Market, the former Jewish ghetto, and a few synagogues, which now attract visitors with their unique architecture and diverse interiors (among them the 15th-century Old Synagogue, which is a branch of the Krakow Museum and presents the history and culture of Krakow's Jews in the exhibition). Local cafes and restaurants will be inviting you to taste local dishes and traditional Jewish cuisine, and it is definitely a must to stop at Nowy Square and taste the famous "zapieksy" (local pizza-like baguettes) with various toppings, supposedly the best in Europe, or maczanka (regional great-grandmother of a burger ;) with a glass of oranżada (popular soft drink) for the great finale of your "Lesser Poland Treasures" trip. The unique vibe of beautiful surroundings, numerous small cafes and eateries, quaint vintage shops, art galleries or bookshops will give you the best memories to take back home and maybe come again for more someday... :)