10-Nights Christmas Markets of Poland

10 nights from: $2,795

Christmas Markets Of Poland
Celebrate the season in Poland as you journey through Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Poznan, Wroclaw and Kraków, discovering Christmas markets, city legends and local traditions along the way. You’ll explore with Local Specialists who share stories of Poland’s heritage, from Gothic Old Towns to royal castles and medieval market squares. Meet cider maker Marcin for a Be My Guest experience on his organic farm and enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at Wroclaw’s oldest confectionery as you try traditional doughnuts. Browse for Boleslawiec pottery, Torun gingerbread and Kraków crafts and warm up with hearty Polish dishes, returning home with festive memories, local flavors and thoughtful gifts.

Dining Summary

• 4 Dinner (D)
• 10 Breakfast (B)
• 1 Lunch (L)

• Explore Warsaw, Gdansk, Poznan, Lower Silesia, Wroclaw and Kraków
• Visit the Old Town in Warsaw, the European Solidarity Center, the UNESCO World Heritage town of Torun, the Cloth Hall and St. Mary's Church, the Royal Castle and Cathedral on Wawel Hill in Kraków and the former concentration camp of Auschwitz.
• View Salt Square and the Old Town Hall in Wroclaw, the Old Market Square in Poznan and Kraków’s szopki nativity scenes

• Gdansk: Meet Marcin at his family-run farm on the edge of Warmia and Mazury. Sip dry cider pressed from orchard apples before sitting down to lunch made with organic greens, slow-cooked Mangalica pork and local cheese. Learn how the farm’s certified organic methods support sustainable growing, from raspberries to cereals and free-range hens.

• Gdansk: Spend the day exploring Gdansk, one of the oldest cities in Poland.
• Gdansk: Gain incredible insights into a turbulent time in Poland's history and the importance of freedom, citizenship, democracy and solidarity at the state-of-the-art European Solidarity Center in Gdansk.
• Torun: Discover Torun on a guided city tour with a Local Specialist, exploring its UNESCO-listed Old Town and Gothic brick streets along the Vistula. See the house linked with Nicolaus Copernicus and former merchants’ homes, then learn why the city is famous for its spiced gingerbread, still sold in shops and stalls around the historic center.
• Poznan: Discover Poznan on a guided city tour with a Local Specialist, from Cathedral Island and Poland’s oldest cathedral to the cobbled lanes of the Old Town. Step into Stary Rynek to see the Renaissance town hall and hear the story of the city’s goats that appear above the square’s clock tower.
• Wroclaw: Discover the rich history of the city of Wroclaw. 
• Auschwitz: Bear witness to the horrors/atrocities of the Holocaust at Auschwitz.
• Kraków: Walk around the beautiful town square, Rynek Glówny. See the famous Sukiennice Cloth Hall, St. Mary's Basilica and the many historic townhouses, palaces and churches.

• Wroclaw: Visit one of the last bakeries to make handmade Polish doughnuts, with traditional flavors like lavender and rose petals. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Set on the banks of the Warta River 165 mi/270 km west of Warsaw, 1,000-year-old Poznan, Poland, blends Gothic and baroque in much of its architecture. Free Poznan Travel
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Highlights of this industrialized city include the 10th-century Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul, Gorka's Palace (that houses the Archaeological Museum), the Greenhouse (10 pavilions that contain more than 17,000 plants), Raczynski Library, the Opera House and the Museum of Musical Instruments (it houses Chopin's pianos). In Old Town Square, a crowd gathers on the hour to watch the clock on the old town hall that dates from 1550.

Poznan has all the requisite charm Americans typically look for when traveling in Europe. Its vibrant Old Town bustles with outdoor bars, restaurants and shops, and the Royal Imperial Route walking trail wends past historical and cultural attractions.

In warm weather, the Old Market Square comes alive with shops and outdoor entertainment, and during the winter holidays, it becomes the site of a picturesque Christmas market, with everything from local crafts to regional food and drink.

There is a modern side to Poznan, too, evidenced by the dramatic, multicolored Freedom Fountain sculpture in Plac Wolnosci that turns colors at night, and the Stary Browar (or Old Brewery) shopping center, a combination art and retail space. Familiar franchises such as Starbucks and Zara may not appeal to visitors, but the center's artful renovation bespeaks the attitude of a city eager to preserve its heritage while moving aggressively into the next century.

One of the Poznan's most notable geographical features is Malta Lake, host to international rowing regattas as well as a place to rent boats or visit a water park. For families, there is an outdoor amusement park, minigolf and even an artificial ski slope, for visitors who can't wait for winter.

In addition, Poznan, located about halfway between Warsaw and Berlin, is accessible from either city in about three hours by train, and flights from Berlin to Warsaw offer additional flexibility for travelers who want to start in one city and depart from another.

Finally, like many parts of Poland, Poznan is a bargain. The country has not yet adopted the euro, and while some aspects of the tourism infrastructure are more advanced than others, it is not hard to find hotels and restaurants that are up to, but priced below, Western European standards.

Poznan is also home to the Poznan International Fair, which is a large exhibition and trade center that hosts numerous events during the year. For a schedule of these events, see http://www.mtp.pl.