4 Days in Krakow – One of Europe's Most Meaningful School Trip Destinations
Between 13 and 16 November, we spent 4 days and 3 nights in Krakow on an inspection visit to experience first-hand the excursions and itinerary that we offer to our school groups. Thanks to our Polish agent, Grazyna, our accommodation and visits were organised perfectly, giving us the chance to follow the exact same itinerary that our groups enjoy.
Day 1 – Arrival & Glowny Square
Downtown Hotel
We travelled on an evening flight from Manchester, which took around 2.5 hours, arriving in Krakow in the evening. After landing, we made our way to the Downtown Hotel, only a short 10-minute walk from the city centre. Formerly known as the Alexander II Hotel, the property has undergone a complete renovation, and now it is modern and ideal for school groups.
The hotel offers a maximum of 3-bedded student rooms and twin rooms for teachers, plus a very generous breakfast served on the lower-ground floor from 7:00 to 10:30 am. A small bonus that teachers and students will love: each floor has a fresh drinking water machine, perfect for refilling bottles throughout the day.
Glowny Square
After settling in, we headed out for a quick evening walk to Glowny Square, Krakow's Old Town central and one of Europe's largest market squares. Although the Christmas Market had not yet opened, the square was beautifully lit, busy, and lively despite the cold. Krakow is made for wintertime — the chill adds to the atmosphere!
We grabbed some snacks from the local pierogi shop and the famous obwarzanek, the 'blue cart sold pretzel-like snack', then headed back to the hotel for an early night before our very early start.
Day 2 – Auschwitz-Birkenau & Krakow Old Town
Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial & Museum
After breakfast, our pre-arranged transfer collected us at 7 am for the 1.5-hour journey to Auschwitz. On arrival, the system was surprisingly simple to navigate; the group visitors entered one side, individual tourists on the other. A brand-new visitor centre manages the guests effectively, and colour-coded stickers make it easy to find your group and language guide.
We took part in a 3.5-hour guided tour of both Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II (Birkenau). The experience was powerful and educational, though quite heavy. Our guide was knowledgeable, and the newly tested headset system helped us to hear her better in a big group set, even if the site remained busy.
This is an excursion that I strongly recommend only for groups who are mentally prepared for the emotional visit. I did not take any photos - both out of respect and due to the restrictions.
Krakow Old Town
After returning to Krakow, we spent the afternoon discovering the Old Town in daylight. We were dropped near Wawel Castle, located on Wawel Hill beside the Vistula River. While some exhibitions require paid tickets, exploring the grounds and courtyards is free.
We continued along the Royal Road, passing shops, cafes, and landmarks such as the Saints Peter and Paul Church, known for its classical concerts. If we had planned ahead, I would have happily joined an evening music performance here.
A stop at Karmello Chocolatier provided a well-deserved hot chocolate and cake before we reached the Main Square once again. St. Mary’s Basilica was beautifully lit, and inside the Cloth Hall, we browsed jewellery and gifts – well, mainly I did.
We finished the walk at the Barbican and St. Florian's Gate, marking the end of the Royal Road.
A Traditional Polish Dinner
Dinner was at Morskie Oko, a warm, rustic restaurant with wooden interiors and live highland music. The menu felt familiar- very similar to Hungarian cuisine.
We enjoyed beef tartare, hunter’s stew, potato pancakes with beef goulash and sheep cheese, and veal fillets with mushroom sauce. A perfect ending to a busy day.
Day 3 – Galicia Jewish Museum, Schindler's Walk & Kazimierz District
Galicia Jewish Museum
Our third day began at the Galicia Jewish Museum, where Kamila, the Educational Sales Manager, kindly guided us through a private tour.
We explored the temporary exhibition Henryk Reiss Must Cease to Exist, telling the story of a family who hid their Jewish identity during the Second World War.
The museum’s permanent exhibitions, children’s corner, and engaging learning environment make it ideal for school groups. We also saw a workshop in action, which was great to see from a teacher’s perspective.
Schindler's Walk
Our guide, Kinga, met us at the museum for a 2-hour Schindler's Walk, which became our favourite part of the entire trip. Starting in Kazimierz, the historic Jewish Quarter, we visited Szeroka Street and the Tempel Synagogue, as well as the last functioning synagogue, the Remuh Synagogue.
Starting in Kazimierz, the historic Jewish Quarter, we visited Szeroka Street, which is considered the most important street with restaurants and cafes.
Here we’ve seen the Tempel Synagogue, the historic icon of the district, as well as the last functioning synagogue, the Remuh Synagogue.
At lunchtime, we stopped by at Plac Nowy, where we tried local favourites such as zapiekanka, which is an open-faced sandwich made from a halved baguette, then some Kiełbasa, which is a Polish sausage.
We passed through locations featured in Schindler’s List, including the famous passage between Beera Meiselsa and Józefa Street, and stopped briefly by Wódka Bar, a tiny but iconic vodka bar.
Crossing the bridge into Podgórze, we reached the former WWII ghetto area. Here, Ghetto Heroes Square stands as a symbolic memorial, with empty chairs representing the lives lost and homes left behind.
We walked to the Schindler Factory Museum, but as it was fully booked, we could only view it from the outside- a reminder of how important it is for school groups to reserve this site well in advance.
Evening in Kazimierz
Dinner was back in Kazimierz at Awiw Restauracja, where we enjoyed goat cheese, Pierogi, braised beef, and deer stroganoff in a bread bowl. I don’t mean to make everyone hungry with these delicious-looking food photographs.
Based on our guide’s recommendations, we decided to do a short pub crawl to explore the district’s iconic bars. We began at Alchemia, followed by Eszeweriar, both of with their vintage furniture, candle-lit tables, and open windows overlooking the street.
Day 4 – Wieliczka Salt Mines & Returning to the UK
Wieliczka Salt Mines
After checking out and storing our luggage, we travelled to the Wieliczka Salt Mines for a tour. The underground salt sculptures, chapels, and chambers are stunning. The mine is deeper than the Eiffel Tower is tall, and contains 800 stairs as well as four underground event spaces.
Dinner was back in Kazimierz at Awiw Restauracja, where we enjoyed goat cheese, Pierogi, braised beef, and deer stroganoff in a bread bowl. I don’t mean to make everyone hungry with these delicious-looking food photographs.
Based on our guide’s recommendations, we decided to do a short pub crawl to explore the district’s iconic bars. We began at Alchemia, followed by Eszeweriar, both of with their vintage furniture, candle-lit tables, and open windows overlooking the street.
Planty Park
Back in Krakow, we enjoyed a final walk through Planty Park and visited the Wawel Dragon statue, an iconic, fire-breathing bronze sculpture inspired by a medieval legend. We also came across the Avenue of Stars, a joint project along the Vistula featuring both Polish and international artists.
By late afternoon, it was time to return to the airport and head home, confident in recommending this itinerary to schools.
If you are looking to organise a school trip to Krakow, take a look at the visits, accommodation and suggested itineraries on our Krakow school trips page.