Historic Cities of Poland

Your holiday begins at London St Pancras this morning by meeting the Tour Manager ready for a Eurostar journey to Brussels.

Travelling in Plus class, we enjoy a light meal at our seats enroute to the Belgian capital. Changing trains, we continue in First Class to Cologne for our connection to Berlin. Crossing most of the width of Germany, we arrive in the capital this evening.

Our four-star hotel in Berlin is near to Friedrichstraße - the main thoroughfare of central Berlin. A couple of blocks away are the gleaming towers of Potsdamer Platz and one of the city's most famous landmarks, Checkpoint Charlie. After arriving this evening, we take a walk to a traditional restaurant where we enjoy our first dinner together.

• Eurostar Light Meal
• Dinner

After a relaxed breakfast, we head out with a local guide to uncover Berlin's fascinating history on a sightseeing tour.

Now a vibrant and varied city, our first stop signifies how much Berlin has changed in the past few decades. In 1961, at the height of the Cold War, the Berlin Wall was constructed to stop East Germans fleeing to the west. After visiting the infamous Checkpoint Charlie, we get our first view of the Wall. Our powerful tour concludes early this afternoon at the Brandenburg Gate - a spectacular 18th-century neoclassical monument that is now a symbol of unity.

With a free afternoon and evening in Berlin, you can continue exploring at leisure - and there are many options available to you. Immerse yourself in incredible culture at the Bode and Pergamon museums or Old National Gallery on Museum Island, stroll through expansive Tiergarten, or view Berlin from the Norman Foster-designed dome at the top of the Reichstag (booking required). Dining independently, Berlin has an enviable range of restaurants of restaurants catering for all tastes.

• Breakfast

There's time to relax after breakfast this morning before our journey continues just after noon.

At Berlin's main train station, we take our First Class seats for a direct journey into Poland. As we head east, dense forests show why Berlin is ranked highly among the world's most sustainable metropolises. Sleepy, rustic towns pass our windows before we cross the Oder River and enter Poland. Verdant surroundings continue as we travel southeast from Rzepin, criss-crossing the Oder - or Odra in Polish - as we follow it to our next destination.

Wrocław (pronounced Vrot-swaaf) is Poland's second most prosperous city, but at its heart is an expansive fairytale centre. Our hotel is on the banks of the Oder, opposite the small Bielarska Island. After checking in, we gather in the hotel restaurant for dinner together.

• Breakfast, Dinner

On our first morning in Poland, we set out to discover the beautiful city of Wrocław on a guided tour after a leisurely breakfast.

The heart of life in Wrocław since the 13th century, Market Square is dominated by not one but two city halls. The Gothic Old Town Hall is distinguishable due to it red bricks and ornate finials, while the 19th-century New Town Hall has a white façade. In front of St Elizabeth Church are two narrow buildings, known as Hansel and Gretel because the arched gate joining them makes it look like they're holding hands. Cathedral Island (not actually an island) is the oldest part of Wrocław. Here, cobbled streets guide you towards the 15th-century Gothic cathedral. Look out for the original gas lamps, which are still lit by a lamplighter in the evening.

The rest of the day is free, and you might like to search out the Wrocław Dwarves - a series of charming sculptures with their roots in anti-communist protest. Your evening is free to dine independently, and Market Square has many traditional restaurants.

• Breakfast

Leaving Wrocław after breakfast, we take our seats in First Class for a train journey to Kraków. On arrival, we check in to our hotel, a short distance from the main station and the Old Town.

This afternoon, we set out on a guided tour of Kraków, beginning by strolling into the Old Town. At the heart of the grand Main Square is the Renaissance-style market arcade which dates back to the 13th century. At one corner of the square is St Mary's Basilica. With two Gothic towers from which a trumpet signal is called every hour, this is a landmark of the city - and we have entrance included. Inside, we are greeted by a spectacular ceiling and the carved Veit Stoss altar.

Later, we visit an emotive site, Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory. A tour here informs us of the history of occupied Kraków and the heart-rending efforts of the entrepreneur to save the lives of more than a thousand Jewish people during the Holocaust. Afterwards, your evening is free to explore the city and dine independently.

• Breakfast

Today will be an emotional day as we confront the darkest period of European history. If you would prefer, you can opt out and spend more time exploring Kraków independently.

At Auschwitz I, we discover the origins of the concentration camp and the horrendous events that began in 1940, leading to the Holocaust. Nearby, Auschwitz-Birkenau was the largest part of the complex. During just five years, it's estimated that around 1.1 million people were killed in these camps, including around one million Jewish people, 70,000 Poles and about 21,000 Roma and Sinti. The visit is heartbreaking but it's important to remember the names and lives of the people behind the shocking numbers.

Returning to Kraków, there is time at leisure before we visit the Galicia Jewish Museum to take part in a moving Witness to History event. A guest speaker presents the touching stories of survivors and former concentration camp visitors, giving us an understanding of the emotions experienced by local Jewish people. Later, we return to our hotel for dinner together.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Since the 13th century, salt has been mined in this part of the world and, after breakfast, we set out to visit the Wieliczka Salt Mines*.

In the centuries since salt was first mined, a stunning subterranean city has been created, carved out of saline rock. With a half-day guide, we marvel at sprawling cathedrals, chapels and restaurants of this UNESCO World Heritage site. One of the most spectacular chambers is St Kinga's Chapel - measuring an incredible 177ft long, 60ft wide and 40ft high. Here, we can marvel at exquisite bas-reliefs depicting the Marriage at Cana and the Last Supper, as well as relics of Pope John Paul II - and the impressive chandeliers that cast a magical shimmer around the room.

After an afternoon at leisure in Kraków, we head to the Kazimierz district for a holiday highlight. Celebrating the significant impact Jewish culture has had, we are entertained with a vibrant and joyous klezmer performance during a traditional Jewish dinner - a wonderful way to conclude our time in Kraków.

*Please note: there are a lot of stairs on our tour of Wieliczka Salt Mines, but some lifts have been installed if required. Call our team to discuss.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Strolling to Kraków station after breakfast, as our luggage is transferred directly to our destination, we board the First Class carriages of a train bound for Poland's capital. On arrival at Warsaw Central, one of the first landmarks you will notice may be the Palace of Culture and Science. Built in 1952, this striking Stalinist structure dominates Warsaw's new town. Nearby is our hotel, which opened in 1913 and has a fascinating history.

Warsaw is a modern city, with wide boulevards and piercing skyscrapers, but there are also many areas unveiling timeless beauty. After checking in, we head out to explore Warsaw's beautiful Old Town. Originally established in the 13th-century, it was largely destroyed during World War Two. Post-war efforts to restore its original charm have proved successful and, among the sights we see, are the colourful buildings around its attractive squares, such as the Market Place and Castle Square - where we can view the exterior of the Royal Castle.

Returning to our hotel later, there's time to unwind before we gather for dinner in the on-site restaurant.

• Breakfast, Dinner

A full day at leisure in Warsaw allows you to indulge your interests - and there are many options for exploration.

History and culture combine to create a city of fascinating museums. In the Baroque Ostrogski Palace, you can learn more about one of Poland's most renowned classical composers, Chopin. Elsewhere, the Warsaw Rising Museum documents the resistance to German occupation on five interactive levels, while the contemporary POLIN museum presents more than a thousand years of Jewish history in Poland. Further outside the city is Wilanów Palace - an ornate, 17th-century royal palace containing a museum of fine arts and a Baroque garden. Alternatively, you may like to take a stroll in one of the city's many parks or cross the Vistula River to visit the large zoological garden.

Dining independently today, there are many options to suit all tastes. A short distance from our hotel, you can find Nowy Świat. This attractive street is lined with restaurants of all variety from traditional Polish eateries and old-school 'milk bar' cafeterias to restaurants serving Georgian, Italian and Japanese cuisine.

• Breakfast

Between mid-May and the end of September, Royal Łazienki park rings with sounds of Chopin each Sunday - as it has done since 1959. After breakfast, we transfer to Łazienki Park.

As Warsaw's largest park, the Baroque grounds cover 76 hectares surrounding an 18th-century summer palace. You are free to explore the lakes, fountains and gardens, or visit one of the museums (payable locally). However, if you prefer, you can make your way to the Chopin monument to be entertained by recitals of music by the composer renowned for his pieces for piano. On a sunny day, joining other music lovers to enjoy these elegant, classical works is a delight.

Returning to our hotel this afternoon, the rest of day is at leisure. Enjoy some last-minute sightseeing, shop for souvenirs or savour a final taste of Poland by seeking out traditional dishes including pyzy (soft potato dumplings filled with minced pork or beef) or the beloved pierogi (stuffed parcels with various fillings including meat and cheese).

• Breakfast

Journeying by rail from London to Warsaw has provided the opportunity to become fully immersed in the culture and history of the cities we have visited. After exploring Berlin, we crossed into Poland where medieval Wrocław charmed with its timeless squares and colourful buildings. Outside its beautiful Old Town, Kraków showed us the emotive recent history of the country, while Warsaw revealed its grand palaces and expansive parklands.

After breakfast today, we transfer to Warsaw Chopin Airport* for our flight back to London Heathrow, where your exploration of Poland comes to an end.

*Please note: if you have opted to return by rail, you will travel by rail to Hannover in Germany for an overnight stay in a hotel. On Day 12, you will journey via Cologne and Brussels to London St Pancras.

• Breakfast