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Wroclaw and Western Poland Hidden Gems 5 day tour by air: Friday 26 July to Tuesday 30 July 2024We are thrilled to announce our Wroclaw and Western Poland Hidden Gems 5-day tour by air from Friday 26 July to Tuesday 30 July 2024
Poland is a large country, situated in Central Europe, divided in 16 provinces, with a population of just over 38 million and a surface area of just over 300,000 square kilometres. Poland is located at a geographic crossroad that links the forested lands of northwestern Europe and the sea lanes of the Atlantic Ocean to the fertile plains of the Eurasian frontier. Now bounded by seven nations, Poland has passed through various episodes over the centuries, buffeted by the forces of regional history. Poland has been a member of the European Union since May 2004. However, Poland does not form part of the EuroZone, and the local currency used is the Polish Zloty (PLN). You will find this currency in our local commercial banks and Exchange Bureaux upon prior order or else one can exchange at Exchange Bureaux in Poland.
This tour is aimed at those who wish to get a first hand experience of this beautiful country by exploring not only majestic Wroclaw but also other wonderful attractions such as the unique Ksiaz Castle and several other attractions in the area.
We have chosen Wrocław as our base for this tour. Wroclaw is a city in southwestern Poland and the largest city in the historical region of Silesia. It lies on the banks of the River Odra in the Silesian Lowlands of Central Europe. The population of Wrocław is just under 700,000 people, making it the third largest city in Poland. However, the population of the Wroclaw metropolitan area is of around 1.25 million. Due to its location on the water, Wroclaw has a lot of bridges – the official number being no less than 118 bridges.
On this tour, we will be flying directly to Wrocław Nicolaus Copernicus Airport, which is located just around 30 minutes drive from Central Wroclaw. This will avoid unnecessary hours spent travelling on the coach. We will also be travelling to and from Malta at highly convenient times, leaving Malta at 8:50am on Friday and returning to Malta at 11:50pm on Tuesday, thus ensuring that your holiday time is maximised and you will enjoy five full days in Poland.
We have planned the tour so you will be able to relax and enjoy this wonderful country full of history, natural beauty, art, music and delicious food. The cost of living in Poland is highly affordable, ensuring you will get very good value for money.
Visiting:
Wroclaw, Cathedral Island, Nadodrze, Centennial Hall, Wroclavia Shopping Mall, Ksiaz Castle, Szcytnicki Park & Japanese Garden, Kolejkowo, Wroclaw Zoo & Africarium, Winery and vineyards visit and wine tasting
Tour Programme:
Friday 26 July 2024:
Meet the Go Sicily Travel tourleader at 6.45am at Malta International Airport for check-in and embarkation on Ryanair flight FR3462 to Wroclaw departing from Malta at 8.50am and arriving at Wroclaw Nicolaus Copernicus Airport at 11.35am. On arrival, we will board our coach and head towards the historical centre of Wroclaw, just over 30 minutes coach drive away from the airport. We will start with a tour around the most famous and stunning sight in Wrocław,which is the view of Cathedral Island from the Xawery Dunikowski Boulevard, across the River Oder. From here, you can see the length of Cathedral Road, marked from left to right by the Tumski Bridge (also known as the Lovers Bridge), the Collegiate Church of the Holy Cross and Saint Bartholomew and the two towers of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, which is the first fully Gothic temple in Poland dating from the 13th/14th century. We will enjoy the buildings, cobbled streets, river views, restaurants and cafes. The city of Wroclaw still employs a Lamplighter who, if you are lucky, you might also meet. Free time for lunch (not included in tour price). In the afternoon, we will visit Nadodrze district. This district, with cobbled streets and tenant houses from the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, is full of cosy cafes, street art, charming corners, artisan shops and plenty of tiny details that make this place unique. Nadodrze is the hotspot in Wroclaw for art and culture. While years ago everybody would have recommended you to stay away from this area, the last few years have seen it undergo a big transformation and it is now one of the most vibrant districts in Wroclaw. People now refer to it as the “Kreuzberg of Wroclaw”, comparing its evolution from a shady district into a cultural centre to what happened in Berlin’s Kreuzberg district. We will then board the coach and proceed to visit the Centennial Hall (entrance included in tour price). This historic building, formerly named Hala Ludowa (People’s Hall), is a UNESCO world heritage site constructed according to the plans of architect Max Berg between 1911 and 1913. It was designed to serve as a multifunctional structure to host exhibitions, concerts, theatrical and opera performances as also sporting events. The hall continues to be used for sporting events, business summits and concerts. We will visit the multimedia exhibition at the Visitor Center and the interior of the Centennial Hall. The exhibition consists of touch screens and maps, film and sound recordings, as well as two virtual tours developed in Virtual Reality technology. You can have a virtual meeting with Max Berg himself, take a look at places inaccessible to visitors, and what is most exciting, soar high above the Hall and the Spire to be able to get to view the Centennial Hall complex from a height and enjoy the incredible panorama of Wrocław. Adrenaline rush guaranteed! Early evening, we are transferred to our hotel, the four star Wyndham Wroclaw Old Town Hotel, located in the centre of Wroclaw. Check-in and free time. In the evening, you may join the tour leader, who will provide you with suggestions, guidance and assistance with regards to the various restaurants and bars in the vicinity of the hotel and historical centre.
Saturday 27 July 2024:
Buffet breakfast at the Hotel. At around 9.00am we will leave the hotel for a city walking tour. We will start our tour by visiting Wroclaw’s iconic Market Square, which is the third largest square in Poland and also one of the largest market squares in Europe. There are different sources with different opinions on its size, which is understood to be 205 by 175 meters. Market Square has a long history. It was delineated in the early 12th century, most likely after the Mongolian invasion in 1241. We will pass by the Town Hall and the monument of Aleksander Fredro, an important Polish poet. This statue was taken from Lviv, in what is today’s Ukraine, to Wroclaw in 1956 and replaced a statue of the Prussian King, Frederick William III. Market Square is full of activity with various restaurants, cafes and bars, including the famous Easter Market. This is one of the largest and most colourful in Poland, featuring a variety of vendors selling traditional Easter foods, crafts and decorations. We will also be able to visit St. Elizabeth Church Tower, the Wroclaw Market Hall and we will also pass by the Royal Palace. Free time for lunch (not included in tour price). In the afternoon, a short 30 minutes coach journey will take us to a visit of one of the major Polish Vineyards in the beautiful countryside of the Silesian region, which is highly popular for wine production (entrance not included in tour price). During the visit, we will have a guided tour of the winery and we will learn about the history of the area where the vineyard is located. We will also be introduced to the production process and will also enjoy a tasting of the wines produced (wine tasting session not included in tour price). One will also have the opportunity to purchase some wine to take home. After this event, we will visit Wroclavia Shopping Mall, with its new state-of-the-art building. This iconic lifestyle shopping centre establishes new standards of shopping and services, with innovative architecture and a vibrant atmosphere. Its 72,500 sqm is home to more than 172 retail stores and 35 restaurants, featuring the major fashion brands under one roof. Early evening return to our hotel. This evening you may enjoy dinner in one of the many restaurants in the bustling centre of Wroclaw. You may also enjoy a drink such as a unique craft beer or liquer in one of the many bars situated around Market Square.
Sunday 28 July 2024
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. At around 9.15am we depart towards Walbrzych in Lower Silesia. On arrival, we will visit Ksiaz Castle (entrance to the castle and underground facilities included in tour price). Ksiaz Castle is the third largest castle in Poland. The breathtaking Ksiaz Castle is often referred to as the ‘pearl’ of the Lower Silesia Region. Built during the 13th century, it was occupied by the Hochberg family, one of the most wealthy and influential families in Prussia for hundreds of years. In 1943 Hitler’s paramilitary organization stormed into the Castle and immediately transformed it into Nazi quarters. Due to numerous renovations, the castle represents different architectual styles, such as gothic, renaissance, baroque and rococo. Ksiaz Castle is situated high above the stunning Polish countryside, its turrets jutting out above the low lying clouds and the sensational pink ‘barbie-style’ exterior decor. This candy-coloured castle, with its enchanted surrounding woodland, certainly looks like something out of a fairytale. We will start with a guided tour of the underground facilities. The local guide will speak in Polish but you will be provided with an English Audio-guide. We will walk for 15 minutes until we reach the underground entrance. The underground tourist route is a half-kilometer 45 minute-long section that is sure to intrigue you with its diverse structure, both geologically and historically. During the walk, we will see a huge concrete hall, corridors carved out of the rock and side bunker chambers. The route runs along the terraces, where an underground railway station is said to have existed. During the tour, you will learn about the secrets of the Ksiaz underground, theories about the purpose of its creation and the tragic history of the prisoners who dug out these tunnels by hand. The basement of Ksiaz Castle was concreted with very durable Portland cement. According to the notes of Hitler's favourite architect, Albert Speer, and other available documents, it is possible that the tunnels once again have as large an area as the one we know today, that is 3200 square metres, measured on the basis of concrete that was brought to the castle. We will descend into the basement of Ksiaz Castle, one of the most mysterious buildings in Poland, and see what has been hidden for over 70 years. The air temperature underground is between 6°C and 12°C, so it is advisable to have adequate warm clothing. After this eventful trip, we will proceed to visit the inside of the castle. Here, we will learn fascinating facts about these legendary magnate residences inside the glamorous chambers and have time to enjoy a nice walk in the beautiful gardens! We will have time for lunch (not included in tour price). We will alsi visit the nice Palm House followed by late afternoon coach transfer back to Wroclaw. In the evening you are free for dinner, which can be taken at one of the many reasonably-priced local and international restaurants, pubs and pizzerias
within walking distance from the hotel.
Monday 29 July 2024
Buffet Breakfast at the hotel. At around 9.00am we depart towards Szczytnicki Park. This is the largest park in Wroclaw with an arboretum, beautiful rhododendron orchards, rose gardens and the Japanese Garden. Established in 1875 as a private garden, it was later transformed into a city park. We will visit the Japanese Garden (entrance included in tour price), which was inaugurated in 1913 and is definitely the main attraction of Szczytnicki Park. With its original composition, the garden shows a different face each season, the only permanent feature being the various Japanese style structures and buildings. In the afternoon, we proceed to Sky Tower and also visit Kolejkowo miniature park (entrance included in tour price). The name Kolejkowo comes from the Polish word “kolej”, meaning rail. It is an engaging attraction in Poland for both adults and children. Kolejkowo presents a unique small-scale model of the region of Lower Silesia featuring hundreds of models (railways, cars, buildings, bridges) and thousands of figures of people and animals including such details as a wedding reception and a waiter dropping a wedding cake! All models and figures are hand-made and mirror the originals. Both children and adults will love the miniature replicas of cities, landscapes, and of course the main attraction of Kolejkowo – the biggest railway model in Poland (510 meters of railway tracks, 15 trains, 60 railway carriages – all moving!). Late afternoon we will have time for a boat cruise along River Oder (boat trip ticket not included in tour price). After this eventful trip we will return to our hotel. In the evening you are free for dinner, which can be taken at one of the many reasonably-priced local and international restaurants, pubs and pizzerias within walking distance from the hotel.
Tuesday 30 July 2024
Buffet Breakfast at the Hotel.Free time for last-minute shopping from nearby Galeria Dominikanska shopping mall or personal sightseeing, followed by check-out from the hotel. Departure at 12.00pm towards Wroclaw Zoo and Afrycarium. (entrance fees included in tour price). The Wroclaw Zoo is the oldest and largest Polish zoo when considering the different number of species. It is the most visited zoo in Poland and the fifth most visited zoo in Europe. The Zoo features both historic facilities, including the bear tower, the elephant house and the monkey house. The zoo covers 33 hectares and is home to about 10,500 animals representing about 1,132 species including wolves, seals, penguins, lions, giraffes, elephants, monkeys, kangaroos, red pandas, wildcats, lynxes and bisons. And this is just the beginning of the list! Another big attraction of the zoological garden is the Afrykarium - the largest oceanarium in Poland, which is a unique complex showcasing a variety of Africa’s aquatic habitats and which is solely dedicated to African fauna. The latest attraction is the largest VR cinema in Europe, which takes the visitors to the middle of the Rwandan tropical rainforests and enables them to meet mountain gorillas face to face. You can choose between various 5-7 minute films that, apart from meeting gorillas, will allow you to dive with sharks and humpback whales. Animation for children is also available. Free time for lunch (not included in tour price). At around 5.45p.m. we board the coach for transfer to Wroclaw airport in time for check-in and embarkation on Ryanair flight FR 3463 departing at 9.10pm and arriving in Malta at 11.50pm.
Terms and conditions:
Price :
Persons aged 12 years and over: €899
Persons aged under 12 years over 2 years: €749
Persons aged under 2 years: €150
Price includes:
Direct Ryanair flight Malta - Wroclaw - Malta including one 10kg checked-in or cabin luggage maximum dimensions 55cm x 40cm x 20cm and one small bag hand luggage (example: laptop bag or ladies handbag or small back pack) maximum dimensions 40cm x 20cm x 25cm
Taxes and airport charges
All transfers and excursions in Poland
4 nights Accommodation on Bed&Breakfast basis in double or triple room sharing, including buffet breakfast at 4 star Hotel Wyndham Wroclaw Old Town (https://www.wyndhamwroclawot.com)
Entrance to and use of facilities at Centennial Hall entrance
Entrance to Ksiaz Castle & underground facilities
Entrance to Japanese Garden
Entrance to Wroclaw Zoo & Afrykarium
Entrance to Kolejkowo Miniature Park
City tax on hotel stay
Insolvency Fund certificate
Service of Go Sicily Travel tour leader
Optional Extras:
Single room supplement: €30 x 4 nights = €120
Reserved seating on Ryanair flight: €10 per person per flight
Polish vineyard and wine-tasting: 70 PLN per person (approximately €16) to be prepared in a sealed envelope with your name and surname and given to tour leader on first day of the tour.
Payment terms:
Deposit of €150 per person on confirmation
Balance by 30 June 2024 or immediately on booking for bookings made (subject to availability) after 30 June 2024
COVID-19 measures:
At www.gosicilytravel.com, we pride ourselves in offering quality experiences which are fully compliant with COVID-19 requirements whilst at the same time ensuring that our guests have an enjoyable experience.
COVID vaccination certificates or swab tests are not required to travel to Poland and back to Malta.
Insurance:
Tour guests are encouraged to affect their own travel insurance. www.gosicilytravel.com recommends Citadel Insurance and Atlas Insurance.
Terms and conditions:
Link: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2316066091759498&type=3
For enquiries and bookings please contact us on:
Mario Spiteri at
Go Sicily Travel
Mobile:79742459
Office: 21415137
E mail: [email protected]
Office (by prior appointment phoning on 79742459):
Go Sicily Travel, Cube Office Suites, Suite 2,
154, Eucharistic Congress Road, Mosta MST9037
(Around ten doors up from Partit Laburista club on the left hand side of the road facing Mosta Dome)
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Wrocław, Wroclaw, Poland
