Krakow Pierogi Festival: A Tour of Southern Poland

Come to Krakow, Poland in 2024 for the XXII Pierogi Festival! Our Culinary Vacation in August 2024 is centered around it, so you can look forward to pierogi tasting, local beer, and live entertainment. So join us and celebrate the Pierogi Festival in style!

Experience all the best that Krakow has to offer with the Krakow Pierogi Festival in 2024! The festival is one of the most beloved events in Krakow, and it is held in the Maly Rynek (small square) behind Rynek Główny (the Main Square). With a wide selection of pierogi flavors and varieties, you can sample the best pierogi in Krakow Old Town with ease. From traditional Polish dumplings to more adventurous flavors, there is something for everyone at this Krakow August event. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the festival while you savor the delicious flavors of pierogi. With so many vendors and options, you are sure to find the perfect pierogi in Krakow Old Town. Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to experience the best pierogi in Krakow!

Prior to the pierogi festival, your journey will begin with a luxurious stay at Nosalowy Park Hotel & Spa in Zakopane, where you can relax and enjoy the Wellness & SPA services. During your stay in Zakopane, you can sample some of the famous local delicacies, including oscypek cheese and highlander tea, as well as learning to prepare your own moskole: potato pancakes with meat and mushrooms. Then, take a tour of Zakopane, and stroll along the famous Krupowki Street, where you can admire the stunning views of the Tatra Mountains. You will then take a thrilling rafting journey through the Dunajec River Gorge, and visit the art studio of Jan Zieder, a famous local wood carver and artist. Afterwards, you will explore Krakow Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and visit the magnificent 14th-century Wawel Castle and Cathedral. We'll then visit and shop at the centuries-old Krakow tradition Stary Kleparz fresh food market. Then, take a tour of the famous Wieliczka Salt Mine, and visit and take part in the Krakow Pierogi Festival, enjoying traditional Polish dumplings to more adventurous flavors - there is something for everyone!

Experience the beauty of Poland and create lifetime memories with this one-of-a-kind tour!
 

Pierogi Festival Krakow Poland

Krakow Poland Pierogi Festival

Tour Dates: August 11 – August 17, 2024  
Length of Tour: 7 Days / 6 Nights
Cost: $2950 Per Person US/ double occupancy - $350 single supplement - $500 per person deposit

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Carriages on Krakow UNESCO Market Square

Itinerary 
Day 1: Wellness & SPA & Welcome Dinner
Location: Krakow to Zakopane, Poland
Accommodations: Nosalowy Park Hotel & Spa
We'll be meeting in the lobby of our designated meeting hotel in Krakow at 10:00 a.m. for a group transfer by mini bus to the 5-star Nosalowy Park Hotel & Spa. Enjoy luxurious Wellness & SPA services in a convenient location and experience the traditional Zakopane hospitality. Along the way, we'll make a stop for a delicious home-made lunch in the village of Dolina Chocholowska where we'll get to sample the famous oscypek cheese and highlander tea (which includes vodka!). After settling into your comfortable hotel, take a leisurely walk around Zakopane or simply enjoy the relaxation! This evening, we'll gather for a festive Welcome Dinner at our hotel restaurant and savor the local specialties.

Polish cooking class in Podhale, Poland



Day 2: Tour Zakopane, Stroll Krupowki Street & Gubalowka Hill
Location: Zakopane, Poland
Accommodations: Nosalowy Park Hotel & Spa
After a hearty breakfast, we embark on a unique experience in one of the highlander villages in the Podhale region, learning the secrets of preparing the regional favorite, moskole: potato pancakes with meat and mushrooms. In the afternoon, we take a tour of the beautiful mountain town of Zakopane. Taking a leisurely stroll along the famous Krupowki Street, we admire the surrounding views of the Tatra Mountains and other mountain ranges. We then take a funicular or chair ski lift up Gubalowka Mountain* to get the best panoramic view of Zakopane. To round off the day, we recommend dinner on your own at Restaurant Sabala on Zakopane’s main street, where you can savor delicious regional Polish food, drink and music while watching the world go by from the cozy terrace.

Important note: 

*Funicular or chair lift to Gubalowka Mountain is subject to confirmation once in Zakopane and depends on the weather and technical condition of the equipment. 

Bacowka - Smoked Sheet Cheese Hut in Zakopane


Day 3: Dunajec River Rafting & St. Michael Archangel's Wooden Church
Location: Zakopane, Poland
Accommodations: Nosalowy Park Hotel & Spa
This morning, we're off to the picturesque Sromowce-Wyzne village, to embark on an unforgettable rafting journey through the stunning Dunajec River Gorge. (If the weather doesn't cooperate, we'll instead explore the nearby Tatra Mountains Museum and other amazing attractions in the Zakopane area.) Our rafting trip is a top attraction of this region, and has been led by 'gorale' - the highlanders - since the 19th century. After rafting and lunch, we'll visit the spectacular timber church in Debno Podhalanskie village, where we can admire stunning paintings, sculptures and other carvings from the 15th and 16th centuries. This remarkable church is listed on UNESCO's World Heritage sites! In the afternoon, you'll have some free time to explore Zakopane, shop for local handicrafts, pamper yourself with spa treatments at our hotel, or take a leisurely stroll down Krupowki street. For dinner, we recommend the Mala Szwajcaria restaurant in Zakopane - a favourite among locals and tourists, for its delicious Polish and European dishes.

Dunajec River rafting in Poland



Day 4: Bukowina Cultural Centre & Legendary Chocholow Woodcraver 
Location: Zakopane, Poland
Accommodations: Nosalowy Park Hotel & Spa
Today we take a journey to the charming highland town of Bukowina Tatrzanska! We will be attending a glass painting class at the local Culture Center & School of Dying Trades. After class, we enjoy a delicious lunch at Schronisko Bukowina Restaurant and shop for some local specialties at their store. On our way back to Zakopane, we will be making short stops at wooden churches, manor houses, grocery stores, and the villages of Chocholow and Witow, both on the Lesser Poland Timber Architecture Route. In Chocholow, we will have the chance to visit the art studio of Jan Zieder, a local wood carver and artist. Here you can purchase one of his unique, hand-made carvings! To finish off our fourth day in gorgeous Lesser Poland, we'll dine at Gazdowka u Zajaca restaurant in Dolina Chocholowska, where we will enjoy regional specialties and folk entertainment!

Young highlanders playing regional tunes

Day 5: Oscypek Cheese & A Tour of Krakow Poland
Location: Krakow, Poland
Accommodations: Wawel Queen Hotel  
After a hearty breakfast, we set off to explore Krakow, the capital of Lesser Poland. On the way, we make a stop at Bacowka, a small mountain hut, where the locals make the famous smoked sheep cheese “oscypek” in a traditional way. Once we reach Krakow, we take a guided tour of the historic city. Being one of the few Polish cities that survived World War II, Krakow is full of preserved medieval architecture. On the tour, we visit the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the largest medieval town square in Europe, Market Square. We also visit the magnificent 14th-century Wawel Castle and Cathedral. For dinner on your own, we recommend the Biala Roza restaurant, which specializes in traditional Krakow cuisine. The restaurant is run by Chef Lukasz Cichy, who creates modern arrangements of flavors of the past using top quality regional products.

Regional foods in Zakopane, Poland


Day 6: Stary Klepar, Cooking Class & Wieliczka Salt Mines
Location: Krakow, Poland
Accommodations: Wawel Queen Hotel  
After a delicious breakfast, we'll make a stop at the centuries-old Krakow tradition, Stary Kleparz fresh food market! Here, locals and visitors shop for the freshest Polish food products, including breads, cheeses, meats, fruits, and vegetables! Once we arrive at our cooking class location, a local Krakow chef will teach us how to make a tasty three-course Polish meal. Then, we'll take a tour of the famous Wieliczka Salt Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage site full of galleries, lakes, chapels, and murals - all carved from salt! After our tour, you'll have free time to explore the sights and shops of Krakow on your own. We recommend Cepelia store, which has quality Polish folk handicrafts. Finally, we'll have a Farewell Dinner at Wesele restaurant, which serves old Polish and Krakow delicacies and specialties located in the heart of Krakow's Market Square.

Wawel Hill in Krakow, Poland


Day 7: Departure or Extend Your Stay
Location: Krakow, Poland
We bid you farewell as you depart for home after a hearty breakfast. If you're looking to make your holiday even more special, why not consider extending your stay in the beautiful city of Krakow? You may find that an extra night here will make your vacation even more relaxing and enjoyable.

Tour itinerary may be subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances, such as inclement weather, health and safety considerations, travel restrictions, changes in the availability of attractions, or other logistical concerns.

What's Included
Six Nights Accommodations: Double-occupancy, with en suite bathroom

  • Four nights Nosalowy Park Hotel & Spa in Zakopane
  • Two nights Wawel Queen Hotel in Krakow

Transportation:

  • Arrival transfer from Krakow hotel at 10:00 a.m. to Nosalowy Park Hotel & Spa in Zakopane
  • Transportation where specified

Meals:

  • Daily breakfast & lunch
  • Dinner as outlined on itinerary
  • Local beer, house wine, tea, and coffee with all included meals (Cocktail drinks and drinks consumed outside of mealtime are not included)

Activities:

  • Rafting through the Dunajec River Gorge
  • Glass painting class at the School of Dying Trades in Bukowina Tatrzanska
  • Two hands-on and/or demonstration-style Polish cooking lesson
  • Complimentary white cooking apron with Poland Culinary Vacations logo
  • Excursions to cultural sites, all entrance fees and food artisan visits

Other Services:

  • English speaking guides
  • All luggage transfers
  • Taxes and service charges

What's Not Included

  • Airfare or other non-specified transportation to/from trip starting/ending point
  • Meals and alcoholic beverages not specified in the itinerary
  • Personal expenses such as laundry or telephone calls
  • Passport or visa fees
  • End of vacation gratuities for guides (not required, but greatly appreciated)
  • Insurance of any kind

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join us for A TOUR OF SOUTHERN POLAND AND THE KRAKOW PIEROGI FESTIVAL!

Our August 2024 Culinary Vacation is scheduled around the annual Pierogi Festival being held in Krakow, Poland. Join us for pierogi tasting, local beer, live entertainment and more.

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