The Experience

Stepped in history as well as looking towards the future, Polish cities compete for travellers’ attention and ‘best city break destination’ title. This tour combines three of the most popular ones, combining the charm of Gothic pearls, mid-century vibes and seaside attractions.

Holidaymakers start in Krakow, the former capital of Poland, which boasts a myriad of landmarks including a Renaissance-era trading outpost of the Cloth Hall and a 14th-century Gothic church, as well as a Jewish quarter which is now a hub of hip cafes and bars. Then, it is time to head to Warsaw, a city that got back to life from its challenging past and is now a thriving capital full of seasonal events, while visit in Gdansk, adorned with townhouses and amber stalls, marks the end of the adventure.

The Hotels

• Hotel Petrus and Aparthotel Pergamin in Krakow
• Hotel Reytan and Hotel Metropol in Warsaw
• Amber Hotel and Hotel Number One in Gdańsk

The Itinerary

• Flight to Krakow
• 2 or 3 nights in Krakow
• Train from Krakow to Warsaw
• 2 or 3 nights in Warsaw
• Train from Warsaw to Gdansk
• 2 or 3 nights in Gdansk
• Flight back home from Gdansk

Groupon’s Guide to Krakow

The storied city of Krakow turned into a cosmopolitan centre over the centuries, inviting tourists to traditional charm market squares, riverside castles and museums alongside a wide range of bars and clubs.

The cultural capital of Poland provides art admirers with plenty of galleries to visit, from the Bunkier Sztuki to the Starmach and the Pauza galleries, all featuring innovative works from breaking Polish painters, sculptors and graphic designers. Classical music lovers will enjoy the wide range of concerts and spectacles available at the Krakow Philharmonic and the Krakow Opera, while seekers of other cultural opportunities will be delighted by annual standouts like the Street Theatre Festival, the Jewish Culture Festival and the Krakow Film Festival. Refined pastimes come complemented by numerous bars, pubs, cafes and riverboat dining occasions. The city has an oceanic climate. The average temperature in the summertime is 20°C, but it often exceeds 25°C, making this period of the year the most enjoyable for visitors. The Polish ‘golden autumns’ bring soothing weather and temperatures in the mid-teens in September and October, with significant drops in November. Although winters are cold, with average temperatures between -2°C and 0°C, travellers may enjoy a wide range of winter activities.

Groupon’s Guide to Warsaw

From exhibitions and outdoor shows to architectural wonders and world-renowned landmarks, from science centres to cool pubs and social clubs, Warsaw is an ideal location for an Eastern European city break.

The Polish capital beckons travellers with UNESCO World Heritage sites such as the Old Town historic centre scattered with colourful burgher houses and churches, chief among which is the Gothic St. John the Baptist’s Cathedral. Medieval landmarks are ideally balanced by contemporary attractions, such as the Multimedia Fountain Park, housing music festivals and themed shows. Day trips and exploration continue with exciting nightlife partying, courtesy of the many clubs, cafes, and restaurants. Warsaw has a humid continental climate, where the summers are warm and the winters are cold. Amid temperatures of 20°C, the rain sometimes sneaks during summer months as well. Autumn features a ruddy setting and a sky coloured in grey tones. With temperatures below freezing, winter gives visitors a chilly feel, with only one hour of sunshine per day. The weather is getting warmer and warmer every day in spring as the snow starts to melt and it is gently replaced by rainfalls.

Groupon’s Guide to Gdansk

Gdansk, one of the major Baltic Sea port towns across centuries, is a city that all history buffs and maritime stories’ junkies can easily fall in love with. Visitors should take their time to soak in the atmosphere of the lively Długa street, marked with stately gates and lined with lavishly decorated Mannerist and Baroque townhouses, to marvel at the ribbed vault of the lofty Gothic St Mary’s church and to hunt for the prettiest amber necklace and tastiest herring dish along the scenic Długie Pobrzeże - the Motława River embankment, that takes the traveller back in time to the 17th century. Those with a penchant for modern history and contemporary architecture, shouldn’t miss the two newly built interactive museums, dedicated to the Second World War memories, and to the Solidarity movement and the fall of the Iron Curtain respectively. When the summer temperatures rise into the upper 20s, it only takes a tram or a metropolitan train ride to dip the feet in the golden sands at one of the vast beaches that link Gdansk and Sopot.