Lonely Planet Experiences Private Krakow Tour: Nowa Huta - Ideal Communist City
Krakow, Poland
From USD 143.10
Office phone number: +48 665 015 665
Lonely Planet Experiences Private Krakow Tour: Nowa Huta - Ideal Communist City
Krakow, Poland
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Being in the Nowa Huta district of Krakow is like travelling back in time — all the way back to the communist era. The places you’ll visit on this unique private tour are exactly as they were during the communist regime, in this neighbourhood built as a model communist city. See the socialist realist architecture, listen to the personal stories of the local people, and visit spots where the long fight for democracy took place.
This tour is priced for a minimum group size of two travellers. A solo traveller may still book this private experience but will be charged the base rate for two travellers.
Experience the best travel stories for yourself. Join a local expert and uncover hidden gems on this city adventure hand-picked by the world's leading travel publisher. Lonely Planet Experiences powered by Urban Adventures bring stories to life in the best-loved cities around the globe.
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Highlights
- Visit Central Square (Plac Centralny) and find out what the communist architecture was all about
- Stand where Poland’s biggest Lenin monument used to be and take photos of a tank left over from the war
- See the huge Lord’s Ark church, made by the citizens by hand as a sign of the resistance against communism
- Have an abundant lunch and drink vodka in a communist bar, like a true local!
- Shop for typical snacks in a small local market that looks exactly like it did 50 years ago
- Each Lonely Planet Experience comes with six-months free access to Lonely Planet’s Guides App which includes over 8,000 destinations guides and unbeatable discounts to Lonely Planet Guidebooks
Local Impact: How you will help the local community by joining this tour:
- The admission fee to the local Museum of the Nowa Huta helps to support the conservation of local heritage and culture.
- We have a vodka and snack stop in local restaurant that's off the main tourist path, ensuring local vendors who are producing the local's favourite dishes also benefit from tourism to their city.
- Support local vendors at a local market by sampling a traditional zapiekanka treat.
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Schedule details
- Duration: 4 hours
- Pickup location:
Pick-up at centrally located hotels in Krakow
- Pickup time: 9.30 AM
- Drop off location:
Drop-off at centrally located hotels in Krakow
Language: English, Spanish, French
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, local transport by tram, entrance to the local museum and full lunch with drinks.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and items of a personal nature, and tips/gratuities for your guide.
Take a big step back into the past on this off-the-beaten-track tour of Krakow’s Nowa Huta district. This is definitely not your typical neighbourhood — Nowa Huta is a time capsule of the communist ideal. The easternmost district of Krakow was designed by the soviets as a model communist city, but later became an anti-communist hub and an important part of the solidarity movement.
The journey starts with a ride on local transportation from your hotel into the heart of the former communist city. Our first stop will be the enormous Central Square (Plac Centralny), the calling card of the district and the area’s most notable landmark. Centrally planned right after WWII, today the square and its surrounding areas are like a museum of the many architectural styles and ideas from the past. We’ll see the spot where a huge monument of Lenin used to stand, and then you’ll visit a local bar for a shot of vodka, just as you might have done back in the communist era.
Next, you’ll get the chance to take some photos of a real Russian tank left in Nowa Huta after the war, and to learn about the huge protection system invented by the communist architects. Later, we’ll explore a small market where the locals spend their time socialising, buying basic groceries, or selling second-hand clothes and homemade sweets. This is a great place to rest, and maybe test out your Polish language skills among the locals.
Along the way, we’ll have an abundant, Polish lunch in a local bar, and we’ll also spend some time visiting a huge church known as the Lord’s Ark, which became a symbol of the long fight for freedom and democracy. The church was built by residents completely by hand. By the end of the tour you’ll have a better sense of the communist history in Poland, and will have experienced one of the most unique districts in the city.
Note: This tour is priced for a minimum group size of two travellers. A solo traveller may still book this private experience but will be charged the base rate for two travellers.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, local transport by tram, entrance to the local museum and full lunch with drinks.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and items of a personal nature, and tips/gratuities for your guide.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at your hotel for pick up. Please check your hotel details are correct on the voucher. If your details are not correct, it is very important to please email us to confirm your correct pick up hotel using the contact details on the voucher. If you prefer you may also phone the change through to us during business hours.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +48 665 015 665
Email address: info@krakowurbanadventures.com
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