Krakow: Short Vistula River Cruise and Guided Tour in Former Jewish Ghetto
Kraków
Experience a short Vistula River cruise and a guided tour of the former Jewish ghetto in Krakow. See the city's landmarks from the deck of a modern catamaran and learn about the history of the ghetto from a knowledgeable guide.
Duration:
1 hour, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
learn more
Highlights
-
Vistula River - Sailing on a catamaran on the Vistula River on a small one way cruise, you will get to know Krakow’s monuments, visible from the side of the river.
Admire all the most important places in Krakow from the Vistula River. See Krakow from a new perspective as you follow the flow of the queen of Polish rivers. - Kosciuszko’s Mound (Kopiec Kosciuszki) - The Kościuszko Mound in Krakow, one of the five mounds located in Krakow, was erected in honor of Tadeusz Kościuszko - a great patriot and leader of the national uprising.
- Monastery of the Norbertan Sisters - Fortified like a castle, this mighty monastery, founded in the 12th century, was destroyed and rebuilt several times. The most important Krakow traditions are also associated with it: here, on Monday after Easter, the annual Emmaus festival is celebrated. Hence, the Lajkonik procession - the most important symbol of Krakow - sets off every June.
- Wawel Royal Castle - The limestone hill rising above the Vistula River is the former center of power, the legendary (associated with the mythical founder of Krakow and his descendants) and historical: princely, episcopal and royal. Wawel is a complex of castle and sacred buildings - a symbol of the city, but most of all a museum presenting the most valuable monuments of Polish material culture. Take a good look and you will also notice the silhouette of the famous Wawel dragon breathing fire towards onlookers.
- Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology - The original, modern form of the building housing the museum of art and technology is perfectly seen from the river level. The wavy line of its roof is to refer directly to the waves of the Vistula River.
- Church on the Rock (Kosciol na Skalce) - The baroque church of Saint Michael the Archangel and Saint Stanislaus on Skałka rises above the boulevards, right on the Vistula River, on a small hill made of white Jurassic limestones. The basilica is also a national pantheon (many distinguished painters, musicians and poets are buried here) and a library with priceless documents, books and incunabula.
- Ghetto Wall Fragment - See a small fragment of the original wall around the former ghetto, preserved to our times, with a plaque commemorating the fate of the inhabitants
-
The Ghetto Heroes Square - Situated in the Podgórze district, which in 1941 was turned into the Krakow Ghetto, the former Plac Zgody [Concord Square] was designated ‘Umschlagplatz’ under the Nazi occupation, the place where the Jews had to congregate to be deported.
Right next to the square there are symbolic places of those times - the Eagle Pharmacy (acting as an asylum, providing shelter during deportations, delivering messages or parcels in and outside the ghetto) and the Enamel Factory (employing Jewish residents of Krakow).
What's Included
- Scenic one-way catamaran cruise on the Vistula River with audio guide
- In-depth exploration of the former Ghetto with a live guide
What's Not Included
- Hotel pick up and drop-off
Additional Information
Take a scenic river cruise on a contemporary catamaran to view the impressive city from the Vistula River. As you glide past notable landmarks like Wawel, various churches, and other sites of interest, a state-of-the-art audio system informs you about their history. Enjoy attractive sceneries from the open deck on good weather days while in colder conditions, the heated deck and plush leather sofas keep you cosy.
Once the cruise concludes, your tour guide will lead you on a walk through the streets of Podgórze, erstwhile Jewish ghetto during the war period which still showcases remnants of those horrific times. Visit an unblemished segment of the ghetto wall, houses that were a refuge to thousands of displaced Jews, the historical ‘Pod Orłem’ pharmacy, and the poignant monument consisting of numerous chairs at the Ghetto Heroes Square.
- Note that part of the tour is walking and operated by a live guide. The rest of the tour includes an audio guide.
- Please note that this is a group tour (other people will participate) that starts at the specified time (please be on time at the meeting point).
- The tour ends at a location other than the starting point (return boat trip and other transport are not included).
Location
Bulwar Inflancki 3
Bulwar Inflancki
Let's meet at the Inflancki Boulevard at the bank of Vistula river, next to the water tram stop called "Paulinska” (in Polish: Przystanek tramwajowy „Paulińska").
Look for the person with a "Cracow Boat" sign, wait please for the boat with the name "Cracowboat".
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
More activities from this operator
