Nowa Huta Tour: A Glimpse into Krakow's Communist History

Step back into Krakow’s communist past on the Nowa Huta Tour. Explore the model communist city, visit the Central Square, see the Lenin monument spot, and experience a taste of the era with a shot of vodka. Discover the symbol of freedom and democracy at the Lord’s Ark church.

Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Podziemna Nowa Huta - Muzeum Krakowa - A small museum of the Nowa Huta district located close to Central Square - an ideal example of communist architecture.
  • Nowa Huta - Central Square of the Nowa Huta district - an open-air museum of the communist architecture.
  • Nowa Huta Cultural Centre - Great place to promote culture in the Nowa Huta…
What's Included
  • Local friendly English-speaking guide
  • Vodka tasting at a communist-themed restaurant
  • Option for a private tour with hotel pickup
  • Entrance ticket to the Communist Museum (Note: closed on Mondays)
  • Traditional local snack, zapiekanka, included
  • Transportation via tram to the communist district and return
What's Not Included
  • Additional Food and Drinks
  • Gratuity
  • Small group tour option excluded hotel pick up
Additional Information

On this trip, you will step into the rich communist heritage of the Nowa Huta neighborhood in Krakow. The Soviets projected it as an ideal communist city, but it grew into a staunchly anti-communist region and played a crucial role in the Solidarity movement.
Our journey will take us to the vast Central Square (Plac Centralny), the signature feature of…

Location
Długa 1
Długa
Your Krakow Urban Tours guide will wait for you at the 1 Dluga Street (ulica Długa) at the corner of Dluga and Basztowa, by the entrance of the bookshop ‘Pod Globusem’.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(13 Ratings)
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467beckya
Nov 2, 2024
Excellent private tour of Nowa Huta with Matteusz - Excellent tour of Nowa Huta with a wonderful guide, Mateusz (Matthew). Nowa Huta was designed as a planned worker's community during the Soviet period in Poland and was interesting from an urban planning, social, religious, and political perspective. Mateusz was an excellent guide - articulate, thoughtful, and well prepared. Highly recommend this tour if you are interested in getting beyond the more distant history of Krakow and gain insight into life between World War Two and the liberation of Poland in 1989. You also get to see a vibrant neighborhood mostly devoid of tourists.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Paradise758271
Oct 17, 2024
Great experience with Anna - We were lucky enough to get Anna Strycharska-Kuhny as our guide, who knew communist times and was a student in Krakow in the eighties. Touring Nowa Huta with her was a real life and nuanced experience of the communist era, the Solidarnosc period and modern Krakow.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
U4439zxsteven
Sep 28, 2024
Great way to spend a morning - A terrific, very informative, overview of the communist city. Good use of maps and photographs to add perspective. Our guide Monica was excellent.
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I3588sjhelmutb
Sep 21, 2024
Ideal and reality - The information about the idea of the ideal communist city, which we were allowed to receive from our long-suffering tour guide on this tour, was only topped by an excursion into the reality of socialist life in the form of a visit to a restaurant. After a few vodka, fraternization of nations took place. Rarely spent such an amusing afternoon! We’ll be back!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Russellds5117cm
Sep 15, 2024
Nowa Huta tour - Sept. 14, 2024 - Even though it was downpouring during the tour, the guide was a lovely person and did a good job. If you’re interested in the communist history of Poland, you will not be disappointed.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ian_h
Aug 25, 2024
Perfect tour for people interested in the history of the Eastern Bloc - This tour exceeded my expectations. My tour guide, Anna, lived through Poland's communist times and as such, was the perfect person to guide me through Nowa Huta. On the bus ride over to Nowa Huta and in the old bomb shelter in the basement of the Nowa Huta museum, I felt like I was a in time capsule listening to her stories of being a student and a protester during the USSR's dominion over Poland. Poland's history between 1945 and 1989 is long and complex and this Nowa Huta tour is a great way to learn about it. You are in luck if you get Anna as your tour guide. -Ian, USA
Review provided by Viator
V4936vpmelissam
Jul 25, 2024
Great insight into Soviet utopia - Mateus was very knowledgeable and pleasant. It was a very good tour! He was great at sharing his experiences and those of his family. We got great insight into the Polish experience over the last couple decades as well as historical information. He also has good suggestions for restaurants!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Excursion626384
Jul 24, 2024
Not your typical tour of Krakow - We really enjoyed our tour of Nowa Huta with Mateus. It is not the typical tour of historic Krakow but gives a lot of insight into Poland after WWII. Mateus is very knowledgeable and informative and we appreciated his stories of life during Communist rule. Highly recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Emvvisitor
Nov 12, 2023
Highlight of our trip to Krakow - A highlight of our week in Krakow. Highly recommend Mateusz's remarkable tour of Nowa Huta. It's the best way to learn the history, culture and stories of this fascinating place. Mateusz is funny and fascinating. He explained all the ways that communism and post-1989 politics have shaped generations. Plus, it's a beautiful city to explore.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hampa78
Oct 18, 2023
Fabulous guide, fantastic tour!! - Mateusz was our absolutely phenomenal guide on the Krakow Urban Tours Nowa Huta tour. I have visited Krakow seven times, and because of Mateusz expertise, passion, and talent, this unequivocally is the best tour I have taken on all of my visits. Mateusz held us spellbound as he described the myths and history of this fascinating part of Krakow, constructed by the Soviets after WWII as a “utopian city” 6 miles from old town in order to support the huge steel factory and its 40,000 workers plus their families. With Mateusz leading the way, we learned that Nowa Huta reveals the entire scope of the history of the Cold War behind the Iron Curtain. Our tour was supposed to last four hours, but because of all our questions and discussions, we kept Mateusz for almost five. Few Americans visit this weird, wonderful part of Krakow and they are missing a fabulous part of its history.
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up to 12 guests
1 Adult
December 2024
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