Things to do in

Wadowice

Explore Krakow from the Vistula River — the Queen of Polish Rivers — on a sightseeing cruise. Sail past landmarks such as Kościuszko Mound, Wawel Castle, Church on the Rock, and the Monastery of the Norbertan Sisters while hearing about the city's legends from your guide. The heated deck and comfortable leather sofas of the modern boat will make you feel at home even on cold days. On warmer days, you're invited to the observation deck to enjoy the beautiful views while spending time outdoors. Listen to the history of Krakow from the boat's modern overhead sound system in Polish and English. Take in all the major the sights of the city, such as Skałka Church, Royal Wawel Castle, the former House of Pope John Paul II, Norbertine Monastery, Kościuszko Mound, Cricoteka, and The 6 Bridges.

Start your tour with pick-up from your hotel, hostel or apartment. After a 40-minute drive, arrive at the main square of Wadowice. Before you visit the Museum of John Paul II, see the front of the parish church of Karol Wojtyla, where little Karol was baptized, and the high school he attended. Visit the museum for around 90 minutes, before a coffee break to taste the famous papal cream cakes known as kremowka. On your arrival to Lagiewniki, begin your sightseeing of the Divine Mercy Sanctuary and JP2 complex, together with the chapel of miraculous painting of Merciful Jesus. Throughout your visit, rely on guidance and assistance by one of the nuns who serves in the Divine Mercy Monastery. Before heading back to Krakow, have lunch in one of the local restaurants.

Pope John Paul II, one of the most significant men in Poland’s history, was born in the small, charming town of Wadowice. Enjoy a 5-hour trip to this modest place where he spent his childhood. This is a trip worth taking not only for those who loved John Paul II, but for anyone who would like to know more about the background of Karol Wojtyla. You’ll discover the story of an average, shy boy who became the head of the Vatican and led Catholics worldwide. During the tour, conducted by a professional guide, you’ll see the church where he was baptized, his family house, and a museum devoted to his life. You’ll also see many other places important both in his life and in the history of Poland during the difficult years of the Communist regime.

This 9-hour tour will start with a pick-up from your hotel, hostel or apartment. After a 40 minute drive, you will arrive at the main square of Wadowice. Before you visit the Museum of John Paul II, you will see the front of the parish church of Karol Wojtyla, where little Karol was baptized and the high school he attended. A visit to the museum will take around 90 minutes after which you will have a coffee break and taste the famous papal cream cakes known as kremowka. On your arrival to Czestochowa, you will begin your sightseeing of the Jasna Gora complex together with the chapel of miraculous painting of Black Madonna. Throughout your visit, you will be guided and assisted by one of the Pauline monks who serve in the Jasna Gora Monastery. Before heading back to Krakow, have lunch in one of a local restaurants.

Follow the footsteps of Pope John Paul II and visit the nearest places to his heart in Krakow and its surroundings. The excursion contains three main points: • The Family House of Karol Wojtyła in Wadowice Visit the first home of future Pope, the place where everything began. See where he was born and spent his childhood on a audio-guided tour with a professional guide. Explore the museum, which is about 1,200 square meters on four floors and see sights such as animations, multimedia shows, and authentic things belonging to Karol Wojtyla and his family. After visiting the museum, spend some free time on the Market Square in Wadowice. Try tasting the fondant - the Pope's favorite sweet snack in his favorite confectionery. • Sanctuary in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, basilica, and monastery on the John Paul II trail. See the now UNESCO World Heritage sight which was particularly close to the heart of John Paul II, combining the cult of Jesus Christ Suffering and Our Lady.  • Sanctuary of the Divine Mercy in Łagiewniki, Kraków Visit the sacred complex associated with the life and activity of the Sister Faustyna Kowalska. A place of pilgrimage connected with the presence of the image of Merciful Jesus and the grave of Sister Faustyna Kowalska.  

To make the most of your day, the recommended pick-up time is around 9:00 am. Spend around 2 hours in Wadowice, 1 hour in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska and 1 hour in the Divine Mercy Sanctuary and John Paul II center in Krakow - Lagiewniki. Finally you will be dropped off at your hotel or apartment in central Krakow. The first stop of your tour is in Wadowice Town of John Paul II, situated in southern Poland, where John Paul II was born. Explore the John Paul II museum, established in the Pope's family home, with an interactive exhibition about his life from a toddler, through his studies, the Second World War, his period as a priest and the attempt against his life. On the journey back to Krakow, stop at Kalwaria Zebrzydowska Sancturay, the second most frequently visited pilgrimage sanctuary in Poland, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Over a million visitors come to this holy place every year. Travel to the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy and John Paul II center in Łagiewniki. Pay tribute to the relics of the Pope and St. Faustyna Kowalska, who was canonized by John Paul II and admire the impressive basilica consecrated by the Pope in 2002.

Get picked up in the morning and head to Wadowice, the city where John Paul II was born and raised. Visit the location where, in the place of his former residence, a museum was opened in his memory. His timeless message has been delivered to people around the world and exhibits his incredible wisdom and understanding of contemporary problems, which makes this place a popular destination for many Catholics. Of course, also while in Wadowice, don't miss the famous papal fondant. The next stop is Kalwaria Zebrzydowska Sanctuary and Park, which can be found on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites. It is regarded as the Polish Calvary Hill. The final stop is in Krakow at Divine Mercy Sanctuary, a location near and dear to the Pope’s heart, as the remains of Saint Faustina Kowalska rest there. After the tour, get dropped off at your hotel in Krakow in the afternoon.

Discover the life of Karol Wojtyła, the future Pope John Paul II, who was born in the small city of Wadowice. Begin your tour at his family home in Wadowice where you'll explore exhibits of the future Pope's early life. Then see the Basilica of the Offering of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the ornate church where Karol Wojtyła was baptized and confirmed. Next explore Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, a pilgrimage town founded in 1601 best-known for the Bernardine (Grey Friar) Monastery and its complex of 42 chapels and churches. This amazing place was added to the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List in 1999. Admire the 17th-century Baroque church famous for its miraculous painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Kalwaria (Calvary). Then continue on to the Łagiewniki district of Krakow where you will find the Shrine of The Divine Mercy. Every year millions of pilgrims from all over the world seeking graces. See the vast sanctuary, the Congregation of the Sisters of God's Mother of Mercy, the main church, and an array of chapels. You will also see the statue of Our Lady of Mercy, statues of St. Stanisław Kostka and St. Mary Magdalene, a picture of St. Joseph with the Child, and a coffin with relics of St. Sister Faustina. You can enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the viewing tower.

Wadowice is a small city situated 50 kilometers from Krakow. Here Karol Wojtyła, the future Pope John Paul II was born. The tour includes a visit to the Family Home of John Paul II, now a museum which provides exhibits of the future Pope's domestic life. The next place you will visit is the Basilica of the Offering of the Blessed Virgin Mary- an ornate Church where Karol Wojtyła was baptized and confirmed.  Finally head to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, a pilgrimage town founded in 1601 and best known for the Bernardine (Grey Friar) Monastery and its complex of 42 Chapels and Churches. Oficially called the Cultural & Landscape Complex of Monastery and Pilgrimage Park of the Bernardine Fathers, this amazing place was added to the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List in 1999. Be sure to visit the 17th century Baroque Church famous for its miraculous painting of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Kalwaria (Polish for Calvary).

Your tour begins with a visit to Łagiewniki, which is connected with the cult of the Divine Mercy, the grave of St. Faustina Kowalska and St. John Paul II. Here you can find the Divine Mercy Sanctuary and the “Have No Fear!” John Paul II Center, a center in Kraków dedicated to the life and work of Pope John Paul II, which also houses his relic, a glass capsule of his blood. On the way to Wadowice, "the place where it all began", you will visit the Sanctuary in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, included on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999. In Wadowice, the pope's hometown, you will see the places dearest to Karol Wojtyła during his childhood and adolescence, including the parish church where he was baptized and the house where he was born, which is now a museum. Finally, visit the Archbishop's Palace which was Wojtyła's last residence before leaving for the Vatican in 1978. There one can see the famous "papal window", where John Paul II used to show up to chat and chant with the youth of Kraków during all his visits and where thousands of people lit candles and prayed during his last days.