Happy New 2025 Year! Are you looking forward to an exciting year of wonderful cooking and sightseeing in Poland this spring,  summer or fall?

For those of you busy planning your 2025 vacations to Europe, we especially recommend our May 2025 exciting and “delicious” cooking and sightseeing tour in southern Poland. The May tour is the best value in 2025 Poland tours, offering not only great sightseeing but also, off-the-beaten- path, hands-on and demonstration-style cooking classes in Polish villages and cities all at affordable rates.

UNESCO Krakow Market Square in Poland

Krakow Market Square at night, Poland

When you book May 18 – 24, 2025, “Culinary Adventure From Krakow to Zakopane” in Malopolska – Lesser Poland region small group tour, you’ll be joining us there at springtime, one of the most beautiful seasons to experience in Poland!

What awaits you on the 7 days/ 6 nights Krakow and Zakopane tour in southern Poland? Vibrant culture, spectacular Tatra mountains views, highlander traditions and delicious Polish and regional foods. Let’s take a look at the day by day program.

Touring Kazimierz Jewish district in Krakow, Poland

Culinary Adventure From Krakow to Zakopane – Day by Day.

Day One – Sunday

After meeting our guests at the designated hotel in Krakow in the morning and before heading out south to Zakopane we visit the Jewish district of Krakow called Kazimierz. Post Kazimierz tour, we join our driver on the mini bus to begin two hour drive to Podhale region and Zakopane. Zakopane is a beautiful mountain town south of Poland famous for the highlander culture and cuisine. On the way to Zakopane, we make a stop for a delicious home-made lunch in the village of Dolina Chocholowska where we get to sample the famous oscypek cheese and highlander tea (which includes vodka!). Our guests overnight at Hotel Nosalowy Park & Spa, a spectacular five-star hotel which was once a small palace and now includes a luxurious spa with swimming pool.  After settling into our hotel, we all gather in the evening for a festive Welcome Dinner at Marilor Restaurant and dine on local specialties.

Day Two – Monday

After a hearty breakfast, we embark on a unique experience in one of the highlander villages in the Podhale region, learning the secrets of preparing the regional favorite, moskole: potato pancakes with meat and mushrooms. In the afternoon, we take a tour of the beautiful mountain town of Zakopane. Taking a leisurely stroll along the famous Krupowki Street, we admire the surrounding views of the Tatra Mountains and other mountain ranges. We then take a funicular or a chair ski lift up Gubalowka Mountain to get the best panoramic view of Zakopane. To round off the day, we recommend dinner on your own at Restaurant Sabala on Zakopane’s main street, where you can savor delicious regional Polish food, drink and music while watching the world go by from the cozy terrace.

Rafting Dunajec River gorge in Pieninski National Park in Poland

Day Three – Tuesday

This morning, we’re off to the picturesque Sromowce-Wyzne village, to embark on an unforgettable rafting journey through the stunning Dunajec River Gorge. (If the weather doesn’t cooperate, we’ll instead explore the nearby Tatra Mountains Museum and other amazing attractions in the Zakopane area.) Our rafting trip is a top attraction of this region, and has been led by ‘gorale’ – the highlanders – since the 19th century. After rafting and lunch, we’ll visit the spectacular timber church in Debno Podhalanskie village, where we can admire stunning paintings, sculptures and other carvings from the 15th and 16th centuries. This remarkable church is listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage sites! In the afternoon, you’ll have some free time to explore Zakopane, shop for local handicrafts, pamper yourself with spa treatments at our hotel, or take a leisurely stroll down Krupowki street. For dinner, we recommend the Mala Szwajcaria restaurant in Zakopane – a favorite among locals and tourists, for its delicious Polish and European dishes.

Day Four – Wednesday

Today we take a journey to the charming highland town of Bukowina Tatrzanska! We will be attending a glass painting class at the local Culture Center & School of Dying Trades. After class, we enjoy a delicious lunch at Schronisko Bukowina Restaurant and shop for some local specialties at their store. On our way back to Zakopane, we will be making short stops at wooden churches, manor houses, grocery stores, and the villages of Chocholow and Witow, both on the UNESCO Lesser Poland Timber Architecture Route. In Chocholow, we will have the chance to visit the art studio of Jan Zieder, a local wood carver and artist. Here you can purchase one of his unique, hand-made carvings! To finish off our fourth day in gorgeous Lesser Poland, we’ll dine at Karczma Przy Mlynie restaurant in Zakopane, where we’ll enjoy regional specialties with live folk entertainment!

Oscypek – smoked sheep cheese from Podhale region of Poland

Day Five – Thursday

After a hearty breakfast, we set off to explore Krakow, the capital of Lesser Poland. On the way, we make a stop at Bacowka, a small mountain hut, where the locals make the famous smoked sheep cheese “oscypek” in a traditional way. Once we reach Krakow, we take a guided tour of the historic city. Being one of the few Polish cities that survived World War II, Krakow is full of preserved medieval architecture. On the tour, we visit the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the largest medieval town square in Europe, Market Square. We also visit the magnificent 14th-century Wawel Castle and Cathedral. For dinner on your own, we recommend the Biala Roza restaurant, which specializes in traditional Krakow cuisine. The restaurant is run by Chef Lukasz Cichy, who creates modern arrangements of flavors of the past using top quality regional products.

UNESCO Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland

Day Six – Friday

After a delicious breakfast, we’ll make a stop at the centuries-old Krakow tradition, Stary Kleparz fresh food market! Here, locals and visitors shop for the freshest Polish food products, including breads, cheeses, meats, fruits, and vegetables! Once we arrive at our cooking class location, a local Krakow chef will teach us how to make a tasty three-course Polish meal. Then, we’ll take a tour of the famous Wieliczka Salt Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage site full of galleries, lakes, chapels, and murals – all carved from salt! After our tour, you’ll have free time to explore the sights and shops of Krakow on your own. We recommend Cepelia store, which has quality Polish folk handicrafts. Finally, we’ll have a Farewell Dinner at Wesele restaurant, which serves old Polish and Krakow delicacies and specialties located in the heart of Krakow’s Market Square.

Stary Kleparz historic fresh food market in Krakow, Poland

Day Seven – Saturday

We bid you farewell as you depart for home after a hearty breakfast. If you’re looking to make your holiday even more special, why not consider extending your stay in the beautiful city of Krakow? You may find that an extra night here will make your vacation even more relaxing and enjoyable.

Visit photo albums on Flickr to view hundreds of photos from past Krakow and Zakopane tours in southern Poland. Click here to view photo albums from past tours.

Malgorzata (Sarna) Rose, is a native of Poland. Poland Culinary Vacations grew out of her love and passion for travel and everything Polish, including fine Polish cuisine, eventually blossoming into a first-class culinary travel company. While growing up in Poland, she experienced the great joy of cooking with family and friends. Using her grandmothers' recipes and fresh ingredients from their gardens, they prepared food for weddings, parties, and traditional holidays. Now, through Poland Culinary Vacations, she wants to share that experience with you, and show you the best of everyday Polish living: the special people and their hospitality, and the heritage and traditions unique to each region. Only a native can help you discover and fully experience the authentic Poland! Slow Travel Tours is an affiliation of small-group tour operators who offer personalized trips in Italy, France and other European countries.