Budapest Prague Poland

Jewish tours to Budapest, Prague and Poland Including the Krakow Jewish Cultural Festival.

In conjunction with the yearly Jewish Cultural Festival in Krakow, we offer a complete tour including Budapest & Prague in addition to Poland. This is you chance to visit two of the great “Pearls” in Central Europe and at the same time be part of the Jewish Cultural Festival in Krakow.

Other tours to Poland and Central Europe:

One thousand years of history
From Roots to Revival
A Trio of Classic Gems

Day 1 Friday Budapest

Arrival in Budapest. Welcome to Hungary, seat of the largest Jewish community in Central Europe. Budapest has always been revered as one of the world’s most charming and beautiful cities, and this capital on the Danube – divided into “Buda” and “Pest” — will enchant you. Packed with UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Budapest is also a treasury of our own Jewish heritage. In the afternoon, enjoy a walking tour through Budapest’s Jewish District, taking in the Holocaust and Karl Lutz Memorials, Kazinczy Street Synagogue, and Budapest’s Jewish Museum. Marvel at the famed Dohany Synagogue – the largest in Europe and return to the hotel. Dinner with live Klezmer music. Continental Hotel.

Day 2 Saturday Budapest

In the morning, you may choose to explore the charming streets near the hotel, or perhaps join a local Shabbat service. Later, you are invited to a discussion group featuring prominent speakers from various cultural backgrounds. The topic will be contemporary life in this community – as well as any questions you bring to the table. (Being Jewish, we know you’ll have a few – and they are welcomed.) After Lunch, tour the Buda Castle Quarter, Andrassy Avenue, Heroes’ Square, and the New Millennium Underground Railway. – a sign that we are actually in modern times. Remainder of the day at leisure. Continental Hotel.

Day 3 Sunday Budapest – Prague

This morning, say goodbye to Budapest and embark for the city of Prague. En route, stop for Lunch at Trebic, and enjoy a stroll in its unique Jewish Quarter – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continue to Prague – capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Trebic is richly packed with extraordinary Jewish sights (and famous for more than “the Golem.”). Upon arrival, check in at the hotel, located in the heart of the Old Town and the Jewish Quarter of Prague. President Hotel.

Day 4 Monday Prague

Today is dedicated to the rich heritage of Jewish Prague. Visit the Jewish Museum, housed in a synagogue complex including the Old-New, Pinkas, and Maisel Synagogues). Notice a clock which boasts the aleph-bet. Next, visit the New Jewish Cemetery (by new, they mean 1890), where famous scholars are buried, along with iconic Prague author, Franz Kafka, and visit the Ceremonial Hall. Dinner at a local restaurant. President Hotel.

Day 5 Tuesday Prague

This morning, take part in a lecture and discussion about the history of the Czech Jews, from its origins to today. Later, enjoy a sightseeing tour of the city, including the Prague Castle, Church of St. Cyril, and Charles Bridge. Notice the fascinating statue of Christ, sitting mid-span, paradoxically surrounded by Hebrew letters. The push and pull between the Jewish and Christian communities of Europe is almost embodied in this icon. Lunch is served during the tour. Remainder of the day at leisure. President Hotel.

Day 6 Wednesday – Prague – Krakow

This morning, depart from Prague and journey to Krakow, Poland, where an unparallelled Jewish Festival awaits you. En route, pause and pay somber respects at Auschwitz/Birkenau. This death factory, now a memorial, is a painful symbol of the Holocaust, an enduring testimonial to our lost brothers and sisters – and a catalyst to the slogan: NEVER AGAIN. Many visit each year is heartening, and the sound of Jewish music, growing in volume as you approach Krakow, is the sound of survival. As you enter this city, which survived the war relatively intact, a sense of the past envelopes you. Later, enjoy a Welcome Dinner in a local restaurant. This evening, your spirits will soar with a Festival Concert. Holiday Inn.

Day 7 Thursday Krakow

This morning, tour Jewish Krakow. Unlike Warsaw, Krakow was not destroyed during the German occupation. Its historic buildings and squares, along with its seven remaining synagogues, provide an entrance into Poland’s rich cultural past. A morning walking tour of Krakow’s Kazimierz district will include Krakow’s JCC, Remuh Synagogue and the Old Cemetery. Next, see Podgorze, the site of the former ghetto, and Oskar Schindler’s Factory Museum, which tells the story of the city and its citizens during the German occupation. Lunch. The afternoon is at your disposal, with an array of possible Festival activities (including Jewish art and craft exhibits) and workshops, all related to Jewish history, culture, and heritage. This evening, enjoy a rousing concert at the Krakow Jewish Festival. Holiday Inn.

Day 8 Friday Krakow – Dabrowa Tarnowska – Tarnow – Krakow

Today, an excursion takes you to the town of Dabrowa Tarnowska. You will see how one of the largest synagogues in Poland has been lovingly restored to its glory. Continue to Tarnow, one of the best examples of a traditional  pre-war Polish Jewish town, returning to Krakow in the early afternoon. You will have time to relax – or join a Festival workshop activity. Tonight brings the joy of Shabbat, with a festive Community Dinner arranged by the Krakow JCC. Holiday Inn.

Day 9 Saturday Krakow – Wieliczka Salt Mines – Krakow

This morning takes you to the fascinating Wieliczka Salt Mines, a UNESCO World Heritage Site visited by over a million tourists each year. You will learn how essential salt is to all aspects of life (in fact, the word “salary” comes from the Latin word for salt). Later, enjoy Lunch and an informative lecture at the Galicia Jewish Museum. The afternoon is at your disposal. Tonight, brings the Final Concert of the Krakow Jewish Festival. Holiday Inn.

Day 10 Sunday Krakow – Lodz – Warsaw

Transfer to Lodz. Poland’s third largest city, Lodz is known as a center for film-making and cinematic achievements, and sometimes referred to as “Holly Lodz”. Once the heart of Poland’s textile manufacturing, it is also known as the “city of four cultures”: Jewish, Polish, German, and Russian. Enjoy Lunch with the Jewish Community. One of Lodz’s most prominent citizens was industrialist and philanthropist Izrael Poznanski. Visit his former palace, now the site of the city’s museum. Poznanski’s factory is now a commercial and cultural center, drawing visitors from around the world. You will also visit the Radegast Memorial and the Park of the Survivors. Next, transfer to Warsaw. Sofitel Victoria Hotel.

Day 11 Monday Warsaw

Today is devoted to the capital of Poland. Warsaw is often referred to as the “phoenix city,” as close to 85% of this capital was destroyed during World War II. Visit the Museum of the History of Polish Jews – POLIN. Poland is the seat of almost 1,000 years of Jewish history, and this museum celebrates that. Not a “holocaust” museum, it even features a full-scale wooden synagogue within, built by the Polish people to commemorate the shuls of the past. You will experience a sense of that rich past, along an inspiring sense of the present and future. Later, trace the paths of life in pre-war Warsaw into the neighborhoods of I. L. Peretz, and Isaac Bashevis Singer. Later, walk through the former Warsaw ghetto and follow the Memorial Route leading to the Ghetto Heroes Monument. Continue to Grzybowski Square, and the Nozyk Synagogue. Dinner. Sofitel Victoria Hotel.

Day 12 Tuesday Warsaw – Home Flight

Transfer to Warsaw Airport, or continue with a tour extension.