Things to do in

Kalwaria Zebrzydowska

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 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.  

Wadowice is a small city situated 50 km 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 is Basilica of the Offering of the Blessed Virgin Mary- an ornate Church where Karol Wojtyła was baptized and confirmed.  Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, this pilgrimage town founded in 1601, is 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). Visit the basilica and monastery located in the city of Jasna Góra and discover the holy relic of the Black Madonna of Częstochowa. Częstochowa is one of the most important centers of religious worship in Poland, it is regarded by many as Poland's spiritual capital and for hundreds of years, it has been a site of pilgrimage for Poles. High on the mountain top, the monastery holds the most famous shrine to the Virgin Mary in Poland and it is home to the Black Madonna painting - rumored to have been painted by St. Luke on a tabletop built by Jesus. The Black Madonna, depicting the Mother of God with the Christ Child, is believed to have miraculous powers by those who visit her.

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.

Enjoy a 7 to 8-hour pilgrimage tour from Krakow and visit many religious sights in Poland on this approximately 100 kilometer round trip from Krakow.  You will first visit the Lagiewniki district of Krakow, made famous by Saint Sister Faustina Kowalska who lies in the 19th century Church of St. Joseph. The church has become a pilgrimage destination where people from all over Europe come to pray and visit the St Faustina’s tomb. You will also see Sister Faustina’s Sanctuary, the Shrine of Divine Mercy and the John Paul II Center where his relic lies. You will also visit the UNESCO site of Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, a popular destination for tourists and pilgrims where you can see some of the famous Way of the Cross with 42 chapels illustrating the passion of the Christ. You will also visit other noteworthy historical sites including the church and monastery of the Friars Observants, dating back to the 17th century and the reportedly miraculous picture of the Mother of God of Kalwaria which has been there since 1641. Every year on Good Friday there is a cross road with live characters. Finally you will arrive in the town of Wadowice, where Karol Wojtyła (Pope John Paul II) was born. Here you will visit his family house with modern multimedia museum next to the parish church dating back to the 15th century where he was baptized. The order of the tour may change.

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.

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.

Visit sites of important religious and historical value for Poland on a full-day trip from Krakow. Your first stop is in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is the monastery complex of the Bernardines Franciscans. It is an exceptional cultural monument located in natural scenery that has attracted thousands of pilgrims from the very beginning. Walk through the monastery complex with the early baroque church and dozens of chapels spread around in a beautiful countryside scenery. Then continue on to Wadowice, situated on the Skawa River at the confluence of the Vistula, in the eastern part of Silesian Foothills (Pogórze Śląskie). It is best known for being the birthplace of Pope John Paul II, and is home to a basilica from the 15th century. At the end of your tour, transfer back to Krakow.

On this tour from Krakow, visit the places significant and beloved by John Paul II. In Wadowice, the pope's hometown, 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. Visit Kalwaria Zebrzydowska with its splendid monastery and church and discover why this place was so important to John Paul II. Go to Krakow's Łagiewniki, 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.

There are many places worldwide which were beloved by John Paul II. But amongst them there are three which can unquestionably be considered the most meaningful. 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. We will also visit Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, with its splendid monastery and church, which JPII asked us to explore “during his life and after his death”. Then, we will continue to Krakow's Łagiewniki neighborhood, 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, dedicated to the his life and work, which also houses a glass capsule of his blood and relic.

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).