Visit the Nowa Huta district of Krakow

Being in the Nowa Huta district of Krakow is like traveling back in time — all the way back to the communist era. The places you’ll visit on this unique tour are exactly as they were during the communist regime, in this neighborhood built as a model communist city. See the socialist realist architecture, listen to the personal stories of the local people, and visit spots where the long fight for democracy took place.

Highlights:

  • Visit Central Square (Plac Centralny) and find out what communist architecture was all about.
  • Stand where Poland’s biggest Lenin monument used to be and take photos of a tank left over from the war.
  • See the huge Lord’s Ark church, made by the citizens by hand as a sign of the resistance against communism.
  • Drink vodka in a communist bar, like a true local!
  • Shop for typical snacks in a small local market that looks exactly like it did 50 years ago.

Language: English

Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, local transport by tram, entrance to the local museum, traditional snack and shot of Polish vodka.

Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and items of a personal nature, and tips/gratuities for your guide.

Schedule details

    Public Tours

    • Duration: 4 hours
    • Meeting point: 1 Dluga Street (Krakow, ul. Dluga 1, at the corner of Dluga and Basztowa) by the entrance to the bookshop “Pod Globusem”
    • Find the exact meeting point with what3words: ///definite.madness.figs
    • Starting time: 9.30 AM
    • Ending point: The guide will show you how to get back to the city center via local transport.

        • Private Tours

        • Duration: 4 hours
        • Meeting point: Pick-up from your centrally located hotel in Krakow.
        • Starting time: 10.00 AM, 12.00 AM
        • Ending point: Your guide will assist you to your hotel or any other centrally-located place of your choice.

        Full Itinerary

        Take a big step back into the past on this off-the-beaten-track tour of Krakow’s Nowa Huta district. This is definitely not your typical neighborhood — Nowa Huta is a time capsule of the communist ideal. The easternmost district of Krakow was designed by the Soviets as a model communist city, but later became an anti-communist hub and an important part of the solidarity movement.

        The journey starts with a ride on local transportation from your hotel into the heart of the former communist city. Our first stop will be the enormous Central Square (Plac Centralny), the calling card of the district and the area’s most notable landmark. Centrally planned right after WWII, today the square and its surrounding areas are like a museum of the many architectural styles and ideas from the past. We’ll see the spot where a huge monument of Lenin used to stand, and then you’ll visit a local bar for a shot of vodka, just as you might have done back in the communist era.

        Next, you’ll get the chance to take some photos of a real Russian tank left in Nowa Huta after the war and to learn about the huge protection system invented by the communist architects. Later, we’ll explore a small market where the locals spend their time socializing, buying basic groceries, or selling second-hand clothes and homemade sweets. This is a great place to rest, and maybe test out your Polish language skills among the locals.

        Along the way, we’ll have Zapiekanka – a typical communist snack in a local bar, and we’ll also spend some time visiting a huge church known as the Lord’s Ark, which became a symbol of the long fight for freedom and democracy. The church was built by residents completely by hand. By the end of the tour, you’ll have a better sense of the communist history in Poland, and will have experienced one of the most unique districts in the city.

        Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour.

        Local Impact: How you will help the local community by joining this tour:

        • The admission fee to the local Museum of the Nowa Huta helps to support the conservation of local heritage and culture.
        • We have a vodka and snack stop in a local restaurant that’s off the main tourist path, ensuring local vendors who are producing the locals’-favorite dishes also benefit from tourism to their city.
        • Support local vendors at a local market by sampling a traditional zapiekanka treat.

        Local contact

        Office phone number: +48 665 015 665
        Email address: info@krakowurbantours.com

        Reviews:

        Mitchell K. from Australia, 20th of August 2020

        Tomas was a fantastic guide. I am so greatful that he could share with us his own childhood memories. It truly added a very personal touch to the tour

        Michelle from Great Britain, 15th of August 2021

        Wonderful tour with Monika. She is so very knowledgeable – I learned a lot about Nowa Huta (its origins, history and life there), and Monika was able to answer all the questions I had along the way (of which there were many!) I was the only one on the tour, so great interactive experience. My learning went beyond just Nowa Huta – our conversation also led me to gain a better insight into life in Poland today. Highly recommended!

        Justyna from Poland, 12th of September 2020

        It was really an amazing experience! Mateusz was super kind and positive, professional too! We learnt a lot about a history and culture of Nowa Huta district and discovered it in a local way. Reccomend it to all! Dziękujemy Mateusz!

         

         


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