Poland · FOOD & DRINK
Good food & drink experiences fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Travel from Krakow to Chochołów and Zakopane with an English-speaking guide such as Kamil, Julia, or Daniel. Taste smoked oscypek and local vodka, ride up Gubałówka for Tatra views, then spend 2.5 hours in the Chocholow Thermal Baths.
“Great day would highly recommend. Well structured itinerary. Our guide Julia was really friendly and helpful!”
Travel from Krakow to Zakopane with an English or Spanish guide, stopping in Chochołów and Witów for wooden highlander homes, smoked oscypek, and vodka. Ride the Gubałówka funicular, browse Krupówki Street, and spend three hours at Chocholowskie Thermal Baths.
“Our bus had a flat tire, but we got on a new bus in about an hour. That was great and I was impressed. Our guide then asks us if we (a group of 30) wanted to skip the planned bathroom stop. We all agreed. He didn’t tell us that the bathrooms at the next stop didn’t work and those at the second stop was actually just a single outhouse with no lights and in discussing condition. A 30-person group that included several children and older travelers went 3.75 hours without a toilet! At the first stop, Filip knew things would go bad. He rushed through a few words and…”
Meet at 5:00 pm in Kazimierz for a three-hour walking feast through Krakow’s former Jewish district. Your English-speaking guide, often Magda, Piotr, or Konrad, leads you to several local eateries for pierogi, zapiekanka, soups, vodka, beer, dessert, and useful food tips.
“The food tour is a must do when you visit Krakow! You learn so much about the history as get to taste so many delicious eats. Even though it was freezing outside, I truly didn’t think about it much because it was such a wonderful time. Try to book with Conrad! He was such an amazing and personable guide. I was impressed with his breadth of knowledge, his patience in answering questions, and especially with his ability to remember the names of all 15 of us. He made sure to address us all personally and check in to see if we were enjoying ourselves. I would absolutely do the tour…”
In Warsaw’s Koneser Center, a guide such as Wojtek, Benjamin, or Julia leads you through four interactive galleries on Polish vodka. You’ll finish with a 20-minute tasting of four vodkas, then can continue upstairs at the 3/4 Koneser Cocktail Bar.
“A very nice and we'll laid out museum, very factual and engaging”
At Pierogi & More in Warsaw, you’ll learn pierogi dough, fillings, folding tricks, and cooking methods in a class of up to 10 people. Vegetarian and vegan options are available by request. Afterward, eat the dumplings you made and sample Polish liqueurs with your hosts.
“This was great fun for the whole family. Ben did an amazing job teaching how to make pierogi and providing exceptional hospitality, humor and information about the food and traditions surrounding it. He went above and beyond by offering recommendations about things to see and do in town and answered endless questions from the entire group. This was a fun way to spend an evening in Warsaw and a delicious dinner with new people.”
Spend about 11 hours traveling from Krakow to Chocholow and Zakopane, with a Gubalowka funicular ride, mountain views, oscypek cheese tasting, free time on Krupowki Street, and 2.5 hours at Chocholowskie Thermal Baths. English-speaking guides such as Mike, Daniel, and Tomek lead the trip.
“The guide was a truly lovely man and couldn’t do enough for us. He told us of the history of Chocolow and Zakopane and provided lovely cheese and vodka. He was friendly and took care of everything. The area is spectacularly beautiful and a must for any traveller”
Start at 3 pm in Warsaw’s Old Town for a guided tasting across three to five restaurants. You’ll try more than 10 Polish foods, hear stories about local customs and history, taste several vodka shots, and receive a Polish recipe and culture booklet. Guides may include Caesar, Dominic, Dorata, Arif, or Louis.
“Dominic was a fantastic guide making this walking food tour very enjoyable with his historical information. The food was also delicious and the tour ended with a shot of vodka.”
Spend 10 to 11 hours traveling from Krakow to Chochołów and Zakopane. You’ll taste smoked cheese and local alcohol, ride the funicular up Gubałówka Hill, explore Krupówki Street, and see Jaszczurówka Chapel. Guides such as Adam, Maciek, and Ivan are known for useful tips and friendly service.
“Amazing trip, very comfortable car, Adam was very friendly and shared lots of recommendations”
Travel from Krakow to Zakopane with an English or Polish-speaking guide such as Matthew, Daniel, or Jakub. Visit Chocholów, taste Oscypek and Polish vodka, see Jaszczurowka Chapel and the ski jump, then ride the Gubałówka funicular and enjoy three hours in town.
“Having a guide that is knowledgeable & entertaining is perfection. Mateusz was an excellent driver & gave great directions at every stop. We would recommend this tour for anyone that wants to see more of Poland than just Krakow.”
Meet by Saint Mary’s Church and follow an English, French, or Italian-speaking guide through Krakow’s center. Taste obwarzanek, zapiekanka, pierogi, pickles, sausage, oscypek, bundz, sweets, and Polish alcohol, with guides such as Joanna, Olga, and Alicja adding food history and local tips.
“Relaxed. Informative. We got to see some of the sights of Krakow and eat some nice food. welcoming, knowledgeable and friendly tour guide. Would recommend.”
Walk from the Copernicus Monument through Krakowskie Przedmiescie and Nowy Swiat, stopping at several eateries for 11 to 12 Polish food tastings, craft beer, and vodka. Guides such as Michal, Iga, Ewa, and Artur add food stories, local tips, and Warsaw history to this 2.5-hour evening tour.
“Mike was a wonderful entertaining good guide. Great knowledge of the local foods and very interesting to talk to. Highly recommend his food tour. Great fun.”
Travel from Krakow in a small Mercedes minivan to Zakopane, stopping at Chochołów and Witów for wooden architecture, oscypek, and local spirits. Your English-speaking host handles the Gubałówka funicular, then gives you time for Krupowki Street. Guides vary, with Peter, Greg, Jack, and Bart among the names praised for friendly service.
“Absolutely outstanding day trip ! Peter aka 'Bob' was the perfect tour guide providing superb facts and history of each place we visited . Bob was humerous and engaged the small group of us for the tour throughout the day , felt very spoilt by having him lead on this trip and he went the extra mile for us all for a truly memorable experience in Zakopane tour . Highly recommend this tour and Bob was simply the best !”
Travel from Krakow to Zakopane with hotel pickup, a bilingual guide, oscypek cheese and regional liqueur tasting, a Chochołów village stop, free time on Krupowki Street, and a roundtrip funicular ride to Gubałówka. Guides such as Olaf, Mirek, and Magda are known for clear local tips and easygoing service.
“So many stunning views. The day didn’t feel rushed at all, Lucio was a brilliant guide. Would 100% recommend. Some places took card payment but was handy to have cash on us as well.”
Meet at Sigmunt Column for a 210-minute food walk through Warsaw’s historic center. A guide such as Dorota, Arif, or Cezar leads you to 3 to 5 local restaurants for 10 Polish foods, vodka, city stories, and recipes sent by email.
“It was an amazing experience for me!! My guide Paola was very lovely and knowledgeable. She even provided me with some tips on good bars to visit later on. So I strongly recommend it for people who want to experience Warsaw as a local. We have visited 4 authentic restaurants and I must admit I fell in love with polish food! Hope to see you soon Warsaw!”
Start at the Golden Gate at 5:00 pm with Bart, then walk through Gdańsk’s Old Town for Polish food, craft beer, vodka, and local stories. You’ll visit three or more eateries, taste at least 13 items, and finish near Ołowianka after a generous traditional meal.
“This tour was my absolute favorite tour during my Northern Europe travels . I was the only solo traveler in the group and Bart made me feel welcome which helped me not to feel awkward with others in the tour that were traveling together. I can’t say enough about the experience from start to finish. The history was not overwhelming, yet interesting. Polish beer, shots of polish flavored Vodka, and the food was amazing. I absolutely recommend this tour.”
Pick a city, a memorial, a mountain or a table.
