Kalwaria Zebrzydowska

Bus & minivan tours

Wadowice is a small town located about 50 km from Krakow. Here exactly 100 years ago future Pope of the Roman catholic Church, Karol Wojtyła, who assumed the name of John Paul II was born and baptized. Tour incudes visiting the family home of Karol Wojtyła, now a museum documenting his life, activities and Pope’s relations with Wadowice. You will see the Church of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary of May, where the Pope was baptized. Later you will go to the John Paul II center located in Krakow dedicated to his life and work.

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.

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.

Get picked up in the morning and head to Wadowice, the city where John Paul II was born and raised. Visit the location where, in the place of his former residence, a museum was opened in his memory. His timeless message has been delivered to people around the world and exhibits his incredible wisdom and understanding of contemporary problems, which makes this place a popular destination for many Catholics. Of course, also while in Wadowice, don't miss the famous papal fondant. The next stop is Kalwaria Zebrzydowska Sanctuary and Park, which can be found on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites. It is regarded as the Polish Calvary Hill. The final stop is in Krakow at Divine Mercy Sanctuary, a location near and dear to the Pope’s heart, as the remains of Saint Faustina Kowalska rest there. After the tour, get dropped off at your hotel in Krakow in the afternoon.

A tour from Krakow to Wadowice offers a deep dive into the early life and legacy of Pope John Paul II. Starting in Krakow, the tour includes visits to two significant religious sites. First, the Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Łagiewniki, a major pilgrimage site linked to Saint Faustina Kowalska and the Divine Mercy devotion. The basilica, consecrated by John Paul II in 2002, is central to this devotion, which he promoted globally. Visitors can explore the basilica, Saint Faustina’s tomb, and enjoy panoramic views of Krakow, reflecting on the spiritual connection the pope had with Divine Mercy. Next is the John Paul II Center, a modern complex dedicated to the pope's life and work. The center features the Church of the Blessed John Paul II, with relics such as a vial of his blood. A museum offers a multimedia look at his life, from his youth in Poland to his global impact. In Wadowice, visitors explore the pope's family home, now a museum showcasing his early years, and the Basilica of the Presentation, where he was baptized. This church provides insights into the religious environment that shaped his life. This tour offers a concise, yet meaningful exploration of the life of Pope John Paul II, from his humble beginnings to his global influence.

Discover the places where faith, trust in God and love for neighbor were born in the young man Karol Wojtyla. Explore the three most meaningful places 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. Admire Kalwaria Zebrzydowska with its splendid Monastery and Church, which JPII asked us to visit “during his life and after his death”. Visit Krakow's Łagiewniki, connected with the cult of the Divine Mercy, the grave of St. Faustina Kowalska and St. John Paul II. 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.

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.