Nowa Huta Tour From Krakow: Communist City, Vodka & Zapiekanka

My wife and I truly loved our tour with Mateusz Tomaszczyk from Krakow Urban Tours. We wanted to learn more about Nowa Huta and that era of Poland’s history, and time zipped by from the moment Mateusz met us until the tour ended. He shared insights and personal anecdotes that we would not have gained exploring the area on our own, and the tour felt like a conversation while walking with a friend (including our many questions on unrelated topics). Highly recommended.

Thoroughly enjoyed our Nova Huta tour with Mateusz Tomaszczyk! We highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to better understand the layered history of Krakow.

Totally brilliant tour. Mattheusz was a really smart, thoughtful guide - it’s a fascinating story, one I really recommend.

Mateusz “Matthew” Tomaszczyk provided a wonderful tour of Nowa Huta. His knowledge of the district is remarkable, and his disposition most-appealing. Unlike some guides, Matthew speaks English very clearly so there was never a struggle to understand him. The pace of his presentation and of our movement through the district was spot-on. We feel that all tourists will be fully satisfied with Matthew as their guide.

Mateusz guided my husband and I on such an enjoyable walking tour of Nowa Huta! We met up and took the train there with him from Krakow, and immediately started learning more of this part of Poland’s history. I appreciate having seen the few informative photos Mateusz showed us along the way. He is very personable and easygoing, and kept us on track. Thank you, Mateusz! We recently returned from our trip, and your tour was a highlight of our time in Poland.

Mateusz was a great guide. We learned a lot more about Nowa Huta than we would have if we wandered the neighborhood on our own. He showed us the different architectural styles from social realism to modernism. We also discussed the resistance in Nowa Huta to the authorities tearing down a cross in the neighborhood. He showed us the monument that was erected in the area. We ended our tour at the church that Pope John-Paul II (then cardinal) had built in the neighborhood. He showed us the stones on the exterior of the building that were donated by ordinary people who brought back the stones from out of the area. These were just two of the examples of details that Mateusz showed us. I would definitely recommend this tour.

Our guide Mateusz did a wonderful job explaining the history behind Nowa Huta and what it was like for the average person to live under communism in Poland. Mateusz was very knowledgeable and took us to many important sites. I highly recommend this tour to anyone with an interest in the Cold War or communist era,

Excellent tour of Nowa Huta with a fabulous guide. The tour was a great way to learn more about the Soviet period after WW2 in Poland. Joanna was very knowledgeable and shared fascinating social, religious and political information about the Nowa Huta neighbourhood in Krakow. It was nice to see part of Krakow that is less touristy and has a unique history. My only regret is booking it on a Monday as the museum was closed. Highly recommend Joanna and this very interesting guided-walk!

Excellent tour of Nowa Huta with a fabulous guide. The tour was a great way to learn more about the Soviet period after WW2 in Poland. Joanna was very knowledgeable and shared fascinating social, religious and political information about the Nowa Huta neighbourhood in Krakow. It was nice to see part of Krakow that is less touristy and has a unique history. My only regret is booking it on a Monday as the museum was closed. Highly recommend Joanna and this very interesting guided-walk!

We had an outstanding tour of Nowa Huta with our Guide Mateusz. His knowledge of the history of this unique town was a great blessing to us. Mateusz shared information about the area before the city was there, then when the city was built, then when people lived in the city. He brought knowledge of culture and history to the subject. I especially appreciate the information about the spiritual nature of the people and their conflict against the Communist government. We ended at the beautiful church of the Ark, which was the highlight of the Christian resistance against the communist dictatorship. For anyone who wants to understand more about communism in Poland, we highly recommend a tour of Nova Huta with Mateusz.

We really enjoyed our Nowa Huta tour. It was interesting and gave us a good look at communist Poland's history, including the architecture and everyday life during that period. We learned quite a bit about this chapter of Polish History. Our guide, Mateus, was excellent. He was well-prepared, shared some personal stories, and answer our questions clearly. His knowledge made the tour more engaging. Overall - definitely recommended.

Phenomenal tour by Marta. 20th Century history, architecture, WW2, urban planning and Polish history, this tour is a gem. An intimate look into a community that began as a socialist city, then developed and changed along with Poland. It remains relevant today.

Marta was the guide for my wife and I for the Nowa Huta tour. This was one of the best tours we have ever taken, Marta brought a personal experience to this area having grown up during the communist era and her stories and perspective made this so memorable for us. Marta brought to life living during that time and the changes that have occurred.

Mateusz was an excellent, engaging, and informative guide. He explained the historical context and intent behind Nowa Huta and how that changed over time. He helped us get a feel for the Communist era by taking us to cafes and shops. And he helped us understand the difficult choices people faced as they navigated a challenging political system. Excellent job—highly recommend!

Mateusz was excellent. He was very knowledgeable, eager to answer questions, and helpful at every turn. He was able to offer background about an area that gave us a deeper understanding of the transitions endured by Polish citizens under control of the Soviets. It was refreshing to hear about the movement that began primarily among Roman Catholics to gain independence under the leadership of John Paul II.

1. Anna was my tour guide and I loved her. I loved hearing her stories: not only about her life in Krakow during the Communist era, but her life in general. She was a lady I would gladly sit and have a long-evening chat with. 2. That said, I'm not sure the tour is worth the money. I thought I might learn a bit more about socialist realism architecture. Or some more about the workers' protest. 3. Perhaps this tour would be better advertised as, "come have a drink with a Cracovian who lived here during the Communist era and was active in protests." I would sign up for that. In the end, loved the guide as a person but not sure the tour itself was worth the price.

We had a wonderful guide Dominica, who actually lives in Nowa Huta and was able to share her experiences of living there. The urban planning by the Polish Communist party was exceptional and they made sure people felt that they had a good life by enjoying their surroundings with wide open spaces, plenty of green areas, a beautiful lake and all self contained with the factory that had a beautiful facade and there were shops, restaurants, bars, schools, and lots of playground areas and even had their own tanks. Dominica was very knowledgeable about the whole, what & why the area was built and how it changed after the communist era to the family friendly community today. We asked many questions and she always ready with an answer or to engage in a conversation even if it was slightly off topic .. highly recommend this tour.

We had a wonderful time & learned so much about the history of this beautiful city. Mateusz Tomaszczyk was very knowledgeable & fun to be with. I would recommend this tour & guide to anyone visiting Poland!!!

It does require some walking. But the ground is level, the guide adjusts his/her pace to your comfort and there's lots to look at. Guide is very k knowledgeable about the history of the community AND how it continues to function today. Opportunity for coffee and a bite to eat. Lovely produce market the day I was there.The Easy, comfortable tram ride back to where ver you want to be in Krakow. My guide, Marta, was a superior guide in all respects.

Easily the most enjoyable and educational experience of my entire week in lovely Krakow. My visit in January was during the lowest of the low season in the city and I was doubtful that this tour would even be on offer. But Tomacz at KUT was able to make it happen even if for just this one solitary traveler! I was delighted to be accompanied by tour guide Marta, a Krakow native who grew up in the Nowa Huta neighborhood and brought such amazing insights to our time together. I came away with a true connection to the history and culture of this fascinating neighborhood - which would never have been possible had I just visited Nowa Huta on my own. Thank you, Marta and Tomacz!

Excellent tour of Nowa Huta with a wonderful guide, Mateusz (Matthew). Nowa Huta was designed as a planned worker's community during the Soviet period in Poland and was interesting from an urban planning, social, religious, and political perspective. Mateusz was an excellent guide - articulate, thoughtful, and well prepared. Highly recommend this tour if you are interested in getting beyond the more distant history of Krakow and gain insight into life between World War Two and the liberation of Poland in 1989. You also get to see a vibrant neighborhood mostly devoid of tourists.

We were lucky enough to get Anna Strycharska-Kuhny as our guide, who knew communist times and was a student in Krakow in the eighties. Touring Nowa Huta with her was a real life and nuanced experience of the communist era, the Solidarnosc period and modern Krakow.

A terrific, very informative, overview of the communist city. Good use of maps and photographs to add perspective. Our guide Monica was excellent.

This tour exceeded my expectations. My tour guide, Anna, lived through Poland's communist times and as such, was the perfect person to guide me through Nowa Huta. On the bus ride over to Nowa Huta and in the old bomb shelter in the basement of the Nowa Huta museum, I felt like I was a in time capsule listening to her stories of being a student and a protester during the USSR's dominion over Poland. Poland's history between 1945 and 1989 is long and complex and this Nowa Huta tour is a great way to learn about it. You are in luck if you get Anna as your tour guide. -Ian, USA

Mateus was very knowledgeable and pleasant. It was a very good tour! He was great at sharing his experiences and those of his family. We got great insight into the Polish experience over the last couple decades as well as historical information. He also has good suggestions for restaurants!

We really enjoyed our tour of Nowa Huta with Mateus. It is not the typical tour of historic Krakow but gives a lot of insight into Poland after WWII. Mateus is very knowledgeable and informative and we appreciated his stories of life during Communist rule. Highly recommend this tour.

A highlight of our week in Krakow. Highly recommend Mateusz's remarkable tour of Nowa Huta. It's the best way to learn the history, culture and stories of this fascinating place. Mateusz is funny and fascinating. He explained all the ways that communism and post-1989 politics have shaped generations. Plus, it's a beautiful city to explore.

Mateusz was our absolutely phenomenal guide on the Krakow Urban Tours Nowa Huta tour. I have visited Krakow seven times, and because of Mateusz expertise, passion, and talent, this unequivocally is the best tour I have taken on all of my visits. Mateusz held us spellbound as he described the myths and history of this fascinating part of Krakow, constructed by the Soviets after WWII as a “utopian city” 6 miles from old town in order to support the huge steel factory and its 40,000 workers plus their families. With Mateusz leading the way, we learned that Nowa Huta reveals the entire scope of the history of the Cold War behind the Iron Curtain. Our tour was supposed to last four hours, but because of all our questions and discussions, we kept Mateusz for almost five. Few Americans visit this weird, wonderful part of Krakow and they are missing a fabulous part of its history.

This is one of the best tour I have been on anywhere. Learning about that time period in Poland, the City being build, the street names, the church influence during the communist times. We sample great food and had Vodka. Mateusz was outstanding. His stories were so good, I was bummed tour end. I could have gone on for another hour. Highly recommend

As a planned Soviet community designed to showcase the best of the communist society the stories of protest and societal change that are interwoven into the history of Nowa Huta are fascinating. The strength of the Polish people to live their Catholic faith in the face of all obstacles is humbling. A tour of Nowa Huta is a fascinating exploration of the Soviet era history in Poland. The tour guide Monika was very knowledgeable and the conversation comparing our lived experiences of this time in world history was eye opening. The architecture, food, markets, and religious stories on this tour were wonderful.

This was an exceptional tour! If you are in Krakow, you have to visit Nowa Huta. The unique blend of architectural styles in this part of the city is truly impressive. Our guide Monika was amazing, so friendly and welcoming, everyone in the group felt included. With her deep knowledge of local culture and history she made the tour really special. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Krakow; I'll definitely do another tour with Krakow Urban Tours!