The Benedictine Abbey in Tyniec is the last stop on the cruise. For centuries, it was one of the most important and wealthy abbeys in Poland. The first settlement here was in 2,300 B.C. and nearby traces of human presence date back 12,000 years.

Cruise the Vistula River

In the past, the Vistula—the Queen of Polish Rivers—was an important trade route and a way of distributing the salt from Wieliczka. On a cruise you can see and hear the stories of the splendid castles, bridges, churches, and other monuments in the Kraków area.

All cruises start at the wharf below Wawel Castle. Cruises are available from morning until evening. The larger boats can include restaurants, cafés and dance clubs, but you can also take tours or charter smaller boats. – © Paweł Kazmierczak

The Church of St. Augustine and St. John the Baptist and the adjoining Norbertine nunnery were erected as early as in the 12th century. They forms the largest historical complex in Kraków after Wawel. – © g_art08

View towards the south-eastern part of Kraków. The Vistula is the longest river in Poland (1,047 km); in the past, it was also an important transport route used to raft goods, including salt, to various regions of Poland. It is only in the city that its banks are contained; outside, the river is wild and primeval. – © Nahlik

The abbots of the Benedictine Abbey in Tyniec have been taking care of the church in Wieliczka since the earliest times, and made substantial profits from the sale of salt. – © Kriksos / Wikimedia Foundation

All cruises start at the wharf below Wawel Castle. Cruises are available from morning until evening. The larger boats can include restaurants, cafés and dance clubs, but you can also take tours or charter smaller boats. – © Paweł Kazmierczak

You have two Vistula cruise options: a one-hour cruise to Podgórze district, or a four-hour cruise to a nearby village of Tyniec. The adventures begin at the marina at the foot of the Wawel Castle Hill, where a fire-breathing Wawel dragon will bid you farewell.

On the shorter route, you'll see Wawel Castle Hill, Dębnicki Bridge, and the Norbertine Monastery. On the way back, you will go past the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology, the Grunwald Bridge, the Piłsudski Bridge, the Pauline Church and Monastery on Skałka, and the Church of Merciful Brothers.

The longer cruise to Tyniec, has a knowledgeable guide who will tell you about the places and buildings along the route. You'll see the Norbertine Church and Camaldolese Hermit Monastery in Bielany, the Przegorzały Castle, and the Kościuszko Barrage.

The Camaldolese Hermit Monastery at Srebrna Góra is a place of contemplation, isolation, and monastic spirituality. The interior features rich stuccoes and 17th-century paintings of Italian masters. Its hillside features a large vineyard and winery with a tradition dating to the 10th century. It is open for visitors, yet women can only enter it on 12 designated days of the year. – © Nahlik

After arriving in Tyniec, you will leave the ferry, and the guide will take you around the Benedictine Abbey—the oldest active monastery in Poland, dating back to the 11th century. The abbots here have been taking care of the church in Wieliczka since the earliest times, and made substantial profits from the sale of salt. The Tyniec Monastery is open to both pilgrims and tourists. During the holidays you'll hear the famous Tyniec Organ Recitals , and each Sunday you can listen to monks singing Gregorian chants. There's a museum dedicated to the history of the monastery, a pub where you can get snacks, and a shop with specialties produced by monks: herbs, preserves, and liquors (beers, tinctures, meads).

Built, destroyed, and rebuilt throughout a tumultuous history, the Church of Saints Peter and Paul at Tyniec exhibits facets of gothic, baroque and modern styles. – © Mariusz Cieszewski / Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland

Visit