Czestochowa the Black Madonna Day Tour from Krakow

Badge of ExcellenceKrakow, Poland

Pieskowa Skala Castle and Czestochowa including the Black Madonna Day Tour from Krakow

8 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Explore the pilgrimage destination of Czestochowa on this day trip departing from Krakow. Admire the famed ‘Black Madonna’ painting with a visit to the Jasna Gora monastery. While at the monastery, you’ll also tour the Miraculous Picture Chapel and the Basilica. Afterward, stop in Pieskowa Skala to visit the 16th-century castle.

Day trip to Czestochowa from Krakow
See the famous 'Black Madonna' painting at Jasna Gora in Czestochowa
Visit the 16th-century castle of Pieskowa Skala
A small group means more attention from your guide

What's Included

Transport Krakow-Czestochowa-Krakow
Guide-driver on the way
Tour with a local guide at Jasna Góra monastery komplex (church, museum, treasury)
Entrance ticket to the museum

Gratuities
Food and drinks, unless specified

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Start time

07:40 AM

Pickup details

PICKUP SERVICE Our pickup service is available from selected hotels in Krakow. Depending on the location of the hotel, the pickup service will be between 15-30 minutes before the tour departure time. RETURN DETAILS Original departure point.

What To Expect

Your day trip will begin with pickup from your select hotel in Krakow. Journey first to the city of Czestochowa, home to the monastery of Jasna Gora, which holds the revered Black Madonna, a Gothic painting that has drawn pilgrims from around the globe for centuries. While there, you'll also see the Basilica and the Miraculous Picture Chapel.

Pause your sightseeing with some lunch and free time to peruse the local shops, if you choose. You can also use this break to explore the city independently.

After a day of exploration, your trip will conclude with transportation back to Krakow.

Our Lady of Czestochowa / The Black Madonna

4 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Czestochowa

1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements
Near public transportation

Infants must sit on laps
Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Beata_C

Beautiful views during the ride. Beautiful experience at the shrine. The guide was ver knowledgeable and nice.

Reviews

4.5

62 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

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Showing 1-10 of 62 reviews

Beautiful Częstochowa

Beata_C, Apr 2024

Beautiful views during the ride. Beautiful experience at the shrine. The guide was ver knowledgeable and nice.

A Pilgrimage

jtgawelek, Dec 2022

Mass in the chapel of the Madonna was very moving. Our driver, Christopher was wonderful. This was a very special trip.

Polish culture and food - such an enjoyable experience

Judy_P, Nov 2021

Our guide, Krzysztof, was very knowledgeable, explained so many things not only about what we saw but also about Poland, the people, and their culture. He explained a lot about religious practices and how adored the Black Madonna is. He also showed us some local hot spots that made for a unique experience and made us learn and share a part of the culture.

Response from Host, Nov 2021

Thank you for your opinion and we are glad that Krzysztof was able to introduce you in an interesting way to cultural and religious attractions connected with Częstochowa.

Majestic

AnaMaria_S, Jul 2021

I was the only one on this tour, I like to thank them to have done the tour anyway. Andrej was a well of knowledge of all aspects of polish culture, I enjoyed all our talks during the drive. Jasna Gora is impressive, do see the treasury, it's enough time there to see everything. The way back through the eagle's nest is panoramic, Andrej was kind enough to take me to see upclose the Pieskova Skala castle.

Czestochowa the "Black Madonna" Day Tour from Krakow

ebgb1, Feb 2020

Fabulous! Whole experience made even more so due to a having an extremely knowledgeable and engaging guide and driver. Andrew, our driver/guide, was very knowledgeable about the whole area, the history and geography and really brought so much to the trip and our overall enjoyment and understanding of the area and the day itself. He even went the extra mile, literally, when I asked about the castle at Pieskowa Skala and took us to see it!!! Andrew, we can't thank you enough for your companionship!!

Great viewing day

Celeste_B, Jun 2019

The guide was helpful and informative. We were traveling with a local Krakow resident who was pleased with thr guides info on history. Note: the Castle tour while very interesting, should be noted that there are 40+ steps up the hill to get to the Castle, a couple with us were unable to do it, they had to wait down below.

Pieskowa Skala castle was very...

kathy42war, Nov 2017

Pieskowa Skala castle was very picturesque through beautiful countryside. The guide was very good and gave time to visit the castle and a stop for refreshments. The Black Madonna at Czestochowa was a very uplifting experience with time to pray at the church and to view the Black Madonna close up. The food at the polish restaurant was delicious a very enjoyable trip.

My wife grew up in a community of...

mikestorrs, Oct 2017

My wife grew up in a community of Polish Americans and the Black Madonna was an icon not only of the Catholic Church in Poland but of the church in her community as well. Many families had a picture of her in their homes. She wanted to see it in person. The tour was a day long drive and when we arrived a Mass was being conducted in the chapel where the picture was displayed. We had a small glimpse of the picture over several hundred people and through a metal grate. We waited to the end of the mass in the hopes that some of the people would leave but as the mass ended a cover was lowered over the painting. We understood that it would be open for viewing again at 2:00 in the afternoon but our tour could not wait for that. The only saving grace was that we were the only two people on the tour and our tour guide Bruno was delightful and we enjoyed talking with him on the trip up and back. If you are going to offer this tour you should understand when the painting will be visible.

Could have spent less time...

WILLIAM_C, Sep 2017

Could have spent less time @ Pieskowa Castle and more time @ Czestochowa/Black Madonna Guide was professional, knowledgeable, and helpful Enjoyable day

Beautiful castle: worthwhile are the...

Petra T, Sep 2017

Beautiful castle: worthwhile are the beautifully restored renaissance courtyard, the impressive paintings and sculptures collection insight and the friendly and experienced guide. The church of the Black Madonna is like a little Vatican en the shrine itself, beautifully restored. After the tour, the guide even went with us to Krakow on a voluntary basis to show us some hidden places on the market square. highly recommanded.

While both tour destinations were...

Robert M, Sep 2017

While both tour destinations were outstanding and well worth a visit if a castle visit and religious shrine are your interests, we could have done without the snarky, anti-religion attitude of Andrew the tour guide. Fortunately, most of the visit to the shrine was self-guided after a brief introduction by Andrew. He should present a neutral opinion since most people taking this tour are almost certainly going for a spiritual experience. There were several museums at the site he just pointed out the entrance to. Other guides were together with other groups in the museums, offering commentary, etc. Why not with this pricey tour?

This review may well be published...

Anne L, Sep 2017

This review may well be published because it is positive. Do not waste your time on negative reviews as it appears they are ignored.

My experience was really very good...

Kristi M, Aug 2017

My experience was really very good and I recommend this tour to everyone who visit Poland! Jasna Gora monastery in Czestochowa is very special place and Black Madonna extraordinary! Our guide Andrew Andrej? was really nice and friendly person, his information about history of Poland was really useful! Pieskowa Skala Castle was also nice with its long history and beautiful nature. This tour was the highlight of my trip. Thank you!

For anyone interested in pilgrimage...

AnneMarie_M, Jan 2017

For anyone interested in pilgrimage sites, this is a must do. To see this incredible painting and see the beauty of the chapels, it's breathtaking. My guide recommended the covering of the painting at noon only occurs during winter and I'm so thankful he did! I thought it would be a cloth over it, but there were drums and a plaque lowered over it. FYI Pieskowa Skala Castle is closed on weekdays in the winter season, but it was still beautiful to see the national park from the outside. My guide was absolutely delightful and so informative about the area and history of the painting. I highly recommend this tour to anyone!!!

Czestochowas was very crowded which...

Darlene_G, Oct 2016

Czestochowas was very crowded which cant be helped but very interesting. The Castle was nice. The tour guide was very informative and helpful.

Anyone visiting Poland needs to go...

Elizabeth_K, Sep 2016

Anyone visiting Poland needs to go to Czestochowa. Wish we could have left earlier to catch the mass at 11:00

It was very interesting to see the...

Elena P, Sep 2016

It was very interesting to see the famous Black Madonna, learn its history and visit to the Pieskowa Skala castle was also good. It is nice nature around the castle and I wish we had time to walk a bit in the national park. The main drawback for me during the visit to Czestochowa is that our driver/guide showed us Black madonna with Basilica in 15 minutes he gave us a history overview on the way in the car and then we were left for 2 hrs on our own. There is not much written in English in museums. I saw nice group tours in treasury, arcenal, etc., but this was not the case for our tour. I think the tour could be improved in this aspect. Although, we had a guided tour within Pieskowa Skala Castle. I would recommend this tour only if you have plenty of time to spare, as there are many things to see in Krakow and it is a very long drive 2 hrs each way.

The castle was closed, the agency knew...

Nelli A, May 2016

The castle was closed, the agency knew it and they did not replace it with something else

Our tour was very good. The only...

Jules J, Apr 2016

Our tour was very good. The only downside was that we could not visit pieskowa castle due to restoration work underway. The operator had been up front months ago at the time we booked which was the classy way to handle this. The Jasna gora monastery was quite impressive. Be sure to see the treasury, arsenal and the museum is in addition to the basilica and icon.

Enjoyed the trip to both locations...

Kevin B, Apr 2016

Enjoyed the trip to both locations, but guide didn't seem to provide very much information. Unfortunately Pieskowa Castle was closed and would not recommend doing this trip unless it is open.

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