Things to do in Krakow
As the delights of Eastern Europe are discovered by travellers, a holiday in Krakow, Poland's beautifully preserved medieval city, is topping the list of desirable destinations. The charming, atmospheric Old Town is reason enough to travel to Krakow, particularly the main Market Square (Rynek Glowny), cocooned by churches, restaurants and bars, where the soul of the city is laid bare. Krakow can feel like a 'living museum' and will delight history buffs, but it is also a vibrant cultural hub which attracts lovers of art, music and theatre. Wawel Hill, overlooking the city, was the royal enclave between the 14th and 17th centuries and tourists can visit the Royal Castle and gothic Wawel Cathedral.
Krakow's notorious Holocaust history and historic Jewish quarter, the Kazimierz district, make it a place of pilgrimage for Jews. The tragic sites of Auschwitz and Birkenau, nearby the city, are Krakow's most sombre and thought-provoking tourist attractions. Within the city the Galicia Jewish Museum and Oskar Schindler's Factory are worthwhile attractions documenting the Jewish history of Krakow and the Holocaust.
For some fresh air and people watching in Krakow visitors should take a stroll around the Planty, a scenic walkway and park which becomes a hub of activity in the warmer months.
Main Market Square (Rynek Glówny)
Dating from 1257, the Central Market Square was one of the largest squares in medieval Europe and remains the social heart of Krakow. Surrounded by historic buildings, museums, and…
Main Market Square (Rynek Glówny)
Dating from 1257, the Central Market Square was one of the largest squares in medieval Europe and remains the social heart of Krakow. Surrounded by historic buildings, museums, and magnificent churches, the impressive expanse of flagstones is a hub of commercial and social activity. Flower sellers, ice-cream vendors, musicians, pigeons, students, and groups of tourists fill the square. The striking church of St Mary's is an impressive twin-spire Gothic structure while at the centre of the square is the splendid medieval Cloth Hall, its upstairs art gallery housing a collection of 19th-century Polish paintings and sculptures.
Wawel
Wawel is a hill overlooking Krakow, upon which stands an architectural complex that includes Wawel Castle and the Gothic Wawel Cathedral. It was here that all the Polish kings ruli…
Wawel
Wawel is a hill overlooking Krakow, upon which stands an architectural complex that includes Wawel Castle and the Gothic Wawel Cathedral. It was here that all the Polish kings ruling between the 14th and the 17th centuries were crowned and buried, and it lies at the heart of Poland's royal history. The Renaissance-style castle is now a museum, with visitors able to see the Royal Private Apartments, Crown Treasury, Armoury, and the State Rooms. Of the many chapels in the cathedral, the golden-domed Chapel of King Sigismund is the finest. The bell tower can be climbed for views over the city and to see the enormous 11 tonne bell. A number of different guided tours are available so check the official website listed below for details.
Website www.wawel.krakow.pl
Transport
Tram 10 or a short walk from the Main Square, Rynek Glówny.
Kazimierz District and the Old Synagogue
The Kazimierz quarter was the centre of Jewish religion, culture, and learning before the Second World War. Badly damaged during the Nazi occupation, it has been rebuilt so visitor…
Kazimierz District and the Old Synagogue
The Kazimierz quarter was the centre of Jewish religion, culture, and learning before the Second World War. Badly damaged during the Nazi occupation, it has been rebuilt so visitors can admire the historical architecture and get an experience of what daily Jewish life was once like. The area is enlivened by art galleries, kosher restaurants, and numerous cultural events. The Oskar Schindler Factory Museum is itself a popular tourist attraction in Krakow, dedicated to the memory of Schindler and the Jewish workers he managed to save from the death camps. The Old Synagogue is part of the Historical Museum of Krakow, where the collection of physical memories from the Kazimierz Jewish community is kept.
Address Szeroka 24, 31-053 Kraków, Poland
Website http://www.mhk.pl/oddzialy/stara-synagoga
Transport
Tram 3, 9, 11 or 13.
Wieliczka Salt Mine
A UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Monument, the Salt Mine at Wieliczka is a unique underground complex built in the Middle Ages. The series of labyrinthine tunnels, chambers, galler…
Wieliczka Salt Mine
A UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Monument, the Salt Mine at Wieliczka is a unique underground complex built in the Middle Ages. The series of labyrinthine tunnels, chambers, galleries, and underground lakes are spread over nine levels and reach a depth of more than 1,000ft (304m), but visitors are restricted to a tour of three levels. Centuries-old passageways contain huge crystalline caverns and carved chapels. The highlight is the Blessed Kinga Chapel where everything is carved from salt, dedicated to the patron saint of Polish mine workers. The world's first subterranean therapeutic sanatorium is situated 656ft (200m) below the surface, and makes use of the saline air for the treatment of asthma.
Address Ul. Danilowicza 10, Wieliczka
Website www.kopalnia.pl
Transport
Buses and minibuses leave from outside the train station; or else there is the local Krakow-Wieliczka train
Auschwitz Memorial Museum
The Auschwitz concentration camp forms the largest cemetery in the world, preserved as a memorial to the victims of the Holocaust during the Second World War. Visitors can obvserve…
Auschwitz Memorial Museum
The Auschwitz concentration camp forms the largest cemetery in the world, preserved as a memorial to the victims of the Holocaust during the Second World War. Visitors can obvserve the structures, ruins, and gas chambers, while visiting exhibits at the museum. The buildings contain displays of photographs and piles of personal articles of the victims, including battered suitcases, and thousands of spectacles, hair, and shoes collected from the bodies. The sheer scale of the tragedy can be experienced at the Birkenau Camp, with a viewing platform to give some perspective over the vast fenced-in area. It was the principal camp where the extermination of millions took place, a chillingly efficient set-up with rows of barracks and four colossal gas chambers and ovens. Purpose-built railway tracks lead through the huge gateway along which victims were transported from the ghettos to the camp in crowded box-like carts. Taking a guided tour of the camps is the best way to fully comprehend what you are seeing and a tour takes at least three and a half hours. Visitors should try and book a place on one of the various guided tours at least two weeks before visiting - see the official website below for details.
Address Wiezniow Oswiecimia 20, 32-603 Oswiecim, Poland
Website auschwitz.org/en/
Transport
There are regular coach and rail services from Krakow (a one hour journey), and a shuttle bus runs between Auschwitz I and Birkenau from mid-April to October.
Opens 8am to 3pm, Monday to Sunday.
Galicia Jewish Museum
Situated in the heart of the Jewish Quarter of Krakow, the Galicia Jewish Museum houses a permanent photographic exhibition which is extremely powerful. It documents the history an…
Galicia Jewish Museum
Situated in the heart of the Jewish Quarter of Krakow, the Galicia Jewish Museum houses a permanent photographic exhibition which is extremely powerful. It documents the history and heritage of the Jews in the villages and towns of Poland, focusing particularly on the Holocaust. Poland lost almost a quarter of its population in World War II, and the Jewish community was decimated. The museum has a bookshop, while also hosting plenty of temporary exhibitions, special events, lectures, and Jewish music concerts. The Galicia Jewish Museum is often overlooked as a tourist attraction in Krakow, but is a worthwhile experience for people from all walks of life. Budget at least three hours to fully absorb the experience. Guided tours are available and there is a charming little cafe for refreshments.
Address Dajwór 18, 31-052 Kraków, Poland.
Website www.galiciajewishmuseum.org
Opens 10am to 7pm, Monday to Sunday.
Piwnica pod Baranami
The Piwnica pod Baranami is a Parisian-style cabaret house located in Krakow's old town, allowing tourists to experience and appreciate the culture, values, and ideals of the city.…
Piwnica pod Baranami
The Piwnica pod Baranami is a Parisian-style cabaret house located in Krakow's old town, allowing tourists to experience and appreciate the culture, values, and ideals of the city. Created by Piotr Skryznecki in 1956, this bohemian underground cellar soon became a haven for local artists and intellectuals where they would indulge in one of Poland's favourite cultural pastimes: political cabaret. The Piwnica pod Baranami still functions as a cabaret house to this day with performances on Saturdays at 9pm remaining extremely popular, so book your ticket early. A highly recommended tourist activity in Poland, it's a great spot to begin an unforgettable Saturday night.
Address Main Market Square, Krakow.
Website www.piwnicapodbaranami.pl/
Bieszczady Mountains
While most tourists to Poland usually content themselves with the wonderful cultural experiences in the old towns of Warsaw and Krakow, a trip into the Polish countryside can be an…
Bieszczady Mountains
While most tourists to Poland usually content themselves with the wonderful cultural experiences in the old towns of Warsaw and Krakow, a trip into the Polish countryside can be an equally rewarding enterprise. The Bieszczady Mountains run through the extreme southeast of Poland, near the Ukraine and Slovakia borders. A land of snow-capped peaks, tall pine trees, and vast green meadows, the Bieszczady region boasts hiking and mountain bike trails which wind through a rich array of native flora. Found in the UNESCO East Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, animal lovers should look out for lynxes, bears, and wolves.
Zakopane
The Tatras is Poland's beautiful alpine range of towering peaks, rocky cliffs and glacial lakes, dotted with numerous little villages preserving a traditional highland lifestyle. T…
Zakopane
The Tatras is Poland's beautiful alpine range of towering peaks, rocky cliffs and glacial lakes, dotted with numerous little villages preserving a traditional highland lifestyle. The region's largest town is Zakopane, Poland's premier mountain resort. The winter sports capital of Poland, Zakopane is superbly situated at the foot of the Tatras with immediate access to the ski slopes in winter. The charming town has a laid-back fairytale atmosphere, the steep streets lined with traditional wooden cottages made from roughly cut logs and the 'Zakopane-style' architecture featuring delicately carved patterns and intricate woodwork decoration. The region is popular for outdoor activities and one of the more popular holiday attractions is the trip to the exquisite glacial lake, Morskie Oko.