After Wrocław, the second Polish city I visited was the
lovely city of Kraków. It’s not hard to
see why this city draws in so many visitors – it’s stunningly beautiful. Unlike the Wrocław and the Polish capital
Warsaw, Kraków managed to escape any significant damage during World War II,
and as such remains a very attractive city throughout, bursting with historical
charm and elegance.
It is very easy to fall in love with Kraków – its well-preserved Old Town ‘Stare Miasto’ is filled with culture, there is plenty to see and do (both in and around the city) it has great night life and it is very affordable, making it a desirable destination for backpackers. I found Kraków to be much more ‘touristy’ than the other parts of Poland I visited, but I feel the hustle and bustle adds to the city’s fun and up-beat atmosphere.
It is very easy to fall in love with Kraków – its well-preserved Old Town ‘Stare Miasto’ is filled with culture, there is plenty to see and do (both in and around the city) it has great night life and it is very affordable, making it a desirable destination for backpackers. I found Kraków to be much more ‘touristy’ than the other parts of Poland I visited, but I feel the hustle and bustle adds to the city’s fun and up-beat atmosphere.
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| St. Mary's Basilica, Krakow |
I loved so much about this city. However, I have narrowed down a list of my
top 7 reasons why you should visit Kraków.
Stroll around the Old Town
Stare Miasto is
the oldest part of the city, and is where most of the city’s attractions are
concentrated. The entire Old Town is
protected as a UNESCO world heritage site for its outstanding cultural and
historical significance. Kraków is a
compact city, meaning the Old Town can easily be seen on foot. The architecture here is beautiful, with many
time periods throughout history represented.
Kraków has been an important city throughout its long history, being a
thriving centre of religion, trade and academia.
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| Florian's Gate, Old Town |
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| Florianska, Old Town |
Browse through the shops in the colourful Florianská shopping
street, rewind to the past at the gothic-style barbican and explore the city’s
vast collection of over 120 beautifully decorated Roman Catholic churches. All streets in the centre of town lead to the city’s grand centrepiece – the Rynek Główny market square. This impressive square is the largest of its
kind in Europe, framed by stunning landmarks such as St. Mary’s Basilica with
its iconic pair of Gothic towers, the grand Cloth Hall which now houses a cute
indoor market, and the Wieża Ratuszowa
bell tower. Visitors are able to climb
the bell tower for a small charge via a spiral of stone steps, giving excellent
views over the city.
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| View over Krakow from Bell Tower |
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| Cloth Hall Market |
Visit Wawel Hill
Wawel Hill is a fortified outcrop on the banks of the Wisła
River, forming the southernmost part of the Old Town. There is a concentration of important
religious landmarks and former royal and political palaces in this part of the
city, including the stunning Wawel Cathedral ‘Katedra Wawelska’ and the fascinating Royal Wawel Castle, which
dates back as far as the 1300s and now houses an art gallery. Wawel Castle was for centuries the seat of
Polish royalty, which reflects today in the richly decorated architecture.
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| Wawel Cathedral |
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| Wawel Cathedral |
Legend says that an evil fire-breathing dragon ‘Smok Wawelski’ once terrorised Wawel
Hill, until being slayed by a heroic prince.
The story is centuries old, and visitors are today able to see the Wawel
Dragon’s cave along with a 6 meter bronze ‘fire-breathing’ statue, designed by
Polish sculptor Bronisław Chromy in 1969.
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| Wawel Hill |
Relax in the city’s
green spaces
During medieval times, Krakow’s Old Town was surrounded by
fortified walls. Asides from the
Barbican, these walls no longer remain. Nowadays
a park surrounds Stare Miasto, which
is ablaze with colour when the summer flowers are in bloom. This is a perfect place to relax with a
picnic, or simply take a relaxing stroll after a long day sightseeing.
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| Old Town Gardens |
Visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial
Most people will know of the atrocious events which took
place in Nazi-occupied Poland during World War II, however seeing the
Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camps first hand was truly a
life changing experience. Group tours
take visitors around the camps, allowing people to learn more about the dark
history and to pay tribute to the estimated 1.1 million people who lost their
lives here in appalling conditions. The
tour was extremely informative, but deeply upsetting. Visitors are able to visit former living
quarters, working quarters and gas chambers.
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| Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial |
The memorial is located in the town of Oświęcim, roughly
70km from Kraków. Access is easy by
train or bus from Karków, or more easily by one of the many organised group
tours which can be booked easily across the city. To find out more about visiting the
Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial, or to make reservations, follow this link.
Delve beneath the surface at Wieliczka salt mines
Also listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, the salt mines
in Wieliczka allows visitors to delve deep underground into the extensive mine
shafts which have been worked for hundreds of years. The tour offers a window into mining history
and culture as well as an insight into the area’s natural history. Wieliczka is roughly 14km from the centre of
Kraków and can be easily reached by train or bus. Entry to the mines is around 79 złoty when
booking online, but many tour operators across the city offer discounted group
tours with transport.
Explore Krakow’s Jewish Quarter
Once a separate city in its own right, the Jewish district
of Kazimierz is now fully integrated into the heart of Kraków. I loved this part of town, and found it
offered a completely different atmosphere and cultural landscape to that of Stare
Miasto. Kazimierz was founded in early medieval
times by King Casimir III, who named the city after himself. Religious diversity has been important to the
culture of Kazimierz throughout history; churches and synagogues stand side by
side as Freedom of Worship was granted by Duke Bolesław Pobożny in the 13th
century. However, severe hardship hit
Jewish communities during the Nazi invasion of World War II, which caused
devastation in Kazimierz. However in
recent decades, the district has seen a lease of new life, with the restoration
of the streets and squares to their former glory. It’s lovely to stroll around this colourful
part of town and soak in the relaxed, bohemian atmosphere, but also to
appreciate the resistance which the people of Kazimierz have shown to the hardships
they have faced as a community.
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| Street market in Kazimierz |
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| Jewish heritage in Kazimierz |
Enjoy the lively
night life
Kraków is home to many bars and clubs and really comes alive
when it gets dark! I had an amazing time
getting to know the local people and other backpackers over a glass or two (or
three!) of Polish wódka! There was a real fun atmosphere in the city,
the Polish really know how to party!
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| Krakow by night |
I've given Kraków the maximum backpackability score of 5, meaning it is very suitable for backpackers and budget travelers. For a more detailed explanation of the backpackability index, see this post.
I fell in love with Poland and the Polish people during my visit. Everyone I met was extremely friendly and made me feel so welcome. Wrocław and Kraków are very different cities, with different histories and architectures. However both had the Polish charm which I fell in love with on this trip. As always, thank you for reading!
I fell in love with Poland and the Polish people during my visit. Everyone I met was extremely friendly and made me feel so welcome. Wrocław and Kraków are very different cities, with different histories and architectures. However both had the Polish charm which I fell in love with on this trip. As always, thank you for reading!
