Krakow Things to Do

This is Poland's main Cathedral and contains what is considered to be the national mausoleum. Around 1020, the first church was built on this spot, followed by a larger building in the 12th century....

I much hesitated to join the VT euromeet for the visit to Auschwitz and Birkenau. The reason may sound paradoxical, I feel too much concerned, impregnated by WW II and its horrors. I was a child when...

The Tempel Synagogue was finished in the 1862 as a religious home for the non-orthodox (reformed) Jews. The design inspired by Leopoldstädter Tempel in Vienna. It survived the Nazi years where it was...

The Rynek, Krakows market square, is Europe's largest market square. However, it reached its size only after the old town hall – which once stood in the middle of the square – was pulled down in 1820....

A World Class Attraction: "The Salt Mine of Wieliczka" Note: Temperature in the Wieliczka Salt Mine stays uniform 15 degrees Celsius, i.e. 59 Fahrenheit, round the year. Except it's closed on...

The Basilica of the Assumption of Our Lady (often just called St. Mary's) is the best known church in the city, though it is not the most important one (that's Wawel Cathedral). St. Mary's was first...

The surviving fragment of Krakow's city wall opposite the Barbakan, where students and amateur artists hang their paintings for sale in the summer, contains the Renaissance Municipal Arsenal, which...

This beautiful market hall was built in the 16th century with a mixture of Gothic and Renaissance styles. Well, the Gothic styles date are partly from the old 13th century Cloth Hall which burned down...

The old town hall was pulled down in 1820 to create the big spaces we all love at market square. Only the Gothic clocktower remained. It dates back to the 13th century but got its present appearance...

On the way from the market square to Wawel Hill, you may come along a church with statues of the twelve apostles in front of it. That's St. Peter and Paul, Krakóws finest Baroque church. The church...

Founded in 1364, the University of Krakow is amongst the oldest in the world. King Wladislaw II. Jagiello bought that former noble mansion from the Anjou family for the University in 1400 which became...

If you are looking for bar, pubs, restaurants and little shops – this is the street to go to in Kraków. Florianska Street is busy day and night and has something for everyone. The street leads from...

Zakopane is in the Tatra mountains of south Poland 110km [ 68 miles] from Krakow. Can be reached by train or bus from Krakow, bus is far quicker [2hours journey]. It is a pretty place of wooden...

When I visited Krakow in 2006 the museum in Schindler's Emalia factory had not yet opened, although it was planned. When I visited in 2010 I missed the opening by just a few weeks. So I was very...

Muzeum Czartoryskich: This museum was founded in 1796 by Princess Izabela Czartoryska to preserve the Polish heritage in keeping with the Princess' motto: "The Past to the Future". It is the oldest...

The bright yellow Slowacki Theatre (Teatr im. Juliusza Slowackiego) is a architectural masterpiece of Jan Zawiejski. It was finished in 1893 after some medieval buildings had to make way for...

This stunning statue commemorates the victory over the Teutonic Knights in 1410. At the top on his horse is the King of Poland Władysław Jagiełło, his sword pointing downwards in...

The third most important church of Krakow is the Basilica of Corpus Christi (Kosciol Bozego Ciala) located in the district of Kazimierz. It is a huge structure mainly of bricks whose construction...

This lovely park transects the city. There are numerous paths, benches and bagel stands amongst the planted trees and flowers. Its a nice place to take a morning stroll or later in the day. A quieter...

St. Andrew's Church is old, built in 1086. It has kept much of its Romanesque exterior, however, as soon as one gets inside the experience is totally different: it's all Baroque from 17-18th...

The Gallery of Polish Arms and Uniforms with a 1200 m² display area on the ground floor has been renovated in 2009. Over 1600 objects show Polish military history from the 10th c. to WW II. The...

Ulica Kanonicza is my favoured street in Krakow Stare Miasto. Quiet street, no souvenirs shops, no travel offices, kebab, ice-cream, or burger shops like in Florianska street.. Just dignified houses...

In this square is always something to do. There are street performers, stalls, cafes and restaurants. A very cozy square to view or without specific purpose just enjoy and relax in one of the cafe or...

All of the attractions I have written about so far were introduced to me during two of Krakow's free walking tours. Put on by FreeWalkingTour.com, visitors can explore Jewish Krakow daily at 11:30...

You can't miss this little cuboid church in the SE corner of Rynek Glowny. It's one of the oldest churches in the city, dating back to the 11th century (1000s), although there was a wooden church on...