Krakow is undoubtedly Poland’s tourist gem and one of the most frequently visited cities in Europe. Located close to other countries, with own Airport, well railway system and highways, and in general great infrastructure, it’s totattly smooth to go there. Thanks to its beauty (or perhaps this is just local legend), it survived wars and was once the capital of Poland. Its historical fame and power stem from its proximity to salt mines. For this reason, salt was almost as valuable as gold, as it was used to preserve food. The city is called Kraków (other languages: Krakau, Kroke, Krakkó, Cracow, Cracovia). It’s one of the most beautiful cities I’ve ever visited, and here I’ll share with you what’s worth seeing and experiencing if you’re planning a trip there or are already planning to. Krakow’s Old Town is easily accessible on foot, so there’s no need to use public transportation.

Main Square of Krakow (Rynek Główny) and Town Hall Tower

I recommend starting with visiting the bustling Main Market Square. There are several pleasant cafes where you can just sit and watch the city go by. If you are comming with train, it’s walkable. During the day, it’s full of cars, horses, strollers, and so on. If you want to get a better feel for the city, I recommend climbing the Town Hall Tower (pictured above). If you’re new to Poland, it’s a typical Polish town square with a single main church, the focal point of the city. Other streets branch off from the market square (the center). This area can be busy with horses, especially during the weekends.

From the tower of the City Hall there is a beautiful view of the Main Square. Inside there is a small museum with vintage style Polish clothing. There is also the “Mayor’s Ring” of Krakow. The ring was given to the mayor as a symbol of power, along with the scepter. The year of manufacture is engraved on the golden ring – 1532. We know from the City Council’s pedicure record that the worn ring eye was replaced in 1590. The mayor’s ring was also a signet ring, so a hard sapphire was used for his eye.

It shows the city coat of arms: a fragment of the city walls with three towers and an open door with a miniature eagle. This is one of the earlier depictions of the Kraków coat of arms with an eagle on the door, officially recognized as part of the Kraków coat of arms in 1661. The same coat of arms can be found on the door of the Lord’s room.

Wawel Royal Castle

The most famous landmark in Krakow is the Wawel Royal Castle. It is located right next to the Vistula River (Wisła) and a little uphill. It was built and used by kings and royals in previous centuries. Since it was built in one era, but continued to be built and modified over hundreds of years, it is now a mixture of different architectural styles. What is interesting to me is how the castle itself is isolated from the rest of the people by walls, but also by natural boundaries (the river and the hill). It seems as if the aristocracy never wanted to interfere.

This was where Oskar Schindler’s office was located during the war. You probably heard about it after the movie Schindler’s List (1993). Krakow itself used to have a large Jewish community. Today, unfortunately, there are only names for it, for example “Jewish Square” (Kazimierz). This square is now popular for eating.

Vistula River on Boat

Vistula is the largest and most important Polish river. It connects the Polish mountains in the south with the Baltic Sea in the north. In Krakow, this river shaped the whole city. Cruises are very popular both day and night. The view from the ship is incredible and provides a unique experience. Some operators offer private tours, and some of them offer drinks included in the price.

Oldest University in Poland

If you are in Krakow and if you are interested in architecture or historical building, I recommend to visit Jagiellonian University in Old Town. It’s oldest Univeristy in Poland and it’s part of Old Town of Krakow. It’s also part of UNESCO Protected Zone.

MNK Sukiennice

Located in center, Krakow MNK Sukiennice or cloth hall is place where you can buy plenty of souvenirs about Krakow. This is also great place for gifts, postcards, t-shirt, begs and similar accesorries.

Bulwar Wołyński

Just across the Wistula River ” Bulwar Wołyński” if offering amazing views and great place for chilling. There is nice place called “Hala Forum”, just next to the park where you can eat or drink. This is place is usally overcrowded during the sunny weekends so have that in mind.

Night Vibes

Krakow is one of the best cities in Poland for night life. It’s full of young people, plenty of pubs and clubs and offering many spaces to have fun. Some of the clubs and pubs are located in Old Town, and if you just take a walk during the weekends you will see many of them. Na zdrowie.

Polish Trains

Traveling in Poland can be very enjoyable, but you need to have a reserved ticket. To avoid hours of sitting at the bar (like me), book your ticket in advance. Also, if you are traveling on weekends, keep in mind that the trains will probably be completely full. The great thing about Polish trains is that you can take your bikes with you. There is usually a special carriage on the train for bikes. I really enjoyed traveling on Polish trains and the mobile bars inside them. The railway system is very comfortable for long journeys. Trains from Krakow run daily to other major cities, such as Warsaw, Poznań, Białystok or Gdańsk.

Note: on Polish trains (PKP Intercity) it is always possible to buy a ticket, even without a seat reservation, which is very common if you buy a ticket at the last minute. It is not uncommon for passengers to stand in the corridors, or to sit in an empty seat until someone with a reservation for that seat arrives. If you’re lucky, you can get in with a ticket without a reservation and get a seat.

Interesting about Krakow

It is one of the few cities that was not destroyed in the Second World War. Local legends say that it was beautiful to have war lines inside the city and that is why the Germans in 1939, but also the Russians in 1944, did not want to enter the city. They preferred to besiege or fight battles outside the city. According to local stories, the Germans wanted to save and keep Krakow as an example of a “typical old German city”.

If you check Krakow on Google Maps, there is a very visible green belt around the Old Town of Krakow. It’s very rare to see something like this on maps, but there’s a story behind it. The green strip used to be the city walls. After the walls were destroyed, plants were planted and to this day they create shadows in this incredible city. Another local story says that the Slavic word for easy girl comes from the walls of Krakow. (mur – wall).