Krakow is the most popular tourist spot in Poland. It’s in the south of the country and has a well-preserved old town, a castle, and beautiful riverfronts. The city also has reminders of World War II and the Holocaust.
We started my recent trip to Poland, the Baltic countries, and Finland from Krakow. We flew with Wizz Air from Eindhoven, Netherlands. Krakow airport is about 12 km from the city, and the easiest way to get to the city center is by train, which takes 20 minutes and is very convenient.
We spent a little over two days in Krakow. We visited Auschwitz, a Nazi concentration camp, for half a day. The rest of the time, we explored various places in Krakow. We can break down our visit into the following parts.
Old town
The Old Town is the main attraction for tourists in Krakow. It’s beautiful, with nice streets and many historical buildings. The key part of the Old Town is the town square, which has many restaurants. Important places in the Old Town include the Barbican, St. Florian’s Gate, St. Mary’s Basilica, Market Arcade, Town Hall Tower, Church of St. Wojciech, Saints Peter and Paul Church, St. Andrew’s Church, and the Holy Trinity Church. The town square is the best place to spend evenings, enjoy the atmosphere, and eat at one of the restaurants.
Wawel castle
Wawel Castle is part of the Old Town, located on its southern side. It’s built on a small hill next to the Vistula River. Because it’s on high ground, it offers great views of the city.
Kazimierz
Kazimierz was the Jewish quarter in Krakow. In 1941, the Nazis forced the Jews into ghettos. Most people died either in the ghetto or in concentration camps. The Remuh Synagogue is a nice place to visit in Kazimierz.
The Jewish Ghetto Memorial is built to remember those who suffered under the Nazis in Krakow.
Krakow has many museums, and we visited the one at Oskar Schindler’s enamel factory. The movie ‘Schindler’s List’ inspired me to visit. The factory didn’t have much about Schindler’s life but focused on the German occupation of Krakow. If you want to learn about this dark chapter of Europe’s history, this museum is a good place to visit.
Information and tips
- We stayed at a hotel near the Old Town and walked most of the time, only taking the tram once. There are many vegetarian options in the city.
- Plan to spend 1-2 days in Krakow city. Nearby places to visit include Auschwitz, the Salt Mine, and Zakopane.
- Poland uses its own currency, the Zloty. You probably won’t need much cash, but there are many currency exchange centers in the Old Town.
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