Sights of Krakow: what to see and where to go. What to see and where to go in Krakow What to visit around Krakow
Krakow, according to one of the legends, is named after the prince of Krak, who founded this city in the 10th century. At the beginning of the 11th century, a small city, having received the status of the capital of the state, began to rapidly develop and expand, turning into the main residence of the Polish kings. During its existence, Krakow has experienced major political and military uprisings more than once, but has managed to retain its “face” of a cultural and scientific center. It has many ancient monuments, cathedrals, which are real works of architecture of different directions.
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Ghetto Heroes Square
Among the many sights of Krakow, there is one place that reflects the sad events in Polish history. This is the Ghetto Heroes Square. The memorial cast-iron and bronze chairs standing on the paving stones stand out especially here. They symbolize the tragedy of the Jews of Krakow, imprisoned in the ghetto by the German occupiers during World War II. The Ghetto Heroes Square is located on the spot where in 1941 the Nazis drove all the Jews of the city behind the fence. More than 20,000 people lived in this territory with their belongings and furniture in inhuman conditions. From here, the inhabitants of the ghetto were transported to Auschwitz.
Modern Art Museum
In 2004, the municipality of Krakow bought the building of the former Schindler's factory to create a museum of contemporary art in it. A few years after the reconstruction, the factory pavilions were transformed into an avant-garde building with a glass facade and gabled roofs. The museum is divided into several thematic zones. The spacious halls present interesting works that personify the current problems of society. These are expositions of conceptual art, collections of paintings by contemporary artists, sculptural compositions, photographs and performances with audiovisual accompaniment. Several cinema halls show short films that make museum visitors think about life.
Catacombs under the Market Square
Under the Market Square of Krakow is a local history museum. This unique institution reflects the history of the medieval city. The exhibition was opened in 2010 after six years of archaeological excavations. As a result of the research, ancient fragments of houses, structures, monuments, sidewalks and the market were found. The museum, located at a depth of four meters, is an amazing labyrinth of the medieval streets of Krakow. Here you can see ancient walls, coins, vases, shopping carts. Among the exhibits there are multimedia displays equipped with touch screens with holograms. Modern technical equipment recreates the atmosphere of an archaic settlement.
Museum of Polish Aviation
On the territory of one of the oldest military airfields in Europe, in the suburbs of Krakow, there is a museum of Polish aviation. Real airplanes, helicopters, gliders and engines are presented here. The museum has more than 200 units of aviation equipment of different eras, both civil and military. The models are housed in four sections of the building, built in the form of a rotating propeller, as well as on the former airport runway. The museum has a cinema hall, a library, a flight simulator that imitates the cockpit, information stands and interactive displays. Particularly impressive is the alley where the Soviet MiG fighters stand.
Juliusz Slowacki Theater
The square of the Holy Spirit is dominated by a majestic palace built in 1893. This is one of the most famous theaters in Europe, named after the outstanding Polish poet and playwright Juliusz Slowacki. The building is considered a masterpiece of eclectic architecture, embodying a layering of different styles. The sand facade of the building is decorated with numerous bas-reliefs, a portico with pilasters, balustrades, sculptures, massive arched windows and cornices.
The building is crowned with baroque domes. Architectural decorations give the building sophistication and pomposity. The interior of the palace is no less impressive than the exterior. The halls are painted with frescoes by Austrian artists. The theater has four stages where modern and classical dramas, operas, musicals, and comedies are staged.
Church of Saints Peter and Paul
The Krakow Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, consecrated in 1635, is the first baroque church in Poland. The church, built of dolomite and brick, is surrounded by a forged fence, in front of which 12 statues of the apostles rise on pedestals. The three-tier facade of the temple is decorated with pilasters with ornate capitals, pediments, bas-reliefs, niches with statues. The building of the basilica is single-nave with attached chapels and a semicircular apse. The building is crowned with an elegant large dome.
The interior of the church is quite modest and monumental. In the main hall, which is framed by an arched arcade, there are carved benches for parishioners. The vault of the apse is decorated with bas-reliefs depicting scenes of the life and death of the apostles Peter and Paul. Noteworthy is the main altar, which is a marble pedestal with gilded sculptures. In the center is a picturesque panel "Giving the keys to St. Peter." In the chapels you can see many paintings and sculptures created according to all the canons of the Roman Catholic Church.
Basilica of the Holy Trinity
Not far from Krakow's Market Square stands an example of Gothic architecture - the Basilica of the Holy Trinity. The temple was erected in the middle of the 13th century under the leadership of the Catholic missionary Jacek Odrowonzh. The church is a stronghold of tonsured monks who devote their lives to serving God. The basilica consists of three naves. They have ten chapels. The brick facade of the building is decorated with lancet windows with ornate lattices. The temple is crowned with a large stepped pediment with Gothic turrets. The entrance to the basilica leads through the annex. It is decorated with three graceful arches and pediments decorated with bas-reliefs.
Tourists often ask the question, how many days should they allocate to visit Krakow? I think that it is desirable to set aside 2-3 days for Krakow itself. In addition, it is convenient to travel from Krakow to the Auschwitz Museum, the salt mine in Wieliczka and the Tatra Mountains, which is one more day extra. What do I recommend to do in Krakow during these 3 days? So, my advice for a summer visit to Krakow.
1. First of all, take a walk along the streets of the Old Town, take a look at the royal Wawel Hill, feel the atmosphere of the city and accumulate questions! After that, with ripened curiosity, it will be much more pleasant to walk around the city with a guide, check your guesses, wonder how you didn’t notice something when you walked around yourself, and generally get a more complete picture of the city.
2. Required see the city from a bird's eye view! In Krakow, this can be done in many ways.
a. Climb the high tower Mary's Church. (Wieza Mariacka) 
Tower Hours: Tue. - sub. 9:10 am - 5:30 pm (entry every 30 minutes) Sun: 13:10-17:30 (every 30 minutes) Break: 11:30–13:10. Closed on Mondays.
Tickets: normal PLN 15, children 7-18 years PLN 10
Free days: no.
The address: plac Mariacki 5.
b. Climb the city hall tower. Of the "pluses" - the ticket is cheaper than the tower of St. Mary's Church. Of the "minuses" - a review of only three sides. 
Opening hours: Mon. - Sun. 10.30 - 18.00. Closed every first Tuesday of the month. Last entry 30 min. before closing.
Tickets: normal PLN 9, preferential PLN 7
Free days: Monday.
The address: Rynek Glowny 1.
in. Go to the panoramic cafe on the roof of the Academy of Music (Akademia Muzyczna). From the "pros" - located in the center and at the same time you can have a very inexpensive meal. Of the "minuses" - in the summer it does not work on Saturday and Sunday. And from July 30 to August 19, 2018, it does not work at all.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9.00-16.00. Closed from 30.07 to 19.08. 2018.
The address: ul. Sw. Tomasza 43, 6th floor.
10. And finally, I’ll tell you what you need to taste in Krakow! Number one on the list is Polish National Soup zhurek (żurek), which was an obligatory dish even at royal feasts! Next comes the dish 
name bigos (bigos)– the amount of meat in it will give you an accurate idea of the Polish generous character! When choosing a salad, stop at a set of raw vegetable salads called surowki (surówki) very tasty, healthy and inexpensive! Walking around Kazimierz, have a snack casserole (zapiekanka), it is believed that this baked cheese and mushroom sandwich comes from this part of Krakow. Also, be sure to try Krakow obvazhanek (obwarzanek), a product with a registered geographical indication, so you can only buy it in Krakow! 
In one article, of course, it is impossible to reflect everything that can and should be seen and tried in Krakow, but now you have some guidelines! Book excursions with me, study my other materials about the sights of Krakow: 25 Krakow museums that you can visit for free, and enjoy your trip to the royal city of Krakow!
Elena Kalachidi, your guide in Krakow.
Although we visited Krakow on the way back home from Slovenia to St. Petersburg, I decided to write about it now in order to logically complete a series of articles about Poland.
Krakow has been the capital of Poland for over 500 years and houses about 25% of all museums in the country. The Old Town of Krakow and the Jewish district of Kazimierz were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List back in 1978. Then the list included only 12 other places on the planet. Krakow made the list along with the Egyptian pyramids and the Great Wall of China. Now the World Heritage List includes about 900 sites.
The most important sights of Krakow are the Old Town in the Planty ring (a park on the site of the former city walls), if you look at the map, this place is clearly visible, the Wawel Castle adjoining it, the Jewish district of Kazimierz and the Schindler factory. It is proposed to go around all these places on a special excursion transport for only 140 zlotys (about 32 €), but it is quite possible to get around all this on foot, excluding only Schindler's factory. It is located on the other bank of the Vistula, a little away. If you do not want to visit the museum, now located in the building of the former Schindler's factory, then there is no great need to go there, the building itself is not interesting from the outside.
Sightseeing transport in Krakow
You may want to find yourself guided tours in Russian around Krakow. To do this, I would recommend that you read the article - Four sites specializing in the selection of excursions around the world.
In Krakow, tourists ride on the most beautiful horse teams, but it’s even scary to think how much this pleasure can cost if an excursion on a motorized chaise costs 32 € per person.
horse carts Very close to Krakow is the famous Wieliczka salt mine, Stanisław Lem's garden of experiments, the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum, this is the former Auschwitz. But in one day, alas, it is impossible to grasp the immensity, you can only run along the most significant sights of the city center, look at the huge Polish churches, ancient streets, enjoy the excellent panorama of the Vistula, which opens from the Wawel walls. At the time when we visited Krakow, there was a festival of Catholic youth, which is probably why there were just a lot of people in the city. It was practically impossible to enter the churches, the crowd began already at the door.
We took the tram to the Kraków Główny stop and walked around the city center all day. There is no metro in Krakow (the population is only 700 thousand), and the tram service is very well developed. The organization of public transport is very similar to what I described in the article. Tickets can be bought directly from the vending machine inside the tram, the language can be Russian. At the Kraków Główny station, the Tourist Information office is located, where you can get a free map of the city center with marked sights and other brochures.
The monumental building of the theater was the first to appear before our eyes.
Drama Theater named after Juliusz Slovacki Market Square in Krakow
Krakow has the largest medieval square in Europe (200x200 m). The square itself was created in 1257, simultaneously with the granting of the Magdeburg Law to Krakow. And until now, the square has retained its commercial significance, although now only food and souvenirs are sold on it, no live goats and chickens, as was the case in the Middle Ages. And as expected in a decent market, of course, artists perform to keep potential buyers longer.
Local entertainers The Church of St. Mary (St. Mary's Church) and the Church of St. Adabelbert were founded earlier than the formation of the Main Market Square, and Cloth Rows (Sukennice) and the town hall later than this date. Until the beginning of the 19th century, there was a cemetery around St. Mary's Church right on the square. And right under the Market Square, the Underground Museum is now working, since the square is so old, a lot has gone underground and right there they have designed a historical exposition.
The Church of St. Adabelbert also went underground. which is not surprising at her age, you can also go down to the dungeon of the church for a fee. St. Adalbert's Church is the oldest in Krakow and one of the smallest. It is believed that it was founded in the X century. The church acquired its modern appearance in the 18th century.
The youngest monument on the Old Market Square is the monument to the Polish poet Adam Mickiewicz, erected only in 1898, Mickiewicz is the same for Poles as Pushkin is for us. By the way, Mickiewicz was well acquainted with Russian writers, including Pushkin, then they lived in the same country.
Monument to Polish poet Adam Mickiewicz When you look at the pretty multi-colored houses surrounding the square, you can’t say that they are 500-600 years old. We went to one store, it turned out that behind the old facade there is a modern shopping center, which very harmoniously combines modern commercial equipment and very ancient walls, in places old masonry is visible.
Houses in the market square 
Houses on the Market Square cloth rows
Cloth rows were first built on the market square in the 13th century, during the time of Casemir the Great, but the 108-meter building sunk into oblivion as a result of a fire in 1555. Cloth halls were rebuilt in a much more impressive form with stairs and a loggia, and in the form that we can see now, the cloth halls acquired in the 19th century. Inside, on the ground floor there are numerous souvenir shops, and on the second floor there is a gallery of 19th century art, part of the National Museum of Krakow.
cloth rows Mary's Church
One of the main decorations of the Main Market Square in Krakow is St. Mary's Church, famous for its medieval wooden altar by Wit Stvosh. The altar was shown in the Eagle and Tails program. Unfortunately, we were not able to see this miracle. The church was packed with people. Photography is prohibited there. The interior makes an indelible impression, the starry sky is depicted on the vault and there is practically not a single unpainted section of the walls or ceiling inside the church. From the inside, St. Mary's Church is almost all multi-colored.
St. Mary's Church, facade, rear view, courtyard nearby A lot of streets diverge from the market square, but two of them stand out - these are Florianska and Grozdska, they were once part of the Royal Road.
Florian street
Florianska Street is one of the oldest in Krakow, where you can write a book about every house, one of its ends rests on the Florianska Gate. At the moment, these are the only gates preserved in Krakow, previously there were 8 and 47 towers.
Florian street and Florian gate Medieval walls adjoin the Florian Gate. The total length of the walls was about 3 km. In the XIX century, most of the city walls were demolished by the Austrian authorities after the partition of Poland, they rightly feared. that the rioters might take cover behind them. In place of the destroyed walls, a park was laid out - Planty.
Walls of Krakow next to Florian's Gate Restaurant Yama Michalika
Already in the evening we went to the famous Krakow restaurant Yama Michalika, also located on Florianska Street. The institution is over 100 years old and has been awarded a separate article on Wikipedia. The bottom line is that it is written on the Internet that the entrance to the folklore show costs some money, but they didn’t take anything from us, we paid only for food. We didn’t know about the show at all in advance, we just found the address of the restaurant in the guidebook and that’s it.
restaurant Yama Michalika on Florianska street It’s quite dark inside, so the photos didn’t turn out, but the video turned out. The food is tasty, but it is not enough, the portions could be bigger. Therefore, if you want to eat a lot, you need to choose another place, and if you want to look at Polish folk dances, then Pit Michalika is not even bad.
Barbican
The barbican came to European military architecture from the Arab world. Usually the Barbican was built into the walls of the city. The Krakow barbican stands at a distance of about 100 meters from the walls of the city as a separate structure, just opposite the Florian Gate. The thickness of the walls of the Barbican in some places reaches three meters, and there are about 130 embrasures on the sides.
Barbican Grozdskaya street
Then we continued our walk along the former Royal Route, which connects the Florian's Gate and the Wawel Castle. On Grozdskaya Street, we were surprised by the Pod Aniolami restaurant, which decorates its interior with bunches of overgrown dill. In Krakow, in addition to traditional restaurants of Polish and Italian cuisine, which you will not surprise anyone anywhere, there are also restaurants of Georgian and Ukrainian cuisine.
Restaurant on Grodzka Street 
Souvenir seller in national clothes The Church of Peter and Paul stands on Grozdskaya Street. This is one of the first buildings in Krakow, built in the Baroque style, decorated with typical Jesuit pomp. For a short time at the beginning of the 19th century it was an Orthodox church.
Church of Peter and Paul The Polish nuns surprised me the most. They organized numerous events on the streets as part of the Catholic Youth Festival, sang and simply campaigned for faith in God in two languages in turn, first part of the speech is spoken in Polish, then repeated in English, and all this without the help of translators. It seemed that men in Poland do not become monks, only women and all with knowledge of foreign languages.
Events in honor of Catholic Youth Days Wawel
The Wawel Castle is of sacred importance for the history of Poland, the Polish statehood was born on this place, all Polish kings were crowned in the Cathedral and many of them are still buried there. Unfortunately, almost nothing remained in the castle from the Middle Ages, first the Swedes during the Swedish Flood (1655-1660) ravaged Wawel, and then the Austrians, who got Krakow after the partition of Poland, set up barracks in the castle. The Swedish flood is artistically described in G. Senkevich's novel "The Flood", a film of the same name was made based on the novel. Therefore, everything that can be seen there is the result of careful restoration.
The Bernardine Gate was built already during the years of occupation during the Second World War to protect the German Governor General, who settled on the Wawel ..
Bernardine Gate and Sandomierz Tower 
Street view from the castle walls In summer, the castle is very beautiful, surrounded by greenery and flowers. And in the building covered with ivy there are ticket offices where you can buy tickets to museums located on Wawel. There were queues at the box office. We did not go to museums, because they say this event should take about 5 hours, which is not realistic in the format of visiting Krakow in one day.
At Wawel Castle, administrative building The layout of the castle clearly demonstrates its structure.
Wawel castle model You can enter the Cathedral of St. Stanislaus and Wenceslas for free, you only need to pay for using the audio guide, there is a ticket office in the building opposite. Inside the cathedral there are many sarcophagi of kings and Saints, as well as the graves of famous Polish poets, politicians, even President Lech Kaczynski and his wife are buried there, they died as a result of the Smolensk plane crash in 2010.
Wawel Cathedral of St. Stanislaus and Wenceslas John Paul II was born in a village near Krakow and spent many years of his life in the city, studied at the Jagiellonian University, so a monument to him was placed next to the Cathedral. John Paul II became the first Slav in the history of the papacy and the first Pole on the Roman throne; before that, only Italians were elevated to a high rank.
Monument to John Paul II at the Cathedral The palace houses museum exhibits.
Castle We looked at the Vistula from the cave of the legendary dragon in Krakow, they are allowed into the cave only with tickets, but after the Postojnaya pit, the tiny Krakow cave could hardly surprise us. On the largest boat on the pier is the restaurant "Stefan Batory", this historical figure is very popular in Poland.
Vistula Right under the walls of the castle on the banks of the Vistula, at the end of the 20th century, a monument to the legendary Krakow dragon was erected. The dragon spit fire for just one coin, you can even make the dragon spit fire with the help of SMS sent to a specific number. Numerous tourists climb on the pedestal and take pictures with the fire-breathing dragon, the pebble of the pedestal could make it hard to climb on it.
Mercantile gasified dragon In Krakow, it turns out that they hold a film festival and even have their own Walk of Fame, it is located very close to the dragon monument.
Walk of Fame on the Vistula embankment Kazimierz, Jewish city
We honestly walked around the Kazimierz district, a former Jewish city, and did not find anything interesting there, except for, oddly enough, Catholic churches. The Jewish ghetto during the Second World War was located on the other side of the Vistula and has nothing to do with Kazimierz. In addition, during the war, the quarter was almost destroyed and all that can be seen is the result of restoration work. The synagogues there are small and unprepossessing, the appearance of the houses is shabby, and all the architectural monuments look like ordinary houses that are not at all remarkable in appearance. The Jewish quarter of Krakow is much less interesting. And Jewish Square reminded me very much of St. Petersburg Aprashka in its worst version, just a dirty and shabby shopping area, where in unsanitary conditions you will be offered to eat street food.
I think Kazimierz became more popular with tourists thanks to Spielberg's Schindler's List. Lovers of abandoned and artistic ruins will love it there.
The white building is a synagogue But the Catholic churches located in Kazimierz are very impressive, as always huge and very richly decorated.
Basilica of the Body of God in Kazimierz In the church of St. Catherine of Alexandria and St. Margaret, we witnessed the veneration of St. Rita, her day was being celebrated. In the church there were just crowds of people with roses, symbols of the saint. The whole church was filled with people and they began to sell roses already on the approaches to the church. The spectacle of so many believers with roses amazed us. By the way, it is the Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria and St. Margaret that is considered the largest Gothic church in Krakow. It is not possible to photograph it entirely on a narrow, densely built-up street, you will have to take my word for it, the church is really huge.
Very close to the huge church of St. Catherine of Alexandria and St. Margaret is the baroque church of St. Stanislaus on the Skalka, i.e. on the hill. According to legend, the Polish king Bolesław the Bold in 1079 killed, cut into pieces the body of the Archbishop of Krakow Stanisław and threw the remains into a pond.
There, behind the gates, is the Church of St. Stanislaus and the Pauline Monastery. The body of St. Stanislaus, chopped into pieces, miraculously grew together, like Poland, first divided, and then united again. The pond, into which the remains of the Saint were thrown, was ennobled and now it almost looks like a memorial.
The pond into which the remains of St. Stanislaus were thrown by King Bolesław the Bold This is where I will finish my story about Krakow, although we still walked around the Planty park.
In contrast to Warsaw, it seemed to us that Krakow is much more popular with tourists, there were much more people on the streets. Of course, a lot of architectural and historical monuments are concentrated in Krakow, and the city was not heavily destroyed during the last war, unlike Warsaw. For a more detailed inspection, you should probably plan at least 5 days in order to have time to go to the salt mine, visit museums, and eat delicious Polish dishes in restaurants.
Krakow is a large city in Lesser Poland Voivodeship. The settlement is over 1000 years old - the first annalistic mention of Krakow dates back to 965. It is located on the Vistula - one of the famous European rivers.
In the XIV-XVII centuries, Krakow was the Polish capital, and the coronations of monarchs were carried out in this city until the XVIII century.
In Krakow, the historical center has been perfectly preserved. The second most popular is the famous Jewish quarter.
When is the best time to plan a trip?
Travelers can find a lot of interesting things in Krakow at any time of the year, but traditionally tourism peaks in summer. This is due to the holiday season, and with more comfortable weather conditions. According to statistics in June - August:
- Daytime air temperature: 22 - 24 degrees.
- Chance of precipitation: 25% - 35%.
In addition, annual events are held in Krakow in the summer:
- Vyanka holiday- an old Slavic holiday, characterized by beautiful rites, incl. the launch of maiden wreaths in the Vistula. It takes place in June on the summer solstice.
- Jewish Culture Festival- Held annually in June-July.
- jazz festival. It also takes place in July.
But, we repeat, you can find an interesting pastime in Krakow at any other time of the year, especially on big holidays:, etc.
What to see in Krakow and surroundings? Photo + description
We will describe exactly a one-day stay, point out the main and unusual sights that you can see during this time. When planning to visit several places, allow more time for it.
Salt mine in Wieliczka
It is no secret that once salt was one of the most strategic products. Therefore, a reverent attitude to the salt itself and to the places of its extraction has still been preserved.
The salt mine of Krakow is one of the most interesting places on a possible tourist route. The mine was opened in the 13th century, and the operation was carried out until the 20th century. It is all the more interesting to observe the change in mining technologies: from manual primitive ore to machine, automated.
The underground mine is located on seven different levels, which are long corridors and / or galleries, with a total length of more than 200 km.
Now the Salt Mine is an exclusively tourist site. There are chapels inside, as well as viewing platforms, souvenir tents and other tourist infrastructure facilities. The most popular are:
- Danilovich's shaft is one of the main galleries built in the 17th century.
- Chamber of Nicolaus Copernicus. A small room where a monument to the hero was erected in the 19th century in honor of his 500th birthday.
- Chapel of Saint Anthony. A cult object, cut in the 17th century in an array of green salt.
- Chamber of Casimir the Great. It was broken in the 18th century, but it got its name only in the second half of the 20th century in honor of the king who issued a decree on the regulation of the extraction and sale of salt. His bust is installed inside the chamber.
- Chapel of Saint Kinga. It is located at a depth of 101 meters underground. The saint was the patroness of salt miners, so she was treated with particular reverence in the mines. The chapel was built in the 19th century.
There are other sights to see inside the mine, however we recommend taking one of the sightseeing tours. It is not only more interesting, but also safer.
Photo scheme of the salt mine:
Panoramic photos:
Wawel Castle
This ancient castle - the former residence of kings - is located in the very center of Krakow. This is one of the largest medieval castles in Europe, the architecture of which mixes many different styles inherent in several eras.
The castle was built in the XIII - XIV centuries by order of Casimir III, and since 1978 it has been a UNESCO site.
Today, one of the most famous art museums is inside the castle. In addition, it is interesting to see other sights:
- Cathedral of Saints Stanislaus and Wenceslas - more often this religious building is simply called the Wawel Cathedral. Laid down in 1020, but rebuilt many times. In the lower tier of the temple is the tomb of the Polish kings.
- The "Vault of the Crown" is a room in which the royal regalia for coronations have been kept since the 15th century.
- The Armory is a place for storing and displaying personal belongings of kings, incl. weapons.
- Front hall.
- Royal garden.
And many other valuable, interesting and instructive objects, visiting which will be interesting for both adults and children.
Panoramic photos:
main market
Rynek Główny is the central square of what is called the "Old Town". This is one of the majestic medieval squares in Europe, which appeared in the XIII century, and occupies 40 thousand square meters. m.
In the center of the composition are the so-called. Cloth Rows is a majestic building in the style of the Italian Renaissance, which received its present appearance in the distant 1555.
On the square are also located:
- Church of St. Wojciech, which is almost a thousand years old.
- Monument to Adam Mickiewicz, erected in 1898.
- City Hall.
- Towers of St. Mary's Church.
- Church of St. Adalbert, with an archaeological museum in the basement.
Also on the Main Market Square there are a large number of cafes, restaurants, cabarets and other tourist and entertainment establishments.
At the same time, some sights of Rynek Główny need a separate story.
Panoramic photos:
cloth rows
It has already been mentioned that this is a beautiful building in the style of the Italian Renaissance of the 16th century in the center of the old city. It was erected as trading rows - the main ones in the royal capital.
At the same time, in 1555 the building was rebuilt, but initially there was an older building in its place - stone trading rows, created in 1257 by Borislav V. Less large-scale reconstruction work took place in the following years.
Today, on the top floor of the Cloth Hall is the Gallery of Polish Art (mainly works of the 19th century), which is a branch of the National. Museum of Krakow.
Panoramic photos:
St. Mary's Church
Another architectural monument of the Main Market Square. This majestic building reaches a height of 81 meters. The temple was created gradually from the XIII century, rebuilt, destroyed by raids and earthquakes and recreated again. The current appearance of the church acquired by the 19th century.
Inside you can see a large number of works of art, incl. the world-famous Crucifixion and the Altar of Swit Stvosh.
Krakow Planty
This is the famous city park of Krakow. The huge array is interesting both in itself and because it is a natural boundary, within which the Old Town is located.
The park was laid out in the 19th century on the site of fortifications that strengthened old Krakow in the Middle Ages. Now these are 8 sites connected with each other, each of which is interesting for review.
The park has a huge number of attractions and monuments, among which are the following:
- Chapel of St. Gertrude (1710).
- Wyspiansky's painting "Plants in the Light" (1894).
- Monument to Grazhina and Litavor (1884).
- Statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary the Loving (1771).
- Monument to Nicolaus Copernicus (1953).
- Monument to Frederic Chopin (1890).
- Monument to Lilla Veneda (1885).
- Monument to Jadwiga and Jagiello (1886).
- Monument to Boyan (1886).
- Monument to Florian Strashevsky (1874).
As well as a huge number of other equally interesting places for excursions and walks.
Other sights and places of interest to see
We talked about the most popular places for tourists, but there are much more attractions in Krakow. These are historical places, and entertaining, and, conversely, shrouded in a tragic, but instructive past:
- Kazimierz and the Jewish Quarter.
- Barbican.
- Florian Gate.
- National Museum.
Not far (60 km) from Krakow is the tragically famous Auschwitz-Birken Museum.
There is also a water park in Krakow. You can read more about it in .
Look at the map where to eat cheaply
After long and interesting walks, you will definitely want to have a bite to eat. It is not difficult to do this - cafes, especially in the historical center, are located at every step.
We will present approximate prices in various establishments, the prices in which are current at the time of writing. Of course, they may change over time, but they will give a general idea of the cost of a meal.
A full meal in a good restaurant will cost from 20 euros, but there are enough other places in Krakow where you can have a tasty and inexpensive meal. Here are some of those where you can eat a full meal for about 4 - 5 euros, and located in places popular with tourists:
More catering establishments can be viewed on the map:
What to try? Local menu
In addition to traditional European or exotic dishes, in Poland, and in Krakow in particular, a regional me, with its own characteristics, has formed. We think it's worth a try:
- żurek po krakowsku - the first meat dish with bran and flour;
- barszcz czerwony krakowski - Krakow-style borscht;
- pierogi łomniczańskie - dumplings or dumplings;
- kapuśniak z grzybami - soup with mushrooms and cabbage;
- strojcowskie zawijoki z ziemniaków - cabbage rolls stuffed with potatoes and mushrooms;
- obwarzanek Krakowski - bagels baked using the original method;
- bryndza podhalańska - local bryndza (cheese).
Bon appetit, but be careful with unusual dishes so as not to spoil the rest.
Where to stay for the night?
If you decide to visit Krakow for more than 1 day, or if you change plans, you can always spend the night in the city. There is no shortage of such services, and prices depend on the level of comfort.
It is better to look at the prices for presidential suites directly on the websites of hotels, but we will present a small overview of budget establishments in Krakow. Prices are per room for two or more people and may vary depending on the season.
| Institution | The address | Price per night, euro |
|---|---|---|
| PURO Krakow Kazimierz | ul. Halicka 14a | 52 |
| Flower Residence | ul. Krowoderska 62 | 46 |
| InPoint Centrum Apartments Depending on age and interests, you can visit a restaurant or a nightclub. During the tourist season, many venues host concerts and festivals. Krakow is a modern European city, and you can find entertainment in it at any time of the day. What can you bring from Krakow?Of course, souvenirs that will remind you of the trip. There are a lot of similar goods in popular tourist places, you just need to remember that most of them are open until 17:00. At the same time, when you get to Krakow during the sales season, you can also make profitable purchases:
Everyone will be able to choose a purchase to taste, including gifts for relatives and friends. Krakow is a beautiful European city that combines antiquity with the most modern technologies and trends. You can devote many hours of interesting and instructive walks to this city. We hope that we were able to suggest the main directions, and helped not to waste time. |
Polish Krakow arose on the border with the Czech state and throughout its history remains one of the most politically and culturally significant cities in the country. The sights of Krakow have become a colorful mixture of architectural structures, horrific historical monuments from the Second World War, a string of cafeterias and restaurants.
The charming old town, spread out on the banks of the Vistula, seems to be the authentic soul of Poland. The modern layout of Krakow corresponds almost exactly to the one dating from 1257. This is the birthplace of many great creative personalities, which is reflected in the cultural component. The diversity and diversity of Krakow make it an excellent tourist destination for people from all over the world. Not only impressive monuments are concentrated here, but also fresh energy, which can be fed in original establishments and bars.
What sights to see in Krakow in the first place
The sights of Krakow are of great value for a modern person, as they become a kind of historical textbook that visually reflects the great past of the city.
In architecture, the influence of eras is noticeable, so it will be especially interesting to spend time here for those people who are interested in unusual forms.
It is difficult to isolate the best sights of Krakow from the general picture, because the city is rich in non-standard locations. But if you set a goal and put together a plan of masterpieces or the most important monuments, then you can meet the top ten.
Top 10 top attractions in Krakow
Sightseeing tours in Krakow
Even if you have a few days to see all the sights of Krakow, it can sometimes be very difficult. This requires detailed planning and planning of routes, and it is not always possible to develop them without specific knowledge. And if the stay is also significantly limited, then you generally need to try. To help vacationers who want to visit Poland with the maximum benefit for themselves and learn more about it, there is a convenient online service.
This resource is a collection of the best guided tours that take place in Krakow. Here you can order a group or individual tour with a Russian-speaking guide, picking up something to your taste.
Krakow City Card - save on attractions and museums in Krakow
As in many European cities, Krakow has developed a system that allows you to visit popular places with the Krakow City Card tourist card. You can buy it for 2 or 3 days.
This guarantees:
the opportunity to visit 40 museums;
free round-the-clock travel by trams and buses;
the opportunity to get acquainted with other locations of the city;
spending time at music events.
A complete list of Krakow attractions that can be visited with the Krakow City Card is issued upon purchase of the card.
You can buy a card online, through the GetYourGuide service at this link>>>
Sights of Krakow and surroundings with photos and descriptions
The dignity and beauty of one of the most significant cities attracts visitors from all over the world. World-class cultural events are often organized here, which is also a big plus for a European city. The sights of Krakow in Poland have their own magical appeal, so some of them have already acquired legends and myths.
The main attractions of Krakow have received their own history, which is not always positive. The war brought its own adjustments, adding new monuments, which are now intended to be a special reminder.
Top 30 attractions in Krakow
1. Market Square and Cloth Hall
Two sights of Krakow have united in one space for a reason. Cloth Hall is a building located right in the center of the Krakow Market Square. In addition, the top floor of the building is now occupied by the National Museum, and on the 2nd floor there is a small art gallery with paintings by Polish artists.
On the square, you can not only take a few good pictures against the backdrop of a majestic building, but also buy souvenirs. The cute old market is an attractive place with its own atmosphere. Nearby there are small cafes where tourists can have a bite to eat.
2. Wawel Castle
A significant historical building has become a real symbol of Poland. The fortress has been located above the Vistula River for almost a thousand years, and during this time it has managed to survive many wars and reconstructions. A gentle road paved with paving stones leads to the building, and at the very entrance tourists are greeted by a majestic sculpture by Tadeusz Kosciuszko. Inside there is an exposition, which is dedicated to the life of the Polish kings, because for a long time the castle was their residence. Here you can also see the Wawel Dragon - Smoke, which spews fire every few minutes.
A visit to the Wawel Castle is divided into different zones, each of which received its own entry price: from 8 zlotys (140 rubles) to 25 (440 rubles).
3. Kazimierz
The Jewish quarter of Kazimierz remained a city until the 19th century, so it can be called the spiritual center of Krakow's Jews. Of the most widely known attractions, there are two unique buildings - the Church of the Body of the Lord and the Church of St. Catherine. The historic district belongs to the Old City, which in turn is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The area is pleasant for walking and allows you to mentally travel back to the era that is reflected in the film "Schindler's List", because it was filmed here. Today it is an important tourist and cultural center.
4. Cathedral of Saints Stanislaus and Wenceslas
The Cathedral was once the place where Polish kings were crowned. Here they were buried. At the moment, the Catholic Church is active. Its shape is a rectangle with 18 chapels. The building is decorated in the Gothic architectural style. Of the interesting monuments, there are dragon bones and the largest bell in Poland.
You can enter the cathedral for free. Only the entrance to the museum and the Sigmund Bell Tower is paid. The ticket price will be 12 zlotys (211 rubles) for adults and 7 (123 rubles) for children.
5. St. Mary's Church
The Catholic parish church has become an excellent example of Gothic Polish architecture. It is located on the Market Square and is a three-nave building with six chapels, two towers and an octagonal presbyter.
Most of all, the basilica became famous for the fact that four times a day a special melody is heard from the highest tower, which has become a kind of musical symbol of the city, consisting of five notes.
The church is divided into two parts: free for believers and tourist with paid entrance. The price of a regular ticket is 10 zł (176 rubles), a reduced ticket is 5 (88 rubles).
6. Ghetto Heroes Square
This is a fairly quiet and peaceful space with a tragic history. Previously, the area was used as a walled Jewish ghetto. In memory of the inhuman treatment of the inhabitants of the city, a permanent exhibition in the form of 70 iron chairs was later installed on the square.
The nearby Museum of Memory, which opened in the area in 1983, tells about life in the ghetto. Across the street from the square is Schindler's Factory with an equally sad story. Despite the heavy atmosphere, this place is worth a visit without fail.
7. Krakow Planty
Planty is a park ring that surrounds the Old Town. Previously, the city walls were located here, which were demolished in the 19th century. The first trees were planted here in 1819. The park has become one of the favorite places for locals and tourists due to the atmosphere of tranquility and unity with nature. The length of the Krakow Plants is about 3-4 km.
During the walk, visitors will be able to get acquainted with multiple monuments and various structures. Chestnuts, poplars, maples, lindens, ash trees and even exotic trees are planted here. Many artists have used Plant's image in their art.
8. Oskar Schindler Factory
Initially, the factory was engaged in the production of metal utensils and belonged to the German industrialist Oskar Schindler. Jews worked in the production shops, and they were included in that famous Schindler's List. During the hostilities, workers received shelter within the walls of the factory.
Now on the territory there is a historical museum with a permanent exhibition about the occupation regime. Full ticket - 24 zlotys (417 rubles), preferential - 18 (313 rubles), family - 55 (957 rubles). The entrance to the territory of the Factory is covered by the Krakow City Card.
9. Florian street and Florian gate
Both sights of Krakow are located in the middle of the Old Town. The name of the street, which is 335 meters long, comes from the Florian Gate. In the Middle Ages, the fortification served as the entrance to the city. One of the eight defensive towers managed to survive here in an incredible way. Today the gates are of great importance for the city. They can still lock up.
Buildings of the 14th century, souvenir shops and shops are located on Florianskaya Street. It ends with the Market Square.
10. Museum of Polish Aviation
The largest Polish aviation museum includes 150 exhibits, including a variety of aircraft and helicopters. There is also an interactive room, which presents the principles of operation of many mechanisms. In addition, you can inspect the cockpit from the position of the pilot. The exhibition is located both indoors and outdoors.
Admission fee: 15 zlotys (261 rubles) - adults, 7 (121 rubles) - children and students. The museum is free to visit on Tuesdays. For vacationers, there is also free admission with the Krakow City Card.
11. Dungeons of the Market
Under the Market Square, an equally interesting sight of Krakow was discovered, namely the Market Underground. This is one of the most entertaining archaeological museums you can ever visit. The exhibitions tell about the excavations carried out on the Market Square. Significant artifacts, stone pavements, houses and even a cemetery were found here.
12. Krakow Barbican
The northernmost component of the ancient city walls is now a historical and architectural monument. Today the barbican is a branch of the Krakow Historical Museum. It itself was built in 1498-1499 and is currently used as a venue for exciting exhibits and interesting events. The most attractive is the exterior of the fortification.
13. Collegium Maius
This is one of the oldest buildings, which is part of the Jagiellonian University of Krakow. The building is used as a museum that tells the history of the educational institution. The courtyard is decorated with Gothic arcades, statuettes of kings and knights moving at certain times, as well as local musical clocks. Here you can sit or take a walk in peace and tranquility.
14. Tower of the Krakow City Hall
The city hall is chosen by visitors, as it offers an amazing panoramic view of the city. The upper floors are used as space for a small exhibition. Inside is a spiral staircase made of stone. Stone lions greet guests at the entrance. The theater stage is located in the basement. Here you can also use the Krakow City Card.
15. Juliusz Slowacki Theater
The Krakow Drama Theater, decorated in an eclectic style, opened back in 1893. The building of amazing beauty quickly entered the list of important sights of Poland in Krakow. Sculptures of several famous cultural figures were installed on the pediment of the structure, and the interior space was decorated with frescoes.
16. Church of St. Francis of Assisi
The Roman Catholic Cathedral is located in the historical part of the city. The building is best known for its elaborate stained-glass windows and exterior Gothic architecture. There are several important religious relics here, including a replica of the Shroud of Turin. The place is breathtaking thanks to the amazing work of the architects.
17. Basilica of the Body of God
One of the largest churches in the city is built in the Gothic style. The stone building appeared in 1405 and is still a majestic architectural complex. Not only the appearance of the building attracts attention, but also the interior decoration, in particular, the main altar. On the walls there are paintings by the famous Polish artist Lukasz Porebski.
18. Church of Saints Peter and Paul
Another monument of religious architecture is a Catholic church in the Baroque style, which is active. The most interesting point is that the longest Foucault pendulum in the country hangs in the walls of the church. The interior of the temple is also striking, especially the vaults, decorated with scenes from the life of saints. Before entering, tourists are greeted by sculptures of 12 apostles.
19. Church of St. Andrew
The Roman Catholic Church is decorated in the Romanesque style and is located in the historical part of the city. The church was erected in 1079-1098 and was repeatedly destroyed. However, this practically did not affect the appearance of the building. The temple remains a defensive building with its original Romanesque form.
20. Basilica of the Holy Trinity
Another Gothic church located in the Old Town. It appeared in the 13th century and today is a functioning temple. The Dominican Church is famous for the miraculous image of the Mother of God of Ruzhantsova and the relics of St. Jacek. Inside, you can see amazing chapels and sculptures, as well as masterpiece paintings and skillful wooden details.
21. Sanctuary of Divine Mercy
The Catholic Pilgrimage Center is a modern building, the construction of which continued during the period 1999-2002. The elliptical shape of the two-story building makes this church stand out from the background of ancient buildings. Up to 5 thousand people can be here at the same time. Nearby is a military burial.
22. Mound Kosciuszko
The artificial hill was created in honor of the national hero - Tadeusz Kosciuszko. The construction was completed in 1823, and in 1860 a memorial stone was erected on the top, which was later destroyed. The war had a bad effect on this location, because it was used as an observation post. Later, the mound also suffered from natural disasters. To visit there, you will need to pay a certain fee.
23. Museum of Modern Art
The Center for Contemporary Culture appeared in 2011 and quickly became famous all over the world. Since a part of the territory of the former Schindler's Factory was chosen for the location, the architect tried to preserve the urban context and adapted the production workshops to the art site. The building is made in the spirit of neomodernism. Admission is free for tourists with Krakow City Card
24. Jewish Museum "Galicia"
Another tribute to the memory of Krakow Jews is the Museum of Culture and Jewish Life. It is located in the aforementioned Kazimierz quarter. The museum was created in 2004, and its distinguishing feature was the possibility of organizing meetings with Jews who survived the genocide. The bulk of the exhibits are photographs. Musical events are regularly held here.
25. Stained Glass Museum
The modernist building became the home of a stained-glass workshop. In 2000, a museum dedicated to stained glass art was opened here. Since the workshop is active, visitors will be able to watch the process of making stained-glass windows in real time. In addition to the main expositions, temporary exhibitions are exhibited here - modern glass works.
26. Ethnographic Museum
The museum has collected a collection that reaches 8 thousand exhibits, which are directly related to the history of Poland and Europe. For example, on the first floor there are interior rooms, there are expositions dedicated to national costumes and religion. The Krakow City Card is also valid here.
27. Krakow Zoo
There are about 260 species of different animals in the Krakow Zoo. The territory is located 8 km from the city center and is perfect for visiting with children. There are many interesting monuments and small sculptures here. In the zoo, the whole family can enjoy nature and wildlife.
28. Krakow Aquapark
Opened in 2000, the aqua complex remains the largest in Poland. Many jacuzzis, pools, slides and saunas are perfect for a memorable vacation. The longest of the slides has a length of 202 meters, which involves three minutes of descent. The water park in Krakow is open almost all year round.
29. Czartoryski Museum
One of the branches of the National Museum is a large art museum opened by Princess Isabella Czartoryska in 1796. Art objects from different countries and eras are presented here as expositions. There is also a rich library with 70 thousand ancient books and manuscripts. For enterprising tourists, the Krakow City Card is valid here.
30. Wawel Dragon
Legend has it that Tsmok Wawelski lived in a cave called the Dragon Pit at the foot of the hill and regularly terrorized the population of Krakow. To calm the beast, sacrifices had to be made regularly until the shoemaker Skub defeated him. A reminder of the events was a sculpture at Wawel.
Sights of Krakow and surroundings on the map
The most convenient option for preparing a suitable tourist route in advance is a map of Krakow with sights in Russian. After viewing all the most interesting locations in real time, you can make a plan for each day of your stay in the city. If you plan to see the sights of Krakow in one day, it is best to choose places located within walking distance from each other.
