Travel tips: Kraków, Poland
Best tourist sites, transportation tips, restaurants, and more!
Kraków (pronounced Kra-kov) is the former capital of Poland and contains rich historical sites. This guide outlines the best places to explore in the city!
Wawel Castle and Cathedral
The Wawel (pronounced Va-vel) Castle and Cathedral are located next to each other in the Old Town section of Kraków. The Cathedral received continuous additions over a long period, with each addition done in a different architectural style. The Castle is now a museum showcasing beautiful artwork and tapestries.
St. Mary’s Basilica
St. Mary’s Basilica is a beautiful church in the main square.
Every hour, a trumpeter plays a tune out of the bell tower at the top of St. Mary’s Basilica. The trumpeter must be a firefighter, and they work 24-hour shifts playing the trumpet. Each hour, they play the tune four times, once in each direction: north, west, east, and south. If you look closely, you can see a person standing in the open window at the top of the second tower.
Cloth Hall
Cloth Hall is in the main square in Kraków and contains many small booths that sell various goods. It reminded me of the Christmas mart, except this is open all year round. Below are pictures of Cloth Hall and the main square. It is the largest main square in all of Europe.
Shindler’s Factory
Oskar Schindler’s factory is in the Jewish district of Kraków. The Jewish Ghetto and the concentration camp Płaszów were in the Jewish district. Steven Spielberg’s movie Schindler’s List made the Schindler factory famous. The movie was filmed in various areas of Kraków, and you can see some of the scene locations. The factory is now a museum that shares about the Nazi occupation in Kraków. Although it is hard to read and hear about, there is so much to learn about WWII and the horrors that the Polish people, especially the Jews, had to endure.
Oskar Schindler saved around 1,200 Jews. If you’ve seen the movie, you know that at the end of the war, he regretted not being able to save more people. I love this quote in the museum from one of the Jews he saved.
“And how many did Oskar Schindler save? If it weren’t for him, there would not be me, and there would not be my family either, nor our descendants- my daughter and my two grandchildren, my brother Ryslo’s two sons, my cousin Olek’s children, […] the children and grandchildren of the others saved by Schindler. […] So how many save he really then, when he saved 1,200 people? They are countless.”
Jewish Ghetto Memorial
The Jewish Ghetto Memorial in Kraków sits in the main square of the former Jewish Ghetto. When the Jews were forced out of the Ghetto, they were told to bring all of their furniture to the square so they could bring it with them when they “moved.” Of course, they were not actually allowed to bring any of their things with them. After the Jews were taken, their furniture remained behind. There are now statues of chairs placed throughout the square in remembrance. Some of the chairs are small for the children and are positioned in specific directions to point to significant places surrounding the square. It is a powerful memorial.
Jakdojade App
Jakdojade is a Polish public transport app, and it is essential for traveling in Poland. You can change the language to English and find routes and schedules for all the city’s public transport. Taking the buses and trams is a great, inexpensive way to travel.
Auschwitz
The Auschwitz and Birkenau Concentration Camps are about an hour and 30-minute bus ride from Kraków. While it is an incredibly emotional experience, it is powerful and very educational. You should plan an entire day to see all the different aspects of the Auschwitz museums.
Free walking tour
Free walking tours are an excellent introduction to a new city. You will see the city’s highlights, learn basic history, and get great recommendations about local spots. Don’t forget to tip your tour guide for their time! Check out walking tour options here.
Restaurants
- Pizzatopia: This chain pizza place is a tasty spot for a quick lunch. They have delicious, unique, and inexpensive pizzas.
- Przystanek Pierogarnia: This is a cheap, fast, and yummy pierogi restaurant. I went here two times during my stay in Kraków and loved it for an easy meal!
- Judah Food Truck Market: There is an outdoor market with food trucks in the Jewish district of Kraków.
- Restaurant Pod Aniołami: Delicious traditional Polish restaurant with classic dishes and various homemade flavored vodkas. The restaurant is in old Gothic cellars and has a unique and cozy atmosphere. Check out their English menu here.
