Back from my second trip of the year, after Sicily in February, I flew to Poland, and more particularly Krakow in April. It is with great pleasure that I write the first article of this trip. I will try to make you visit Krakow the best possible. I will have the opportunity to write other articles, particularly on the two highlights of my trip, the visit to Auschwitch-Birkenau and the Wieliczka salt mine.
You may ask me, why Poland and why Krakow? A friend who visited this city a few years ago told me about the beauty of it. After some research, I realized that this destination was indeed very interesting and had many advantages. In addition to the low cost of the plane ticket and the low prices of the country, Krakow is really a magnificent city, as proof, the place of Krakow was elected, a few months ago, the most beautiful place in the world by the Lonely Planet guide ( just that !).
Summary:
> Getting to Krakow
> Reach the city center of Krakow from John Paul 2 airport in Krakow
> Where to sleep in Krakow?
> Visit Krakow: the essentials of Krakow
> Visit Krakow: the surroundings
> Good restaurant addresses in Krakow
> Visit Krakow in 1, 2, 3 or 4 days
> When to visit Krakow Opt for a city pass:
Thanks to this city-pass, benefit from free entrances and reductions in various tourist places of Krakow! Book your city pass
Getting to Krakow
By plane
Let's start this visit of Krakow with the "organization" side. The best way to reach this city from France is, of course, by plane.
As I told you above, it is easy to find flights to Krakow at attractive prices. Do not hesitate to use a flight comparator that will allow you to find plane tickets at the best price. For my part, I always use the well-known Skyscanner, efficient and fast, it always finds me some of the cheapest flights. Either way you'll land at Jean-Paul 2 airport.
Krakow is 2 hours by plane from Paris. Many companies connect provincial towns to Krakow.
Find a flight to Krakow
Most bus
It is also possible to reach the city of Krakow by bus. From Paris, you will still need 25 hours but the prices are very affordable.
The bus can be a good solution if you want to take a road trip to Krakow and visit several cities on the way, then fly back from the destination city.
Getting to Krakow city center from Krakow John Paul 2 Airport
By bus
Once out of Jean-Paul 2 airport in Krakow, several solutions are available to you. The first is to take a bus line leading you to the city center. A bus that will still take nearly an hour to reach its terminus, where you will get off to reach the city center. It will cost you 4 zlotys. Once you arrive at the terminus, you will therefore be close to the station, the shopping center «Galeria Krakowska» and a tram stop. To reach the city centre, nothing could be simpler, two solutions are available to you: the tram or on foot. Indeed, if your hotel is located in the city center, you will get there very quickly, between 10 and 15 minutes on foot.
By private transport
For more peace of mind, it is also possible to book a shuttle that will take you directly to your hotel. It's a plus when you only travel a few days in the city and your time is precious. Save your time to visit Krakow!
Book your shuttle to Krakow city center Money in Poland:
The Polish currency is the zlotys. A zloty is worth about 4 times less than a euro. One euro is therefore worth 4 zlotys and one zloty 0,20 euro.. A word of advice, if you have neither the time nor the desire to change your money in France, no problem, once you arrive at the airport, change a few euros, around 10 euros maximum. You will have enough money to reach the city center where you will find many exchange offices, Office where the exchange rate will be much better than at the airport.
Where to sleep in Krakow?
The city center of Krakow is not very extensive, it is surrounded by a raised park which delimits the center of the periphery. Given the prices of hotels, I strongly advise you not to hesitate to take a hotel in this city center. It is so pleasant to walk there in the evening that it would be a shame to find yourself outside this ring of greenery. Staying in the city center is ideal for visiting Krakow in the best possible way. Here are the best neighborhoods for a stay in Krakow.
Find a hotel in Krakow
City center – Stare miasto
Perched on the Wawel hill, the Old Town, or Stare miasto in Polish, shines with its luminous colors which has earned it its nickname of "Florence of the North". Ideal for accommodation in Krakow, the historic center concentrates the majority of restaurants, bars and craft shops. It enjoys a constant effervescence day and night. Museums and historical monuments are also there to form a magnificent palette of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance architecture. Crossed by checkerboard pedestrian streets, Old Krakow is surrounded by the Planty Park, a green space conducive to relaxation, installed on the old ramparts. This is to say if Stare miasto deserves its classification as a World Heritage Site by Unesco since 1980.
Jewish Quarter – Kazimierz
The old Jewish quarter offers a real trip to the Eastern Europe of yesteryear. From the 16th century until 1940, Kazimierz was mainly populated by Jews and has a large number of synagogues. A victim of anti-Semitic persecution, this part of Krakow is now taken over by artists and candlelit cafes. Also, Kazimierz is located in the heart of the city and proves to be the scene of Polish life. The friendly streets vibrate to the sound of a gypsy violin, a klezmer band transports you to a Krakow of yesteryear and jazzmen create a most festive atmosphere. If you are a history buff and enjoy going out to bars and restaurants, then this is the area to stay.
Some good places to sleep in Krakow
The “good value for money”:
Located in the city center, the SZEWSKA 22 BOUTIQUE is a refined boutique hotel with very neat decoration benefiting from an ideal location. This hotel is one of the best rated in town.
In the heart of the Jewish quarter Dada Boutique Home Hotel and Hotel Karmel enjoy a very nice location. For quite reasonable rates, you can enjoy a top-of-the-range establishment.
For more comfortable budgets:
Located in the very center of Krakow, not far from the main square, the Hotel Stary is a very upscale establishment with a unique decoration. This establishment has won an award for its interior style, the most beautiful hotel interior design in Europe.
Hotel Unicus Palace, 5 star hotel located in the center of Krakow. The latter has a more modern style than the Stary hotel. Equipped with a swimming pool and a spa, the perfect hotel to spend a pleasant stay in Krakow.
The last hotel in our “top-of-the-range” selection is the PURO Kraków Stare Miasto hotel. Located near Krakow's shopping center (Galeria Krakowska), this modern design hotel offers sumptuous rooms.
About the hostels:
We have selected three youth hostels that benefit from a good location, not far from the main square, affordable prices but above all very good reviews.
The Hollywood Hostel located between the main square and Wawel Castle, the Brama Hostel and finally the Dizzy Daisy Hostel.
Visit Krakow: Krakow's must-sees
Visit Krakow's must-sees- Krakow Main Market Square: Rynek Główny
- Wawel: Castle and Cathedral
- Visit Kazimierz, the Jewish quarter of Krakow
- College of May
- And many others…
Krakow Main Market Square: Rynek Główny
Let's start our visit of Krakow with its city center and its main square. As you will have understood, the unmissable place of this city is, of course, its square: the main market square. The largest medieval square in Europe and also one of the most beautiful. There you will find the Sukiennice, a huge monument that adorns the square. It is also a covered market and a former cloth hall. This main building of the square brings together different architectural styles. This is explained by the spread of its construction which began in the XNUMXth century and ended in the XNUMXth century.
The Sukiennice has a ground floor and an upper floor. On the ground floor, there are various craft shops. Upstairs is part of the National Museum of Krakow.
From the Sukiennice, you can access the underground museum which is under the main square.
St. Mary's Church, the Notre-Dame-Sainte-Marie church, which dominates the square, is one of the most beautiful churches in the city.
Book your skip-the-line ticket to visit the churchOn this square you will also find many restaurants and cafes where it is very pleasant to relax in the afternoon in front of street performances or in the evening, sheltered from the cold under the blankets and heaters provided on the terraces. On the outskirts of this town, you will find charming little streets filled with many bars and restaurants.
The historic center of Krakow, of which the Rynek is the main place, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978.
Wawel: Castle and Cathedral
Krakow was for a long time the capital of Poland and that until the XNUMXth century. It is therefore in this city that many kings of Poland were crowned. It is at the end of the royal road, linking Krakow Square to Wawel Hill, currently called Grodzka, that this castle and its cathedral are located. This site is truly one of the essentials of your visit to Krakow.
You will first discover the Wawel Cathedral. Gothic in style, this cathedral was rebuilt in the XNUMXth century. It is in this cathedral that all the kings of Poland were crowned.
Next to this cathedral is Wawel Castle. Truly impressive in size and beauty, the latter was rebuilt in the XNUMXth century and bears witness to Poland's past. This was used for many purposes: royal palace, barracks, warehouse, etc. It has been completely renovated. During your visit, you will have the opportunity to browse magnificent royal apartments, tapestries, paintings and period furniture.
Wawel Hill is divided into 10 guided tours.
6 visits are dedicated to the castle. Visiting the royal apartments, the crown treasures and armoury, oriental art objects, Lost Wawel, the dragon's lair and the Sandomierska tower.
The visit to the cathedral is divided into 4 visits: the cathedral, the royal tombs, the Sigismund bell and the cathedral museum. Tour durations and prices vary. For the royal apartments we paid 30 Zlotys per person for the visit and 30 Zoltys for the audio guide. The latter is very practical and guides you through the castle or the cathedral.
The castle opens its doors at 6 am. I advise you to go there relatively early, the number of tickets being limited for certain visits.
The other solution is to book tickets in advance in order to be sure of being able to visit the Château.
Visit Kazimierz, the Jewish quarter of Krakow
Not far from the Old Town and Wawel Castle is Kazimierz, one of the old Jewish quarters of Krakow. This one, abandoned for many years, is being rebuilt and is today a lively place that attracts many tourists but also locals.
A little history
Let's start our visit to Kazimierz with a bit of history. To visit Krakow is also to learn more about its past. In the XNUMXth century, long before the arrival of the Nazis, the Jews who arrived in large numbers in Krakow were forced to live in walled neighborhoods, away from the Christians who populated the rest of the city. Thus, in Krakow, the neighborhoods of Kazimierz and Podgorze were the ghettos that housed the Jews. In the middle of the XNUMXth century, the walls were destroyed, opening Kazimierz to the rest of the city. They then had the opportunity to live more peacefully in Krakow until the Nazis came to power in Germany who, shortly after, began to apply their anti-Semitic laws and deported a large number of Jews from Krakow. Those who did not go directly to the death camps were herded back into ghettos where the Nazis made them work in factories. Schindler's Factory is certainly the most famous. Located in the neighboring district of Podgorze, it was the subject of a film, Schindler's List, directed by Steven Spielberg. He recounts the "rescue" of many Jews under the Nazi occupation.
After World War II, Kazimierz was abandoned until the fall of the communist bloc in the early 1990s.
Visit Oskar Schindler's Factory in Krakow:The story of Oskar Schindler and his factory was featured a few years ago in the famous film Schindler's List. This rich German industrialist owned, during the Second World War, a factory located in Krakow in the district of Podgorze. To save them, Oskar Schindler employed and fed a large number of Jews.
His factory, now transformed into a museum, retraces the history of the Jews in Krakow at that time, with testimonies and objects. The visit of this factory will teach you more about its history but also about this sad period which marked the country forever.
Regarding the visit, you can buy your tickets in advance, either for a simple visit or for a guided visit (in English). Book your entry to Oskar Schindler's Factory
Kazimierz, what remains of the Jewish presence today?
Today, few Jews still live in the Kazimierz district, but it attracts many visitors, including many tourists curious to learn more about Krakow's Jewish history. For this there is the Jewish Museum of Galicia, in the heart of Kazimierz, which traces, mainly through photos, the history of the Jews of Krakow and Poland, up to the Nazi occupation, with a part that evokes the concentration camps of Auschwitz but also the after the war and the many places of commemoration present across the country.
It is possible to visit several synagogues in this district, the High Synagogue, the Isaac Synagogue or the Remuh Synagogue, one of the few to host religious services. The Remuh Jewish Cemetery is another place to see in the neighborhood. At the bends of many streets, there are also plaques recounting moments in the Jewish history of the neighborhood and various marks recalling this past.
Finally, every year, around June-July, the Jewish Culture Festival is held for 10 days during which various artistic events relating to Jewish culture take place. These months therefore make it an ideal period for visit Krakow.
Kazimierz, an attractive and lively district
Mainly known as one of the two Jewish districts of Krakow, Kazimierz also attracts for its many restaurants, bars and nightclubs which delight tourists who come to visit Krakow but also young Poles.
Indeed, the Kazimierz quarter today is certainly the liveliest in the evening. There are restaurants serving Polish but also Jewish specialties and of course other more international ones. As for the bars, there is also something for all tastes and everyone can find a place to spend a pleasant evening.
For more early outings, Place Nowy hosts a flea market every day of the week, with Saturday and Sunday being the most interesting days to go there because the number of stalls is much larger the weekend.
College of May
The Collegium Maius, located in Krakow's Old Town, is the Jagiellonian University's oldest building, built in the XNUMXth century. The building is now a museum and is one of the most visited places in Krakow. The university, one of the most famous in the country at the time, saw the passage of illustrious characters such as Nicolas Copernicus, to name but one. His statue sits in the courtyard of the university.
And many others…
The duration of my trip did not allow me to visit everything, but if you can, go and visit these few places: 3 universities, the Collegium Maius, we did not have time to take the guided tour but nevertheless was able to enter inside and contemplate the magnificent interior courtyard as well as certain buildings; the Collegium Kollataja; but also the New College, pictured here.
Many churches, in addition to the Sainte-Marie church on the square, are also worth visiting: the Saint Adalbert church or the Corpus Christi church are churches that are worth visiting. Highly recommended by many people met on site, the Barbican is one of the places to go when you visit Krakow.
Visit Krakow: the surroundings
The city center of Krakow is beautiful and must be visited, however the city is located near two places known throughout the world: the Wieliczka salt mines and the Auschwitz-Birkenau camps. Two visits that I consider essential in Krakow.
The Wieliczka Salt Mines
The Wieliczka Salt Mines are classified as World Heritage by UNESCO, they were even part of the very first list drawn up by UNESCO.
These mines are famous for their size, several hundred kilometers and by their depth, more than 320 meters. Many visits are organized in different languages, here too you will have to check the timetables according to the desired language. The mines are located about fifteen kilometers from Krakow and are quite easily accessible. You can find more information on my article dedicated to the salt mines of Wieliczka.
The mines are located about ten kilometers from the city center of Krakow, the easiest way to visit them is to book a visit which will include the shuttle from your hotel to the mines as well as the guided tour. Visit to the Wieliczka Salt Mines
The camps of Auschwitz-Birkenau
One of the essentials of a stay in Krakow is undoubtedly the visit of the concentration and extermination camps of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Indeed, the camps are located less than 70 kilometers from the city of Krakow. Several ways to get there: by train, by bus or via local tour operators. Count between 1 and 2 hours of transport. It is possible for you to visit the two camps only a few kilometers apart. Many visits are organized in different languages. Be sure to find out about the timetables before departure. The visit of these camps lasts about 4 hours, with the trip counting 6 to 8 hours, which is the major part of your day. Find all the information on visiting the camps in my article on visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Visit Auschwitz-Birkenau from Krakow:Even if it is easy to book the visit of the camps, it is even possible to buy your ticket directly on site, it is a bit complicated to reach the camps without a tour operator.
Again, it is possible and even recommended to book your excursion to the camps in advance. The excursion includes travel between your hotel and the camps, which will be a real time saver.
Having, during my visit, opted for a journey by regular bus, I assure you that it is long and uncomfortable. Visit Auschwitz from Krakow
In addition to these two places located around Krakow, it may be pleasant, if you have time, to visit two other districts of Krakow located not far from the city center.
Podgorze
Opposite Kazimierz is the new student quarter, just across the Wisla River. Pubs, restaurants and jazz clubs enliven Podgorze, so much so that it is hard to believe that it served as a watchtower during the Nazi occupation. If you are visiting the city as a couple, this is the idyllic place to take a romantic stroll along the water's edge. In addition, the establishments in this popular district have very attractive prices, which allows you to stay in Krakow at a lower cost while taking advantage of the presence of interesting museums such as the one dedicated to contemporary art or the factory of Oscar Schindler. Certainly less bourgeois than Stare miasto, Podgorze will certainly seduce travelers in search of authenticity.
Nowa Huta
Founded by and for the workers during the Cold War, this manufacturing city, which has become a district of Krakow in its own right, immerses you in industrial Poland as we imagine it. By staying in Nowa Huta, you will realize the extent of the socialist past in Poland. Town planning is typically Soviet: squares and avenues are very wide, spacious green spaces, churches and shops totally absent. On the other hand, you will not be able to miss a huge statue of Lenin, which makes Nowa Huta the communist city in all its splendor.
Visit Krakow: good addresses for restaurants in Krakow
The gastronomy and the dishes that I was able to taste in Krakow will certainly give rise to a future article. However, I must advise you of a few places where you should go. Eating traditional in Krakow is not such an easy thing. Indeed I found a large number of Italian and French restaurants but relatively few traditional Polish restaurants.
Here are some of the restaurants in Krakow that particularly impressed me.
First of all two restaurants, the coffee magic located 3 Plac Mariacki in Krakow. A typical restaurant where you can enjoy Polish specialties in a pleasant setting, under a glass roof, while listening to French music sitting on sofas. I ate delicious Pierogis there.
Another restaurant that I enjoyed, le Staropolska, located in the main square of Krakow, the setting is really great, the interior is totally made of wood, Polish musicians play traditional Polish songs. The traditional dishes are cooked using a wood fire.
Last restaurant on my list, the one that marked me the most, le chlopskie jadlo, located 3 swietego Jana. This typical restaurant is located in a small street not far from the main square. Excellent restaurant, the best of our stay: we were able to taste Pies, typical Polish dish, really delicious.
Visiting Krakow also means tasting its gastronomy and that's good because the prices of restaurants in Krakow are very reasonable, count between 10 and 15 euros for a good restaurant.
Visit Krakow in 1, 2, 3 or 4 days
Visit Krakow in 1 day
If you only spend one day in Krakow, then you will have to be organized. To visit Krakow in one day, forget the visits to the salt mine or Auschwitz, focus on visiting the city center of Krakow.
Stay in the city center and take advantage of your day to visit the surroundings of Rynek Square but also visit Wawel Castle. If time permits, you can go to the side of the Jewish quarter.
Visit Krakow in 2 days
Even if two days still seem a bit short to fully enjoy the city without rushing, it is still possible to visit various places of interest. Several solutions are possible: spend these two days in Krakow to visit the city center, Wawel Castle and the Jewish quarter with a visit, for example, to Oskar Schindler's factory.
If you wish you can also book a day to visit Krakow and another day to visit Auschwitz which is, for me, a must visit to do around Krakow.
Visit Krakow in 3 days
If you wish to visit Krakow in 3 days, then you will have the possibility of visiting the main part of the city center of Krakow but also of devoting a day to the visit of the concentration camps as well as a good half day to the visit of the mines of Wieliczka salt.
Visit Krakow in 4 days
4 days is, in my opinion, the best duration to visit Krakow at your own pace, without rushing too much while taking advantage of moments to stroll a little. There too, we will reserve a day for the visit of Auschwitz, half a day for the visit of the salt mines, then the rest of the time to visit Krakow, its castle, its city center, its Jewish quarter and even time to the shops of the Krakow shopping center (if you feel like it).
When to visit Krakow?
Many people ask themselves the question: when is the best time to to visit Krakow?
Everything will depend on you and your ability to withstand the cold. Krakow is located in a continental zone, the winter climate is sometimes very harsh.
If you don't like the cold, the months of December to March are to be avoided. Indeed, snow is very often present at this time of year and temperatures are cold, reaching -20 degrees at times.
From the month of April, the temperatures become milder and continue to climb to reach their maximum during the months of July and August. These can be around 30 degrees.
The best time to visit Krakow is therefore between the months of April and September, but if you like harsh winters and find that the snow gives a special charm to the cities, then winter may not be a bad time. period.
| Jan. | Feb. | Mars. | Apr. | Mai | June | Jul. | Aug. | Sep. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
Intermediate period
Most favorable period Looking for a Krakow travel guide?
Like many, I often travel with a travel guide. If you are looking for a guide for your visit to Krakow, let me recommend the "Cartoville" guide from Gallimard. These guides are perfect for directing you during a city trip.
Organized in neighborhoods with numerous maps, the “Cartoville” guides really stand out from their competitors by their practical and intuitive aspect. You will discover the essentials of each district, the places to eat, where to go out, etc. Buy this guide to Krakow
