Krakow is located in the south of the country, on the banks of the River Vistula. It is one of the oldest cities in Poland and the second largest city in the country. The capital of Poland in 1039-1079, 1138-1290 and 1296-1596 (officially until 1795), the main coronation city of the kings of Poland and until 1609-1611 the residential city of the kings of Poland.
After the war, under the People's Republic of Poland (officially declared in 1952), Kraków's intellectual and academic community came under complete political control. Universities were soon deprived of printing rights and autonomy.
Poland's Stalinist government ordered the construction of the country's largest steelworks in the newly created suburb of Nowa Huta. The creation of the giant Lenin Steelworks (now Sendzimir Steelworks owned by Mittal) sealed Kraków's transformation from a university town into an industrial centre. The new working-class population, attracted by Krakow's industrialisation, contributed to the rapid growth.
In 1978, Karol Wojtyła, the archbishop of Krakow, was elevated to the papacy as Pope John Paul II - the first non-Italian pope in 455 years. Also that year, UNESCO approved the whole of Kraków's Old Town and the nearby Wieliczka Salt Mine as Poland's first World Heritage Site. Krakow is classified as a Global City with a "high sufficiency" ranking by the Globalisation and World Cities Research Network.
10 Places to visit in Krakow
1. Krakow barbican
The Krakow Barbican is a fortified outpost that was built at the end of the 14th century, around 1498. It was part of the city's defence devices in ancient times, which surrounded the city and were built to defend it from invaders. This Gothic structure with a moat is something you have to see when you're in Krakow. You can explore the seven towers at the top of the Krakow Barbican and get a closer look at the more than 130 positions built into it for snipers, riflemen and archers.
2. The Main Square
The Main Square or Main Market Square is sort of the epicentre of Krakow and a place that every tourist must visit when visiting Krakow. It was designed in 1257 and has remained more or less the same ever since in terms of layout and structure. This 200 square metre area is considered one of the largest medieval squares in Europe.
There are many important buildings and historical monuments in the Main Market Square. There's the Cloth Hall, the world's first shopping centre. Then there's the amazing Rynek Underground, a high-tech museum, which runs beneath the square. Other attractions here include St Mary's Basilica, the unique Town Hall Tower.
3. Cloth Hall
The Cloth Hall is easily one of Krakow's best-known attractions. Believed to have originated during the Renaissance period, it can be said to be one of the first shopping centres and is located on the main market square that forms part of Krakow's Old Town and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1978. At the time, it was a renowned centre for international trade in Krakow: here, merchants exported lead, salt, textiles, among other things, and imported silk, spices, leather and other exotic products from the East.
4. Rynek Underground
The Rynek Underground museum is a high-tech museum that opened to the public in September 2010. Work on the museum began in 2009, after an excavation in 2005 led to the discovery of tunnels under the Main Market Square in Krakow's Old Town neighbourhood. Visitors are taken four metres below the surface on a unique tour that exposes them to a world of exhibits, including some magnificent multimedia displays.
5. St. Mary's Basilica
St Mary's Basilica in Krakow, also known as the Church of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven, is located next to the famous Main Market Square in the Old Town neighbourhood. The church was first built in the 13th century and was rebuilt in the 14th century. The rebuilt church follows the Gothic style of architecture with its two beautiful towers. This brick church is a must-see attraction when visiting Krakow.
6. Wawel Cathedral And Museum
Located right next to Wawel Castle on Wawel Hill, Wawel Cathedral in Krakow is over 1000 years old and is a Polish national shrine. Several coronations of Polish monarchs have taken place here. It is also the place chosen by Polish royalty throughout the ages to bury their dead. Wawel Cathedral displays works of art in a variety of styles, from Gothic to Renaissance, Baroque, Classicist and Modern. See the nave aisles, transepts and choir area.
7. Wawel Castle
Wawel Castle is a three-storey Gothic castle located in Kraków, built by Casimir III the Great during his reign between 1333 and 1370, and expanded and modified by his successors. The Wawel Castle Museum has a strong collection of exhibits and artefacts and 10 curatorial departments that are responsible for the collections of paintings. When you enter the museum, explore the 5 different sections: Crown Treasury and Armoury, State Rooms, Royal Private Apartments, Lost Wawel and the Oriental Art Exhibition.
8. Jewish District
The Jewish Quarter, commonly known as Kazimierz, is one of Krakow's most interesting neighbourhoods and has a wealth of history and culture associated with it. It was the epicentre of all things Jewish in Krakow until the German invasion during the Second World War. It was completely destroyed during the war by the Germans and, after years of neglect in the post-war period, was resurrected in the 1990s to its former glory.
History is present in everything you see in the Jewish Quarter, whether in the buildings, the monuments located throughout the neighbourhood or even in the stone of the pavements.
9. Oskar Schindler's Factory
This factory is now a modern museum that shows the myriad of experiences Kraków had under Nazi occupation during the Second World War and is a branch of the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków. It is located in the factory's administrative block at 4 Lipowa Street. Explore the museum's 45 exhibition rooms to find out all about Oskar Schindler, his factory and the role they played in helping the Jews during the Nazi occupation of Krakow. A considerable part of the museum is dedicated to this aspect of Kraków under the Nazis.
10. Auschwitz-Birkenau
One of the most painful aspects of the Second World War was the massacre of millions of Jews in Nazi concentration camps. The Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Auschwitz is a memorial and museum dedicated to the horrific acts carried out in 2 of the most notorious Nazi concentration camps - Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau. Both camps are now UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
How to get There?
✈️ Krakow John Paul II International Airport-Balice (KRK) is located 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) from the city center. Here are your options for getting to Krakow city center:
🚈 Train: The Kraków Balice Ekspres is the fastest way to get from the airport to the city center. The train operates between 5:00 AM and 10:30 PM, with departures every 30-60 minutes (during winter months the frequency may be less). The journey takes about 20 minutes and the ticket costs 10 PLN (around €2.30).
🚍 Bus: There are two daytime bus lines that connect the airport to the city center: 208 and 252. Buses depart every 20-60 minutes, depending on the time of day. The journey takes about 50 minutes and the ticket costs 4 PLN (around €1).
There is also a night bus, 902, that connects the airport to the city center. The bus departs every 30-60 minutes and the journey takes about 1 hour. The ticket costs 3 PLN (around €0.70).
🚖 Taxi: Taxis are readily available outside the arrivals hall. The ride to the city center takes about 20-30 minutes, depending on traffic. However, taxis are the most expensive option, with fares typically starting at 80 PLN (around €18).
🚗 Private transfer: If you prefer a more comfortable and personalized ride, you can book a private transfer in advance. Prices vary depending on the company and type of vehicle, but typically start at 150 PLN (around €35).
🎫 Tips: If you buy a public transport ticket at the airport, remember to validate it before boarding the bus or train. If you are traveling with heavy luggage, it may be more convenient to take a taxi or private transfer.
Please be aware that travel times may vary depending on traffic.
For more information, please visit the Krakow Airport website: https://www.krakowairport.pl/en
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