Krakow – the Greatest City to Visit in Poland
Still one of the best held secrets of European travel, Poland remains a beautiful Central European country with lots of old time charm, exceedingly hospitable people, hearty, flavorful cuisine, and a fascinating culture with lots of history. With so much to offer to tourists in terms of culture, sights, and experiences, it is hard to plan a trip in order to get the most out of the Polish experience. An added bonus is the fact that Poland, while a member of the European Union, retains its own currency, which often has very favorable exchange rates for English-speaking countries.
Krakow, Poland by Klearchos Kapoutsis
Once the capital city during Poland’s Golden Age, Krakow could be one of the top most beautiful cities in Europe. It is Poland’s second largest city, with a population of around 700,000. It is also one of Poland’s oldest cities, with archaelogical remains showing inhabitation dating back to 20,000 B.C.E. By the year 1000 AD, it had grown to an immensely important, wealthy, and large trade center for Slavonic Europe.
Wawel Castle
One of Krakow’s major tourist destinations, the sprawling Wawel Castle, was built during the 13th century under threat of continued attacks from Mongol and Tatar forces. Thee 16th century found Krakow as a center for strong developments in science and arts – this led to Krakow’s golden age, another period of wealth and growth. Throughout history it had its ups and downs, but World War II was the largest most recent threat to its long-standing history. While much of Poland was destroyed as a main target of the enemy during WWII, much of Krakow was left intact from invading forces and aerial attacks (unlike Warsaw). This contributes to its historical tourism.
Located in southern region of Poland, only a couple of hours from the Tatra Mountains, Krakow is an excellent base from which to explore this beautiful region. Public transportation in the form of electric trams, buses, shuttles, and trains make getting around incredibly painless. Exploring on foot is also another great way to get around, as much of Krakow’s main tourist points are located around the Old Town Center. There is also a municipal bike rental for very affordable rates.
Must-see attractions within the city include the Wawel Castle, which offers a variety of touring options – the whole compound, or separate buildings such as the cathedral, galleries, or main castle grounds. Nearby, the historic Old Town Center is filled with museums, cathedrals, galleries, as well as restaurants, cafes, and bars. Historical buffs will enjoy the Museum of Archaelogy, which has many exhibits showing the fascinating history of the area, as well as contains the world’s only known representation of Swiatowit, the ancient and mysterious Slavic diety.
Wawel Castle, Krakow, Poland by fraumrau
The Zoological Museum
The Zoological Museum of the Jagiellonian University is the oldest zoological museum in Poland, and is located in a beautiful historic building, with exhibits located in cellars hewn into the rock. The Rynek Glowny (Main Town Square) contains an historic trading hall, called Sukiennice (Cloth Hall), from which many locally made Polish souvenirs can be purchased. The lovely Town Hall Tower gives a great view of the city when you climb to many stairs the top.
Wieliczka Salt Mine
There are also amazing attractions outside of the city. An absolute must-see is the Wieliczka Salt Mine, about a 20 minute bus ride from the city center. This is the oldest and longest-running salt mine in the world, having had a continuous mining operation for over 700 years. Visiting the mine requires registration as part of a guided tour, which has tour guides in all major languages. The tour starts with a long descent down 30 stories of stairs, followed by about a 2 mile walk through the underground tunnels, visiting not only salt operations, but fascinating pieces of history of the people who lived and worked here over the centuries.
There is an incredible cathedral in the mine, at a depth of about 1,000 feet below ground, and which is carved entirely out of salt – the floor tiles, chandeliers, wall frescoes, and pulpit were all hand carved from the gigantic salt deposit. Some 60 km from Krakow lies another popular destination – Auschwitz-Birkenau, the infamous concentration and extermination camp used by Nazis during World War II. Words cannot describe the conditions the prisoners endured, but visitors get an idea of it from the numerous exhibits containing personal effects of prisoners, as well as piles of shoes, prosthetics, shaved hair, etc. While incredibly saddening, this site is a must-see.
Wieliczka Salt Mine, Poland by Adam Kumiszcza
Enough History and Culture
Krakow is the top tourist city in Poland, for good reason. There is enough history and culture to draw in tourists and keep them busy for weeks at a time. Any time of year is great to visit, however the winter season has less tourists. Winter also allows skiing buffs the chance to take the 2 hour ride south to the charming town of Zakopane, the regions skiing mecca. For a different, memorable trip to Europe, consider Krakow and you won’t be disappointed.
This article was written by Kevin Caldwell who enjoys traveling and experiencing different cultures. He also built www.bricktownokchotels.com to help travelers find hotels near Bricktown when they are traveling in Oklahoma.
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