Self-guided tour of Krakow post. Trip to Krakow: tips for tourists. Visit the Auschwitz concentration camp
Although we visited Krakow on the way back from Slovenia home to St. Petersburg, I decided to write about it now in order to logically complete the series of articles about Poland.
Krakow has been the capital of Poland for over 500 years and is home to about 25% of all the country's museums. Krakow's Old Town and the Jewish district of Kazimierz were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List back in 1978. At that time, there were only 12 other places on the planet on the list. Krakow was included in the list along with the Egyptian Pyramids and the Great Wall of China. Now the World Heritage List includes about 900 places.
The most important attractions of Krakow are the Old Town in the Plantow ring (a park on the site of the former city walls), if you look at the map, this place is clearly visible, the adjacent Wawel Castle, the Jewish district of Kazimierz and the Schindler factory. It is offered 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 the Schindler factory. It is located on the other side of the Vistula, a little to the side. If you do not want to visit the museum, now located in the building of the former Schindler factory, then there is no great need to go there; the building itself is not interesting from the outside.
Excursion transport in Krakow
You may want to find yourself excursions in Russian around Krakow. To do this, I would recommend that you read the article - Four sites that specialize in selecting excursions around the world.
In Krakow, tourists are given rides on the most beautiful horse-drawn carriages, but it’s scary to think how much this pleasure could cost if an excursion on a motorized chaise costs 32 € per person.
Horse-drawn carriages Very close to Krakow there is the famous Wieliczka Salt Mine, Stanislaw Lem's Experiment Garden, the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum, the former Auschwitz. But in one day, alas, it is impossible to embrace the immensity, you can only run along the most significant sights of the city center, look at the huge Polish churches, ancient streets, and enjoy the excellent panorama of the Vistula, opening from the walls of Wawel. When we visited Krakow, a Catholic youth festival was being held there, perhaps that’s why there were simply so many 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), but 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 machine inside the tram; the language can be selected in Russian. At the Kraków Główny station, there is a “Tourist Information” office, where you can get a free map of the city center with marked attractions and other brochures.
The very first thing that appeared before our eyes was the monumental theater building.
Juliusz Słowacki Drama Theater Krakow Market Square
Krakow has the largest medieval square in Europe (200x200 m). The square itself was created in 1257, simultaneously with the granting of Magdeburg Law to Krakow. And to this day, 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 during the Middle Ages. And as it should be in a decent market, of course, artists perform in order to keep potential buyers longer.
Local mass entertainers The Church of St. Mary (St. Mary's Church) and the Church of St. Adabelbert were founded before the formation of the Main Market Square, and the Cloth Hall (Cloth Hall) and the town hall later than this date. Until the beginning of the 19th century, there was a cemetery around the St. Mary’s Church right on the square. And right under the Market Square there is now a Dungeon Museum, since the square is so old, much has gone underground and the historical exhibition has been set up right there.
The Church of St. Adabelbert also went underground. which is not surprising at her age, you can also go down into the church’s dungeon 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 10th 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 just in 1898; for the Poles, Mickiewicz is the same as Pushkin for us. By the way, Mitskevich was well acquainted with Russian writers, including Pushkin, then they lived in the same country.
Monument to the Polish poet Adam Mickiewicz When you look at the cute colorful houses surrounding the square, you can’t tell that they are 500-600 years old. We went into one store, it turned out that behind the ancient facade there was a modern shopping center, which very harmoniously combines modern retail equipment and very ancient walls, with ancient masonry visible in places.
Houses on the market square 
Houses on the Market Square Cloth rows
The Cloth Hall was first built on the market square in the 13th century, during the time of Casemir the Great, but the 108-meter building fell into oblivion as a result of a fire in 1555. The cloth halls were rebuilt in a much more impressive form with stairs and a loggia, and the cloth rows acquired the appearance that we can see now 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 St. Mary's Church
One of the main decorations of the Main Market Square in Krakow is certainly the St. Mary's Church, famous for its medieval wooden altar by Wit Stwosz. The altar was shown in the program “Heads and Tails”. 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 section of the walls or ceiling inside the church that is not painted. The inside of the St. Mary's Church is almost entirely multi-colored.
St. Mary's Church, facade, rear view, courtyard nearby There are many streets radiating from the market square, but two of them stand out - Florianska and Grozdska, which were once part of the Royal Road.
Florianskaya street
Florianska Street is one of the oldest in Krakow, where you could write a book about every house; one end ends at the Florianska Gate. At the moment, this is the only gate preserved in Krakow; previously there were 8 and 47 towers.
Florianskaya Street and Florianskaya Gate Medieval walls adjoin the Florian Gate. The total length of the walls was about 3 km. In the 19th century, most of the city walls were demolished by the Austrian authorities after the partition of Poland, they were rightly afraid. that the rioters could hide behind them. In place of the destroyed walls, a park was laid out - Planty.
The walls of Krakow next to the Florian's Gate Restaurant Yama Mihalika
In the evening we went to the famous Krakow restaurant Jama Michalika, also located on Florianska Street. The establishment is over 100 years old and has been awarded a separate article on Wikipedia. The point is that on the Internet it is written that entrance to the folklore show costs some money, but they didn’t charge us anything, we only paid for the food. We didn’t know about the show in advance at all, we just found the address of the restaurant in the guidebook and that’s it.
restaurant Yama Mikhalika on Florianskaya street It's pretty dark inside, so we didn't get any photos, but we did get a video. The food is tasty, but not enough, the portions could have been larger. Therefore, if you want to eat a lot, you need to choose another place, and if you want to watch Polish folk dances, then Michalik’s Pit 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 about 100 meters from the city walls 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, connecting the Florian Gate and 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 serving Polish and Italian cuisine, which will surprise no one anywhere, there are also restaurants serving Georgian and Ukrainian cuisine.
Restaurant on Grodzka Street 
Seller of souvenirs in national clothes The Church of Peter and Paul is located on Grozdskaya Street. This is one of the first buildings in Krakow built in the Baroque style, decorated with the splendor typical of the Jesuits. For a short time at the beginning of the 19th century it was an Orthodox church.
Church of Peter and Paul What surprised me most were the Polish nuns. They organized numerous events on the streets as part of the Catholic Youth Festival, sang and simply promoted faith in God in two languages in turn, first part of the speech was 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
Wawel Castle has sacred significance for the history of Poland; Polish statehood was born at this place; all Polish kings were crowned in the Cathedral and many of them are still buried there. Unfortunately, almost nothing remains in the castle from the Middle Ages; first, the Swedes ravaged Wawel during the Swedish Flood (1655-1660), and then the Austrians, who inherited Krakow after the partition of Poland, set up barracks in the castle. The Swedish flood is artistically described in the novel “The Flood” by G. Sienkiewicz; 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 in Wawel.
Bernardine Gate and Sandomierz Tower 
View of the street from the castle walls In the 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 didn’t go to museums, because they say you need to spend about 5 hours for this event, which is not realistic in the format of visiting Krakow in one day.
At Wawel Castle, administrative building The layout of the lock clearly demonstrates its structure.
Model of Wawel Castle 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, political figures, 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, studying at the Jagiellonian University, so a monument to him was erected 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 high rank.
Monument to John Paul II at the Cathedral The palace houses museum exhibitions.
Castle We looked at the Vistula from the cave of the legendary Krakow dragon; entry into the cave itself is only possible with tickets, but after Postojna the tiny Krakow cave could hardly surprise us. On the largest boat on the pier there is a restaurant “Stefan Batory”, this historical character is very popular in Poland.
Vistula Right under the walls of the castle on the banks of the Vistula, already at the end of the 20th century, a monument to the legendary Krakow dragon was erected. A dragon breathes fire for just one coin; you can even make a dragon breathe fire using an SMS sent to a specific number. Numerous tourists climb onto the pedestal and take pictures with the fire-breathing dragon; the pebble of the pedestal could make it more comfortable to climb on it.
Mercantile gasified dragon It turns out that Krakow hosts a film festival and even has its 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 the strange Catholic churches. The Jewish ghetto during World War II 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 houses are shabby in appearance, and all the architectural monuments look like ordinary houses, 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 street food.
I think so, Kazimierz became more popular among tourists thanks to Spielberg’s film “Schindler’s List”. Fans of abandoned buildings 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 Corpus Christi in Kazimierz In the Church of St. Catherine of Alexandria and St. Margaret, we witnessed the veneration of St. Rita, her day was just celebrated. In the church there were simply crowds of people with roses, symbols of the saint. The entire church was filled with people and they began to sell roses already on the approaches to the church. The sight 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 Skalka, i.e. on the hill. According to legend, the Polish king Boleslaw the Bold in 1079 killed and cut into pieces the body of Archbishop Stanislaw of Krakow and threw the remains into a pond.
There, outside the gates, is the Church of St. Stanislaus and the Pauline Monastery The body of Saint Stanislaus, cut into pieces, miraculously grew back together, like Poland, which was first divided and then united again. The pond into which the saint’s remains were thrown was beautified and now it looks almost like a memorial.
The pond into which King Boleslav the Bold threw the remains of St. Stanislaus This is where I will finish my story about Krakow, although we also took a walk through Planty Park.
In contrast to Warsaw, it seemed to us that Krakow was much more popular with tourists; there were much more people on the streets. Of course, Krakow contains a lot of architectural and historical monuments, 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 the recognized cultural capital of Poland. The richness of the historical heritage and the beauty of the architecture of the ancient quarters attract thousands of tourists to the city every year. Local residents are very proud of the city, since the history of the formation of Polish statehood is inextricably linked with it.
During the Middle Ages, the city became an important spiritual, cultural and educational center. Since the 11th century, temples and monasteries have been built here, including the magnificent St. Mary's Church and the Romanesque Church of St. Andrew, and in 1364 the Jagiellonian University, one of the oldest educational institutions in Europe, appeared.
Krakow museums are no less interesting, where you can learn the history of Poland and get to know its culture better. Oskar Schindler's Factory and the Museum of Modern Art will certainly interest tourists interested in the history and heritage of the 20th-21st centuries.
The best hotels and inns at affordable prices.
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What to see and where to go in Krakow?
The most interesting and beautiful places for walks. Photos and brief description.
The residence of the Polish kings of the 13th century, located on the banks of the Vistula River. Construction began under Wenceslas II and continued under Casimir III the Great. During the Northern War, the castle was burned by Swedish troops, after which it was reconstructed in 1724-28. For a long time, Wawel Castle belonged to the Austrian Empire, and only at the beginning of the 20th century the Poles managed to buy it back.
A Catholic cathedral with the status of a minor basilica. Previously, on the site of the temple there were churches of St. Wenceslas of the 11th century (destroyed as a result of hostilities) and St. Stanislaus of the 12th century (burned down). A new temple was built to replace the lost ones. The facade of the building is made in the Gothic style. At a later time, Renaissance chapels were added to it. The temple houses a tomb where kings, poets and national heroes of Poland are buried.
The Market Square is located in the historical center of Krakow. There are many iconic landmarks located here. One of the most notable buildings is the Cloth Hall, a shopping gallery that appeared under King Boleslav V. Over the following centuries, the complex was rebuilt several times, acquiring decorative elements, loggias, arches and columns. The building acquired its modern appearance at the end of the 19th century.
Catholic church located near the Main Market in Krakow. The first wooden church on the site of St. Mary's Church appeared in the 13th century. The modern building began to be erected at the beginning of the 14th century. The building is built of red brick in the early Gothic style and decorated with magnificent stained glass windows. The interior space is dominated by Baroque and late Gothic features.
Until the beginning of the 19th century, on Market Square there was a full-fledged town hall building, erected in the 14th century. All buildings were demolished due to disrepair, but the tower managed to survive. In the 1960s The building was reconstructed, after which it came under the jurisdiction of the city museum. The tower reaches 70 meters in height. At an altitude of 50 meters there is an observation deck from where you can admire the magnificent architecture of the old quarters.
A quarter in the historical part of Krakow, on the territory of which the Jewish community lived from the 16th century until the occupation of Poland during the Second World War. In the period 1335 - 1818. Kazimierz was an independent city; from 1800 it became part of Krakow. The Jewish Quarter is one of the main tourist centers. Many historical monuments located on its territory are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
A small street with a length of just over 330 meters, located in the historical part of the city. It is built up with picturesque mansions in the Renaissance, Baroque and Classical styles, most of which served as residential buildings for the Krakow aristocracy. The street got its name from the ancient defensive tower, which was once the entrance to the city - the Florian Gate.
An architectural monument from the 15th century, the northernmost part of the defensive wall around Krakow, which was demolished in the 19th century. The Barbican served as a fortification that protected the entrance to the city through the Florian Gate. It is equipped with seven watchtowers and 130 loopholes. The thickness of the walls reaches 3 meters. Today, the Barbican houses a branch of the Krakow Historical Museum.
Collegium Maius (“greatest college” in Latin) is the oldest building of the Jagiellonian University. The building itself was included in the educational institution by the will of Vladislav II Jagiello. There were classrooms, professors' rooms and a library here. In the 19th century, the Collegium Maius was restored in the neo-Gothic style. Today, the University Museum is located on its territory.
In May 1942, a ghetto was formed in one of the city squares, where more than 4 thousand Jews were herded for further transportation to concentration camps. In 2005, a memorial monument was erected here in the form of rows of chairs, which symbolize the furniture thrown out of apartments during the Nazi pogroms. Unlike other squares in Krakow, there are usually few tourists here.
A factory for the production of metal utensils, founded in 1937 by Jewish industrialists M. Gutman, V. Gleitman, I. Kon. In 1939, it went bankrupt and was taken over by O. Schindler, who modernized and revived production. During World War II, Jews from the Krakow ghetto worked here. Thanks to Schindler's efforts, many workers managed to avoid death in the concentration camp. In 2010, a memorial museum of the same name was opened on the territory of the factory.
The exhibition is housed in one of the Schindler factory buildings, modernized in 2010. The museum specializes in organizing exhibitions of art objects created in the last decades of the 20th century and at the beginning of the 21st century. It has its own permanent exhibition, which is exhibited on the second floor. The gallery has a library, a bookstore and a restoration workshop.
The catacombs are located under the Market Square. They were created to house a branch of the Krakow Historical Museum in 2010. In the Market Dungeons there is an exhibition consisting of finds from archaeological excavations carried out in 2005 as part of the reconstruction of the Market Square. The dungeons are equipped with modern multimedia equipment, with the help of which historical reconstructions are created.
One of the largest aviation exhibitions in Poland. The museum was created on the site of a former airfield in 1964. Airplanes, helicopters and gliders produced in the Czech Republic, Poland, Russia, the USA, Great Britain and other countries are exhibited here. There is also a large collection of aircraft engines. The exhibition is located in three hangars, as well as on a wide open-air field.
The museum is located in the Kazimierz quarter. It was created in 2004 on the initiative of journalist K. Schwartz and professor D. Webber. The exhibition is dedicated to Jewish culture, traditions and way of life, as well as the events of the Holocaust (mostly the suffering of prisoners of the Auschwitz concentration camp). Galicia regularly hosts meetings, seminars and lectures on various aspects.
The museum is located in the building of a stained glass workshop, which was erected in 1907 in the Art Nouveau style, fashionable at that time, according to the design of L. Voytychko. The exhibition was founded in 2000 for the purpose of studying, preserving and developing Polish stained glass art. In addition to viewing the exhibits themselves, in the museum you can observe the process of making paintings from colored glass.
The exhibition is located on the territory of the former Kazimierz Town Hall. The museum became an independent institution from the ethnographic department of the National Museum of Krakow in 1910. The collection contains more than 8 thousand exhibits that are related to the history and culture of Poland. Most of the items date back to the 19th century, but there are also artifacts belonging to earlier historical periods.
The museum opened in 1796 on the initiative of Princess Isabella Czartoryska. In 1801, as a result of the November Uprising, the exhibition was looted, and the surviving remains were taken to France. In 1970 the collection returned to Poland. The most valuable exhibit of the museum is Leonardo da Vinci’s painting “Lady with an Ermine” - the only creation of the master that is located in Poland.
One of the best dramatic scenes in Poland, founded in 1893, which was already at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries. gained wide popularity and significance among the theater public. Famous Polish directors and many talented actors worked here, and plays by world-famous authors were staged here. The building was erected according to the design of the architect J. Zaveisky.
Roman Catholic cathedral of the first half of the 13th century, located in the historical part of Krakow. It is believed that the founders of the temple could have been princes Henry II the Pious or Boleslav V the Bashful. Researchers do not have a consensus on this issue. The Gothic facade of the building has been preserved in its original form, having undergone minor changes during the reconstruction of the 19th century.
The temple was built in the Gothic style at the turn of the XIV-XV centuries. In the appearance of the external façade, as well as in the interior design, features of Baroque and Renaissance can be traced, which were introduced here during later reconstructions. In 1566-1582. a baroque belfry was added to the main building. An important relic is kept inside the basilica - the relics of the Polish preacher St. Stanislaw Kazimierczyk.
The church is the first building in Krakow built in the Baroque style. It was built according to the design of the Italian architect D. de Rossi at the end of the 16th century for the Catholic Jesuit Order. After the dissolution of the brotherhood in the 18th century, the church changed owners several times and was eventually transferred to the Cistercian Abbey. Since 1820 it has belonged to the Krakow parish of All Saints.
The building was erected in the 11th century in the Romanesque architectural style. The appearance of the cathedral underwent changes in the 18th century during reconstruction. It acquired some Baroque features, although the general architectural concept was left the same. Adjacent to the temple is a monastic monastery where ancient church relics are kept. There is also a library with a large collection of theological literature.
Dominican temple of the 13th century, built in the Gothic style. After a devastating fire in 1850, the building was almost completely destroyed. The entire interior burned out, and the façade walls partially collapsed. The temple was restored in the period 1853-1872. During construction work, it was necessary to dismantle the surviving part of the facade, as it was very fragile due to damage. As a result of restoration work, the original appearance of the basilica has changed significantly.
Since 1992, the sanctuary has been called a complex of religious buildings, which includes the Chapel of St. Joseph, the monastery of the Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, the Chapel of Perpetual Adoration, the Basilica of Divine Mercy and other objects. This place was declared a pilgrimage center due to the fact that the relics of St. Faustina Kowalska and the famous icon “Jesus, I trust in You” are kept on its territory.
Memorial mound dedicated to the national hero of Poland Tadeusz Kosciuszko. It is located in the west of Krakow on the natural Sikornik hill. The monument was erected in 1823. In 1854, a fortress was built around it to house the Austrian garrison. During the battles for the liberation of Krakow in 1944, the hill played the role of an important observation post for Soviet soldiers.
The very first menagerie appeared in Krakow on the territory of Wawel under King Sigismund III, when the city was the capital of the Polish state. After Krakow lost its capital status, the zoo gradually fell into disrepair. The modern menagerie was founded in 1929. At that time, only about 200 mammals and birds lived there. Today, the Krakow Zoo is home to more than 1,500 thousand individuals (260 species).
In the 18th century, on the site where the Botanical Garden is now located, the Czartoryski family park was laid out, which was sold to the Jesuit Order in 1752. In 1783, the university department of chemistry and natural history received it at its disposal after the dissolution of this monastic brotherhood. At first, the garden occupied a small area of 2.4 hectares. Medicinal and ornamental plants were grown here. Gradually its area increased to today's 9.6 hectares.
A city park located on the border of the historical part of Krakow on the site of former fortifications (fortress walls and ditches). It was destroyed in the 19th century. After World War II and until 1989, the park was in disrepair until a decision was made to begin restoration work. Today Krakow Planty is a wonderful place for nature walks, decorated with numerous sculptures and monuments.
The longest river in Poland, whose length is 1047 km. It originates in the Western Carpathians mountain range and flows into the Baltic Sea. The Vistula flows through several major Polish cities, including Krakow and the country's capital, Warsaw. Within Krakow, along the banks of the river there are picturesque public parks and several protected natural areas have been created.
Even the official name of this city sounds unusual: the Royal Capital City of Krakow. This name is documented, but only tour guides and the most ardent Polish patriots call the city this way. Even if there were no more cities in Poland at all, it would make sense to come here just for this “royal capital city”.
Having miraculously survived the Second World War (the intelligence and counterintelligence of the Red Army became miracle workers), Krakow today is perhaps the only ancient city in Europe that is proud not of newly restored medieval churches, palaces, streets and squares, but of the real ones, preserved from the 13th century in perfect condition.
There are enough attractions in the ancient Polish capital for an entire state, so tourists who come here prefer to stay here for a week, or even more. There are too many treasures here, and not one of them can be neglected. The surrounding areas of Krakow are also rich in surprises and discoveries.
Like any city popular with tourists, Krakow cannot be called the cheapest in Poland, but you can relax here economically. The main thing is to know “how?” and where?".
Road
You can get to Krakow by bus, plane, or train. And even better - combining all types of transport.
You can get from Moscow to Warsaw by train (19-20 hours on the road, 260 euros round trip), from Warsaw to Krakow again by train (about three hours on the road, round trip ticket - from 25 euros). The total amount is 285 euros.
You can get from Moscow to the Polish capital by bus for 69 euros (25 hours on the road, transfer in Riga). Next to Krakow by train (25 euros). The total amount is 162 euros.
You can get to Minsk by bus (10 hours on the road from Moscow, ticket – 48 euros round trip). From Minsk to Krakow also by bus (the journey takes 15 hours, round trip ticket - from 84 euros). Expenses: 132 euros.
By plane from Moscow to Krakow, the cheapest tickets are offered by KLM (one stop in Amsterdam). Round trip ticket - from 200 euros. The flight is not very fast. The wait for a transfer can be up to 12 hours. However, this time can be devoted to a walk along the main streets of Amsterdam. For example:
- right at the airport (50-60 euros) you can buy a bus tour of the most unusual city in Western Europe;
- you can rent a car (from 13 euros/day) and explore everything yourself;
- take a bus from the airport to the city center (5 euros) and stroll through the main museums and squares.
A fast flight from Moscow to Krakow is offered by LOT (transfer in Warsaw, flight - 4 hours, ticket - from 260 euros).
Main shopping area of Krakow.Border and currency
To visit, you need a Schengen visa (35 euros, processing time - 5-6 working days). In addition to a visa, you need medical insurance (coverage of at least 30 thousand euros) and cash (cash or on a card) from 25 euros for each day of stay.
Poles are also in no hurry to part with their favorite currency, the zloty. It is best to change currency in two stages: stock up on euros at home, and exchange them for zlotys upon arrival in Poland. In this case, losses from the exchange will be minimal.
It is better to change money in Poland at banks or exchange offices at railway stations, away from the historical center of the city. Under no circumstances should you do this at the border (for those traveling by bus from Lithuania or Belarus) or at the airport. The exchange rate in these places is simply extortionate and completely unprofitable.
Hotels
There are more than a thousand and tourists have plenty to choose from. A bed in a good hostel in the heart of a medieval city can be found for 10 euros/night. A double room in a modest hotel (with a guaranteed hot breakfast) costs from 16 euros.
For lovers of comfort and those with tight wallets, one of the historical hotels on Florianska Street or on Rynok Square is suitable (from 80 euros/day for a double room).
A popular overnight stay in Krakow is homestays. For a low price (16-25 euros/day) you will have an excellent room at your disposal, and the hospitable hosts will provide you with home-made breakfasts and even dinners (at your request) for an additional fee (from 5-10 euros per day).
Apartments in the city center - from 18 euros (small room with kitchen).
We also recommend reading the article. From it you will find out which accommodation option is suitable for traveling families with children. The article presents inexpensive apartments and hostels that are not inferior to hotels in terms of comfort and freshness of renovation, and gatherings in the lobby help you get to know each other and pass the time well.
Nutrition
What?
Polish cuisine is very understandable and pleasant for the Russian stomach. In almost any restaurant, tavern, or snack bar in Krakow you can order national dishes:
- bigos - stewed sauerkraut with pork or sausage, served in a round bun. The dish is inexpensive, but very filling and tasty. It is especially good to order bigos during the cold season;
- Zurek is the most famous Polish soup made with bread kvass, a version of okroshka, but with a very special taste;
- cracklings with plums - fried brisket stuffed with prunes;
- white sausage - great with both beer and vodka;
- Jewish carp - jellied fish with raisins;
- pies - this is what the Poles call dumplings with a variety of fillings (from cabbage and potatoes to meat and fish);
- syrniki - sweet curd pie;
- makovets - pie with poppy seed filling.
Where?
There are at least two iconic establishments in Krakow that you simply must stop by, if only for a cup of coffee, dessert and a unique atmosphere:
Cafe "Yama Mihalika"
- cafe “Yama Mikhalika” - average bill - 7-10 euros. A historic pastry shop that now operates as a full-fledged restaurant. Ancient recipes, a cozy interior and a legend about the great love of the cafe’s founder for the young panenka - this is only the main assortment of the establishment. Adding the fame of the “most bohemian” cafe in Krakow, where you can meet artists, actors, producers and composers, makes this place special. Located on Florianskaya Street in the old part of the city. Not a single tourist in Krakow misses this street; it is an indispensable component of all routes for travelers;
- restaurant "U Vezhinka" - the establishment opened at the end of the 14th century, and still surprises today. The founder of the restaurant served banquets and feasts for kings and foreign guests. The establishment is located on the central market square and is very easy to find. The average bill is 30-40 euros. If you limit yourself to only coffee and dessert - up to 7 euros;
- tavern “Under the plaque” - the dissonant name not only does not turn off visitors, but attracts them even more. In this tavern, which is located a 15-minute walk from the historical center, you can try the best dishes of old Polish cuisine: black pudding, various pies, beer soup, flaki and many other absolutely delicious dishes. The average check is 20 euros.
How much do food cost in supermarkets?
It is best to buy food in Biedronka (Ladybug) supermarkets. More than 40 stores in Krakow (both in the center and on the outskirts of the city) offer a full range of food products. There are constantly promotions and weekly discounts on certain products in all categories.
Here, real Krakow sausage costs 1.5 euros for a 600-gram package, ham (350 grams) costs 1.57 euros, a half-kilogram pack of cottage cheese costs 1 euro, a loaf costs 0.40 euros, and black bread costs 0.68 euros. Apples, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions are cheaper here than in other European countries.
If you eat on your own in Krakow, then the daily ration for one person will not exceed 10 euros.
What to see?
To see most of Krakow's masterpieces, you don't need to buy tickets or pay a guide. All you need to do is download a detailed city guide, of which there are many on the Internet. There are guidebooks for those who only have one day free, and a printed guide for those who want to learn as much as possible about the Royal City.
There are several city corners that everyone who comes to the royal city simply must visit:
- Florianska Street - from the city gates to the Market Square. Clubs, restaurants, hotels - everything is connected with the long and rich history of the city. In the evenings, street musicians play here, and walking with a guidebook is a pleasure;
- The market square is huge, beautiful, crowded. An inquisitive tourist can spend two or three days exploring this attraction. St. Mary's Church, St. Adalbert's Church, the house where the wedding of Grishka Otrepiev and Marina Mniszech took place, Twardowski's house (Krakow's Faust), Cloth Halls (shopping arcades built in the aesthetics of the Renaissance), restaurants, monuments, theaters. With a guide in hand, each house on the square turns into an amazing and interesting object;
- Wawel - royal hill. The Heart of Poland is the name of this place and the bell on the cathedral tower. The most interesting things are in the numerous museums of the Wawel complex. You must buy a separate ticket for each museum; they do not sell a single ticket. It's best to explore the cathedral, the royal state apartments, the crown treasure and the serpent's cave. Here you will have to fork out some money: visiting all the listed exhibitions and natural objects will cost 25-30 euros;
- Kazimierz is the Jewish quarter of the city, included in the world heritage list, along with the whole of Krakow. Filming location for Schindler's List. Several synagogues, Jewish restaurants, cozy narrow streets and a lot of historical sites.
Cathedral of Saints Stanislaus and Wenceslas on Wawel Hill.
All of the listed “points” are a mandatory “minimum program” for tourists. There is also Grodzka Street, Kanonichya Street, Planty (parks around the old town), places associated with Pope John Paul II, modern facilities (entertainment complexes, stadiums, etc.). It’s hard to leave Krakow, but you always want to come back.
Near Krakow
Once in the south of Poland, you should not miss the opportunity to visit at least three places located near Krakow:
- Salt mines in Wieliczki - an entire underground city of salt mines, opportunities to undergo treatment (allergies, lung diseases), see a unique underground salt church (train journey takes 20 minutes, ticket - from 1.5 euros);
- Auschwitz - one of the most sinister death camps of the Second World War (bus journey about 5 hours, round trip ticket - 16 euros);
- Zakopane is a ski resort on the border with Slovakia. A beautiful place with a lot of opportunities for active recreation (bus from Krakow takes 2 hours, round trip ticket - 7 euros).
Buried
The Royal City of Krakow is a whole world, a special place in. Traveling here is inexpensive, and there are a huge number of opportunities and enough memories for ten years!
Krakow reviews about our trip, September 2014
- Prices in Krakow
- Krakow souvenirs what to buy
- Krakow attractions route map
- Krakow useful links preparing for travel
N.B. Interestingly, this head does not evoke warm emotions among the townspeople of Krakow, but it has become a meeting place and a tourist attraction :)
Some boring information: money, currency, prices in Krakow
Currency: zloty.
How to pay where to change money
You can change it at gas stations, the rate is normal and there is no commission. They can change partially, i.e. 100 euro bill - change 50, 50 - ask for euro change - no problem :)
Comfortable: pay with a card and withdraw some zlotys from an ATM.
Zlotys will be needed to: pay for the toilet, bagels, and other delicacies in street tents. It is simply impossible to pass by them.
In souvenir shops, cafes (even the smallest ones), shops, you can easily pay with a card.
Prices in Krakow
- Magic bagel (bought on the street and eaten on the go - just enough to get to the next bagel machine))): 1.5 zlotys
- Water -1.5-2 zlotys
- Raspberries (taken in season, in September - very tasty) 7.5 zlotys/800 grams
- Polish cheese at the fair (suluguni) - small flatbread (60 grams) - 2 zlotys.
- Bottled beer 3.5 zlotys (in shops)
- Toilet: 1-1.5 zł
Prices in cafes and restaurants in Krakow:
Some of the most expensive restaurants in the tourist area - in Jewish quarter Kazimierz (Kazimierz), opposite the old Synagogue - Szeroka street. They offer Polish, European and European cuisine. Dish from 25 zlotys and above. Near the restaurants there are “barkers” and menus with prices.
On side streets, not in the central one, you can find more affordable prices; in particular, we came across a cafe at the intersection Berka Joselewicza and Sw Sebastiana. It's self-service, but very cozy, tasty and friendly. There is a dish of the day (17 zlotys) - this is a full second course, soups, drinks (no alcohol). First: it is important to try the Polish soup zurek (they say that Russian speakers call it “zhorik”).
Impressions of Polish cuisine: fatty, hearty, salty.
Compliment from the Poles: we were in apple season: everywhere there were fragrant baskets with apples “for nothing”J
Average prices in cafes in Krakow lunch dinner
- On average, a dish costs 10-20 zlotys (meat), 7-18 zlotys for a side dish.
- Side dish + meat 20-30 zlotys
- Drink (coffee, beer, juice) 7-15 PLN
- Additionally, nothing is written on the check (in any case, we did not encounter)
In addition to Polish cuisine, in Krakow you can find restaurants serving Georgian, Ukrainian, Italian, Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Turkish cuisine.
What language is useful in Poland?
Polish. Ukrainian. English.
If you speak Ukrainian, you can speak anywhere, they will understand you, and you will understand (the Poles will not speak quickly and there will be no difficulties)
If you speak Russian, then English is better :) . The older generation speaks Russian; for young people, English is closer.
Souvenirs: what to bring from Krakow
Market Square in Krakow called Rynek Glowny: shopping arcades Cloth rows (Sukiennice). It’s beautiful to stroll through the shopping arcades, but the souvenirs here are expensive. True, you can pay by card. Krakow's business card: amber. There are also many items made of silver, fur (wool), wood, leather (bags, belts). We really liked the fair next door - Maly Rynek. Here you can buy suluguni cheese, bread, beer, honey, honey soap, glass souvenirs, amber, silver, sheepskin and linen products, leather goods.
- Magnitik from 7 to 30 zlotys
- Amber from 15 zlotys(very inexpensive, simple ones) up to 200-300 zlotys for good quality jewelry with silver.
- Salt and cosmetics with salt, Zaja cosmetics
- Herbapol syrups (in supermarkets and some liquor stores)
- Amol tincture (in Krakow it is considered “for all diseases”)
- Polish beer Zywiec, Warka, Tyske piwo, Okocim
- Chocolate
- Minced meat sausages
- Sliwowica tincture
The best souvenirs are impressions, a must in Krakow
- try the cheese
- buy amber
- Walking into a pastry shop is simply a sweet work of art, very tasty and soulful
- Take a look at a shop selling old Polish drinks: authentic and warming:)
What to see in Krakow in 1 day
Krakow is full of attractions, and if you have little time (1-2 days), be sure to explore the old town. On the Internet you can find a lot of general advice on what to see and where to go in Krakow ,You can take a tour or walk on your own. We would like to share a simple walking route Krakow in 1 day
I’ll say right away that we came to Krakow with the clear intention of going around the entire old city. And it turned out that it was elementary. Small, cozy, with winding streets, embankments and a mysterious Jewish quarter Kazimierz, where it seems that life has stood still...
Planning walking tour of Krakow worth considering:
- There are a lot of cyclists and they love to ride fast. It is no coincidence that injuries from collisions with cyclists are the most common case of seeking insurance assistance. Be careful!
- The names of the streets match those you will find on the maps - walking around Old Krakow is very easy.
- If you plan to walk only around the old city, you will not need transport.
- Cars can only enter the old town until 11 o’clock (to deliver goods to cafes and shops). Therefore, in the morning it will be difficult to take beautiful photos without trucks, but then - as many as you like :)
Time of our walk-excursion: from 9 am to 18 pm.
Start: near the Barbican and the monument to the Battle of Grunwald. We go through the gates of the old city and walk along Florianskaya Street into the city.
Main square Glowny Rynok(here is the Cloth Hall, Head of Eros, Basilica Mariacka, Town Hall.
Then we go down to the river and pass the Cathedral of Dominics and Francis, at this intersection there is an Office de tourisme - you can take maps, we continue to go down to the bottom.
Let's go to the street Ulica Kanonicza-the oldest street Krakow and along it we go out to Wawel.
There are cafes here where you can refresh yourself. Then we went to the embankment and walked along it to the Jewish quarter Kazimierz. Here is Shirokaya Street- synagogues and Jewish restaurants. Then we returned to the Old Town and spent another hour and a half wandering the streets and buying souvenirs.
I'm attaching a map. If you get tired: shorten the route at the expense of Kazimierz or a detailed hike to Wawel Castle. Personally, we skipped the tour of Wawel, but had a blast walking around Kazhimerezh.
Excursions around Krakow are free, and most importantly fun and interesting:
Krakow is a very convenient city for transit tourists. The main attractions, according to the subtle guidebooks, are concentrated on the "Royal Road". It starts on the northern border of the Old Town, passes through the central Market Square of Krakow, and goes to the Royal Castle.
Therefore, tourist groups passing through Krakow can explore most of what is written in the guidebook in just a couple of hours, check off the cultural program, and continue their journey further.
However, a couple of hours is enough not because there is nothing to see in the city, but because most guidebooks for foreign tourists are written with “express tourists” in mind.
What you can see in Krakow
It depends, first of all, on how much time you plan to spend in the city.
In 1 hour you can walk from the train station (Krakow Centralny) to the Market Square, take memorable photos, visit St. Mary's Church and look into the Cloth Hall. Maybe even sit in a cafe on the Market Square.
In 2 hours you can walk along Royal Road(the entire tour), enter the territory of the Royal Castle and look into the Cathedral (without visiting other museums). And still have time to sit in a cafe or look into local shops.
In 4 hours you can leisurely walk along Royal Road, explore all the sights you encounter, visit the Royal Castle (without lingering too much in the museums).
There will be time left to visit souvenir shops and to have lunch at a restaurant.
If you wish (a strong desire) you can even have time to quickly examine Kazimierz.
In one evening. If you come to Krakow for only one evening, I advise you to spend this evening walking around the Old Town. And when it gets completely dark, you can choose a bar, cafe or restaurant and taste Polish national cuisine there, or just sit on the Market Square with a glass of beer.
For one day . For those who came to Krakow for 1 day. I recommend that after visiting the Old Town, take a trip to Wieliczka.
And after returning, either go to the Royal Castle, or visit Kazimierz, or admire the city from Kosciuszko mound or Krakus, or just take another walk around Old Krakow (not forgetting that by 23:00 the transport no longer works).
In a couple of days. For anyone who comes to Krakow for a couple of days (usually they arrive during the day and leave in the morning), I can advise you to take a tour of Krakow on the first day. Royal Road, during which you can have a snack somewhere and then visit the Royal Castle.
Then, if the sun is still high, you can admire the city from the heights of the Kosciuszko or Krakus mound. The early evening can be spent visiting local shops, and when it starts to get dark, have dinner at a restaurant serving Polish national cuisine.
The next morning you can go to Wieliczka. Then, returning to Krakow, take a walk around Podgórze, and then to Kazimierz.
During these excursions, do not forget to pay attention not only to the monuments, but also to the places where you can have lunch :-).
If you want to visit any museum, it is better to go there immediately upon returning from Wieliczka, because... After lunch, museums usually close.
Then you can walk around the Old Town along Plantam(if you haven’t already done this), and devote the remaining evening to once again going through the places that you especially liked.
On your last evening, you can also go to the Krakow Aquapark (Park Wodny), to the theater or cinema. Young people can choose a student club.