Krakow is a delightful town with so much to offer. When we visited it in 2015 it was just starting to really gear itself up for the tourist industry, having become quite a popular destination over recent years.

We stayed at a beautifully presented hotel called Metropolitan Boutique Hotel. The rooms were extremely spacious, and the staff were so helpful. Even though it was a little bit further away from the centre of town, it only took about 15 minutes to walk to the main attractions.

We put Krakow on our destination list because of Auschwitz, which has been on our bucket-list for many years. It is true that you have to travel out of your way a little to get to Poland, but it is well worth the trip.

Here is what we think makes visiting Krakow a must destination for the traveller.

  1. Main Market Square – what makes Krakow such a lovely place to visit is the Main Market Square. It is full of elegant town houses, vibrant street vendors, small shopping stalls, eateries and of course St Mary’s Basilica. It is easy to spend a 1/2 day wandering through all the shops and sitting in one of the cafes as you watch the world pass you by
  2. St Mary’s Basilica – located in the Main Market Square the Basilica is one of the best examples of Polish Gothic architecture and towers over the square. It is well worth a visit.
  3. Krakow Cloth Hall – situated in the Main Market Square this beautiful historic building houses some very interesting shops which sell plenty of Polish souvenirs. There are permanent exhibitions here as well, so its not all about shopping.
  4. Wawel Castle – the best place to learn about Polish history is at the beautiful Wawel Castle, which sits majestically on top of a hill overlooking the city.
  5. Wieliczka Salt Mine – offering an unforgettable sight of underground salt art and architectural design. Tourists have a choice of several sightseeing options with the most popular being the Tourist Route. It leads through over 20 underground chambers and has several kilometers of winding corridors.
  6. Auschwitz-Birkenau Tour – as this is such a significant destination please visit the separate post I have created which has plenty of photos and information as a guide to planning your visit.

Travel Tips

  • You can easily walk around Krakow, so have comfortable walking shoes.

Travel Alerts

  • We felt very safe in Krakow and the people were warm and friendly. We have no real travel alerts for this town.

Travel Adventures

  • Oskar Schindler’s Factory – make sure you visit the Oskar Schindler Enamel Factory Museum which presents an exhibition regarding the time of the Nazi occupation of Krakow during the years 1939-1945. The exhibition not only shows the history of the city, but also tells the story of its inhabitants – both Poles and Jews.