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Krakow’s MUST SEE

 

UNESCO World Heritage Sites - Kraków’s biggest attraction

  • In 1978, the historic centre of Kraków (A) was included in the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites. The site encompasses nearly 150 hectares, including the Old Town area, Wawel Hill, as well as the Kazimierz and Stradom districts. The city joined the first 12 sites in the world featured in this special list. Today, it is one of 14 such sites in the Małopolska region.
     
  • The heart of the city is home to the historic Old Town Market Square (1) - the largest medieval market square in Europe. The centre of the square is marked by the Cloth Hall (2), where merchants and salespeople have been offering their wares for more than 700 years. The St Mary's Basilica (3) can be found right next to it. Every hour, a trumpeter climbs one of its towers to play the famous bugle call to the four winds. That is not the only thing that makes it stand out. Inside the basilica, you can also see one of the greatest masterpieces of medieval art - the altarpiece crafted by Veit Stoss.
     
  • History buffs cannot miss the Wawel Hill (4) with its magnificent Cathedral and the Royal Castle (5), which was built more than 900 years ago and which later became a place of coronations and the residence of Polish kings. Due to its unique history, it is considered one of the greatest national treasures.
     
  • Discover Kraków's Jewish heritage on a walking tour of the Kazimierz district (B). Learn more about the amazing architecture and rich history of a place that was once the centre of Jewish culture and life. Visit the Remu Synagogue (6) - one of the two synagogues in Kraków that are still in use and see the nearby cemetery with gravestones dating as far back as the 16th century. Then pay a visit to the Old Synagogue (7), also known as the Fortress Synagogue - the oldest temple of its kind in Poland, converted into a fascinating museum of the history and culture of Kraków's Jews. Do not miss the experience of Kazimierz at night and enjoy one of the city’s most fashionable and vibrant districts with popular cafés, bars and restaurants.

A city of more than 100 museums

Even though you could say that all the museums in Kraków are worth your while, you definitely should not miss the MOCAK Museum of Contemporary Art - not just due to its outstanding modern style. History aficionados should visit the Krakow Museum, the Underground Market Square and Oskar Schindler's Factory. Art lovers, on the other hand, should keep the National Museum in Krakow and the 19th-century Polish Art Gallery in the Cloth Hall - home to an extensive collection of artworks from all over the world, including Polish paintings and sculptures. The Museum of Polish Aviation is also worth visiting, if you want to see a collection of more than 250 planes, gliders and helicopters. You can also check out the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology. While in Kraków, do not forget to swing by the Museum of the Princes Czartoryski to join the hundreds of thousands of visitors who come there every year to see Leonardo da Vinci’s famous masterpiece - the Lady with an Ermine.

Our recommendations:

Kraków’s culinary heritage

Kraków is a city of a rich culinary tradition, with delicious regional cuisine and locally produced delicacies. Have a taste and fall in love with the city's cuisine.

  • Certificate of Taste
    In 2019, the European Academy of Gastronomy has awarded the city the title of European Capital of Gastronomic Culture, making it a must-see destination for all foodies out there.
     
  • Kraków’s staple
    Start your day with a delicious obwarzanek - a round baked product, which is most likely the most famous example of Kraków’s cuisine. You can buy one on almost every corner - just find one of the many stalls scattered throughout the Old Town. The first historic mentions of the obwarzanek date back to 1394. Some claim it was a royal favourite. Fortunately, these days you can get one without breaking the bank. Not only that, but you can choose from numerous flavours. You can get one sprinkled with salt, poppy or sesame seeds. Perhaps it is a sign of the times, but you can even find some with cheese, nigella and herbs.
     
  • Local cuisine 
    Discover the authentic local flavours. Check out żurek - a traditional Polish sour rye soup served in a hollowed-out loaf of bread. If you are visiting the city, you have to try the maczanka - the original Polish street food! To fully experience the city, you have to visit Krakow's restaurants and milk bars, where you can find the best regional dishes.
     
  • Traditional and regional products like Lisiec sausage and the famous oscypek are some of the best regional products from Małopolska. Oscypek is made from sweet sheep's milk and then smoked over a fire for a fortnight. This process ensures its unique flavour! The culinary festivals and local fairs organised around Kraków offer many opportunities to taste the Sechna prunes and the Zator carp. These are just some of the many local delicacies!
     
  • Fresh markets
    Do not miss out on Krakow's markets - your source of fresh produce in the heart of the city. Browse the stalls full of delicious treats - smoked meats, sausages and slow-cooked hams to freshly picked seasonal vegetables, local cheeses and sweets. Make sure to visit Old Kleparz (16) to enjoy shopping and a cup of amazing coffee. Then check out Na Stawach Square (17), the ParsleyMarket (18) or the Market Hall (19), which hosts antique flea markets on weekends.

Nowa Huta - a look into the communist era

  • The construction of Nowa Huta (C) began in 1949 - at that time, it was an independent town near Krakow. It was designed as an industry hub with residential areas for workers employed at the local steelworks. These days, the district boasts distinctive architecture and attractive layout, which makes it a true treat for lovers of modern architecture. Today, Nowa Huta is a vibrant district that offers a variety of cultural and business events.
     
  • Nowa Huta is also a place where you can experience a journey back in time. A journey to communist-era Poland the Polish People’s Republic, or PRL for short. Some consider it vintage, while others think that it is an epitome of kitsch. What is your opinion? You will find out during a crazy trip in a Trabant or a Polish Fiat 126. Nowa Huta is also a perfect place for a bike tour.

 

 

  • The “Wieliczka” Salt Mine (A)
    The oldest salt mine in Europe - home to an underground world built by many generations of miners over centuries, with brine lakes, sculptures scattered around the chambers, as well as an underground church. Do not miss the famous St Kinga’s Chapel. The “Wieliczka” Salt Mine was named one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites back in 1978.
     
  • Zakopane-Tatra Mountains and Podhale (B)
    The Tatra Mountains and Podhale remain some of the most popular tourist destinations in Poland. And it should not come as a surprise! Zakopane is a unique place due to plenty of reasons. The Tatra National Park encompasses stunning valleys, peaks and picturesque mountain trails. You can also enjoy cycling routes and professional ski slopes. Do not forget about the delicious highland cuisine, as well as the region’s rich traditions. Residents proudly showcase the folk culture and the local folklore. We can assure you - it will be a truly fascinating journey!
     

Wooden Architecture Route (C)
The Wooden Architecture Route was established in 2001 and currently features 255 of the most precious and interesting historic wooden buildings, including picturesque churches, manor houses and wooden villas. They are some of the most valuable monuments of folk material culture. In 2003, four 15th-century wooden churches from Małopolska were recognised by UNESCO:
 

  • the Church of St Michael the Archangel in Binarowa (1),
  • the Church of St Michael the Archangel in Dębno Podhalańskie (2),
  • the Church of St Leonard in Lipnica Murowana (3),
  • and the church of Saints Philip and James in Sękowa (4).  

In 2013, four Orthodox churches on the Route were also added to the UNESCO List. These include:

  • Orthodox Church of St James the Less in Powroźnik (5),
  • Orthodox Church of the Protection of Our Most Holy Lady in Owczary (6),
  • Orthodox Church of St Paraskeva in Kwiatoń and (7)
  • the Orthodox Church of St Michael the Archangel in Brunary Wyżne (8).
     
  • Kalwaria Zebrzydowska (A)
    Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, which is sometimes referred to as the Polish Jerusalem, is a town located in the picturesque Makowskie Foothills. It was founded in 1602 by Mikołaj Zebrzydowski, alderman of Kraków. It has been a part of the UNESCO List of World Heritage Sites since 1999. These days, the church, the monastery, as well as the complex of chapels and roadside churches are visited by millions of pilgrims every year. It is a charming place filled with historic buildings, where you can encounter wooden houses and indulgence stalls from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries - right by the oldest street in the city. Visitors can also visit the Miraculous Image of Our Lady of Calvary.
     
  • Lanckorona (B)
    Is a picturesque town near Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, sometimes referred to as a magical city of angels. Some claim it to be the only city in Poland where angels knock on residents' doors and wish them a merry Christmas. Visitors come to Lanckorona due to its beautiful surroundings and the famous 19th-century market square. The town is also popular with artists and ceramics enthusiasts.
     
  • Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum (C)
    The Museum was established on the site of the largest Nazi concentration camp founded in 1940, when Oświęcim (then called Auschwitz) was a part of the Third Reich. Approximately 1 - 1.5 million people perished in the camps until 1945 - mainly European Jews, as well as Poles and the Roma. The museum encompasses two parts of the former camp complex - Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II Birkenau, with more than 150 structures, including wooden huts and crematoriums. Visitors can also see an exhibition dedicated to the victims of different nationalities. The site of the former Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
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