"Krakow" Krakow by pure1942

Krakow Travel Guide: 4,393 reviews and 10,165 photos

Poland's Ancient Capital

Gone are the days when Krakow was classed as an undiscovered gem in 'new' Europe. I'd love to have seen Krakow a decade ago before it's promotion to one of Europe's top travel destinations.
Don't get me wrong, the city still oozes with charm and historical and cultural charm, but now it's on a much more commercial scale. The Old Town of Krakow is laid out in such a way that it screams for the attention and consumption of tourists rather than locals and I think it's safe to say that there is no time of the year, when you can visit Krakow without battling with crowds of other visitors.

The Old Town

Main Market Square and Church of St. Mary

Having said all that, there is of course a reason why so many people choose Krakow for their short city break, with a myriad of historical and cultural attractions all supported by a 'krak'ing nightlife and a good exchange rate.
With the obvious draws of the mighty Wawel Royal Complex and Cathedral, Europe's largest public square, complete with towering Church of St. Mary and central Cloth Market , historically and culturally important Kazimierz Jewish district and a range of Baroque architecture not seen since Vilnius, Krakow is indeed one of Europe's most beautiful cities...well its' Old Town anyway.

Around Krakow

Birkenau Concentration Camp

Of course, many people visit Krakow, not just for what is contained within its Old Town walls but also for what is located in its surrounding countryside. The Tatra mountains and ski slopes of Zakopane are within an hours drive of Krakow, while the UNESCO listed Wieliczka Salt Mines are on the outskirts of the city ad can be reached easily by public transport or guided tour. The monastic settlement of Czestochowa and Eagle's Nest HIking Trails are just two more examples of what is on offer around Krakow.
However, it is the more sinister aspects of Krakow's history which draws thousands of visitors to Krakow each year. The infamous WWII, Nazi labour camps of Oswieceim and Brzezinka, more commonly known by their German names of Auschwitz and Birkenau, are just over an hour away from Krakow. A visit to these camps is a vital part of any stay in Krakow, as it is only by visiting these places, that one can even begin to realise the extent of the horrors endured by the prisoners of these camps and the evil and sadistic mentality of the Nazis, who enslaved, tortured and murdered them there.

Last visit to Krakow: Mar 2009
Intro Updated Mar 21, 2009
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Reviews (21)

Statue of Mickiewicz in front of St. Mary's - Krakow

Adam Mickiewicz Statue Things to Do (21)

This statue, stands proudly in Market square between St. Mary’s Church and the Cloth Hall. This popular meeting point... more travel advice

St. Aldalbert Church Things to Do (21)

The small, quaint Church of St. Aldalbert (locally known as Church of St. Wojciech) sits in the sothern corner of Market... more travel advice

Bernardine Church Things to Do (21)

The Baroque Bernadine Church sits at the foot of Wawel Hill in the Stradom Quarter. The church was built between 1659... more travel advice

Kazimierz Things to Do (21)

Kazimierz has been the traditional Jewish district of Krakow for over 500 years. This interesting area of the city lies... more travel advice

Comments (5)

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Maurizioago Jul 29, 2009 at 2:24 AM

Nice page. Ciao!
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LoriPori Jul 3, 2009 at 2:22 PM

Interesting and informative page on Krakow. Next year Krakow will be the site of Virtual Tourist Euromeet2010
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csordila Apr 25, 2009 at 10:35 AM

Your Krakow page is excellent, better than a travel guide. By the way, the taste of borscht soup was very odd. it was not a big experience. Best. Laszlo
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HORSCHECK Mar 24, 2009 at 2:51 PM

Brian, fabulous start about Krakow here. It looks like you had lovely sunny weather. Your page brings back memories of my time here. The Slowacki Theatre is among my favourite buildings of Krakow.
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jumpingnorman Mar 23, 2009 at 3:09 PM

Hi Brian! Very nice new tips on Krakow -- I think it is an undervisited city....Greetings from Arizona, Norman :)