Oozing a distinct storybook charisma, Krakow is often named the most beautiful city in Poland. It's a picturesque city with an Old Town brimming with historic architecture and Gothic spires, and a massive, eclectic castle, all centered around the Vistula River.

Also the oldest city in Poland, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is located near the Czech border, making it convenient to visit from other parts of Europe.

Brief History of Krakow

After enduring a Mongol ransacking in the 13th century, Krakow's rebuilt itself back up and enjoyed its golden years under the reign of Casimir III the Great, in the 14th century. Casimir founded Krakow University, best known as the school where Copernicus studied. He also established the Kazimierz, one of Europe's largest Jewish neighborhoods and one of the hippest communities in Krakow today.

Although much of Poland was destroyed during World War II, Krakow was spared and the well-preserved medieval structures give it a charming look, even today.

Krakow Tours

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 1. Castle Hill

Standing sentry over Old Town and the Vistula River, the Wawel Hill area is one of Poland's most important sites. Wawel Royal Castle was built in the 14th century under the command of King Casimir III the Great and was home to Polish kings and queens from the 13th to the 17^th-century.

It was and still is one of the largest castles in Poland. Europe has a lot of castles, but Wawel Castle is different. The architecture is an eclectic combination of different historical periods, mixing Medieval, Renaissance, Romanesque, Rococo, and Baroque in a way that fascinating and visually stimulating. The Castle was established as a national museum in the 1940s. Visitors can view ancient suits of armor and weapons, along with, rich tapestries, and Renaissance paintings. Climbing the ramparts for a birds-eye-view of the old town is a must.

Wawel Cathedral is the most important places of worship in Poland. Saint Stanislaus lived here and is buried in the churches burial chambers.

What good is a medieval castle without a dragon? At the base of the castle, close to the Vistula River, is the Wawel Dragon Den, the legendary lair of the fierce Smok Wawelski dragon. A large statue of the dragon stands erect on two legs upon a mass of boulders where a mythical cave is said to have been. Smok breathes fire on schedule to delight the people gathered around. 

 2. Stare Misasto (Old Town)

In 1257, subsequent to the Mongol invasion, Krakow's old quarter was established within protective medieval walls. Brightly-painted kamienice (traditional Polish townhouses) tower over the narrow cobblestone streets and back alleys. Old Town is perfect for leisurely strolling, particularly frenetic Florianska Street and Kanonicza Street– the oldest street in Krakow.

In the middle of old town, tourists flock to the public cranium sculpture, to climb into for their "headshot."

Krakow's historic center was one of the original 12 places inaugurated as the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1978. Walking through the grid of streets in old town, I couldn't help but imagine what it would have been like living in this fairytale city centuries ago.

3. Rynek Glowny (Main Market Square)

Krakow's 13-th century market is the geographic and cultural heartbeat center of the city.It's also one of the largest medieval squares (almost five acres) in Europe. There's a wonderful, lively vibe here, making it not only a magnet for tourists, but a favorite hangout for locals as well.I really enjoyed the walking tour of market square and old town, taking in the history and legends of Krakow.

In the middle of the Main Market Square, you'll find the Sukiennice, an attractive Renaissance-period building with fancy arches. Originally used as a cloth hall the Sukiennice claims to be Europe's oldest shopping and trade centers. Currently, it's the best place to find antiques, trinkets, souvenirs and other merchandise.

4. St. Mary's Basilica

Krakow's famous lofty 14th-century Gothic church stands out because of its unusual unsymmetrical spires juxtaposed against the red brick façade. You can't help but be drawn to it, at the edge of Market Square, across from the Sukiennice. Two attributes attract visitors to the basilica. One is a trumpet cry called Hejinal Mariacki, played every hour in the tower. The song stops abruptly in the middle of the song, a tribute to the musician who was killed when an arrow struck his throat as attempted to warn of the imminent invading Tatars. The other is a 15th-century one-of-a-kind wooden altar, carved by a Polish artist Wita Stworz – surrounded by the exquisite marble interior, it's one of the most beautiful pieces of sacred art in all of Poland. 

 5. Barbican

Impenetrable, the 15^th-century red brick Barbican was Krakow's main entry point. The gatehouse has seven turrets and 130 slots used by archers and riflemen to defend the city

The Barbican is the only remaining defensive rampart of what was once a walled fortress surrounding the city to protect against the invading Mongol hordes. Nowadays the Barbican is used for special events such as jousting contests and medieval theater. 

​6. Kazimierz

Just south of Old Town, the Kazimierz neighborhood has become the place to go in Krakow. Founded by and named for Casmir III, Kazimierz was a separate city for 500 years, until the 19th-century. After a fire in the 15th century, King Jan I Olbracht expelled the entire Jewish population was from old town to Kazimierz.

Other Jews from around Europe migrated to Kazimierz, expanding the community. A wall which had been constructed around Kazimierz was removed 200 years ago, but the city has preserved their Jewish heritage. Much of the Steven the Spielberg movie Schindler's List was filmed here, including the now-famous passage on Jozefa Street.

In Kazimierz, you'll find the 15^th century Old Synagogue, the oldest synagogue still standing in Poland. The synagogue was built as a 'fortress synagogue,' architecture with military reinforcement because of the fear of attack. It's is a cherished example of Jewish architecture in Europe.

64,000 Kazimierz Jews were deported to Auschwitz during World War II; only 6,000 returned after the war ended.

Today, the bohemian Kazimierz is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Krakow's most hip and exciting neighborhood, buzzing with culture, street art, cafés, and trendy bars and nightlife. It's a popular tourist area and a pilgrimage destination for Jews including a summer festival to celebrate Jewish culture and educate about the city's pre-war history.

 7. Vistula

For strolling, jogging, and biking, the boulevards along banks of the Vistula area provides a plethora of green spaces and inspiration for photography.  Snaking around Krakow, the Vistula River also provides opportunities for water-based activities.

8. Milk Bars

For a retro, home-cooked dining experience, head to a mleczny (milk bar).These no-frills canteens were essentially government subsidized cafeterias established for Polish laborers after World War II, under Communist influence. The milk bars' menus include informal Polish fare such as pierogi (dumplings) stuffed with anything from beef, potatoes, or fruit), and zapiekanki (half a toasted baguette topped with mushrooms, melted cheese, and ketchup). Many of the milk bars do not serve alcohol.

9. Auschwitz

I've heard people ask, "How can I visit Auschwitz?" Getting to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp from Krakow is easy; visiting, it, not so much.

Easily classified as "dark tourism," visiting Auschwitz is emotional and moving. It has the unfortunate distinction of being the largest and most notorious Nazi concentration camp. Visitors get a peek into the repulsive horrors of the Holocaust and unimaginable atrocities brought upon millions of Jews when the Nazis invaded Poland during World War II.

The first Jews arrived in the territory of modern Poland in the 10th century and for over a thousand years, Poland held the largest number of Jews in the world and center of Jewish culture. The result of World War II was a nearly complete genocidal destruction of the Polish Jewish community.

While Auschwitz is the place of unthinkable atrocities from World War II, it's also a place to pay respects to the millions of undeserving victims of the Nazis. Over half of the six million Jews killed during the Holocaust were Polish.

10. Wieliczka Salt Mine

Wieliczka Salt Mine is just on the outskirts of Krakow. The mines are another UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most prominent tourist attractions in Poland.

Deep below the surface, there are nine levels of subterranean passages and tunnels. There's an underground lake, and a cathedral made entirely of salt, including statues and an intricate chandelier

The mine produced table salt from the 13th-century until 2007.

Disclosure: The author was honored to be the guest of JayWay Travel during her stay in Poland, but as always, the opinions, reviews, and experiences are her own. 

For more information about Krakow:

Best Places to Visit in Poland: Travel Guide to Krakow, Warsaw, and Gdansk

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