5 Can't Miss Sights In Krakow Poland
Krakow is a gorgeous city with a ton of history. But Krakow and Poland, in general, are often overlooked when people think of visiting Europe. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Poland. What are some sights you shouldn't miss in Krakow? Keep reading to find out.
1. Jewish Quarter
Poland was walloped during the second world war. The Nazis invaded and caused tons of mayhem. The Jewish quarter has reminders of that time, like Schindler's factory and the last walls of the Jewish ghettos. Several companies offer walking tours or guided golf cart rides. The tours are informative, but we just spent our time walking around and taking it in. Besides the history, there are also great restaurants and food truck parks to try out. During our stay, the Jewish quarter was where we spent most of our time.
2. Auschwitz-Birkenau
The concentration camp is a sobering and moving experience.
I can't say that we necessarily enjoyed our visit to Auschwitz, but it was a very sobering experience. We recommend you visit if you have the time. This concentration camp is a reminder of just how horrible humans can be. Auschwitz is about an hour from Krakow. But if you book with a tour company in advance, most will include transportation. How ever you choose to get there, make sure you get your tickets online ahead of time. Otherwise, you'll have to wait in lines that can easily stretch out 2 hrs long. It's not a feel-good experience by any means, but Auschwitz helps you understand the history that has shaped the Polish people.
3. Old Town
The Old Town in Krakow is very popular with tourists. It's home to one of the largest city squares in the world. There is also a huge park that surrounds the center. Old Town is beautiful but crowded and pretty touristy. It's worth a visit for the architecture and atmosphere, but we didn't' spend a ton of time there.
Old Town is surrounded by a vast park.
4. Salt Mine
Another day trip from Krakow is the Wieliczka Salt Mine. I have no idea how to pronounce it, but it was a highlight of our trip. You descend several hundred meters into a salt mine that has been in operation since the 13th century. Every visit is a guided tour that also encourages you to lick the salt walls of the shaft. Just like Auschwitz, be sure to book tickets ahead of time. The line to buy tickets can be very long.
Yes, the walls taste like salt.
There are several cathedrals carved below the ground.
5. Wawel Royal Castle
Once the residence of the King of Poland, Wawel Royal Castle now offers a look into the past and serves as one of the countries premier art museums. The art collection boasts "Lady with an Ermine" by Da Vinci, although it was out on loan when we were there. That was a bummer because I was excited to see it. But the castle is gorgeous, and it offers excellent views of the city. I sound like a broken record but buy tickets ahead of time. The line for day-of tickets was so long. Also, one ticket won't give you total access. There are several separate sections, such as the cathedral, that require separate tickets.
Conclusion
Krakow surprised us by how much we enjoyed it. Not that we had low expectations, but we didn't know what to expect. Poland is not at the top of most people's bucket lists. What we found though was a beautiful city, with pleasant people and good food. Hopefully, our list has inspired you to visit Krakow as well. Have you ever been to Poland? Let us know below in the comments.