Our favorite, and most eco-friendly one, is simply to walk around. Our main recommendation would be to get to the site as early as possible, around opening if you can. We typically focus on travel in the USA and Europe (especially in our beloved Italy), but feature destinations across the world! If you would like to take advantage of public transportation during your time in the center of Krakow (its about a half-hour walk from the Main Market Square to some of the locations mentioned in Kazimierz), Krakows tram system is a fantastic option. Most are located in the Jewish quarters. Cant wait to read more from you two! On your way up, you can stop off the many levels to read about the history of the tower, the city, and the notable military. ), Is a Colosseum Night Tour Worth the Splurge? If you only have time for a quick stop in Poland, we would recommend you do the same. Planty Park is easy to access and absolutely lovely. Cheap and delicious, you really cant go wrong! Its a cute place to walk around. Please like, comment and share, every action on your part helps us out tremendously and is very much appreciated. Once upon a time, you could find a medieval prison in the depths of the tower, but today it is popular for the lovely views of Main Market Square you can see from the top. This dragon statue is well worth visiting during your trip to Krakowit literally breathes fire! Find the perfect place to stay withBooking.com, Get the cheapest flights with Skyscanner, Book your favorite activities with Viator, Rest assured with travel insurance from Safety Wing, Get from point A to point B quickly and reliably with rentalcars.com, Make sure you have everything you need for your epic trip by checking our store on Amazon. You can get quite creative with your shots here. We saw both on the same tour. Either you can find a tour company in the Old Town who will offer tours starting from 119 to 150 PLN (roughly $25 USD) including tickets and transport. We have intentionally structured this 2 day Krakow itinerary to separate Wieliczka Salt Mine and Auschwitz-Birkenau into two different days, which has the benefits of breaking up the two longer tours from this itinerary into separate days and allows time to explore Kazimierz on the same day as your visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau. So here are the best things to see and do in and around Krakow. 
Regardless, its definitely at least stopping by the location when youre in the neighborhood. Stretching the (admittedly brief) distance between Main Market Square and St. Florians Gate, Florianska Street has been an economic center of Krakow since the Middle Ages, and is packed with shops and restaurants to this day. By the time you make it back to Krakow, itll be afternoon, and we recommend taking a bit of time to rest and decompress after the emotional trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau. The second day of this Krakow itinerary focuses heavily on the Jewish history of the city and surrounding area, which is extremely important, extremely sad, and extremely emotionally draining. Your email address will not be published. As an Amazon Associate, Our Escape Clause earns from qualifying purchases. It will cost you 15 PLN ($4 USD) per person. That location will give you the flexibility you need to explore Krakow during your stay, and is also an easy place to arrange pickups for tours to sights outside the center of town. We love helping you plan amazing trips. Its the creative work of Polish artist Igor Mitoraj. Be sure to also check out the views of the Vistula River as you walk along the castle walls! This option will cost you 4 PLN ($1 USD) per person and youll need to get your tickets on the bus (make sure you get them for Zones 1 and 2). It is a place with great champagnes but also excellent food. Almost 1000 years old, Wawel Cathedral is both incredibly beautiful and historically relevant. I am originally from Biaystok (which I recommend seeing if you ever get a chance) so its another side of Poland, but I can agree with you. As one of the only cities in the region to survive WWII intact (much unlike, Once a major center of international trade, Cloth Hall was once a source of spices and other imports from the east into, As one of the best-known streets in Poland (even compared to, Communism, of course, is now a memory, but Polish milk bars (or a bar mleczny) live on and remain a fabulous and inexpensive way to enjoy a hearty Polish lunchbe sure to order plenty of. Chelsea | theturquoisetraveler.com, Thanks Chelsea, thats so great to hear There are 2 ways to get there. Big or small, every influencer or content creator needs a media kit. As our thank you, well send our FREE guide to planning a European Itinerary and downloadable packing lists! This incredibly popular tour gets rave reviews and will allow you to visit both Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Wieliczka Salt Mine in one day. No visit to Krakow would be complete without a stop at Auschwitz. This churchwas built in the 14th century, but its foundations go way back to the early 13th century. Until one faithful day, acobblersapprenticestuffed a lambwithsulfurand set it in the dragons cave. Great little city guide of Krakow! Situated in the Old Town, these spacious apartments are your home away from home. Like many travelers, we were initially drawn to visiting Krakow due to its proximity to Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Wieliczka Salt Mine, but it only took a couple days in Krakow before we were also smitten with the city itself. Just note that the balcony is closed once you make it to the top. Historically, Kazimierz was Krakows Jewish quarter, but today,its home to indie galleries, quirky shops, vintage clothing stores, cool barbershops, and bars. Boasting medieval architecture, a fun, walkable center, an endless amount of (often very sad) history, and lots of pierogis, spending 2 days in Krakow is bound to be an unforgettable experience. If you have an extra day here, youll just be able to explore the city and check out the attra the 2 days trips at a more peaceful pace. He apparentlyenjoyed eating young maidens the most. If youd like to tour the interior of the castle, this well-reviewed tour is a great way to learn about the castles long history. For something that heavy, once was enough.
Check rates & book your stay at Mundo Hostel! You can climb the steps up to the top of it for a little fee of 9 PLN (slightly more than $2 USD). Theyre a part of the essential tools you need if you want to collaborate with brands. Milk bars, aka staples of very simple, very delicious, and very inexpensive Polish food, are a tradition that dates back to Polands Communist times when workers could enjoy a meal out at these state-run cafeterias of sorts. You also have to try a local beer. and St. Andrews Church. This place is truly amazing. As always, here is a quick recap of the best things to do in Krakow in 2 days. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, Im working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA. We left our old routines behind to discover all the wonders our planet has to offer. You can freely walk around the city to check out all the cool pieces around town.
Just know that at Auschwitz, the free tour is outside the hours of the guided tours they offer. ). July and August are said to be the warmest times (so expect tons of crowds). There are a few ways to visit the sites of the concentration camps. We also loved the mulled wines to keep us warm in the cold weather. So thats what we set out to do. The Townhall tower cant be missed in the main square, and its quite cool to check out. For more information, please see our disclaimer here. Wawel Castle has beautiful grounds and gardens, including a lovely courtyard that is an excellent place to start your visit to the castle. As we mentioned, everything in the Old Town is quite close, so its easy to walk from one place to the next. Make sure you stick around there for about 5 minutes to get a fiery surprise from the dragon. Very complete, nice to read and beautiful photos. When we visited the Wieliczka Salt Mine, we made the novice mistake of waiting too long for a bus that wasnt scheduled that day! ), 15 Incredible Books About Iceland (To Read Before Visiting! This is a good place to start discovering Krakow: the Old Market Square, also known as Rynek Gwny. Our visit left a lasting impression on us, and years later, moments and stories from that visit are seared into our memory. 33 bronze chairs are located in the square, placed there to honor the Jews who lost their lives in the Nazi occupation during WWII. (+ Tips! There are tons of ways to get to Krakow. Thanks for your kind words! You can visit the 2 sites, the Auschwitz site, and Auschwitz II-Birkenau, and need about 1.5 to 2 hours in each spot.
This article may contain affiliate/compensated links. Once a major center of international trade, Cloth Hall was once a source of spices and other imports from the east into Krakow, and today still acts as a trading post of sortsthough now one that has tourists and souvenir shopping in mind. The people of Krakow will agree that their city is much cuter, more fun and better to visit than the cold Warsaw. We just had to share it Have a nice weekend. tour of Oskar Schindlers Factory Museum here. Many of us have heard of Oskar Schindler before visiting Krakow: he is credited with saving around 1200 Jews from Nazi concentration camps in WWII, and is the subject of the famous movie Schindlers List (and the book that the movie was inspired by). ), we really recommend taking a guided tour. If youre trying to visit as many UNESCO World Heritage sites, add this one to your list! It seems like the absolute perfect itinerary. Its actually. Here are the best things to do in Krakow, Poland! Housing one of Polands best museums, the interior of Wawel Castle is definitely worth visiting if you have time during your 2 days in Krakow! After resting up for a bit, close out your 2 days in Krakow by heading to Kazimierz. it does not run from Birkenau. Theres a reason most of the street art is located in this trendy and creative area. Needless to say, we will be back to explore more of this gorgeous country. All too often, they're poorly made and lack the important information brands need to know that they HAVE TO work For July, we joined hundreds of million people around the world to go plastic-free. Today, the Castle is one of the countrys premier art museums. Krakow was the second-ever European city that we visited, and while it was a bit of an offbeat choice for us at the time, we quickly fell in love with the city and it has held a special place in our hearts ever since. Toasty inside, but still offering a view of the city life outside, these beer gardens are a new favorite of ours. Sign up for our newsletter to get our free e-book as well as our latest updates, travel recommendations, eco-friendly advice, inspiration, good vibes and so much more. Ghetto Heroes Square is hard to miss when exploring Kazimierz. From the soft and luxurious linens to the one-of-a-kind furniture. This is our preference, however, many visitors take a different approach, and instead prefer to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Wieliczka Salt Mine back-to-back, since theyre both located outside the city, leaving one full day to concentrate on Krakow itself. Great city and a great summary of the major things you can see: and glad you fell in love with it (I did, too ). We studied WWII and the Holocaust thoroughly in school, of course, but visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau brought the horrible history to life in a very real way. Welcome to the most underrated and under-visited country in Central America, Honduras. You can also help us by pinning it for others to find. In order to save the kids, the people started to offer the dragon sheep instead. So there really is something for everyone. You will have 2 tour options: One is the miners tour, where you will go through the tunnels, ladders, and chambers working as a miner. Seeing it for yourself one day is a must! For centuries, Wawel Castle was the home of Polish kings, and perhaps because of that, Wawel Castle is exactly what you might expect a castle to be: beautiful, foreboding, defensible, and perched on a hill overlooking the Vistula River. Auschwitz-Birkenau is located more than an hour outside of Krakow, and its very useful to have transportation handled for you between Auschwitz and Birkenau (which are set a bit apart from each other). While you certainly can visit independently (grab your skip-the-line tickets here! Walk around Kazimierz, the Jewish quarter, 10. For a brief, inexpensive, and fun introduction to the history of the city without eating up too much time during your 2 days in Krakow, head over to Krakow in 15 Minutes! From the history, architecture, kind people and sights to see, there was so much to take in. When deciding where to stay in Krakow for 2 days, we recommend choosing somewhere within a comfortable walk of the Main Market Square and Wawel Castle. We heard many versions of the legend of the Krakow Dragon that used to live under the castle. We put a lot of time and effort into the content we create. Not only is Grodzka Street one of the major streets in central Krakow, its also part of the Royal Road, and Polish kings once used it to reach Wawel Castle. Every castle needs a dragon. Prefer an independent visit? I updated the post to clarify. We loved our short, but oh-so-sweet time in Krakow. This was part of the citys plan to open up the Main Square. We will make sure to check out your blog too , Awesome pictures. You can still get some pretty awesome views of the city and its square. Once you get to the other side of Market Square, you cant miss theChurch of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven(akaSaint Marys Church). We hope you can get to it sometime. Here are a few well-reviewed properties with excellent locations to consider. 75+ Essential Europe Travel Tips You Need to Hear, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Beyond: Epic Central Europe Itinerary, 55 Epic Road Trips in Europe (Itinerary Ideas + Tips! Book your guided visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau here. No one outside Warsaw likes Warsaw, its been destroyed during the war and rebuilt during communism so the architecture is terrible And people are usually grumpy in there lol. You can tour the inside, though we couldnt because they were setting up an exposition inside. Most people avoid Honduras, thinking its Once you get to the other side of Market Square, you cant miss the, Take your time to check out the beautiful Wawel Castle in Krakow. Required fields are marked *. Furnished with kitchenettes, you can even choose to dine in as we did. They are a quick walk from the Old Town, so they are a super convenient gateway to the city. Today, Schindlers factory in Krakow is a museum dedicated to covering the Nazi occupation of Krakow during WWII and is an excellent way to start exploring Kazimierz. We have always maintained that we are very glad we went and that we never want to go back. The Barbican is one of the few remaining pieces of the many fortifications and defensive barriers that used to encircle theroyal city. We take all the efforts necessary to ensure the information included in this post is accurate, correct and current, sometimes, things just change! Mundo Hostel Featuring an around-the-world decor theme, excellent reviews, a popular included breakfast, and a prime location just a 5-minute walk from Wawel Castle, budget travelers will love Mundo Hostelregardless of whether theyre looking to stay in a dorm or private room. Just below the castle, on the banks of the river, you will find the famous dragon statue. You can visit these many museums and tour the castle grounds for a fee. Prefer to structure your 2 days in Krakow differently? We loved our tour and would definitely take another one if we visit again! If you need any of these services, consider booking them through our affiliate links. I always go there with my friends and we have amazing time . Communism, of course, is now a memory, but Polish milk bars (or a bar mleczny) live on and remain a fabulous and inexpensive way to enjoy a hearty Polish lunchbe sure to order plenty of Polish pierogiwhile youre there! Unfortunately, when we got back, the lineup was an hour-long. The neighborhood of Kazimierz is home to the former Jewish ghetto in Krakow, as well as many historical sites connected with Jewish history in the cityincluding a very famous factory. ), 55 Best Things to Do in Budapest (+Tips! Our friends version of the legend was that this dragon would eat the children in town. However, the more popular version of the story says that this evil dragon would go on destructive rampages every day, killing civilians, pillaging homes, devouring their livestock. This place is truly amazing. ), many impressive statues and other works of art made out of salt, a fascinating and sometimes sad history, and plenty of engineering marvels, the Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of those places you never forget visiting. We really loved Krakow . September and October are also good times because the weather is cooling, the crowds are gone, and the leaves will start to show their beautiful colors. Its a bit of a slog to get out there, especially when youre trying to see Krakow in 2 days, but we truly believe visiting this incredible salt mine is well worth the time. The Jewish Quarter really comes alive at night, with plenty of delicious restaurants to choose from. In case you didnt know, Krakow gets cold. Travel information like opening hours, business operations and prices may change. Even if you dont have too much time, you should make the time for these sights. This hall, one of the citys most recognizable icons, dates back to theRenaissance. In fact, the locals we spoke to told us how magical Krakow gets during the Christmas holidays. This is so helpful, thanks! If checking out the interior isnt quite enough for you, you can climb the tower for a fantastic view over the Main Market Square! There is a free bus that runs between the two sites, as they are about 3km apart. Book your tour of the Wieliczka Salt Mine today! There is only one place we can recommend you stay in Krakow. love your photos, it looks that you had an amazing trip! In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. Each room is decorated in its own style, so there is something for everyone. If you click through a link on Our Escape Clause, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Day 1 in Krakow Itinerary: Old Town + Wieliczka Salt Mine, Day 2 in Krakow Itinerary: Auschwitz-Birkenau + Kazimierz. Right in the heart of the action, yet on a quiet street, they are perfectly located. ), and is one of the most recognizable buildings in Krakow, and perhaps even in Poland as a whole. While you can tour the location independently, this is a place where a guided tour is well worth it. Today, the stalls that are set up there sell everything from souvenirs to fresh produce, local goods andclothes.