Beyond the obvious curb appeal of Krakow, the once capital city of Poland offers a rich history and a very well preserved Old Town making it an excellent choice for a weekend city break! 

SEE

Old Town : the city dates back to the 7th century, and despite the recent tragic history, Krakow remains very preserved and maintained…probably due to the city being a favorite of the Nazi troops during WWII!

 Renee Główny :  Europe’s largest medieval market square

Wawel Royal Castle and Cathedral : the Wawel hill’s first settlement dates back to the Stone Age with mythical ruler Krakus establishing camp above a cave with a dragon in it.

Wieliczka Salt Mine : one of the oldest salt mines also includes dozens of statues and chapels carved out of the rock salt, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Jewish quarter or Kazimierz : This area was the center of Jewish life in Krakow for 500 years until the destruction in WWII. Kazimierz now represents the renewal of the Jewish culture including many synagogues and museums, as well as cafes and restaurants–this was one of our favorite spots in Krakow!

Collegium Maius : the oldest university in Poland, it has a beautiful gothic-style courtyard.

Schindler’s Factory : I highly recommend seeing the Spielberg movie before a visit to Krakow.

Day Trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau : many organized trips are available but with it only being about an hour away from Krakow, we decided to rent a car for the weekend and visit on our own. The most important thing to note if you are doing the tour on your own, is that there are actually two sites so you need to allow enough time for both and be sure to check the last entry times as this varies with summer and winter daylight hours! 

EAT 

Best Pierogies : Przystanek Pierogarnia! There’s a reason this place is number one on TripAdvisor–it’s delicious! Good for a quick takeaway–very little standing room here, but well worth it!

Jewish Quarter : Ariel (for dinner, ask about live music!) and Hamsa.

Old Town : Milkbar Tomasza and Kogel Mogel.

Drinks : Pijalnia Wodki i Piwa

Desserts // Hot Chocolate : Krakowska Manufaktura Czekolady 

STAY

Leone Hotel : a boutique apartment-style hotel with spacious rooms. Read my review on Leone here! 

More photos from our visit to Krakow…

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