In July, we took a week's holiday in Poland. We decided on a city break to Krakow. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, we travelled by car. It was a nice change after all the flights we've taken in recent years. Read on to find out how we enjoyed our five days in Krakow and what travel tips we have for your city break.
Travel tips for Krakow
With approximately 780,000 inhabitants, Kraków is Poland's second-largest city. Known as the unofficial capital, it is the most important cultural, artistic, and scientific center in Poland. This city is so steeped in history and architecture that you'll need several vacations to explore it all.
Parking isn't easy in Krakow. It can sometimes be quite tricky on the side of the road if you can't decipher the signs properly. We saw quite a few cars with a claw on the front wheel. Also, during peak season, it's almost impossible to find a free parking space outside of a parking garage. So our tip: just drive into a parking garage; it's not really as expensive as you think! And you can be sure you're parked correctly and not accidentally in a no-parking zone.
Krakow – Wawel Dragon
The Wawel Dragon, located directly beneath Wawel Castle on the banks of the Vistula River, was our first stop in Krakow. The legend behind it tells of a dragon that terrorized the city. All the knights tried in vain to drive it away. A simple man came up with the idea of baiting the dragon with sulfur. The dragon devoured the bait and became extremely thirsty. It drank so much water from the Vistula that it burst.
A spookily beautiful story! Today, a metal sculpture in the shape of a dragon commemorates the legend. This dragon even breathes fire. A great attraction for all ages, and therefore very well attended.
Krakow – Wawel Castle
Wawel Castle sits atop Wawel Hill, a 228-meter-high limestone cliff. The first buildings were constructed in the 10th century. Later, the cathedral and other churches were built. Over the next few centuries, more and more buildings were added, resulting in a sprawling castle complex. Each architectural style and each era brought with it a new phase of construction.
In the inner courtyard, you'll find beautifully reconstructed gardens and paths. From the castle walls, you have a magnificent view of the Vistula River. The entire castle complex is a museum. Only the exterior areas are free to visit. Admission is required for all interior rooms, towers, and churches.
Krakow – Historic City Center
Surrounded by a green belt, Kraków's historic city center is absolutely worth seeing. Everything is grouped in an oval shape around the old and very spacious market square. The Cloth Hall in the center houses small cafés and restaurants. There are also many small shops and souvenir stores inside.
St. Adalbert's Church is a small chapel on the southeastern edge of the market square and offers a magnificent view of historic Kraków. Beneath the church is a small but excellent exhibition on the origins of Kraków. Here, you can even marvel at original old pipes. It's a little insider tip, as not everyone discovers the steps leading down to the right of the church.
In addition to art, restaurants, and plenty of pigeons, the market square offers historical buildings and a wealth of history. St. Mary's Basilica is probably the market's most famous landmark, and the old town hall tower offers a magnificent view of Krakow.
The idyllic little streets around the market square are dotted with small shops, cafés and restaurants.
In the green belt, the park surrounding the old town, you can relax and let the big city be a big city. If you get a little peckish, you'll also find the perfect snack here: Chimney Cake (WebsiteThis small, rather inconspicuous bakery is housed in an old ticket booth. Here you can find delicious dough rolls, which we consider a cross between stick bread and Baumkuchen. You can either get the dough roll with sugar and cinnamon or vanilla, or you can get the very special version with ice cream and various toppings. Highly recommended and truly delicious. An absolute must for a visit to Krakow.
Krakus Hill
Several artificial hills dot the surrounding area of Kraków. They were built between 1820 and 1823 in honor of the national hero Tadeusz Kościuszko. Krakus Hill is one of them. It's a popular tourist destination, especially at sunset. We also headed up to the hill one evening. We were able to park below in a P+R lot, but the surrounding streets also offer plenty of parking options.
The path uphill is somewhat steep and features several crooked steps. There's also a slightly longer, serpentine path. Once at the top, a magnificent view opens up over Krakow and the actual hill. The mountain on which the hill was built is a kind of plateau. With the city at our feet and the sun setting in the background, it was picturesque.
You're definitely not alone up here; many young people picnic here and meet up with friends. Many use this wonderful, quiet spot on the outskirts of the city for a get-together and to wind down the day.
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