Krakow is one of the most beautiful cities in Poland; often called ‘the Paris of the East’. It dates all the way back to the 7th Century and was the capital of Poland for more than 500 years. One of the few European cities to survive World War 2 relatively unscathed, today Krakow’s entire historic centre has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Krakow is neatly tucked into a bend of the Vistula River; its skyline dominated by the magnificent Wawel Castle.
Krakow is officially divided into 18 Dzielnica (districts). Keen sightseers will want to stay close to the Medieval Old Town, where Wawel Castle, the Market Square and most of the main historic sights are located. Kazimierz is another area at the heart of the centre, with a very interesting history: The Jewish Quarter was located here, and it was once an Island at the centre of the River Vistula, which was drained on one side and built over.
Zwierzyniecka, to the west of the city centre, is the greenest part of the city and a lovely quiet district which is still in close proximity to the sights of the Old Town. On the south bank of the Vistula, Podgorze; which was the site of the Jewish Ghetto during Krakow’s Nazi Occupation, is now a pleasant suburb and the site of the Krakus Mound, believed to the grave of the city’s founder, and one of the best places to get an aerial view over the rooftops.
Most visitors to Krakow will consider visiting the Auschwitz-Birkenau complex, one of the most notorious concentration camps of the Nazi regime, where more than 1 million people were put to death. The memorial is an hour’s drive from Krakow, with a wide range of guided tours leaving from the city.
Krakow does also have some more cheerful attractions, beautiful architecture is all around and it is also an important centre for arts and culture: Da Vinci’s ‘Lady with an Ermine’, the best preserved and arguably the most beautiful of his portraits, hangs in the Czartoryskich Museum.
In recent years Krakow has also become a popular party destination, rumoured to have more bars per head than any other city in the world. The city has a 24 hour culture, with medieval basements all over the city hosting all manner of parties and nightclubs.
Polish beer enjoys an excellent reputation worldwide, and Krakow’s bars do not disappoint, with excellent selections on tap all over the city. A beer usually costs 7 to 10 PLN (1.50 - 2 €). The Poles also enjoy their vodka - ask for something smooth if you’re a beginner here.
Many of the bars serve ‘Polish tapas’, which usually consists of a few sandwiches or soups and a plate of herring in oil. Herring is often served with vodka, as the two go well together; or ‘a fish likes to swim’ as the locals say.
Much of Poland’s cuisine is similar to that of other central European countries - lots of roasted meats, potato, vegetables and cabbage. Pierogi (flour dumplings) are one of the most popular dishes. These come stuffed with a variety of both savoury (meat, cheese and potatoes) and sweet (fruit jams or prunes) fillings.
Old town Krakow is best explored on foot, as the majority of the sights are within a few minutes of each other. You can also take a tour of the central area in a horse drawn cart, bicycle rickshaw or double decker bus.
There is no underground service, but buses and streetcars run all over the city, as well as private minibus services. Tickets are sold in time intervals - 2.8 PLN (0.60 €) for 20 minutes, up to 24PLN (5.70 €) for a 48 hour ticket. Taxis are also cheap and easy to come by anywhere in the city centre. Buses and trams run from 05:00 until 23:00, with less frequent services through the night.
Parking spaces in the city centre are expensive and difficult to come by, so if you arrive by car it’s advisable to park at your accommodation and use taxis or public transport to get around.
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