Krakow, as Poland’s old capital city has a rich history and culture making it the perfect escape for a city break! With a Krakow city break you can discover music, architecture and art, and relive some of the city’s history. Situated just a 20 minute rail journey from Krakow Airport, Krakow Old Town is jammed full of historical attractions, with 100s of bars, restaurants and shops tucked away down the old narrow streets.
Inside the Old Town walls, which stretch two miles around the city, you’ll discover the beautiful Wawel Castle. Built in the 16th century it preserves some of the political and cultural history of Poland, it now acts as a museum to some of Poland’s most treasured art work. Its location means you can enjoy a tour around Wawel Castle and refuel with a picnic on the banks of the Vistula river before walking into the city’s old Market Square.
The Market Square is really the hub of Krakow Old Town with St Mary’s Basilica, St. Adabert’s Church and the Sukiennice (Krakow’s Cloth Hall) all situated around the Square. When visiting, be sure to look out for the City’s trumpeter… He sounds his trumpet four times on the hour, every hour, from the highest tower of St Mary’s Cathedral. One legend says this is in memory of trumpet call marking the opening and closing of the city gates back in the 16th century. Visit Krakow Old Town at the right time of the year, and you’ll witness some of the traditional festivals, with music and dancing dominating the large cobbled Market Square.
If Krakow Old Town doesn’t hold enough intrigue and history for you, then Wieliczka Salt Mines and Auschwitz-Birkenau are a short journey from the city centre.
Just an hour from Krakow City centre lies the history and memories of Auschwitz-Birkenau. With a history so recent, this is not a visit that can be taken lightly but is definitely something that should be experienced. The silence that permeates the camps holds the history of those whose memory it also preserves. A private tour can take you through both camps, viewing the bed chambers, SS quarters, prison cells, execution grounds and gas chambers. At Auschwitz-Birkenau, visitors can walk the length of the train line that brought prisoners to the camp and also climb the guard watch tower to survey the extensive ground the camp covered. With headsets issued to each visitor for the guided tour, there is no noise to disturb the memory of those left behind, and also gives time for reflection on the events of the past.
Located just 30 minutes from Krakow, and around 300metres below ground, the Wieliczka Salt Mines are a must see when visiting Krakow. If the old industrial lift down into the mines isn’t enough to get your heart racing, then the statues and cathedrals carved out of the granite-like salt might do the trick! Squirrelled away within the cavernous halls there’s even a lake and a bar/restaurant. With extremely knowledgeable tour guides, and the opportunity to lick those salty mine walls (just to convince yourself they’re not actually granite), the Wieliczka Salt Mines are a fun and adventurous experience.
With so much to see and do in one of the Poland’s oldest and friendliest cities, a Krakow city break is a definite must on the travel check-list.