Krakow Suggested Itineraries

Written by Viator, August 2010

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Tip - Suggested Itineraries, Tip - What to See & Do, UNESCO Heritage Site

Arguably Europe's prettiest city, Krakow i s also one of the best preserved. Krakow's eventful history has only embellished the UNESCO-World Heritage listed city.

Day 1: Krakow Old Town and Jewish Quarter

The Old Town centers on Rynek Glowny, a 13 th-century market square. Dominating the square is the Sukiennice (Cloth Hall), once the center for the booming cloth trade. Don't miss the Mariacki church. Every hour on the hour this church sounds a bugle across the city. From here run narrow, largely pedestrianized streets to explore for the architecture, the pace of life, the many monuments, nearly 20 churches and dozen museums. Surrounding it all is the Planty Gardens, a ring-shaped park which was once the city's moat. St. Florian's Gate is the starting point of the Royal Way leading all the way to Wawel Castle.

In the afternoon, head for nearby Kazimierz, the former Jewish district. Here you'll find wonderful bars and cafes. Look out for the Corpus Christi Church, the Tempel Synagogue and ulica Szeroka. The two cemeteries, the Remuh and the New, are worth a look.

Day 2: Wawel Castle and Cathedral

The seat of Polish kings for over 500 years, the Wawel Cathedral dates from 1320-64 and most recently produced Poland's first pope. Make sure you see the Sigismund Chapel. Wawel Castle was the political and cultural centre of Poland until the 17th century. Today it houses a museum in five sections.

Day 3: Twentieth-Century Krakow

Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp was established not far from Krakow and approximately 1.5 million people died there during World War II. After the war, Krakow was left behind the Iron Curtain of Communism, and steel manufacturing dominated city life, based around the new city of Nowa Huta. An earlier industry of Krakow was the Wieliczka Salt Mine, fascinating for its UNESCO listed carvings.

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Reply by Viator, May 2013
Doing what: Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum Half-Day Trip from Krakow

Fantastic, albeit for terrible reasons. Very moving, everybody should bear witness to this atrocity. It is all of our responsibility to ensure this type of thing is never allowed to happen again.

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Reply by Viator, April 2013
Doing what: Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum Half-Day Trip from Krakow

The trip was even more informative than I had hoped.. Not only did the history of the camps explained fully but done with respect to the victims. The guide was brilliant and certainly very good.

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Reply by Viator, April 2013
Doing what: Wieliczka Salt Mine Half-Day Trip from Krakow

This was a very interesting trip so much to take in what a talented people the salt miners were.

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