5 Reasons Why You Should Visit Krakow
Are you getting that itch to take your next travel and not sure where to go? Why not consider a place that is rich and history and not lacking beautiful landmarks? Krakow is one of the cheapest cities in Europe to visit, has an abundance of amazing places to visit if you love fairy-tale architecture, contains breathtaking desserts, features a stunning countryside and let’s not forget that there is plenty history to discover! Here are just 5 of the reasons why you should make Krakow your next destination to travel! Make sure to check out discovercracow.com when planning your trip.
Wawel Castle Guided Tour
The Wawel Castle was previously the home and a fortress of Polish kings and is currently one of the most beautiful and biggest Polish castles. Located on a hill, it is a complex of buildings surrounding a majestic yard. This landmark has been rebuilt and renovated several times due to fires, thefts and wars. As a result you will encounter many different architectural styles during your tour. Once you have completed the tour, make sure to head to the Wawel Castle museum where you can beautiful works of art, stunning paintings, breathtaking sculptures, sophisticated tapestries and much more.
Krakow Walking Tour (Old Town and Kazimierz)
If this is your first time staying in Krakow and would simply like a tour of the are, this is the tour for you! With this tour you will enjoy a beautiful walk around Old Town and Jewish Quarter, you will be guided through hand-picked spots in Krakow that you may not otherwise know to explore. This option is best if you enjoy small group tours that are more intimate an allow you to get a more detailed account of the history. If you enjoy going at a slower pace, taking in all of the scenery, or want that extra time to hone in on your photography skills, I highly suggest that you consider the Karkow Walking Tour!
Schindler’s Factory Museum
If you would prefer to spend the day at your own pace and aren’t in the mood for much walking, why not spend the day at the museum? You will be pleased to know that this experience is three museums that complement each other and you will be able to view Schidler’s Factory, Eagle Pharmacy and The Old Synagogue during your visit. This is truly an experience for those of you that came to Krakow for its rich history!
- Schidler’s Factory – The exhibition presents photographs, eyewitness accounts, documentary films and multimedia shows. Combined they create a chronological vision of Krakow’s history during WW II. You can see how war has destroyed the lives of individuals and masses. You can also see how ordinary items, such as photos, newspapers and personal items, helped to capture everyday life in a city occupied by the Nazis.
- Eagle Pharmacy – a witness to the tragedy of the Kraków Ghetto. Tadeusz Pankiewicz worked in the pharmacy, illegally helping the Jewish community. The museum tells the story of a Pole who was the only non-Jewish inhabitant of the Ghetto.
- The Old Synagogue – is an institute immortalizing Jewish traditions and culture in Krakow. The exhibitions allow you to get to know the daily life of the followers of Judaism, look closely at their culture.
Auschwitz-Birkenau Guided Tour
Again if you are a history buff that is keen on visiting some of the most hisotric places in Krakow, then it goes without saying that Auschwitz is by far the most infamous place you will want to visit during your visit. The Auschwitz-Birkenau complex was a Nazi Concentration Camp established in 1940 and throughout the five years of its operation, over 1.5 million people (including Jews, Poles, Italians, Frenchmen, Romani, and citizens of most Europe countries) perished here. During your tour you will have the opportunity to walk through the same entrance used by prisoners more than 60 years ago. Your tour will include the following:
- A visit to the original camp (Auschwitz I), as well as the extermination facility (Auschwitz II). These places have remained a living monument of death.
- This trip is designed keeping your comfort in mind – you do not have to worry about details such as transport or fees.
- You will also be provided with a professional guide who has a deeper and comprehensive knowledge of this formidable place.
- Time to focus and reflect on the history associated with Auschwitz.
- The Auschwitz tour provides an insight into the origins of the concentration camp, its history and most importantly – it shows you the everyday life of its prisoners, their personal belongings, and their story.
Private transport option:
- Guarantees a pickup from any location in Krakow
- Provides the transportation in a private, executive car
- You will not waste time in a car while other clients are being picked up
- In Auschwitz you will join our group for the sightseeing
- After the tour our driver will drive you back to your location
Wieliczka Salt Mine
The Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of the most valuable monuments of material and spiritual culture in Poland and each year it is visited by more than one million tourists from all over the world. It’s a subterranean labyrinth of tunnels and chambers, about 300km distributed over nine levels, the deepest being 327m underground – of which a small part is open to the public via two-hour guided tours. First-time visitors take a standard ‘tourist’ route of the main sights, while return visitors can opt for a more-immersive ‘miners’ route.
Narrowing this list down to just five reasons why you should visit Krakow was not easy because there is simply so many amazing places to visit! Don’t take my word for it, book your next travel destination there and seek out all of the beautiful sights and rich history for yourself!