Tours
If you haven’t been to Kraków in May, you don’t know what May is. The leaves and blossoms of horse chestnuts, intertwined with the architecture, are exhilarating.
Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz – Travels to Poland
So what does Kraków have to offer?
First of all, let’s remember that the pandemic hasn’t made Kraków any less beautiful or unique.
Hearing the hejnał bugle call resounding every hour, on the hour, having medieval churches at your fingertips, tasting the delicious local bagels, hearing the wind whispering in the trees in Planty Garden Ring, enjoying the glorious views from Krakus Mound, meandering in the atmospheric streets of Kazimierz, strolling by the Vistula river at the foot of Wawel Hill, these are just some local attractions we come back to time and again. But Kraków is far more than that. And not only in May.
When the nights draw in and the cool air fills with the aroma of roast chestnuts and mulled wine, it’s a sure sign that the Christmas market season is upon us! Every festive season, Kraków takes on a glow with the nativity scenes which take to the streets and squares throughout the city and illuminate shop windows. In 2018, traditional Krakow nativity scenes were entered on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Kraków isn’t just the Old Town and Kazimierz, both included on UNESCO’s first World Heritage Sites List (1978). It’s also Nowa Huta, increasingly popular with tourists, it’s Podgórze coming to life in front of our very eyes, it’s the charming Salwator and Tyniec abbey. Kraków is a city of myriad green spaces, parks, spectacular mounds and riverside boulevards.
Very closely to the north of Krakow there is the smallest National Park in Poland – Ojców National Park, with picturesque limestone rocks, caves and ruins of medieval castles.
If you want to explore Krakow’s museums, famous sites, markets, shops, parks and churches with me then I’d be honoured to show you around. I believe there is something for everyone here, whatever you are interested in, whether it is castles, palaces, traditions, galleries, museums or modern culture. I can tailor a tour for you.
There is surely no trip more Cracovian than a walk along the Royal Route.
Join me on a journey down the Royal Route or Via Regia. For many centuries, the Royal Route was used by monarchs after victorious battles, bishops taking office, foreign dignitaries, and funeral processions of eminent Poles. The historic route, leading from Matejko Square along Floriańska Street, the Main Market Square, Grodzka and Kanonicza streets to finally reach Wawel Hill, is lined by some of our city’s most famous buildings and monuments.
Over the last few years, beside the area enclosed by the Planty Garden Ring, all maps of the city centre also cover Kazimierz: formerly an independent city, today it is a neighbouring district, easily accessible from Wawel Hill. From the Middle Ages, Kazimierz had one of the largest Jewish populations in Europe, brought to an abrupt end with the atrocities of the Second World War. Let’s discover the Jewish world of Kraków. Every corner of Kazimierz is the witness of an experience both local and specific – the history of Polish Jews. It is visible in the system of narrow streets itself, in the abundance of markets, in the small tenements, synagogues, and kirkuts – Jewish cementeries.
The key to the understanding of the popularity that Kazimierz enjoys today is its unbelievable and lasting tolerance – two nations and two great religions existed here for centuries in harmony. It is in Kazimierz that the massive, Gothic churches of St. Catherine’s and Corpus Christi sprung up alongside synagogues.
Kazimierz found its way to the silver screen thanks to Steven Spielberg, who came here to shoot Schindler’s List (also known as Schindler’s Ark), a multiple Oscar winner.
Having crossed the Vistula River into the district of Podgórze, we enter places that, during the Second World War, witnessed the Holocaust that the Nazis brought upon the Jewish people of Kraków: Ghetto Heroes Square, Pharmacy Under the Eagle, and the remnants of Plaszow concentration camp.
Wawel Royal Castle and Cathedral
The Royal Wawel Castle is a historical residence of Polish monarchs. The main task of the museum founded here is to present the past of Wawel and its residents. In permanent exhibitions there are presented historical interiors, beautiful and unique tapestry collection of Sigismund Augustus made in Brussels in the XVIth century, royal portraits, Italian Renaissance furniture as well as Turkish tents and banners, valuable examples of weapons and horse trappings.
Cathedral is the coronation and burial church of Polish kings and national bards and heroes. The most perfect work of art of Renaissance architecture and sculpture in Northern Europe is situated next to it – the Sigismund Chapel.
National Museum
The National Museum in Krakow, opened in 1879, is the oldest national museum in Poland. It gathered an abundant collection of Polish and European works of art as well as pieces from outside Europe. This ranks the exposition in Krakow amongst the most important and most interesting ones not only in Poland but also in Europe. In one of the National Museum branches – Czartoryski Museum – the great work of Leonardo da Vinci – „Lady with an Ermine” – is presented.
Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory
Exhibition Kraków under Nazi Occupation 1939–1945 is located in the former administrative building of Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory at 4 Lipowa Street.
The exhibition is primarily a story about Krakow and its inhabitants, both Polish and Jewish, during World War II.
The symbolic summary of the exhibition is the “Hall of Choices” – a sculptural installation symbolizing the various ethical dilemmas and attitudes one could encounter during the war.
As we wander around Krakow, we pass many churches and places linked with saints. They tell fascinating stories, so join me for a walk on the trail of Krakow’s sacral monuments.
The Christian roots of Małopolska (Lesser Poland) date back to the 10th century. The Christianisation of the region began in 966, with the symbolic Baptism of Poland. The history of the bishopric of Krakow was established in the year 1000.
There is no other place in this part of Europe where one can find so many tombs of persons recognised by the Catholic Church as saints or blessed. For this reason, John Mucante, the master of ceremony in the delegation of the papal legate, Cardinal Gaetano, wrote in 1596: If there wasn’t Rome, Krakow would be Rome.
When coming to the Royal City of Krakow, it is worth noting that the unusual character of the town is not only due to the ancient buildings registered in 1978 on the UNESCO First List of World Heritage. This certain genius loci is mainly the heritage of the people who once lived here.
Krakow is the only place in the world that is full of locations related to almost the entire life of John Paul II.