3 things to do in Kraków

Kraków is well-known for its priceless historical monuments of culture and art. But did you know it is also Poland's former royal capital and one of the most attractive spots on the tourist map of Europe? Besides history, art and an atmosphere all of its own, Kraków offers theatres, cabarets, clubs, cafes, bars, wine cellars and restaurants having something to offer for everyone. So, if you’re thinking about planning a visit to one of Europe’s most exciting and vibrant cities, here are three tips for what to see and do!

Wieliczka Salt Mine.

This is no ordinary salt mine. Sure, it produced garden variety table salt up until 2007, but since then, about a million tourists a year from all over the world visit the famous Wieliczka Salt Mine to explore the labyrinthine passages and historical chambers hewn from the living rock salt. There are also salt sculptures, brine lakes, and underground chapels. People get married here! In a salt mine!

Zakopane Day Trip

As gorgeous as Kraków is, you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to get out of the city to see the incredible beauty of the Tatra Mountains. Use Zakopane as your base, because up until the first World War, this small mountain town was widely regarded as the epicenter of Polish art and culture. Then, go into the mountains to taste a highlander smoked cheese called oscypek. Ride a funicular to Mt. Gubalowka for breathtaking views. Visit a museum dedicated to the Tatra Mountain style. It’s a way to see the real Poland, and you should totally do it.

Tour Nowa Huta

Nowa Huta was originally intended to be a planned community that would be nothing less than a Soviet-era utopia. If you’re interested in Socialist Realist architecture, this is the place for you! We can arrange a tour where you’ll explore the district in a car from the communist era, see a real Soviet tank, and visit one of the cold-war era bomb shelters. Or, check out a vintage apartment from the days of the Communist regime. This is a fascinating way to explore another side of Polish history.

Photo credit: Marcin Kadziolka / Shutterstock.com

Poland has been on our radar for a while, now, and Krakow is a must for us! If you’d like to go, we’d love to send you. Let us know when you’re thinking about it, and we’ll make it happen!