Although Eastern Europe once seemed remote, secretive and a little bit edgy, it’s now planted firmly on the tourist map, with visitors going year round to some of the region’s most popular cities. Prague, Budapest and Dubrovnik are becoming almost as familiar to European travelers as the traditional hotspots of London,Paris,Amsterdam, Rome or Barcelona. But Eastern Europe is enormous , and there are many treasures that are yet to join the ranks of their better-known counterparts. If you’re searching for a destination that’s vibrant, fascinating,fun,inexpensive easy to navigate and just a little bit unusual, look no further than the Polish city of Kraków. Here are reasons to visit Kraków…

St.Mary’s Church

The Bazylika Mariacka is one of Krakow most spectacular and famous landmarks. It towers over the northeast corner main market square and is visible from all over the city. A well known story tells of a brave city guard who saved the city from invasion in the 13th century. The tower also served as a watchtower during those days. Trumpeters were also guards who played the trumpet to signal opening (in the mornings) and closing (near dusk) of the city gates and also warned townsfolk of fires and invasions.

Legend has it a Trumpeter spied the enemy coming and warned the town by playing his trumpet to close the gates. As he was playing an arrow pieced his throat. To this day once an hour at all four corners of the tower, a trumpet is played with The same tune ( the hejnal) and stops mid melody in memory of the brave trumpeter.

The Old Town

If there were ever a Polish neighborhood that needed no introduction, it’s this one. Made famous as one of the first ever urban UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Old Town is a maze of cobbled lanes and alleys, wide streets with historic merchant houses lining the pavements, and – most importantly – sprawling squares where medieval churches and trading houses still loom above the flagstones. There’s nowhere that sums up the grand history and culture of Poland’s past better.

The Cafe Culture is Amazing!

If there’s any other European city that can really challenge the Austrian capital of Vienna as the self-proclaimed kingpin of café culture, it’s Krakow. Artisanal coffee shops like KU KU, Bistro bean,Fitagain, Karma Roasters and Coffee Proficiency are fueling a renaissance in the drinking of the caffeinated delights, all day breakfast and healthy lunch bites while other cafés are content with a fine location and an al fresco garden overlooking the great historical monuments of the Old Town.

• 

• 

• 

Vistula Riverwalk

Following the courses of the Vistula River as it bends this way and that like a snake through the centre of Krakow, these tree-lined walkways are punctuated with ice-cream sellers, souvenir shops, beer bars (some on boats!), and grassy lawns. In the spring and summer , they are a perfect spot to laze and take in the beating pulse of the town, while winter means bare trees, ice sheets on the water, and a dusting of snow.

• 

Auschwitz

There are few relics of WWII in all of Europe with the same emotive and dark past as Auschwitz. Established by the Nazis after the Invasion of Poland in 1939, this internment facility was soon transformed into one of the most destructive death camps on the continent. Today, guided tours take visitors through the striking cell blocks and experimental facilities, past sobering museum exhibits, and out to the sprawling site of Auschwitz-Birkenau, where countless barrack-style quarters roll on towards the forests. The camp is about 50 miles from krakow reachable daily via bus, train ,uber or Tours. I used the bus it was inexpensive 6 american dollars converted and it dropped u right off inside the gate a few minutes walk to the Camp Entry point.

Foodie delights

There is incredible, eatable, enjoyable food in Krakow of course we all know about Pierogi the countries go to fel good meal anytime of year. Mr.Vincent Pierogi is affordable quaint and delicious. Andrus food truck in the Jewish quarter offers tasty mouth watering drip on shirt sandwiches.
Be sure to sample the smoky sheep’s cheese of the mountains, munch on crispy zapiekanki breads, and enjoy the chewy pretzels of obwarzanek from the roadside stalls.

• 

• 

• 

Inexpensive

When it comes to architecture and culture, Krakow is up there with places like Prague and Vienna, but the one big difference we noticed was the prices. It’s not an ultra-cheap budget destination, but it is one of those places where you get a lot for your money. 100 Polish Zolty is equal to 25 American dollars.. Full Breakfast for two with cappuccino ,fruits,orange juice and bottled water cost 23 American dollars converted.

Beer,vodka,shopping,nightlife and accessibility

No list of the top reasons to hit this Polish city could possibly be complete without a mention of its raucous nightlife. With – as one legend has it – more bars and clubs packed into such a small space than any other metro area in Europe, the town pulses with everything from thumping discos to underground beer halls. We stayed at an Airbnb in old town across the street from McDonald’s. Just below that mickey d’s was a nightclub, u could hear the basS thumping all night it didn’t bother us at all. In the early am morning u saw the partiers emerge from the basement club heading home or going to the McDonald’s for breakfast.. There’s also a ridiculously good pub crawl in Krakow, along with opportunities for vodka tasting and trips to microbreweries.The beer rivals any I have tasted in Germany,Ireland or Scotland I yearn for it now as i write this article.

The shopping at Krakowski Galeria Mall IS AMAZING! Lavish and large with every store and restaurant imaginable it’s connected to the train station and bus depot.

Over the years, more and more low-cost airlines have added connections to Krakow and nearby cities. That means it’s now amongst the most accessible destinations in Europe, with bargain flights arriving in Krakow’s John Paul II Airport. High-speed train connections (which was one of our trip highlights) to Warsaw on the Pendolino have made things easier for long-haul travelers, too, taking UNDER three hours from Warsaw Central station to Krakow’s central station. Uber is available and cheap in Krakow.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Yes the Wieliczka Salt Mines are a must for first timer visitors to Krakow as is Schindler’s factory but both require entry fee’s and time allotted to visit. As hard as we tried, just didn’t have enough time available to do both or either.There are an abundance of tours available to visit both. But try one of the many free local walking tours to get a feel of the city which is very walkable.

Krakow as a city, and Poland a country that I will be looking forward to visiting time and time again in the future, the lovely people,fun times,good food ,drink and overall tourist cost make it a destination many should explore but few seem interested in doing. A good friend who travels for business called it Des moines ,Iowa maybe he last visited Krakow in 1979 or just had one too many vodkas in that basement nightclub near the McDonald’s. That’s ok by the People of Poland and it’s ok by me I want to keep my little secret a secret..