City Recap: Krakow

Beautiful beautiful Krakow…

Hello friends – if you haven’t been able to tell from the various media, I spent the last weekend in Krakow! What can I say about this city?

The first thing that struck me was the incredible architecture. Everywhere you go, you’re surrounded by buildings from as early as the 11th century with an unbelievable level of detail. The colours were especially vibrant and it was hard not to photograph everything as I was touring the city. Krakow is casually nonchalant; it houses some of the most beautiful architecture, some of the most incredible historical sights, and yet locals walk unconcerned through the streets as if all this splendor were an everyday thing… and for them, it is.

As an American, I found it difficult to adjust to the pace of the city. I’m used to a ‘go, go, go’ lifestyle where everything occurs at a fast place. Jump out of bed. Rush to classes. Run to catch a bus. Cram in some extra hours. At first glance, Krakow seemed to run at a lethargic pace despite the busy town center. After a day or two of curbing the urge to shove past people in the streets, cram in as many sights as I could in a day, or scarf down my food when I was hungry, I began to appreciate the slower-paced lifestyle of the Polish. Ignoring the need to constantly rush meant that I could mentally relax, appreciate the beauty that was surrounding me, savor the delicious Polish food, etc.

I’ve detailed a few of my favourite sites as well as some ‘sweet ‘n salty’ reflections about the city and some travel tips. Please forgive the length of this post – my excuse is that I loved Krakow so much that I couldn’t bring myself to write any less.

Krakow is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever been to and I can easily say that I left my heart there.

Favourite Places: 

– Auschwitz & Birkenau: it’s impossible to put into words what it felt to visit this but all I can say is that for the rest of the day I felt sick to the stomach and didn’t eat much. It was a terrible thing to look at but I think it’s very important that everyone visit at some point in their lifetime so that we do not forget what happened.

– Wieliczka Salt Mines: travel over 300 meters below the surface of the mine to see beautiful cathedrals, lagoons and statues dating back to 1200 AD (for the oldest). What’s incredible is that everything from the floor tiles to the chandeliers are made from salt and that all the carvings were made by amateurs – the miners themselves!

– St. Mary’s Basilica: this is one of the most vibrant and most beautiful gothic cathedrals I have ever seen. The beautiful blue and gold ceilings set a perfect backdrop to the vivid walls and stained glass – I could have stared at the ceiling for hours.

– Wawel Cathedral and Castle: the heart of Poland. This, the royal center in the heart of Poland’s old capitol, is a must-see for anyone who, like me, loves learning about the history and culture of a city. Wawel will give you an insight into what drives the Poland that exists today.

– Cloth Hall: lots of fun Polish-crafted items (some kitschy – some truly remarkable) and all at such inexpensive prices!

Sweet: 

– Street music: whether it be someone playing a lively melody on an accordion or a melancholy tune on the violin, the streets were full with musicians creating a soundtrack to my visit.
– Cafe culture: sit in the main plaza and sip your coffee, or eat a parfait, while listening to traditional music and enjoying the mellow evenings under a Polish sun.
– Cheap food: where else can you buy a latte for under a dollar or buy a full meal (entrees, appetizers, dessert and drinks!) for less than $10?
– Hostels: there were hostels around every corner and they were cheap (basically everything in Krakow was cheap)
– Cleanliness: there is almost no dirt or trash anywhere near the city and the buildings are beautifully maintained

Salty: 

– Customer service: overall I found service to be slightly less warm than I am accustomed to (though not unfriendly).
– Pushy company reps: whether it be for tour groups to main attractions, or city tours, or clubs, there were reps everywhere that were incredibly pushy and a little off-putting
– Late nights: the main plaza was almost busier at 3am than at 3pm. Krakow definitely has a crazy night life (every day of the week!) and 70% of the people in my hostel would be back between 3 and 6am. Not my thing but if you enjoy the party life, this city is totally for you!

#EmmaTips

– Most stores / restaurants take credit cards but you will need cash for various attractions that require smaller change.

– DON’T spend on tours to various famous sights. Most “information” booths or even hotel/hostel staff have some sort of contract with tour companies and will NOT tell you the cheapest/easiest way to get to destinations despite. ALSO you’ll be shuttled around too quickly and won’t be able to go at your own pace. Instead, look at TripAdvisor for the quickest and cheapest way to visit destinations (usually public buses or trains).

– Get to tourist attractions early (most of the city is up late partying and so attractions won’t be as crowded in the morning). Getting there earlier is also important because if you’re not traveling with a group tour (which I highly recommend avoiding), attractions will on occasion run out of tickets.