Travel Picture »Europe» What to see in Krakow and its surroundings on your own?
What to see in Krakow on your own in 1 day? What route to make around the sights of the capital of Poland for 2 or 3 days of rest? Consider all the interesting places that you should definitely visit in summer or winter, with children or together. We will find out the prices for excursions and first of all we will advise several programs that will open the city from a completely different side.
Poland attracts tourists from all over the world not only for its understated beauty, but also for its rich historical heritage. One of the cities that should definitely be included in the tour list is Krakow. It seems that every street here is saturated with antiquity. The incredibly beautiful courtyards and ancient temples, shrouded in mysterious stories, make you breathe unevenly. It is still not completely known which of them are real, and which are just fiction, and this makes it even more interesting.
What to see in Krakow in 1 day?
For those who wish to stay in a Polish city for a few days, there is a top of the most popular places. Without seeing the best sights, it is impossible to feel not only the greatness, but also the tragedy of the city.
Most tourists ask themselves the question: "What to see in Krakow in one day on your own?" A sightseeing tour is a basic set of places that best personify the character of any state:
Walk through the Old Town
It is better to start your first acquaintance with the most ancient part, where the maximum number of architectural monuments is collected. If the traveler is limited in time, then we recommend starting your mini-voyage with Basilicas of St. Florian... According to legend, he is the patron saint of the city.
Main square
Through narrow streets, walking along Flooryanskaya, it is worth stopping at least half an hour in the square. A very picturesque place, which is the starting point leading to the famous Royal Castle and Cathedral of Saints Stanislav and Wenceslas.
Mysterious dungeons of ancient times under the market square
Who said that a fantastic underground passage cannot be located in the city center? Tourists who have time can go down to the underground city under the square. For only PLN 19, you can watch multimedia scenes from the life of the city, collected from different times. In addition, you can personally view the archaeological finds. The real highlight is considered fountain crystalwith an interesting history. The visit will be interesting not only for adults, but also for children. The Underground Museum is open from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm from April to October. From November to March, the underworld closes at 20:00. Admission is free on Tuesdays.
- We recommend ending the day trip with the culinary attraction of Krakow - the restaurant “Chimera"(Address: Sw. Anny street 3, Krakow 31-008).
Here you can find Polish and European cuisine. The concept of the restaurant is aimed primarily at healthy eating. The peculiarity of the place is its interesting interior. You can dine on a real sewing machine, converted into an elegant table. The cozy, semi-basement room creates an incredible sense of comfort. The price range varies between PLN 50-260. The restaurant is located near the Jagiellonian University and is open until 23:00.
Better attractions
If you have an opportunity to relax in Krakow for 3 whole days, there is definitely something to do and what to visit in the vicinity. The second day of your trip can be devoted to a more serious and in-depth knowledge of the city.
Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
A stunning building that beautifully embodies the Gothic style. The huge St. Mary's Church, the façade of which consists of two long towers, contains the oldest wooden altar. In 1962 he received the title of minor basilica. Located in the central part of the city, near the market square.
Oskar Schindler's factory
After the historical center of Krakow has been explored, you can go to Oskar Schindler's factory and walk around the Kazimierz quarter, where the Jews lived.
For lovers of history and the Schindler's List, this place will definitely be extremely interesting. Today, the factory has been rebuilt as a museum and contains a lot of objects. It is here that you can be imbued with the era of the terrible persecution of the Jews and those who managed to avoid a terrible fate. The factory is only one page of an impressive multivolume of the war years.
From the very first steps, tourists plunge into the atmosphere completely and completely. On the square near the museum, chairs are epically placed, symbolizing the horror of taking all the furniture out of the apartment. The museum is open for visiting from 09:00 to 20:00, on Lipova Street 4. The cost of tickets is about 20 zlotys per adult.
Jewish quarter
You can continue your walk around Krakow Jewish Quarter (Kazimierz), in which seven synagogues have survived to this day, in cloth rows, or be content with a tour of Kanonichya Street.
Alley of Princes Czartoryski
A walk through Alley of Princes Czartoryski - an unusually beautiful residence of the princely dynasty of kings.
The majestic mansions of incredible proportions are simply stunning. Arched passages, spacious squares seem to "breathe" with domination and royal nobility.
When visiting the museum, you can see the famous painting “Lady with an ermine»Leonardo da Vinci. Before the Nazi occupation, a lot of valuable works and exhibits were kept within these walls, including paintings by Raphael. Unfortunately, they were taken out in an unknown direction and their trace was lost.
What to see in the vicinity?
Locks
The third day can be started with a visit to many well-known Royal Castle in Wawel.
It is better to lay about three hours of time on the road and viewing the surroundings. This will be enough for a thorough investigation. The attraction is open from 09:30 to 16:00. During the warmer months, tourists will be amazed at the abundance of greenery in which the building is literally buried. Great place for walking for adults and children. The huge, and most importantly beautiful, territory beckons to take a few dozen memorable photos.
There are many locals near the castle walls, offering interesting excursions in the surrounding area.
Wieliczka Salt Mine
The mine is located in the city of Wieliczka (20 minutes drive from the capital), here you will see centuries-old salt formations (more than 15 million ago) and visit several halls, learn how to extract natural resources by hand and with what tools, walk through the mines with endless rails. The excursion itself takes place only with a guide (about 2 hours), the cost is PLN 90, we buy a ticket and wait for our turn.
The descent goes along a wooden staircase to several levels, it is cold below, be sure to take a jacket. You will be surprised by long corridors with an endless horizon, about 300 km in total length. But, only individual chambers and levels are open for tourists.
You can get to Wieliczka from the Central Station by train or minibus.
Auschwitz
I would like to single out such a landmark with a terrible past as Auschwitz (Auschwitz) as a separate item. It doesn't matter how and when, but you must see this place for sure! When you enter the territory, you already feel uncomfortable, the energy of the area presses and causes mental pain. We recommend that you take a guided tour from the museum (you can go for free in the morning and in the evening), you can check the time on the official website www.auschwitz.org, register and buy a ticket.
How to get there? From Krakow you can get there by car in 40 minutes (57 km), by train you can get from the city station for 2.5 euros. Website for buying tickets online https://rozklad-pkp.pl
Zakopane
A winter resort for skiers, where we advise you to go for 1-2 days with an overnight stay. In summer, you can arrange tours with an ascent to the observation deck, and in winter you can ride at affordable prices, unlike other European resorts. You can get there by the same train from the station, the link for buying tickets has already been given above, the travel time will be approximately 3.5 hours. Accommodation can be rented on Booking.
Where to go for a walk in Krakow in the evening?
Why not sit in an amazingly quiet restaurant after a busy day?Honey and raspberries"? There is no need to reserve a table in advance, which is extremely convenient. Guests have the opportunity to taste Polish cuisine, as well as drink them with unique nutritious honey. If you wish, you can order European and Eastern European dishes.
Prices for excursions in Krakow in Russian
If there is no desire to rent a car or there is no opportunity for independent travel, then we advise you to stop at ready-made excursions in Krakow in Russian from local guides with extensive experience who provide their services in the Tripster.
Such programs have a number of undeniable advantages:
- no need to waste time looking for transport;
- the tour is designed for a certain amount of time, which means that you can plan your further movements in advance;
- interestingly compiled programs, as evidenced by the reviews of tourists and our personal experience;
- inspection of the maximum number of places in the minimum time.
The best excursions in Russian:
- "Krakow to the Maximum: Old Town and Kazimierz" for only 123 PLN per person.
The tour includes Krakow tract - Market Square - St. Mary's Church - Academic Quarter - Wawel Castle. Entrance tickets are paid additionally. Thus, the most interesting places in Krakow can be visited in just half a day. Details about the tour.
- Another worthy tour is "Secrets and Legends of Old Krakow".
The cost of the tour will cost PLN 300. For this money, tourists can not only visit the most significant places, including seeing the famous dragon symbol, but also hear exciting mystical stories about each attraction. Details about the tour.
Tours in Krakow in Russian are conducted along with Polish and English.
- "The secrets and grandeur of royal dynasties" allows you to walk through the pantheon of the Great Poles, see the decoration of cathedrals and bell towers, as well as stroll through the residences. Tour cost - 380 PLN per person. What is worth noting is a really amazing guide - Irene, who will take a fascinating walk at a decent level. Details about the tour.
Where to go with children?
Those traveling with children will also have something to keep the little ones busy during the rest period. If it is not possible to book excursions from Krakow, then it is quite possible to find something to do on the spot.
We recommend the following entertainment for children of all ages:
- Entertainment Center "Bayarka»;
- aquapark with jacuzzi, attractions, sauna and relaxation area;
- aviation museum;
- Museum of Japanese Art and Technology;
- incredible Krakow zoo with exotic fauna will cheer you up for the whole day;
- center for science and entertainment "Hochland»;
- garden of science named after Stanislav Lem;
- mechanical engineering museum;
- the park "Waterfront Krakow»;
- historical interactive center.
Krakow is an amazing city where you can "drown" for a few weeks. Majestic buildings, incredibly beautiful nature, delicious cuisine and friendly people will make you come back here more than once.
