Excursions

Krakow 2020

where to go when you are in krakow?

Trips from Krakow

The region of Małopolskie (lesser Poland) of which Kraków is the capital is one of Poland’s most worthy of exploration. From Kraków, tour companies have developed a really eclectic menu of day long excursions that will take you from the high Tatra peaks, to the slow-flowing rivers of this exceptionally beautiful corner of Europe.

Kraków is famous for its beautiful Old Town and historic buildings. But this is just a small sample of what the city has to offer. There’s also wonderful food and drink, museums and galleries, cycling and other kinds of physical activity, as well as great shopping and open spaces.

For more information and itinerary proposals - please go to https://visitkrakow.com/things-to-do-in-krakow/

wawel royal castle

The Wawel Royal Castle, located by the Vistula river in Krakow, is one of the most important royal residences, as well as a symbol and a monument of Polish history and culture. The beginnings of the residence of Poland’s rulers on Wawel hill hark back to an early Romanesque stone building from mid-11th century, called the palatium, whose remains are located in the northern wing of the present-day castle. Over time the residence on the hill was expanded eastwards. Together with the cathedral, it comprised the Upper Castle, while the Lower Castle encompassed the houses of the courtiers and clergy, as well as several churches.

sukiennice

Sukiennice, a huge market hall built in the 13th century in the middle of Rynek Główny (Main Square), enlarged in the 14th century in the Gothic style and remodelled in the mid-16th century after Renaissance fashion, was restored in 1875–1879 and became the city’s showpiece facility hosting grand balls and patriotic celebrations. Its location and character made the rooms on the first floor of the Sukiennice a perfect place for the National Museum in Krakow. Initially the Museum shared premises with the Fine Arts Society.

jagiellonian university

The 650-year-old Jagiellonian University moved in to the building at the corner of the Jagiellonska and Sw. Annystreets in 1400, when King Vladislav II Jagiello bought the house with funds his late wife, queen-saint Jadwiga, had earmarked for the renewal of Krakow’s alma mater. Thus the Grand College, or Collegium Maius, was born. The oldest college of the Polish oldest and best university, was rebuilt by the end of the 15th century as a splendid late-Gothic edifice around a vast courtyard with surrounding arcades and a well of 1517 in the center. In the 1490s they had Copernicus among their students.

Kazimierz district

This Is a unique district, where during many centuries has been a Christian-Jewish neighbourhood. In the mid 14th century, the king Kazimiro 3rd invited to the Jewish people to the city because he needed some money to do some reforms in the city. Until the 19th century, this area was the Jewish city and it was autonomous enclave governed by Jewish authorities. Late on the 19th century and early 20th, the Jews took almost all Kazimierz and they participate in the development of the section of builders and architects. At this time 64,000 jewish were living in Cracow. In march 1939, they were forced to abandon their homes and go to Zaboze, the Ghetto of Cracow, where they could not enter all of them. Nowadays, Kazimierz is the center of the cultural and artistic bohemian life of the city. You will find lots of popular cafes, restaurants and pubs, as well as art studios and galleries.

Museum of Contemporary Art in Kraków MOCAK

The programme of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow MOCAK, which has been active since 1st February 2010, encompasses presentation of the latest international art, education as well as research and publication projects. MOCAK’s two most important aims are presenting the art of the two last decades in the context of the post-war avant-garde and conceptual art as well as clarifying the rationale of creating art by highlighting its cognitive and ethical value and its relationship with everyday reality. All the projects will be undertaken by the Museum with diverse audiences in mind. The publications produced will provide information bringing closer the origin and significance of the works and events presented and placing them in contexts. The institution considers it an important challenge to reduce prejudice against very recent art.

Shindler's Factory

Three Jewish entrepreneurs established in march 1937 the company where they rent the halls from other factories of wire mesh and iron products and they bought a plot for their future base and started producing enamel for cookware. In September 1939 German troops entered in Cracow, probably it was then, when Oskar Schindler entered in the city also, and using the power of German occupation forces, he took the kitchenware shop, and named Oskar Schindler's Deutche Emailwaren Fabrik (DEF). The German troops took the Jewish’s to the camp of the forced works in Plaszow, loads of them were killed, trying to hide in their homes. Using his power and the negotiation skills he obtained, he decided to save to his employees, and he accorded with a camp commandant to transport 900 Jewish’s to the factory, where they would be more safe. He also produced ammunition, by this way they would be an essential part of the war.

Wadowice

Wadowice is a well-known town located 50 km from Krakow. Although it is small, there is probably no person in the whole country who would not hear about this place, and thanks to the Polish Pope – Karol Wojtyła, who just here came to the world and spent his childhood. Thanks to this, the city became famous all over Poland and in the world, and Wadowice itself took care of making the resort attractive both for tourists and pilgrims. Travel time from Krakow to Wadowice is about 1 hour 15 minutes.

wieliczka

The Wieliczka Salt Mine is a labyrinth of 300 km of underground walkways 700 years old in the area. An extremely valuable monument of material culture, the Salt Mine was one of the first objects on the UNESCO list of cultural and natural heritage in 1978. The tour of the Wieliczka Salt Mine takes about 2-3 hours on various alternative routes, including the popular tourist road and the extreme miners’ road. Guided tour with a local guide in your language (to choose english, german, spanish, italian, russian, french).

auschwitz

Auschwitz is a historic city known throughout Poland and around the world, about 70 km from Krakow. Auschwitz has a beautiful historic old town that is worth a visit, but it is usually another destination that attracts visitors to this city. Tourists and historians from all over the world come to Oświęcim to see the concentration camp NS Auschwitz-Birkenau – a tragic remnant of World War II. The travel time from Krakow to Auschwitz is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

zakopane

Zakopane is the winter capital of Poland located in the very south of the country, about 110 km from Krakow. The resort is located at the very foot of the Tatra Mountains, providing unforgettable and spectacular views of the highest Polish peaks. Zakopane itself is an attraction with the famous in Poland promenade called Krupówki, traditional buildings, ubiquitous folklore, so original and appealing to newcomers from other regions. Fantastic location makes Zakopane a great holiday destination both in winter and in summer. Beautiful, picturesque valleys, charming mountain lakes and snow-capped peaks are what characterizes this region. Travel time from Krakow to Zakopane is about 2 hours.