From the sidewalk cafes and the cobblestone squares, to the dozens of churches and inside the Jewish quarter; everywhere you visit in Krakow there is a story to be told. From the moment the flight to Krakow lands, it’s clear you’ve arrived in one of Europe’s most historical cities. If there’s one thing Krakow has, it’s a lot of soul. Marked by tragedy during the Nazi regime and rebuilt to become Poland’s fourth largest city, Krakow oozes character from the cracks of its war-torn walls to the tops of its church spires.
Krakow has become a major European tourist destination and it’s no wonder – travelers booking flights to Krakow have the option of touring some of the world’s oldest churches and museums or visiting one of the best-preserved medieval city centers in Europe. Krakow was made even more appealing to tourists after the 1993 movie “Schindler’s List”, which depicted the plight of Polish Jews from Krakow to the Auschwitz concentration camp. Today, travelers of any religion or race board flights to Krakow to tour world-famous art museums, eat at kosher restaurants and partake in Poland’s cultural events.
Find flights to Krakow
Back to top
Krakow has four distinct seasons. Spring is bright and mild, and May temperatures are in the 60s (F). Summer is warm with occasional heat waves and the most rainfall. June through August temperatures are typically in the 70s. Fall days start out foggy but warm up in the afternoon, accented by the foliage colors. Winter brings lots of snow and temperatures usually below freezing.
Back to top
Peak Season:
Peak season in Krakow is April to October, and it is a good idea to book Krakow flights and accommodations ahead. The city has events throughout the year, and July is a month of festivals, from street theater to jazz.
Off Season:
The cold winters typically mean fewer tourists, but there is still plenty to do. Find cheap flights to Krakow and bundle up while you explore the city in the snow.
Find cheap flights to Krakow
Back to top
City bus services 208 and 192 travel to the city center, taking about 35 minutes. Taxis are also available outside the arrivals hall.
Back to top
The Old Town is compact, mostly closed to traffic, and easy to negotiate. Best explored on foot, many of Krakow’s attractions are within walking distance of each other. When venturing outside the city center, buses and trams can get you around easily.
Krakow’s buses and trams are the easiest way to travel in the city although they are crowded during rush hour. Buses and trams run between 5am and 11pm, with night buses running later. You can buy tickets at kiosks, ticket machines, and on the bus or tram.
Taxis are readily available, and fares at night are higher. Radio taxis (look for a taxi sign and the phone number of the company) usually have the best rates.
With limited parking, much of the Old Town closed to traffic, and a good system of buses and trams, there is little need for a car. If you are driving into the city, leave the car in a guarded car park. There are a couple in the city and some in the surrounding areas.
Back to top
- The district of Nowa Huta, 6 miles east of the city center, was created after the Second World War as a social-realist suburb to house workers and buildings for the steel industry. The name means “The New Steel Mill” and work was started on the area in 1949. Today, the steel works no longer operate, but the district is fascinating for a tourist for its Stalinist-Baroque architecture.
- Pope John Paul II is the only Polish pope, and is especially loved in Krakow, where he spent time at university. Before he was elected Pope, one of his major achievements as pontiff was the success of his fight to erect a church in the district of Nowa Huta, which, having been designed by Communists, previously had no religious buildings. You will still find many posters, postcards and photographs throughout Krakow from his last visit in 2002. Wadowice, the town of his birth, is easily visited.
- Public toilets in Poland don’t normally use the pictures of men and women. A triangle, or the words “dla panow” means gentlemen; a circle, or the words “dla pan” is the ladies.
- Try some traditional Polish food, still prevalent everywhere in the city. Pierogi are dough pockets, filled with meat, cheese or, less appealingly, cabbage. Big stews are on every menu; one of the most traditional is bigos, or hunter’s stew, which is simmered for a few days and contains meat, onions and sauerkraut. Of course, vodka is the local drink. Served neat, with a mixer or on the rocks, there is vodka on offer everywhere you go; in a mind-numbing array of flavors.
- You can reach Auschwitz by bus from Krakow. The most famous of the Nazi concentration camps, now a museum to commemorate the atrocities, Auschwitz is an extremely moving destination to visit.
Back to top
