The best way to enjoy Krakow is on foot. Every street and every square lives its own life manifest in its cafes, stores, galleries, assorted culture venues and public institutions.
Main Market Square (Rynek Główny) dates back to the 13th century and it is the largest (200 by 200 meter square) medieval town square in Europe. The Square is a popular place for public events and festivities. It is surrounded by old brick buildings and palaces, almost all of them several centuries old with a large selection of bars, pubs and restaurants. During the summer, when they bring out their chairs, the entire place is vibrant. It is a good place to sit, have a drink and watch the world go by as the time flows differently. With its flower-sellers, mime-artists, horse-and-carts passing by, its wonderfully lively and varied architecture, the Market Square is never a dull place. It is one of the pearls of Krakow.
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Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) in the main square, dating back to the 14th century, was built as a centre for the cloth trade. The current structure was rebuilt between 1875-1879 and contains a trading centre for crafts and souvenirs while the upstairs is a museum of the Polish art of the 19th century. Here you will find about 50 different booths offering hand-made chess sets, boxes and wooden dishes; religious icons and more amber jewellery than you’ve ever seen in one place.
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St Mary’s Church is one of Krakow’s most-loved landmarks. This majestic Gothic church boasts a dazzling, lavishly ornamented and brightly coloured interior, topped with dark-blue vault. This astonishing 15th century wooden gilded huge altar is one of the greatest medieval altars in Europe. The church is also known for the trumpet call, which is played every hour from the church’s tower. The trumpet call stops suddenly to reflect the old legend of the trumpeter who was killed by a Tatar arrow while playing the call to alert the city’s inhabitants of the approaching enemy’s army. The beautiful interiors are well worth having a look at.
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Planty is a city park which surrounds the Old Town. It was planted on the site of the former moat and the medieval city walls. The only surviving part is of the medieval fortifications is the Florian Gate with adjoining walls and the nearby Barbican. The park is dotted with numerous monuments and fountains, and is one of the favourite places for a romantic stroll or a relaxing walk.
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Wawel Hill –Royal Castle and Cathedral was established in 1000 and has witnessed almost all of the coronations and funerals. It has been the home of Polish kings from the mid 11th – 17th century. There are some permanent exhibitions in the castle with lots to see and take in. There are some real jewels here, among them the exquisite cathedral chapels, the renaissance courtyard and the State Rooms themselves. You can also climb up the old bell-tower or burrow down into the Dragon’s Lair which will take you outside the castle to the river front and a belching fire dragon.
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Jewish Quarter (Kazimierz), founded in 1335 by King Kazimierz the Great, was once a town in its own right. With its labyrinthine streets and low-standing houses, it feels like a different world to the Old Town. You may well get lost here however, this is not a bad thing, but very much part of the whole experience. The place has been undergoing a major renaissance. Both its Jewish and Christian heritage is being restored. Today, Kazimierz is Krakow’s thriving bohemian head quarter, with myriad atmospheric cafes and restaurant featuring original interiors. Their magic and laid back ambience and retro décor takes visitors on a journey back in time. There are some excellent Jewish restaurants here, along with shops, synagogues and museums.
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The history of one of the great Jewish centres in Europe can clearly be seen in the old ghetto area of Kazimierz, and starkly remembered in the memorial death camps of Auschwitz and Birkenau, west of Krakow.
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Wieliczka Salt Mine is on a UNESCO heritage list. It was created by nature 15 mln. years ago. The mine features 9 floors ranging down to 327 meters in depth. The tour shows a series of chambers full of carvings, statues, two underground chapels, all completely made of salt, and the salt lake. Wieliczka is 15km away by train/bus from main train station.
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