The Wawel Cathedral was the highlight of a visit to Wawel Castle and grounds…read more Outside was an impressive view and more than the castle itself. Tickets were purchased across from the cathedral entrance. Admission included a climb up to the bell tower, crypts and the separate Archdiocesan Museum. When climbing the stairs up to the entrance make sure to check out the huge bone hanging above to the left. Maybe a whale or purported dragon bone. Inside was ornate and full of royal or VIP tombs as expected. Not all chapels were open for visitors that day but St JPII's one was a popular stop eventhough it was empty. The royal crypts were accessible but not the crypt holding many of Poland's famous poets or authors. It was under renovation until the end of March. The climb up Sigismund tower was narrow at times but does open up to a decent size room with Krakow city views from two sides. Lots of closeups with the various bells. Traffic jams do happen on the way up when a tour group beats you in so be prepared for slow progress. The crypts were brightly lit and held the remains of a US Revolutionary War general and other military heroes, a Polish President and First Lady, and of course royals. It was brightly lit and well organized. Mass was held regularly and open to the public. You have to let the security guard in the front know you want to attend and he will go over the rule of attendance. Seating was limited and visitors not allowed to wander in the cathedral before or after.

It's the cathedral at Wawel Castle. If anything, visit it to learn about the Polish Kings and to…read moreclimb up to Sigismund Tower. It is said that touching the heart of Sigismund Bell will bring you good luck. We were told that it will bring you marriage. One husband is enough for me. Haha! There are 5 bells in the tower, so be sure that you're touching the right one. This is also the cathedral where Father Wojtyła (Pope John Paul II) celebrated his very first Holy Mass at the crypt of St. Leonard. I would have taken a picture of it, but they don't allow photography in the cathedral with the exception of the bell tower. I was only able to snap one of the informational signs next to the tomb of King Władysław II Jagiełło (former Duke of Lithuania) before being told it's not allowed. He was married to King Jadwiga of Poland. Yes, female monarchs held the title of "King" in those times. Isn't this the first diarcy in history? It's my first time reading about 2 Kings ruling over a country. He became the sole King of Poland after her death from complications after childbirth. Did you know that she was only 12 years old when they married in 1836? Apparently, it wasn't controversial at the time. The only controversy was regarding her previous marriage or unmarriage to the 14 year old William of Austria (Habsburg Dynasty). Was it consummated, or not? We'll never know because he was expelled out of Poland. All controversy aside, she did a lot of good for the Polish people during her 15 year reign. You'll get to see her tomb in the cathedral, and many others. It's a beautiful cathedral, and well-worth the small entrance fee. The ticket office is in a separate building near the entrance. We purchased an individual ticket without the tour option. I didn't think it was needed since the most important parts had description markers. Don't forget to take pictures of the dragon bones hanging at the entrance on your way in. You will exit through a different path that takes you through more crypts on your way out. It's a part of Kraków's history that shouldn't be missed.

Located below Wawel Castle and Cathedral along a popular walkway next to the Vistula River was the…read morefire breathing statue of Smok the dragon. The statue was created from the legend of a dragon that lived below Wawel castle and terrorized the city. After sacrificing sheep or virgins to keep the dragon happy, it was finally defeated after it ate a ram filled with sulphur. While the ram smoldered inside, the dragon drank water from the river to put it out but instead blew itself up. You can see the blackened mouth of the dragon from its regular fire breathing. Luckily I happened to walk by as a crowd grew around Smok and within five minutes the flames started and lasted for around 10 or 15 seconds. I'm not sure if there was a regular schedule but worth seeing if you're in the area.

It's a popular attraction when walking along the Vistula River. I mean, how can you go to Kraków…read moreand not see Wawel Castle and its famous fire breathing dragon? Impossible! The dragon is a Polish legend. The story appears to be told differently each time. Was it slain by Prince Krakus, or by the town shoemaker? The plaque on the castle wall says it was Krakus, Prince of Poland. All I truly know is that this 7 headed dragon statue was created by Bronislaw Chromy in 1972. We were told it breathes fire every 10 minutes, but the timing of it varies. It was more in the range of 5 to 7 minutes apart. The dragon no longer takes text messages. That's right. It could no longer handle the mass texts commanding it to breathe fire. So, everyone just hangs around the dragon waiting for it to happen. It's actually kind of funny if you think about it. When it finally happens, everyone sighs or groans at the end. The event goes by so quickly. Be prepared to take a video of it. It doesn't look so impressive in a picture. It's just the novel thing to do when visiting Kraków. There's a tourist trappy attraction at the top of the castle hill called "Dragon's Den." Some will pay admission to walk down steps into the cave below the castle. It eventually leads you down to the dragon statue on the riverwalk. It may be cool for families with small children. We were happy just seeing it while walking to our hotel. It's enjoyable no matter what route you take to get there.

It's the medieval marketplace located in the middle of Old Town square. It originally started in…read morethe 13th century with uncovered vendors in wooden stalls selling cloth. The first covered building in the Gothic style was funded by King Casimir the Great in the 14th century. A fire in 1555 destroyed it, but then it was reconstructed in the Renaissance style. Today, it still has elements of both architectural styles. There are some plaques written in Latin, gargoyles with satirical faces, and female angelic figures that were added to the facade over the years. There's even a knife hanging down from the entrance on the side of St. Mary's Basilica. It's tied to a legend of the 2 brothers who built the church towers. There are some uncovered and restored advertisements near one of the archways. The building has a lot of character. There is a branch of the Museum of Kraków featuring 19th century Polish art that is located on the top level. It's closed on Mondays with free admission on Tuesdays. There is a restaurant called Café Szal that boasts beautiful views of the square. The shopping within the Cloth Hall is mostly souvenirs and touristy items. There were many tourists buying their goods. We had a better cultural experience at the Stary Kleparz market which had a little of everything (including food and wine). The Cloth Hall is still worth a visit, and shouldn't be missed.

The market square in Krakow is another must visit. The "bazaar" here is very interesting. Lots of…read morestores selling kitschy stuff, local goods and souvenirs. I did not buy anything but enjoyed the visit and looking around.

It's a beautiful city! What more can I say? All I can say is that I wish we had more time to see…read moreeverything. It has so much to offer. There's a reason why it's the most visited city in Poland. There's culture, history, festivals, nightlife, and some very amazing places to eat. It's more affordable for tourists compared to other European cities. It's very walkable (like Prague & Budapest), and especially if you're staying somewhere close to Old Town. There's always something new to discover as you're walking in and around the city. Even the lifestyle feels more relaxed. I can't explain the feeling. I just felt very comfortable there. I would return to Kraków in a heartbeat. I'm just glad that my husband suggested it to me when picking out vacation destinations. It's now on my top 10 return list. It's that memorable!

One of the premier destinations in Europe! It is still relatively inexpensive and offers a lot of…read moresights, sounds, and tastes. If you haven't been, waste no more time.

This part of town was highly recommended as a place to visit by the hotel staff. I can totally see…read morewhy. It's important for historical purposes. This is the Jewish Quarter where many Polish Jewish and ethnic people lived prior to the invasion of Kraków. They were forcibly moved to a staging area across the bridge in the Podgórze district that is now known as the Kraków Ghetto. Most of the residents didn't survive as they were sent to concentration camps during what was called the liquidation. What you see today are the synogogues, cathedrals, and tenement buildings that have been restored. Some of them have branches of the Museum of Kraków displaying exhibits of Jewish history & culture. It's also where you can find the best zapiekanka (kind of like a French bread pizza) in the city. There are many popular cafés and restaurants in Szeroka Square if you're not into street food. All of which are intertwined with historical landmarks. There are other squares such as Plac Nowy and Plac Wolnica that are just as popular. There's certainly more to Kazimierz than just its history. It's a very cool cultural experience. We passed by the Remah Synagogue which appears to be still active. There's a memorial to the holocaust victims near it. We saw lots of public street art all through that area. Make sure you walk into the courtyard outside of the Popper Synagogue to see a hidden mural full of ritualistic symbols from the Jewish faith. I don't know much about the mural or the religion, but it definitely is an eye-catcher. Kazimierz is totally worth a visit.

Yelp Review 2023 #277…read more Kazimierz is an important part of Krakow. It is the historic Jewish Quarter where thousands of families were relocated to Podgorze. You'll find old buildings that have been well-maintained since World War II. Synagogues, Catholic Churches, and apartments that have been converted to businesses without changing the exterior. Some buildings have bullet holes. Walking around this neighborhood feels depressing knowing what happened here. Barely anybody walking around - the streets aware practically empty. Here you will find Banksy's "I'm Happy Again" mural, and Schindler's List Passageway. This whole section of Krakow is totally walkable. Within a few hours, you've already seen everything you need to see. All over Kazimierz, you'll find museums, restaurants and Judah Food Market that are a bit livelier.

Poland, especially Kraków, is not all Roman Catholic. This part of town is proof of that. Take a…read moretour and see how ahead of its time this country was in acceptance of religious minorities, such as Jewish persons.

If you happen to wander through Jewish District of Kazimierz, don't miss these stylish & kickass…read more"Kazimierz Historical Murals" by Piotr Janowczyk, right outside Pub Wręga. Ever since their creation in 2015, as a part of a beautification effort (on the mural front), they've attracted quite a following. The murals depict five portraits of Polish historical figures: Emperor Józef Hapsburg II, Helena Rubinstein (born in the district), Karol Knaus (local architect, artist, and conservator), Esterka (the lover of King Kazimierz the Great), and finally King Kazimierz the Great himself. How beloved is Kazimierz? Poland's growth under his peaceful reign was memorialized in a popular saying to the effect that "(he) inherited a Poland built of wood but left the world a Poland built of stone". We're so fond of him we also put him on our 50zł bill! P.S. While in Kazimierz you must, simply M U S T bite your teeth into a zapiekanka, the iconic polish street food. Simply head over to Plac Nowy, where you'll find Okrąglak (rotunda), an iconic 19th-century landmark.