GO CRAZY IN KRAKÓW. YOU’LL LOVE IT!
Prepare to be wowed by some old world charm, communism, cute cars, and a healthy dose of crazy
GO CRAZY IN KRAKÓW. YOU’LL LOVE IT!
Prepare to be wowed by some old world charm, communism, cute cars, and a healthy dose of crazy
5 must do travel ideas for Kraków, Poland
When visiting Kraków, I expect Auschwitz, the Old Town, and the Jewish Quarter are most likely on your list. But here’s a few other ideas for your travel itinerary.
When I went to Kraków for a short break with my friend Nick, we stayed in the Jewish Quarter and I highly recommend it. The atmosphere is divine, the local eateries and bars are great, and you’re in walking distance of most of the key attractions. This includes the old town, the beautiful Wawel Castle, the river, and plenty of other attractions such as the Oskar Schindler Museum and MOCAK, a museum of modern art, which are on the other side of the river.
Like many historic towns, Kraków itself is best seen by foot, in my humble opinion, so good walking shoes are a must. But there are plenty of city-bus tours and taxis to take you further afield of course, plus transport is arranged for pre-booked tours, such as those for Auschwitz.
Sadly, we didn’t get to do the trip to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum – time just wasn’t on our side (you have to set aside a whole day really). It was a really difficult decision for me not to go. Like many it had been a priority when we booked our trip in the first place. But, as you would expect, you were reminded of the history and the sadness of the horrific events of World War Two wherever you went and could pay your respects in countless other ways. And we did. I know Nick wasn’t sure a visit to the Oskar Schindler museum would be worth it, but by the time he left he was 100% glad he went.
In some ways it may have been better than a trip to Auschwitz – the last thing I really wanted was to see hoards of tourists taking selfies in a place where thousands had died so callously. But I did want to pay my respects and pay witness to all that has passed. The Oskar Schindler Enamel Factory museum was our compromise and boy am I glad.
Having seen the wonderful Steven Spielberg film Schindler’s List, starring Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, and Sir Ben Kingsley, I was already familiar with who Oskar Schindler was and the amazing story of the Kraków jews he saved from going to the Nazi gas chambers, more than 1000 people who have come to be known as the Schindler Jews. But to visit the place where these lives were saved, the Oskar Schindler Enamel Factory itself, and see the photographs and historic relics from that time, brought a humbling reality I wish everyone could feel.
The museum has been curated wonderfully – emotions flood through you as it takes you from the innocent, unaware, pre-war times of the victims to the horrifying, brutal events beyond. You weave through history as if you are walking it for real. It also shows you the depth of courage, compassion, and resourcefulness people possess when it comes to surviving and saving those around them.
To read Schindler’s List – the long list of over 1000 names of those saved – exhibited beautifully at the museum, brings a wonderful sense of faith, joy, and hope that little else can match.
I’ll be honest, I didn’t take many photos whilst I was there – it was pretty busy in there, with a few large tour groups, plus I was just captivated by the stories and the exhibits on display. But you can see all of my photos and read more about the museum here.
Even if you do make the trip to Auschwitz, a visit to the Oskar Schindler museum will feed your soul
Heartbreaking, yes. Moving, most definitely. But the museum also leaves you with a wonderful sense of hope in the human spirit by the end and that will stay with me forever. Plus, I have to add this, the little coffee shop inside the museum was just wonderful. As someone who loves her coffee, I was a happy little bunny.
As well as serving lovely coffee, the interior pays homage to Steven Spielberg and his film, Schindler’s List. From the walls to the tables, you are surrounded by photos of Spielberg and the cast during filming of the movie, with quotes and anecdotes galore. Loved it.
Anyway, for all these reasons and more, the Oskar Schindler Enamel factory museum features highly in my top 5 tips for a trip to Kraków. But it ain’t my Number 1 (sorry) …
My top 5 tips for Kraków are:
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TRAVEL IN A TRABANT & GO COMMUNIST CRAZY
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VISIT THE OSKAR SCHINDLER MUSEUM
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SEE THE SUNSET FROM THE CASTLE
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DIVE DEEP DOWN A SALT MINE
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GO MOCAK MODERN ART MAD
Of course, there are lots of other things to do in this wonderful city, but if you’re only there for a couple of days, as I was, these can be packed in easily. Plus, you’ll still have plenty of time for meandering around the old cobbled streets and browsing in the shops, not to mention chilling out with a coffee or beer and having a good meal of local delicacies with your travel companions too. Kraków is pure joy to explore.
A DELUXE CRAZY GUIDES COMMUNISM TOUR IN A VINTAGE TRABANT IS MY TOP TIP FOR KRAKOW
No I didn’t make the name up. They really are called the Crazy Guides. As their website says, they are Europe’s most famous alternative tour company, having even been featured by Michael Palin on the BBC.
Nick surprised me by booking a Crazy Guides tour for our last day – I walked out of our hotel to be greeted by a lovely Crazy Guides team member and a gloriously bright green tiny vintage Trabant car. I don’t think I could get the smile off my face if I’d tried.
As Crazy Guides promise, it was an “unforgettable holiday experience” and one I can’t recommend highly enough.
Our tour
Travelling around in a tiny bright green Trabant is not something you do every day and it ain’t for the faint hearted either. But my word, it was FUN! Just seeing Nick (a fairly tall bloke) trying to get in and out of the car was worth it.
We did the Communism Deluxe Tour – 199 PLN £ 42 € 48 per person. It’s an upgraded version of their standard Communism Tour which, in addition to taking in the regular Nowa Huta communist district visit, includes lunch in an old school “Milk Bar” canteen – seriously was the best food I had throughout our trip.
We also got a taste of everyday life in Poland during the 1970s in an unchanged genuine Communist apartment, where we watched a somewhat disturbing propaganda movie whilst sampling some pickled cucumbers and a shot of vodka.
We saw a lot, learned alot about the history of Nowa Huta and the communist era, thanks to our wondeful guide, but above all we had bucketloads of fun just whizzing around in our tiny little Trabant. Seriously, just go for it!
Overall – 10 out of 10
Visit Nowa Huta and experience life under a communist regime – and do it in style in a bright green trabant!
Museums, a fairytale castle, and a mind-blowing trip 134m underground
ONCE YOU CLIMB THE STEPS UP TO WAWEL CASTLE YOU’LL DISCOVER A BEAUTY AND SUNSETS TO BLOW YOUR MIND
A trip to Wawel Castle is number 3 in my top 5 travel trips for Kraków. In its own right, Wawel Castle is stunning. It has an understated beauty that captivates you, a charm few others can match, and well its location in the heart of the city and right by the river is perfect. And there’s no better time than to make sure you’re there to see the sun set across the river.
Another top tip for Kraków, number 4 on my list, is to walk 800 steps down to go 134 m underground at the jaw-dropping Wieliczka Salt Mine.
YOU WILL NEVER LOOK AT SALT THE SAME WAY AGAIN – A JOURNEY TO THE DEPTHS OF THIS MINE IS MIND-BLOWING
There’s more to the Wieliczka Salt Mine than you think – some amazing carvings and statues await you deep underground as you come towards the end of your tour.
Then another joy to be discovered in Kraków is the museum of contemporary art, MOCAK. It’s right next door to the Oskar Schindler factory, so combine the two. And grab a coffee and a bite to eat in one of the lovely cafes inside each of them (we did both!). Great coffee too (a big requirement for me).
FROM THE OUTSIDE YOU WOULDN’T HAVE A CLUE AT THE WONDERS OF THE MOCAK BUILDING OR THE FANTASTIC ART INSIDE – SO TAKE A PEEK INSIDE!!
Nick at MOCAK – enjoying a double delight of art and food.
So that’s my top 5 travel tips for Kraków – of course there’s so much more I could add. It’s a wonderful city, relatively inexpensive, and a beautiful feast for the eyes, heart, and soul. Go with a friend or go it alone, but just go, explore, and enjoy.
SEE MORE FROM GAIL RAJGOR PHOTOGRAPHY
View Life Through My Lens. Visit my website to find out more about me and my love of photography, and visit my Travel Bug Collection, which will take you to Prague, Kraków, Chania, Budapest, Malta, Barcelona and beyond as well as show you why Suffolk, where I live, is a beautiful county you should definitely put on your travel list. You can also check out a few little Life Lessons Through A Lens.
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