As we speak I wish to share my itinerary for a weekend journey to Krakow with you. This metropolis in Poland is a straightforward getaway from London, and there’s a lot to do and see right here. From the historic heart to the outlets and eating places, there’s rather a lot to entertain guests. I’m right here now and I can’t wait to indicate you the highlights of spending 48 hours within the metropolis. I’ve included a map, too.
Weekend in Krakow
One of many issues I like about residing in London is how straightforward it’s to journey to Europe. From day journeys to weekend escapes, the continent is ripe for visiting. I’ve finished numerous adventures over time, and I’m excited to share one other one with you now.
I’m in Krakow for a weekend to go to a buddy who lives right here. I haven’t been to the town since I studied overseas in Prague throughout my college years, and I’m excited to have an area information to take me round, refresh my reminiscence, and present me what’s new.
She’s provide you with an excellent weekend itinerary for us, and I hope it helps you intend a visit of your individual. Whether or not you’re a first-time customer or an everyday one, it’ll present you the way to have a good time right here.
The place to Keep in Krakow
There are many nice locations to remain in Krakow. Whether or not you wish to base your self in a resort, residence rental, or different lodging, the town has a spread of spots to select from.
My prime decide is Resort Teatr. I like the historic-meets-contemporary decor, nice visitor rooms, and preferrred location within the Outdated City. If that appeals, you may guide a room right here.
You can too see extra choices and offers right here. No matter you’re searching for, there’s a spot you’ll love calling home-away-from-home within the metropolis.
Friday
After a two-and-a-half-hour flight from London, I land in Krakow at 6pm on a Friday night. I clear passport management, hop in a Bolt taxi, and discover myself within the metropolis heart half-hour later.
Dinner in Kazimierz
My buddy has deliberate a dinner for us at an area restaurant, and I’m excited to get a style of Polish delicacies. Our desk is at Pierwszy Stopien in Kazimierz, the historic Jewish quarter of the Outdated City.
The restaurant has fashionable decor and a plant-filled inside that makes me really feel like I’ve been transported right into a greener world from the second we stroll in. I find it irresistible.
Quickly we’re tucking into inventive cocktails whereas we anticipate warming pumpkin soup and risotto-like kashotto with pearl barley. We love that the menu has a mixture of conventional meat-and-potatoes dishes in addition to ingenious vegetarian and vegan ones with Polish roots.
Plac Nowy
After dinner my buddy takes me for a stroll via Kazimierz. As we go, we stroll right into a sq. referred to as Plac Nowy. It’s filled with avenue meals distributors in and round a novel round constructing referred to as Okraglak.
Throughout it, persons are shopping for zapiekanka, scorching open-face sandwiches that appear like the French bread pizzas I ate as a toddler. If I weren’t full from dinner, I might be part of them.
Rynek Glowny
From Plac Nowy we make our technique to Rynek Glowny, the principle sq. within the Outdated City. Courting again to the thirteenth century, this place lies on the coronary heart of the historic metropolis.
We stroll round, absorb the buzzing scene, and take within the floodlit heritage buildings surrounding it. That is stated to be one of many largest medieval squares in Europe, and I consider it.
Florianska Road
After taking in Rynek Glowny, we stroll down the well-known Florianska Road. There we pop into Pijana Wisnia for a style of their well-known cherry liqueur.
Served in glasses with soaked cherries on the backside, it’s candy and robust. There are fairly memento bottles to purchase for presents for pals again house, too. The bar is a enjoyable place to finish the primary night time of the journey.
Saturday
The subsequent morning we get pleasure from pastries from a bakery referred to as Buczek with my buddy’s household. From cinnamon rolls to croissants and Polish paczki doughnuts, they set us up effectively for a day of sightseeing in Krakow.
Sightseeing
After breakfast my buddy and I head out to discover the town. Our first cease is the Planty, a historic inexperienced house that encircles the Outdated City. It covers the bottom the place Krakow’s medieval metropolis partitions as soon as stood. Dotted with gardens and statues, it’s a phenomenal place to stroll.
The park leads us to the Barbican. Courting again to the late fifteenth century, this spherical gateway was as soon as a part of the town’s defensive partitions.
One in all Europe’s best-preserved examples of a medieval outer-wall fortification put up, at the moment it types a part of the Historic Museum of the Metropolis of Krakow.
Proper behind the Barbican is St. Florian’s Gate, one other well-known landmark. Tall in stature, it’s one of many best-known Polish Gothic towers. The gate is believed thus far again to the early 14th century, and its eye-catching Baroque crown was constructed in 1660.
St. Florian’s Gate opens onto the pedestrianized Florianska Road, the place we had our cherry liqueur the night time earlier than. It gives a phenomenal welcome to the Outdated City.
Czartoryski Museum
After admiring the Barbican and St. Florian’s Gate, we stroll just a few steps over to the Czartoryski Museum. This well-known cultural establishment is considered one of Poland’s oldest museums.
The Czartoryski homes a spread of artwork and historic objects, probably the most well-known of which is Leonardo da Vinci’s the Girl with an Ermine.
We’ve pre-booked tickets (they will promote out), and we spend an hour exploring the spectacular assortment. I like all the pieces from the work to the sculptures and artifacts.
Lunch
After we’re finished seeing the museum, we make our approach across the nook for lunch at Gossip Cafe. This native spot is understood for all the pieces from scrumptious breakfasts to Polish dumplings.
We order heaping parts of the latter, savoring the flavors of each meat and veggie ones as we focus on our favourite works within the Czartoryski.
Sightseeing
After lunch we do some extra sightseeing. First we stroll over to Rynek Glowny to go to the historic market contained in the gorgeous Material Corridor. This place is filled with folks searching the wares of native tradespeople who promote handicrafts and souvenirs.
From there we stroll down Grodzka Road, one of many oldest roads in Krakow. Lined with historic buildings and outlets, it’s a part of the historic Royal Route that leads from the town gates to Wawel Citadel.
We pop into Saints Peter and Paul Church to see the gorgeous Baroque interiors earlier than persevering with down the highway to the fortress itself.
However we’re not going contained in the fortress advanced at the moment. We’re going round it to see one of many metropolis’s most beloved statues: Smok. This legendary dragon sculpture breathes fireplace each 5 to 10 minutes. It’s a enjoyable one to see, and it makes for nice images and movies.
Espresso
As soon as we’ve gotten our Smok repair, we stroll throughout the Vistula River, take within the boat cruises, and head to a brutalist constructing referred to as Discussion board. As soon as a resort, it now homes a meals courtroom, a bowling alley, and different leisure venues.
We meet my buddy’s daughter, who’s been bowling all afternoon, and settle in for espresso and cake at a ground-floor cafe referred to as My Espresso. Outdoors, fairground rides and an enormous balloon make for eye-catching riverfront surroundings.
Evening within the Outdated City
Within the night, my buddy and I head to dinner at a preferred restaurant within the Outdated City referred to as Morskie Oko. Filled with carved wooden, its collection of small, split-level eating rooms seems like a secret warren.
We’re seated in a comfy nook, the place we tuck right into a feast of pierogi ruskie dumplings, carrot salad, grilled sheep cheese with cranberry jam, and potato pancakes with porcini mushroom sauce.
After dinner we stroll over to Goralskie Praliny on Florianska Road for dessert. This place has nice kremowka, a Polish cream cake with layers of flaky puff pastry. Stated to be a favourite of Pope John Paul II, it goes down a deal with after an enormous day of sightseeing.
Sunday
The subsequent morning our weekend in Krakow continues with a stroll to breakfast. Alongside the way in which, my buddy and I go landmarks just like the Nicolaus Copernicus statue. It’s devoted to the well-known astronomer who studied on the Krakow Academy.
Breakfast & Books
Quickly we discover ourselves at Massolit, an atmospheric English-language bookshop in Krakow. With a warren of wood-paneled rooms and a restaurant promoting tea and pastries, it’s the right place for breakfast with books (which is the very best type of breakfast in the event you didn’t know).
We spend extra time than we deliberate to searching the titles and sipping our drinks at one of many tables dotted all through the cabinets. It seems like heaven.
Wawel Citadel
After we handle to tear ourselves away, we stroll over to Wawel Citadel. It’s thought-about by many to be probably the most traditionally and culturally necessary web site in Poland.
The well-known hilltop advanced consists of a giant courtyard surrounded by buildings showcasing practically all European architectural types of the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque intervals.
From the eye-catching Wawel Cathedral to one of many nation’s premier artwork museums, the fortress has rather a lot for guests to find. We’re pressed for time on this journey, so we persist with exploring the surface areas.
From gorgeous facades to gilded domes and cobbled courtyards, there’s rather a lot to see even with out ready within the lengthy strains to enter the buildings themselves.
Kazimierz
Leaving the fortress, we proceed our day with a visit to Kazimierz. We’re right here to see the slim avenue the place well-known scenes from the film Schindler’s Checklist have been filmed.
Jozefa Road (aka Schindler’s Checklist Passage) just isn’t solely an atmospheric lane, but in addition house to informational boards outlining the plight of Krakow’s Jewish inhabitants earlier than, throughout, and after World Battle II.
We learn the boards, then stroll round to see among the well-known avenue artwork murals in Kazimierz. Finally we find yourself in Plac Nowy, the place there’s an open-air market with all types of products on the market. We browse the stalls for souvenirs till I’ve to depart for the airport.
Weekend in Krakow
Quickly I’m waving goodbye to each my buddy and Krakow. I’ve had a tremendous weekend, and I’m glad I’ve gotten to see the town with an area. If you wish to uncover extra, check out my video of the journey on Instagram.
Given she’s going to be in Krakow for the following few years, I’m already planning my subsequent journey to the town. I hope this weblog put up has impressed you to go to, too. There’s much more to see and do in and across the metropolis, from the well-known Wieliczka Salt Mine to Auschwitz and Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Manufacturing unit.
Krakow Itinerary Map
As promised, I’ve created an interactive map of all of the locations I visited in Krakow. You’ll find it right here. It’ll assist provide you with an thought of the place issues are in relation to 1 one other.
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