Krakow: Wrapping up Poland

We’ve been blessed with great weather during our time in Krakow, throughout the majority of our two and a half weeks in Poland actually, and we’ve made the most of the sunshine by exploring on foot. Krakow is steeped in history, much like the other Polish cities we’ve come across, however Krakow is also unique in that it escaped the Second World War almost completely unscathed. Unfortunately the same cannot be said about Poland as a whole and many of the charming towns we visited had to be reconstructed from the shell that remained at the end of war.

Wawel Cathedral (that’s where the “dragon bones” are)

The Cloth Hall in the Main Market Square

The Market Square is a great place for people watching

With four full days in the city, we joined two free walking tours – one of the historic Old Town and a second that traces the history of Jewish people living in Krakow. We also covered many kilometers on our own, returning to the picturesque Wawel Castle complete with “dragon bones” and a beautiful cathedral, strolling through the Planty Gardens that surround the historic centre, and taking in a panoramic view of the city from atop Krakus Mound, a man made mound assumed to be a burial place from medieval times atop a small hill just outside the district of Podgórze. With so many kilometers underfoot, we always made time to refuel with servings of delicious pierogies and hearty goulash.

Travis is Awesome! (this photo also features the Krakus Mound)

The view over the old town from the Krakus Mound

The old quarry where they filmed Schindler’s List – crawl through the fence and you get this awesome view…plus we saw a Fox!

Krakow is one of Poland’s most visited cities, and it’s easy to see why. The historic Market Square is the largest in Europe, the almost completely original Old Town is encircled by a lush green park, and the city is a great hub for travelers moving throughout central Europe. Krakow is also the place Pope John Paul II called home for much of his life, a fact the people are very proud of!

The bridge connecting Kazimierz and Podgorze

…and again, lit up at night!

Wawel Hill, probably the most popular spot in Krakow

Wawel Hill and some of its beautiful flowers and gardens

As we prepare to leave Krakow and bid farewell to Poland, we look forward to the adventures ahead, but are also a bit sad to leave. Poland surprised us at every turn with it’s beauty, fascinating history, and incredible food, and we are so glad we made time to visit!