I left for Kraków on the 6th of March 2020. There is a direct train from Warsaw available which takes slightly under three hours. Get off at Kraków Główny the city’s main railway station. It is located right in the city centre together with the coach station. You can easily walk to your accommodation within the centre or catch either a bus or tram.

How to get around:

• Buses
• Trams

Kraków does not have an underground metro system but fret not as the city is well connected by buses and trams. The public transportation system is really easy to use. Download the Jakdojade app on your mobile device to find out exactly how to get from one place to another. The application gives you many route options and even shows you when the bus or tram is expected to arrive.

You can purchase tickets from the machines at bus and tram stops or buy them online with the Jakdojade application. The good news is that most of the ticket machines accept cards as a form of payment but you have to remember to validate the stub once you are on board. Tickets purchased on the Jakdojade app are already validated for that specific amount of time. I recommend installing the Jakdojade on your phone if you are visiting many cities in Poland as it is used throughout the country.

I suggest paying as you go for the public transport as the majority of the attractions are within walking distance. They are mostly located within the city centre and are easily accessible. It is also better to explore Stare Miasto, Kraków’s old town and Kazimierz, the Jewish quarter on foot.

Where to stay:

Kraków has many options when it comes to accommodation. You can find everything from 5-star hotels to backpacker hostels. A friend of mine had a delightful experience staying at the Radisson Blu Hotel. Personally, I would opt for a hostel instead of a hotel as there are more opportunities for meeting new people.

A hostel is definitely the right choice if you are travelling solo as it helps you meet fellow travellers. It is a great way to make friends and find people to explore a new city with. I do not have any personal hostel recommendations for Kraków as I was CouchSurfing but there are certainly many great options all over the city.

Things to see:

Wawel Royal Castle

Located right next to the Vistula River, the castle is right in the centre of the city. You can find it at Wawel 5, 31-001 Kraków, Poland, atop Wawel Hill. Entrance to the courtyard is free however you must purchase tickets to view the exhibitions within the castle.

The Wawel Royal Castle is definitely a must-see in Kraków. Spend some time exploring this UNESCO World Heritage Site and get to know the rich history behind the beautiful castle. Did you know that there used to be a dragon living beneath the castle? The statue of the Wawel Dragon can be found at the foot of the hill, dedicated to the mythical creature.

Wawel Cathedral

The cathedral can also be found within the castle complex at Wawel 3, 31-001 Kraków, Poland. It is an operational catholic church and entry is free for the purpose of worship. If you wish to explore the entire cathedral as a tourist, however, you have to purchase a ticket.

The cathedral is my favourite part of the compound because of the fusion of different architectural styles. You can clearly see the Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and Romanesque influences come together in the structure. There were fires in the past which damaged sections of the castle and each time it was rebuilt, a new style was added on.

Rynek Główny

Kraków’s main market square is located in the old town at Rynek Główny, 31-422 Kraków, Poland. Historically, merchants used to gather here for business. There are many bars and restaurants in the area and it is a great place to chill out. Do check out the Cloth Hall and St. Mary’s Basilica which can also be found in the square.

St. Mary’s Basilica

The church is right next to the main square at plac Mariacki 5, 31-042 Kraków, Poland. It is functional so you can enter free for worship purposes but no photos will be allowed. The guards are very strict about this. As a tourist, you have to pay 10 złoty to enter and an extra 15 złoty if you wish to climb to the top.

Cloth Hall

The most prominent structure of the main market square, the Cloth Hall attracts many tourists. Just like olden times, there are two rows of stalls, only now they sell souvenirs. It is located at Rynek Główny 1/3, 31-042 Kraków, Poland. There is more to the main market square than meets the eye. Directly beneath it, is an underground museum which people often miss.

Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory

Oskar Schindler is well known for his attempts at saving Jewish people from death at concentration camps. This former factory has been transformed into a museum, showcasing the history of the Nazi occupation of Kraków. It cost me 26 złoty to enter the museum but it was well worth it. The museum was both interactive and captivating. It is located at Lipowa 4, 30-702 Kraków, Poland.

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Day Trips from Kraków:

Wieliczka Salt Mine

The salt mine is located in the small town of Wieliczka, not far from Kraków. It is easily accessible by bus. Take the 304 from the city centre and get off at the stop called Wieliczka Kopalnia Soli. It is roughly a 30-minute bus ride. Use the Jakdojade app to check exactly where you can get the bus from the city and when to alight. You can find the mine at Daniłowicza 10, 32-020 Wieliczka, Poland.

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I would dedicate half a day to a visit to the mine as the tour is approximately 3 hours long. The English tour which cost me 93 złoty was amazing. Although, a little more expensive than the Polish tours, definitely worth every penny. The guide spoke fantastic English and was extremely knowledgeable about the mine. She made sure we were all safe while having a good time.

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Initially, I had reservations about heading underground for so long but I enjoyed myself so much that I decided to stay on, even after my tour ended. The air down in the mine was fresher than the air we breathe every day, up above. The mine is famous for St. Kinga’s Chapel, the world’s biggest underground church.

I had been wanting to visit the mine ever since I heard about the chapel which is carved into the salt. Most of the mine, including all the sculptures pictured above, are made from salt. There are truly so many interesting facts to uncover about the mine. The Wieliczka Salt Mine is not to be missed.

Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camps

Viewer discretion is advised for the following pictures. These were taken at the former Nazi concentration camps. Some of the images are quite distressing. It was a truly dark part of human history but we must learn from it to ensure it never happens again.

There are two camps in the vicinity, Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau, located at Ofiar Niemieckiego Faszyzmu 12, 32-600 Brzezinka, Poland. They are situated in the town of Oświęcim, an hour drive from Kraków.

There are buses running from the main bus station in Kraków to Oświęcim throughout the day. You can purchase the ticket from the station itself. It cost me 13 złoty for a one-way ticket. The return ticket can be bought from the bus station at Oświęcim. Flixbus also operates this route so booking with them is another option.

Auschwitz I:

You can only enter the compound by joining a tour and I highly recommend it as the tour guides are extremely informative and well versed in the history of the place. The English tour costs 60 złoty and covers both camps, Auschwitz and Birkenau. You may need to store your bag at the lockers for a price of 4 złoty if it exceeds the allowed dimensions.

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The images above depict the possessions of the Jewish people which were left behind. The mounds of personal belongings send a grim message; the sheer number of people that died in the camps. There were some parts of the tour where you were not allowed to take photos, out of respect for those who lost their lives here.

There is a room filled entirely with human hair. The Nazis had removed the hair from the victims, intended for use as textiles. The tour of Auschwitz lasts about 2 hours followed by a 30-minute break before the 1-hour tour of Birkenau. A visit to the concentration camps can be quite overwhelming and is not recommended for kids.

Auschwitz II-Birkenau:

Birkenau is much bigger than Auschwitz and has a total of eight gas chambers. The camp is fenced by walls of barbed wire all around and within the camp, forming sections. One can only imagine what it was like to be in one of the camps, knowing you faced certain death. It was a sombre experience, getting to visit the death camps and learning about the pain and suffering, endured by the Jewish people.

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People living in the camps were subject to extremely poor living conditions and this was the small percentage of those who were not put to death immediately. People deemed as unfit by the Nazis were of no use to them and were exterminated upon arrival. It is estimated that around 1.1 million Jews had died there. The Nazis had industrialised killing.

I try to keep my trips light and have fun as much as I can but learning about the past is equally as important to me. What happened to the Jewish people under Nazi occupation was horrendous and such a thing should have never been allowed to happen but it did. This tragedy will forever stand out in human history. We must certainly learn from it and not make the same mistakes in the future.

Polish Favourites:

Zapiekanka

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Your trip to Kraków is not complete without trying Zapiekanka. The original Zapiekanka is a baguette, covered in mushrooms and cheese, toasted to perfection. Now a popular Polish street food with many variations and all kinds of toppings, this dish appeals to all ages. This colourful snack is packed with flavour and is absolutely delicious.

The rotunda in the Kazimierz district is the best place to get Zapiekanka. It is located at plac Nowy 4B, 31-056 Kraków, Poland. You can also find the best bars in town at Kazimierz. The rotunda is the perfect place to chill out and eat Zapiekanka after some drinks with friends. You can also eat Zapiekanka before drinks, whatever suits your fancy. Zapiekanka is an essential part of the Polish experience.

Pierogi

Coming from Singapore, I have had my fair share of dumplings at Chinese restaurants. It was interesting to try Central European dumplings. The ones I had were filled with cheese and were very tasty. What I ordered as a snack turned out to be a full meal. My taste buds were delighted.

Kraków had everything; rich heritage, awesome architecture, good food and a happening nightlife scene. Although I did not talk much about the nightlife in Kraków I did party quite a bit. The city has a vast selection of bars and clubs to choose from. Drinks are cheap too so don’t worry about breaking the bank.

I was in Kraków till the 10th of March 2020. 4-5 days is the ideal length for your stay as you do need to allocate some time for the Wieliczka Salt Mine and the Auschwitz concentration camp which are outside the city. The city itself has so much to offer and like me, you may find yourself wanting to extend your stay.

I am grateful to my hosts for the hospitality they showed me during my stay. I also ran into an old friend of mine and met some new ones during my visit. Thanks to the wonderful people I met, I had a great time in the city. I hope this inspires you to go check it out for yourself. See you in Kraków!