I’ve always wanted to visit Poland in some capacity and after finally making it to Krakow, I can honestly say it exceeded every expectation I had. It’s easily one of my favourite European city breaks so far.
I visited from the 7th to the 11th this month. The first thing that struck me was how warm and welcoming the place felt. We met so many lovely people, both locals and fellow travellers and one of the best parts of the trip was the number of new friends I made. I’m still in touch with several of them and we’re already planning to meet up again, which made the trip feel even more special.
The food was another highlight. I absolutely loved the pierogi and I don’t think you can visit Poland without trying as many varieties as possible. The fact the city is still relatively affordable compared with much of Europe made the experience even better.
Nightlife was amazing. A lot of the bars I visited reminded me of Berlin and Budapest yet still maintained its own identity. For example, Pub Pod Ziemia, a cellar rock karaoke bar which I frequented every night and met a lot of interesting people each time. Bars like Singer, Alchemia and Eszeweria that are cosy bars for all demographics, then you had the grittier bars such as Propaganda and Cafe Szafe. Those were just some I explored. If you want a good bar crawl, this is the place for it.
There’s also so much to see and do. From wandering around the beautiful Old Town and Main Market Square, admiring St. Mary’s Basilica, exploring the Jewish Quarter in Kazimierz and visiting Wawel Castle, I never felt short of things to fill my days with.
One of my biggest recommendations would be the Wieliczka Salt Mine. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect beforehand but seeing the underground chambers, sculptures and incredible salt-carved interiors was an experience in itself. It’s absolutely worth making time for if you visit.
Overall, Krakow has everything I look for in a city break: history, great food, brilliant nightlife, affordability and genuinely lovely people. I came to experience Poland for the first time and left with fantastic memories, new friendships and every intention of coming back to explore more of the country.
Locations:
1. Main Market Square at sunset
2. Main Market Square/Town Hall Tower
3. Wieliczka Salt Mine
4. St. Mary’s Basilica interior
5. Wawel Royal Castle
6. Wawel Dragon Statue
7. Father Bernatek Bridge
8. St. Florian’s Gate
9. St. Mary’s Basilica/Adam Mickiewicz Monument
10. Krakow Pinball Museum
11. Grunwald Monument
12. Cafe Szafe
13. Eszeweria, Kazimierz
14. Grodzka Street