Krakow Travel Guide
Travel guide to Krakow, Poland with comprehensive information about events, shopping, and major Krakow sporting events to help you enjoy your visit more.
Krakow Overview
Krakow is one of the largest, and the oldest, cities in Poland, situated in a beautiful area on the banks of the River Vistula and at the base of Wawel Hill.
The city has been here in one form or another since the 4th century, as being located in a prime location it has been an obvious area to develop. It stood as the Polish capital until 1596, when that mantle was passed to Warsaw due to problems that forced the royals to move. This wonderful history as left the city with a wonderful legacy though, possessing as it does some of the best architecture in Europe.
It is also quoted as Poland's capital of culture, being home to one of the best museums in the country, the Krakow National Museum, as well as some of the best theatres, where the very best of the arts can be appreciated in all their glory.
Krakow is also home to a great number of high quality pubs, clubs and restaurants. There are so many that many people will simply jump from one to another, and it isn't far to jump. In the summertime the bars will have tables outside and the whole street will feel like one big bar, whilst in the winter, when the snow is falling, the bars use their cellars to accommodate everyone. It is a place to enjoy above all, and that spirit is engendered by the locals as well as the visitors.
Top Krakow Attractions
The Old City is where most of the city's best buildings can be found and is a lovely place to spend some time. There is Wawel Castle, the old home of the Polish royals though it is a museum now and well worth a visit to see how they lived all those years ago. Right in the heart of the Old City is Rynek Glowny, the main marketplace. It is a beautiful medieval square surrounded by churches, restaurants and bars.
Shopping in Krakow
The visiting shopper has lots of choice in Krakow. The Old City is where the smaller shops and markets can be found, with a good range of antique shops and also an array of fashion retailers, with some pretty smart boutiques. Moving away from the Old City the larger supermarkets can be found along with the new malls that are springing up. The biggest and best is Galeria Kazimierz.
Krakow Sporting Events
Football, as with most cities, is particularly important, with the main side here being Wisla Krakow, who are quite dominant in the Polish League and well known around Europe, mainly through the UEFA Cup. More general sports and pastimes are also enjoyed, swimming in the many public pools in particular, along with jogging and cycling.
