Krakow In Your Pocket
Mały Rynek; photo by Paweł Krzan, krakow4u.pl I am ready to admit that the very appearanceOf this ancient city is a joy to all people.Its folk are worthy of praise and all things aboundThere, from markets to shrines to Almighty God.You will gather tidings from foreign countries hereAnd you will meet a wayfarer who has come from afar.Above the city the hill and towers of Wawel riseWhilst the noisy waters of the River Vistula flow.So the poet Klemens Janicki wrote of Kraków in 1542, though the aspiring poets of today (if there still were such a thing) might just as easily compose the same verses upon a visit to the city 471 years later. Pretty much all Janicki left out is the ‘sweet mead that stirs the men to fill every basement tavern with boisterous song, and the waxen-haired women whose flawless beauty and famous charms they sing of.’ Indeed the summer can be a dangerous time to visit Kraków for those intending to leave again, as the formidable confluence of rising temperatures and hemlines, plus a full calendar of
cultural events, all conspire to keep you from catching your flight home. This guide is basically an instruction manual explaining what to do when that happens and why you shouldn’t be upset when it does.
If this is your first time in Kraków, you’re a little late to the party (we’ve already been here for 14 years, by comparison), but we’re glad you could join us. It’s no accident that Kraków has become Poland’s number one tourist destination. This dame has it all, from high breeding and good looks to cultural clout and an up-for-anything attitude. Endowed with the most voluptuous
market square in Europe, an
ancient riverside castle and atmospheric former
Jewish district, it’s no surprise that the city centre was added wholesale to UNESCO’s first-ever list of world wonders back in 1978. While your camera will certainly get a workout, so will your liver once it lights upon the highest density of
bars and pubs to be found anywhere in the world.
Once again we’ve done a thorough refreshing of our print guide for summer time, and we strongly encourage you to
download the full pdf. As always, here you’ll find all the most honest, unbiased and meticulously up-to-date information on the city’s best and worst
dining establishments,
drinking holes and
dance parties, plus what to do and see in between. It’s our pleasure keeping this guide up-to-date and we hope you’ll put it to good use. As always, leave us your comments online,
like us on Facebook
(
facebook.com/krakowinyourpocket), and let us know how you fared at editor_poland@inyourpocket.com. We love it when you do that.
A Bit About Kraków to Begin
A city forged in battle, war, conquest and fate, Kraków is in many respects the most Polish of all this great nation’s cities. The ancient seat of kings and intelligentsia comes steeped in legend and myth, and evokes the most fanciful of images, from
dragons occupying the catacombs of
Wawel, to
Tartar hordes repelled at the gates, to
pigeon-knights waiting for their King to return. Kraków’s postcard-perfect
Old Town comes complete with Europe’s largest market square and even a fairy-tale
castle overlooking the river. Architecturally it can easily match any European city arch for arch, spire for spire, monument for monument, gargoyle for gargoyle. In fact, UNESCO may have set the bar too high for itself when it started its inaugural World Heritage list by adding Kraków’s Old Town and
Kazimierz districts wholesale in 1978 (from what we can tell, that bar has since been lowered). Miraculously preserved and majestically restored, today the city’s architectural monuments house countless
museum collections of priceless art and artefacts, and, if local legend is to be believed, the
highest density of bars and clubs in the world. Kraków is also home to one of Europe’s oldest academic centres.
Jagiellonian University occupies some of the most historic buildings in the centre, in addition to providing the life blood for the litany of
nightlife options we list.
Poland’s most charming city has been charmed indeed, emerging from World War II as the only major Polish city that wasn’t reduced to rubble. As a result, Kraków didn’t have the downtown real estate to accommodate the enormous concrete apartment blocks that were built during the communist era in so many other cities. Instead, those were consigned to the pre-planned soviet-realist suburb of
Nowa Huta, whose concrete conurbations are only a time travelling tram ride away. The district of
Kazimierz - once home to one of the most important Jewish communities in the world - is also enjoying a renaissance, while on the other side of the river, once-neglected
Podgórze - known as the former site of the
Jewish Ghetto and
Schindler's Factory - has also become an essential part of the tourist trail. Our meticulously researched and continuously updated website features all the info you could possibly need on
what to see and do around town.
As dusk descends the city becomes a haven for hedonists. As you will no doubt learn for yourself, it is all too easy to descend the stairs into one of the Gothic cellar bars, and emerge at daybreak missing both your memory and friends. On these pages you’ll find everything you need to know about Kraków’s restaurants, pubs, clubs and hotels.
Latest Krakow Comments:
The Wawel Chakra
I had no idea what the fuss was, but I went in the corner and felt this amazing vibration that disappeared when I stepped away....Milkbar Tomasza
Great place to go for a quick bite, clean good service and Tom was helpful, I would recomend this place for a cheap alternative to spending a small fortune in some other places for a light bit to eat....Czerwone Korale
We spent a very nice evening in CZERWONE KORALE, cute, cozy place where one wants to go back.We ate chicken soup, cabbage soup, dumplings with meat and stew with potato slices....Kitsch
One of the best clubs in Cracow...Kitsch
One of the best clubs in Cracow. Opens at 1.00 p.m. and goes on till the last customer. Two bars, big dance floor, lots of young people having fun, and location – 10 minutes walk from the Main Market Square, on the way to another party hub – Kazimierz....InVito Pizza & Pasta
Very good pizza and nice prices. Big portions !...Wisła Krakow
always try to watch a game when i visit Krakow....really enjoy the atmosphere although it's not wise to go in any other football shirt....Red House
Yes the house is for sale. I informed a number of Jewish organisations about this via email and through friends, but never heard another back....Public Transport
If you have a valid ISIC card, yes, you can buy a reduced price ticket. You just need to have the card with you in case you get inspected on the bus or tram....Public Transport
I am a student but I am 30. I have an ISIC card. Will I be able to buy student price tickets with it...Massolit Books & Café
I love this place. Last time I was there they had strawberry-rhubarb pie. Outstanding!...Mostowa Art Cafe
The homemade Pigwówka is dangerously good. All the vodkas we sampled were, which makes it a problem to stop trying them....Resto Bar Kipi
About that burger: The curiously unassuming 'Kipi Burger' is actually a breaded, seasoned chicken cutlet sliced in half and stuffed with things you'd usually find as 'toppings' (tomato, pickles, onions), topped with lettuce, bacon and sauce, and bunned....Kitsch
Kitsch wraz ogródkami letnim oraz klubem Caryca i klubo-kawiarnią Domek , znajdują się przy ulicy Dajwór 16 na Krakowskim Kazimierzu (stare miasto) - niedaleko Rynku Gł....Classical and Film Music at St. Peter & Paul’s Church
Brilliant musicians in a wonderful acoustic venue, well worth the coin....