It's the medieval archway at the beginning of Floriańska Street. The one with the emblem of St…read more Florian who protects the city from fires and all harm. It was built into the defensive walls of the city. There was once a covered passageway leading to this gate from the outpost, or Barbican. It's where royalty and visiting leaders would meet before heading to the castle. It's probably where the young Habsburg prince entered the kingdom on his way to visit his intended bride-to-be, Jadwiga of Poland. He could have also been kicked out of Kraków from here. This gate has certainly seen a lot of historical moments. All of it is still there. It was more Gothic in nature until the Baroque period. That's when they added more architectural features to adorn it. There is also an altar in the middle of the archway. You'll see it as you're walking under the tower. It was a great meeting point for our Walkative tour of Old Town & Wawel Castle. I can't think of a better place to start than at the entrance to this beautiful city. There are musicians playing songs, and even art for sale along the the wall near the gate. It's a nicely preserved part of history that deserves a visit.

This is a basic must-see on any trip to Kraków; especially since it is free. Be sure to check out…read morethe high-quality artists displaying their paintings along the wall. You can sometimes get some phenomenal artwork at a very good price.

Hmm... Yelp has a separate listing for the Castle and the Cathedral. The Cathedral is on the castle…read moregrounds; you can't get there without going into the castle area. So... basically just do it all. The castle grounds are within solid brick walls. The main building is heavily art work and tapestries. The cathedral has some really creative tombs. I'll attach pictures - better than words. There's also a small cave that you can go through and see a dragon statue that breathes fire periodically. The cathedral and the cave cost a small amount. We got an English speaking tour guide for the castle which really helped us understand the history. Poland's been through some tough times and came out successful.

There's no way that you can stay in Kraków and not see Wawel Castle. It's the heart and soul of the…read morecity. A national treasure! The castle grounds, cathedral, and royal residences are all very impressive. You can spend as much time as you want up there taking in the views of the city and the castle complex. There's no admission fee to walk around the castle grounds. It's a small fee to enter the cathedral to see the exhibits, royal tombs, and the bell tower. There are separate fees to enter the residences and the museum. I didn't see any combo tickets offered to see everything. However, I believe you can purchase them online if you know exactly what you want to see on the day of your visit. We just bought our tickets at the cathedral ticketing office. There wasn't much of a wait in the afternoon on a weekday. We actually visited twice during our stay since our hotel was nearby. The first time was during a walking tour of Old Town. We decided to go back a 2nd time on our own to see the cathedral & gardens. It was a beautiful sunny day.

It's the medieval marketplace located in the middle of Old Town square. It originally started in…read morethe 13th century with uncovered vendors in wooden stalls selling cloth. The first covered building in the Gothic style was funded by King Casimir the Great in the 14th century. A fire in 1555 destroyed it, but then it was reconstructed in the Renaissance style. Today, it still has elements of both architectural styles. There are some plaques written in Latin, gargoyles with satirical faces, and female angelic figures that were added to the facade over the years. There's even a knife hanging down from the entrance on the side of St. Mary's Basilica. It's tied to a legend of the 2 brothers who built the church towers. There are some uncovered and restored advertisements near one of the archways. The building has a lot of character. There is a branch of the Museum of Kraków featuring 19th century Polish art that is located on the top level. It's closed on Mondays with free admission on Tuesdays. There is a restaurant called Café Szal that boasts beautiful views of the square. The shopping within the Cloth Hall is mostly souvenirs and touristy items. There were many tourists buying their goods. We had a better cultural experience at the Stary Kleparz market which had a little of everything (including food and wine). The Cloth Hall is still worth a visit, and shouldn't be missed.

The market square in Krakow is another must visit. The "bazaar" here is very interesting. Lots of…read morestores selling kitschy stuff, local goods and souvenirs. I did not buy anything but enjoyed the visit and looking around.

If you want to see a real, functioning synagogue then definitely pay the ~3 or 4 zl (?) entrance…read moreand have a look! You get to enter the synagogue itself (which understandably seems to be under constant restoration) and the cemetery next to it which is also an experience. The outer walls are mounted with old/broken gravestones post WW2 on the inside so it looks like a mozaic which I think is very unique.

One of the things that surprised me most was learning that the factory wasn't originally…read moreSchindler's. It began in 1937 as "Rekord," an enamelware factory founded by three Jewish businessmen before the German invasion. After Poland was occupied in 1939, the business was confiscated through the Nazi expropriation process and became Schindler's Deutsche Emailwarenfabrik (DEF). Schindler himself is a fascinating contradiction--a Nazi Party member and war profiteer who gradually risked everything to protect more than 1,000 Jewish men and women by employing them in his factory and shielding them from deportation. The exhibits are immersive, emotional, and incredibly well designed. Every room serves a purpose. By the time you reach Schindler's office, where the famous "list" was created, you understand that it wasn't just paper--it represented lives.

This is an extraordinary museum in Krakow. It really is much more than a museum about Oskar…read moreSchindler's life, the people he saved and the factory. It covers decades of history. You get to see Schindler's actual desk and some of the ceramic pots that were manufactured here. I definitely learned a lot about him. But the scope of the museum is much broader than just the factory. It goes into a lot of depth with what Schindler did to save Jewish people, the factory laborers, what happened in the Holocaust and basically decades of the Polish history surrounding it, building up to it, and why it happened, what happened in Krakow, etc. Everything is so detailed and well done and you could spend hours here because the exhibits are so multi faceted and there are so many videos and things to watch. Make sure to buy your tickets in advance. I was really lucky because I went off-season in the middle of the week and waited in line for about half an hour and was able to get tickets, but I don't think it's going to be that easy if you go in the summer at peak times. It's definitely worth visiting and it's so easy to get to from old town Krakow. It's walkable here from the old town, about 35 minutes. The area surrounding the museum is quite trendy and has some great art museums. There's actually a fabulous modern art museum attached to this museum. And there are all kinds of coffee shops and some interesting shops around the neighborhood. It was really a very deep and moving experience to visit this museum and I highly recommend it. Just try to get your tickets in advance if you can, otherwise go early in the morning and you probably will be able to get in if you wait in line during the mid week.

Located below Wawel Castle and Cathedral along a popular walkway next to the Vistula River was the…read morefire breathing statue of Smok the dragon. The statue was created from the legend of a dragon that lived below Wawel castle and terrorized the city. After sacrificing sheep or virgins to keep the dragon happy, it was finally defeated after it ate a ram filled with sulphur. While the ram smoldered inside, the dragon drank water from the river to put it out but instead blew itself up. You can see the blackened mouth of the dragon from its regular fire breathing. Luckily I happened to walk by as a crowd grew around Smok and within five minutes the flames started and lasted for around 10 or 15 seconds. I'm not sure if there was a regular schedule but worth seeing if you're in the area.

It's a popular attraction when walking along the Vistula River. I mean, how can you go to Kraków…read moreand not see Wawel Castle and its famous fire breathing dragon? Impossible! The dragon is a Polish legend. The story appears to be told differently each time. Was it slain by Prince Krakus, or by the town shoemaker? The plaque on the castle wall says it was Krakus, Prince of Poland. All I truly know is that this 7 headed dragon statue was created by Bronislaw Chromy in 1972. We were told it breathes fire every 10 minutes, but the timing of it varies. It was more in the range of 5 to 7 minutes apart. The dragon no longer takes text messages. That's right. It could no longer handle the mass texts commanding it to breathe fire. So, everyone just hangs around the dragon waiting for it to happen. It's actually kind of funny if you think about it. When it finally happens, everyone sighs or groans at the end. The event goes by so quickly. Be prepared to take a video of it. It doesn't look so impressive in a picture. It's just the novel thing to do when visiting Kraków. There's a tourist trappy attraction at the top of the castle hill called "Dragon's Den." Some will pay admission to walk down steps into the cave below the castle. It eventually leads you down to the dragon statue on the riverwalk. It may be cool for families with small children. We were happy just seeing it while walking to our hotel. It's enjoyable no matter what route you take to get there.

This is the open-air museum and memorial site that is formerly known as the KL Plaszow…read moreconcentration camp. It's a historical place that deserves a visit for deep reflection and remembrance of the horrific events that happened here. It's not as informative as other museums. I say this because there really isn't much left of it. The camp was burned down to destroy evidence of genocide before being liberated by the Red Army. It's now pretty much a nature preserve with some ruins, grave stones, and memorials. The only building left standing is the Grey House. Even today, it still looks ominous when viewing it from the street corner. I think they are planning to convert that building into a museum. I didn't see any such activity when we were there. There are museum boards with descriptions that include a map of where you are when reading it. What I didn't know was that this was once a Jewish cemetery. The funeral home ruins are still there near the Grey House. There is one grave left standing from that cemetery that appears to be restored. It is the grave of Sara Schenirer who founded the House of Jacob School for Jewish Girls. The original stone was destroyed when the camp was built. The funeral stones from the cemetery were used to pave the roads all around the camp. The roll-call grounds where prisoners were lined up and counted is the main grassy area lined by a gravel walkway. It's eerily silent and peaceful there. I can't explain the feeling. You just have to experience it. There's a memorial statue at the top of the hill. We didn't get to see it while at the site, but we did get a great view of it from the highway on our way back to Old Town. It's a solemn and fitting memorial to the victims of Plaszow. Check it all out when visiting Schindler's Enamel Factory building. It's not too far of a walk. You'll also pass by the ghetto wall remnants on your way there.

The Wawel Cathedral was the highlight of a visit to Wawel Castle and grounds…read more Outside was an impressive view and more than the castle itself. Tickets were purchased across from the cathedral entrance. Admission included a climb up to the bell tower, crypts and the separate Archdiocesan Museum. When climbing the stairs up to the entrance make sure to check out the huge bone hanging above to the left. Maybe a whale or purported dragon bone. Inside was ornate and full of royal or VIP tombs as expected. Not all chapels were open for visitors that day but St JPII's one was a popular stop eventhough it was empty. The royal crypts were accessible but not the crypt holding many of Poland's famous poets or authors. It was under renovation until the end of March. The climb up Sigismund tower was narrow at times but does open up to a decent size room with Krakow city views from two sides. Lots of closeups with the various bells. Traffic jams do happen on the way up when a tour group beats you in so be prepared for slow progress. The crypts were brightly lit and held the remains of a US Revolutionary War general and other military heroes, a Polish President and First Lady, and of course royals. It was brightly lit and well organized. Mass was held regularly and open to the public. You have to let the security guard in the front know you want to attend and he will go over the rule of attendance. Seating was limited and visitors not allowed to wander in the cathedral before or after.

It's the cathedral at Wawel Castle. If anything, visit it to learn about the Polish Kings and to…read moreclimb up to Sigismund Tower. It is said that touching the heart of Sigismund Bell will bring you good luck. We were told that it will bring you marriage. One husband is enough for me. Haha! There are 5 bells in the tower, so be sure that you're touching the right one. This is also the cathedral where Father Wojtyła (Pope John Paul II) celebrated his very first Holy Mass at the crypt of St. Leonard. I would have taken a picture of it, but they don't allow photography in the cathedral with the exception of the bell tower. I was only able to snap one of the informational signs next to the tomb of King Władysław II Jagiełło (former Duke of Lithuania) before being told it's not allowed. He was married to King Jadwiga of Poland. Yes, female monarchs held the title of "King" in those times. Isn't this the first diarcy in history? It's my first time reading about 2 Kings ruling over a country. He became the sole King of Poland after her death from complications after childbirth. Did you know that she was only 12 years old when they married in 1836? Apparently, it wasn't controversial at the time. The only controversy was regarding her previous marriage or unmarriage to the 14 year old William of Austria (Habsburg Dynasty). Was it consummated, or not? We'll never know because he was expelled out of Poland. All controversy aside, she did a lot of good for the Polish people during her 15 year reign. You'll get to see her tomb in the cathedral, and many others. It's a beautiful cathedral, and well-worth the small entrance fee. The ticket office is in a separate building near the entrance. We purchased an individual ticket without the tour option. I didn't think it was needed since the most important parts had description markers. Don't forget to take pictures of the dragon bones hanging at the entrance on your way in. You will exit through a different path that takes you through more crypts on your way out. It's a part of Kraków's history that shouldn't be missed.

Yelp Review 2023 #280:…read more A square in Podgorze with 30 plus chairs right next to Eagle Pharmacy. People taking pictures (so was I), children running around and trying to sit on every single one, influencers influencing I don't know what and how. I tried to count all the chairs but there was too much chaos. Plac Bohaterow Getta (Ghetto Heroes Square) used to be a bustling market called Zgody Square. Then, the Nxxis came and changed all that. It became a square for publicly dehumanizing and taking lives of Jewish people or be sent on a train to one of 3 concentration camps in Poland - depending if you're fit enough to work or not. Until the streets were empty. Those that tried to hide were caught and were not spared. So what are these chairs doing in this square? Why not use something easier to understand to symbolize what happened here? Each chair is supposed to represent thousands of lives that were lost during the Holocaust. Like things that were of no value to Nxxis: furniture, clothes, pictures, anything that's not a precious metal or stone - thrown away. Certain people and their lives were devalued and discarded - no care for humanity at all. Empty.

We all know of the horrors that began in these Ghettos and Krakow's Ghetto was no exception…read more There's not a lot left of the Ghetto today, from what I could tell there are no markers as to where the boundaries were or anything but it's clear there wasn't a lot of space. You can also visit Schindler's Factory and read all about the war and how it affects Krakow. Getta Square is also a good place to visit to see the memorial. Getta Square is a very important place to visit when you're walking about Krakow's Ghetto. There is a simple yet effective memorial in the square - a collection of chairs marking those who were walled in and who died during the horrific event that was WWII. I would definitely recommend checking it out, but read up on the significance of the square before you go as there isn't a lot of information around to explain the significance of the chairs etc.

Frankly there is something special in this part of the St. Thomas Street, something that has an…read moreinstant appeal. I was walking there couple of days ago and was wondering how to write in review about the place everyone knows. Attracted by to the palm tree I immediately turned towards it and keeping in my memories Arrete de la Palm in Napoli, where I used to live, was wondering why this place looks so beautiful. I think the colours and feelings I have in me, made me to describe the place as experience more than historical buildings. Maybe the fact that that this is one of only few crooked streets in the whole Krakow's Old Town or may be its doubtful past? In last two hundred years the location housed iron-worker shop, blacksmith shop, brothel, then made it to the movie business as a setting for the film later converted to an art gallery.... Quite a story and this is without even mentioning largely unknown but certainly "colorful" past from its deep Middle-Ages origins. Uneven surfaces in pink or dark reddish colours, little rickety tables with beautiful chairs visibly touched by the hand of time, old wooden wardrobe, leave no doubt that you entered a different world. Charming "Fin de siècle" ambiance is created by tiny bit of everything. It is not the place for food-devouring feast. It is a place for having one of local alcoholic drinks -It is a place to treat yourself with one good meal. It is a cool meeting spot, a place for hanging out, place to watch people, to breath the atmosphere (may be slightly spoiled by cigarettes' smoke, but still quite bearable!- just one puff...), read foreign daily newspapers offered free on the premises (if you are really wondering what's going on... ''The small table perched in the recessed window is a fabulous place for two... It is a dream place for a romantic "tête-à-tête" with your loved one. Just imagine a late evening winter time, a glimmering candlelight softens shapes of everything around, warmness spreads from the wood burning stove in the corner.... and behind the window the best of the winter in town - a joyful dance of falling snowflakes. Who will resist the charm of such place?'' - quoted amazing words... :) There are also two summer gardens. One, located on the Unfaithful Thomas Lane and shared. The second one isolated in the courtyard at the back of the Café Camelot is a perfect place to enjoy your journey to the past. It is so peaceful here yet still so close to the Krakow's Main Market Square. Occasionally, this garden holds an open-air movie shows. Café-Camelot/ Cherubino/Dym/Loch Camelot- big names of Krakow's social life- used to be located here. But in a way - this name perfectly reflects the spiritually cosmopolitan and somehow decadent nature of the Café Camelot and in general that of the recessed corner of the St. Thomas Street ..... Defo I need inspiration to write :)