Krakow: Poland’s Beautiful Second-City

Overflowing with churches, museums, and historical sites, Krakow is the city to visit if you want to capture Europe’s culture through photography. The second largest city and one of the oldest in Poland, Krakow is pretty easy to explore. You just need to familiarize yourself with its key sights and activities.

MUST-DO ACTIVITIES IN KRAKOW

Explore the Main Market Square

Also known as the Old Town Square, the city center is filled with quaint little cafes, colorful market stalls, and charming houses. Be sure to snap a few shots of the Cloth Hall glowing in its majestic glory. It is one of the city’s most recognizable icons, and the central feature of the main market square in Kraków’s Old Town. It’s one of the many sights you wouldn’t want to miss when documenting your trip. You might want to have your photos printed to a travel photo book to bring back those amazing memories.

Listen to a live folk band when you get a chance. Grab a drink at one of the pubs, literally stop to smell the flowers (there are a lot of them lined up at the stalls on the streets). And, if you fancy an old-school carriage ride, hop on one to tour the area for a minimal fee.

Visit Museums on No-Entrance-Fee Days

Another money-saving tip when exploring Krakow: visit museums on the days when they don’t require an entrance fee. This will allow you to breathe in more of the town’s history without shelling out too much cash.
Here are the scheduled free days of the museums around the area:

Monday

Museum Name	What’s in Store for You	Time	Address
Rynek Underground	I think this is interesting, as it shows the trail of Kraków’s European identity throughout time.	Open between 10 am and 8 pm	Rynek Główny 1
The crypt of the Church of St. Adalbert	St. Adalbert is the oldest church in Kraków.	10 am to 4 pm	Plac Mariacki
Schindler’s Factory	Modern museum devoted to the wartime experiences	10 am to 2 pm; closed on the first Monday of the month	Lipowa 4
Pharmacy “Under the Eagle”	Tells of the role of the pharmacy in Ghetto	10 am to 2 pm	Plac Bohaterow Ghetto 18
Old Synagogue (Jewish Museum)	Jewish artifacts	10 am to 2 pm	Szeroka 24
Wawel Castle and Cathedral	Magnificent white “pearl of the Renaissance,” tomb of Queen Jadwiga, 1470 Russian murals, and many more	From April to September 30th from 9 am to 5 pm; October to March from 9 am to 4 pm	Wawel 3

Tuesday

Museum Name	What’s in Store for You	Time	Address
University Museum Collegium Maius	Generic exhibits in the library and assembly hall	Tuesdays from April to October: 3 pm to 6 p.m. (5:20 pm – last tour) Tuesdays from November to March: 2 pm to 4 pm (3.20 pm – last tour)	ul. Jagiellonska 15
MOCAK Museum The Museum of Contemporary Art	Museum tours in Polish and English	Up to 6 pm	Right next to the Schindler’s Museum
Polish Aviation Museum	Old aircraft and aircraft engines in Kraków, Poland	9 am to 7 pm	Aleea Jana Pawla II

Wednesday

Museum Name	What’s in store for you	Time	Address
Botanical Garden	5,000 plant species (both exotic and native) and 300-year-old Jagiellonian Oak	10 am to 2 pm; also free on Fridays	ul. Copernicus 27
The Hipolit House	Garden and bourgeois house	9 am to 4 pm	Mariacki 3

Thursday and Saturday

Museum Name	What’s in Store for You	Time	Address
Wawel Castle and Cathedral	Magnificent white “pearl of the Renaissance”, tomb of Queen Jadwiga, 1470 Russian murals, and many more	Monday-Saturday, 9 am to 4 pm; Sundays and Holidays 12:30 to 4 pm	Wawel 3

Sunday

Museum Name	What’s in Store for You	Time	Address
Bishop Erasmus Ciolek Palace	Vintage art, from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance to the Baroque	10 am to 4 pm	ul. Kanonicza 17
The Arsenal – Czartoryski Museum – the Gallery of Ancient Art	Mummies, part of the Book of the Dead, and interesting exhibits about ancient Egypt	10 am to 4 pm	ul. Pijarska 8
National Kraków Museum	Interesting facts about Krakow	10 am to 4 pm	al. 3 Maja
Jan Matejko Museum	Various paintings	10 am to 4 pm	ul. Florianska 41
Sukienicce Museum on the 2nd floor: The Gallery of 19th century Polish Art	19th-century Polish painting and sculpture	10 am to 6 pm	Rynek Główny 3

Attend a Concert

In the 1930s, the Jewish community thrived in Poland. Although the landscape has changed since then, the Jewish tradition lives on. Experience this aspect of Polish culture by attending a Klezmer dinner concert. Here, you’ll get serenaded by authentic Jewish music and taste authentic Jewish cuisine. You wouldn’t want to leave Krakow without experiencing a Jewish concert.

Visit Forum Przestrzenie

Marked by signs of brutalist architecture, Forum Przestrzenie is now a hit venue for all things creative like workshops, music, fashion, and food, fairs, club organized events, concerts, and many more. If you’re young or young at heart, or just want to go to a hip place to soak up creative energy, go to Forum Przestrzenie.

When exploring Europe, don’t just limit yourself to popular destinations. Try visiting Poland, and discover hidden gems tucked within its quiet and vast lands.

Written by staff for EuropeUpClose.com and sponsored by Adoramapix