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Get a glimpse 

Krakow – known as the Royal City, Cultural Capital of Poland, Second Prague, Rome of Northern Europe... No wonder, that recently it has become one of the world's travel hotspots and is still booming. It attracts visitors with the variety of the cultural and historical heritage, countless cafes, good jazz clubs, and the really unique atmosphere! This is the most often filmed city in Poland, where every 5th citizen is a student. This tourists friendly city gives you numerous options of spending time – you can come for one week going sightseeing 24h, but you can also spend all this time just sipping beer in one of the local cafes enjoying the beauty of the city and getting relaxed...

Royal Capital City

Krakow till the turn of the 16th and the 17th c. was the capital of the Polish Kingdom and the centre of state power. The majestic Wawel Hill in the Krakow's Old Town has become the symbol of the royal history of the city and is one of the most important historical sites in Poland. Here you can admire the magnificent renaissance Royal Castle and the Cathedral, the main coronation and the burial church of the Polish kings. Although administration centre of Poland was moved to Warsaw (Warszawa) in the beginning of the 17th century, the official name of the city still reminds us about its hay day: Royal Capital City Krakow.

Krakow on UNESCO

Krakow was luckily never destroyed by the German Nazis during World War II (in contradiction to most of the big Polish cities) and today is known as one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe. For this reason in 1978 it entered UNESCO World Heritage List together with the first twelve sites in the world that were chosen by the UNESCO Commette! The landmark of Krakow is the largest medieval square in Europe (200m x 200m) that till today is the living heart of the city. One of the most unique values of Krakow is its medieval urbain plan (the square and the paralell streets) that dates back to the middle of the 13th century.

Cultural Capital of Poland

Krakow is often called the cultural capital of Poland. It is the seat of various cultural institutions, countless museums (among them the biggest museum in Poland – The National Museum of Krakow) and well known festivals, e.g. the Jewish Festival (the biggest such event in Europe), International Festival of Street Theatres, International Festival of Organ Music, Misteria Paschalia, Jazz Festival. All year around there are exhibitions, concerts and performances organized.  The best time to enjoy Krakow's cultural life however is summer - from May till October. Whenever you come to Krakow – there is no chance to get bored!

Attention! Dragon!

Dragon has become an unofficial symbol of Krakow – walking around the Main Square you can find hundreds of them in the souvenirs shops. Once upon a time there was a dragon living in Krakow (in a cave in the Wawel Hill). This very cruel and fussy beast used to eat only the virgins... All the dare devils were eaten as well! And there was no one left to kill it! Luckily one day a tricky shoemaker appeared in Krakow. He bought a lamb, staffed its belly with sulfure and threw it into the cave of the dragon. The beast ate it immediately and it got so thirsty because of poisonous sulfure, that it started drinking the Vistula river. And it was drinking, drinking, and it drunk so much that suddenly blew out!

Da Vinci in Krakow

Visiting Krakow don't miss the famous Czartoryski Museum, where one of the best portraits that were ever painted Lady with an Ermine by Leonardo da Vinci is kept! It is a portrait of Cecila Gallerani, the mistress of Lodovico Sforza, the duke of Milan, painted around 1492. It took ages to solve the riddle of an animal hold by the beautiful lady portrayed. The Ermine is probably the symbol of the relationship between the lovers (the two had a romantic love affair) and aludes to both. The name Gallerani contains a Greek word galle what means ermine. The White Ermine (Bianco Ermellino) was the nickname of Lodovico Sforza. The Lady with an Ermine is the only painting painted by da Vinci kept in Poland! It is not only an outstanding piece of art, but also milestone in the development of the modern portraiture.

Rome of Northern Europe

Krakow is definitely the city of churches (today more than 100!). All of them are the great treasures of art pieces! No wonder, that in the past it used to be called by the travellers Rome of Northern Europe. Lots of the churches have become well known pilgrimage centres for the miraculous icons or relics of the Saints buried there. The Shrine of Divine Mercy in Łagiewniki, where St. Sister Faustina was buried is visited today by thousands pilgrims from all over the world. Religious heritage is an important part of the history of Krakow – till today it is has the largest number of the monasteries and convents that are still active in Poland.

City of John Paul II

Krakow was the favourite city of Karol Wojtyla, later the famous Polish Pope John Paul II. He moved here from his home town Wadowice in 1938 to study at the Jagiellonian University. He stayed in Krakow for 40 years, till he was elected the Pope in 1978. All the places significant for his life and mission form the special Route of John Paul II. Each building on this Route is marked with a triangle plaque with the bishop's crosier. The route extends in all Krakow region (Malopolska), following his favourite lanes in the Beskidy and the Tatra Mountains, and goes through the local shrines and places that had an impact on his life and teaching.

Jewish City

Before World War II Poland was the largest Jewish Community in Europe, inhabited then by about 3,5 million Jews. 65 thousands where living in Krakow, where till today you can retrace the splendid Jewish culture – although without Jews. The former Jewish town Kazimierz is one of the most popular tourist destinations and has become world famous thanks to the movie The Schindler's List made here by Steven Spielberg. In Kazimierz you can still get the spirit of the old fashioned Jewish life – with old synagogues (Old, Remuh, Izaak's Synagogues), prayers' houses or tiny coble stoned streets. Don't miss Szeroka Street, the heart of the Jewish Quarter and Plac Nowy lined with numerous cafes, centre of Krakow's nightlife!

Oskar Schindler in Krakow

Oskar Schindler came to Krakow in the begging of the World War II in hope to make a good business. He bought the factory where he employed Jews as cheap labour force. Later on he grew up to the decision of saving 1200 Jews working in his factory. Today in Krakow you can retrace this famous story seeing the sites of Holocaust, the places connected with Oskar Schindler and these, where the movie The Schindler's List was made by Spielberg. They all form so called Schindler's Route, whose highlights are: Szeroka Street in Kazimierz, ghetto area, Schindler's Factory and the site of the concentration camp in Plaszow.

Communist Paradise

To get the complete idea of historical and cultural heritage of Krakow one should see Nowa Huta district, built by Stalin after 1948 as the ideal Communist Paradise with the huge Lenin's Steelwork and the housing estates for the thousands of workers. It has become the symbol of the post war history of Poland and its struggle for the independence under the communist regime. Today Nowa Huta is a popular tourist destination and the only place in Krakow you can still get the spirit of the communism. It is one of the best examples of the communist (socrealistic) city planning and architecture preserved in Poland!

City of Students

Krakow is the seat of the oldest University in Poland, the Jagiellonian University, established by the King Kazimierz the Great in 1364. It was the second old University in Eastern Europe (after Prague's one). Nowadays there are several universities in Krakow and about 130 thousand students! Every sixth citizen of the city is a student...  No wonder that the city is famous not only as the great educational centre but also for its nightlife... The oldest buildings of the Jagiellonian University are located in the Old Town area. Walking there don't miss the beautiful courtyard of Collegium Maius, the oldest university building!

The city of mounds

The green mounds have become the part of Krakow's tradition. There are five of them and they all commemorate national heroes or... the legendary ones. The most famous is the Mound Of Krakus who is said to be the first legendary prince of Krakow and this who defeated the local Dragon... It was erected the 7th century and probably was a kind of temple or part of the solar calendar built here by the local tribes. Close to the centre there is also Mound of Kościuszko commemorating the national hero, built in 1825. Both of the mounds are the perfect places to admire the view of Krakow!