KRAKOW - TOP 5 REASONS TO VISIT

Krakow – based in the south of Poland - is without a doubt one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It hosts a vibrant atmosphere, wonderful architecture, cheap prices and a deep history. This travel blog will highlight the top reasons to visit and why it has become one of the top city break destinations. The prices and costs of what is talked about will also be intertwined throughout!

History

Krakow has an extensive history with much of it being incredibly dark. One of the most prominent features overarching the city is the Wawel castle. This castle was erected in the 13^th century to serve the Polish Kings. This majestic castle is free to visit around the grounds but to go inside to visit the museum you must pay. An interesting fact is that Krakow was once the city capital, however this changed back in 1596 when it was passed to the current capital – Warsaw. However, the most important, yet dark, history stems from the second world war. Poland experienced a great amount of suffering with the country being invaded just 5 days in to the world war. The Nazis came over and forced the Jewish residents into a ghetto and later transferred them to concentration camps like Auschwitz. Today the remains of Auschwitz are open to visitors. One shimmer of light that emerged in the war was the story of Oskar Schindler. Oskar Schlinder was a Nazi leader that used his rank as a camouflage to protect the Jewish people from the death camps. He brought them into his factory to work instead of being sent to the camps to perish, saving over 1000 lives. The film Schinders list featuring Liam Neeson highlights the story effectively and is a must watch before visiting. Today you can visit the museum and tickets coast around £13. If you are interested in history it is a must visit.

The Price

One of the main reasons to visit Krakow is the price. If you are on budget looking for a cheap city break then Krakow serves as a great choice. In terms of booking flights, websites like Jet2Holidays, Expedia, lastminute.com are all suitable choices. A package from Expedia including flights, luggage, Hotel and transfers can be around the £135 mark for three nights. However it is important to note that this price range is for a three to four star total and it is possible to find packages for as little as £80. The cost of food and drink is also a brilliant selling point. Restaurants are extremely cheap and whilst they can be more expensive in the main square, even the central restaurants offer good value. The Beers typically cost between £1.50 to £2 a Pint and the Restaurants cater to all budgets with many fast food options on the lower scale. Trying the street food is also a great way to cut costs with filled bagels for around about £1.50!

Salt Mines

One of the most unique and exciting tourist destinations in Krakow has to be the “Wieliczka” Salt Mine. This Mine has witnessed over nine centuries of salt extraction creating a labyrinth of corridors and chambers. Many miners and artists having crafted sculptures which are truly astonishing. The whole experience holds many surprises and is a must see! To get there it is around 12km from the city centre and tickets are easy to buy online for around £30.

Food and Drink

Krakow offers a fantastic selection of Polish food and drink. Some of the must-try foods include: Pierogi: A pierogi is a filled dumpling that is typically filled with cooked potatoes, white cheese and stir fried onion.  Next is the Zapiekanka: This is pizza like baguette that is extremely tasty, filling and best of all cheap! Another is the Obwarzanek: This is a braided ring-shaped product made with twisted strands of dough. These are sold in many of the bakeries and offer an affordable and tasty lunch option. Moving to drinks, trying the polish vodka is something that is worth a shot (excuse the pun). During my stay I was able to try the selection of polish vodka flavours that are offered in many of the restaurants. The taste is good and very cheap! All standards drinks like beer, wine, cocktails are also available with the local stuff being the cheapest. 

The Main Square

Right in the heart of Krakow is the main market square based in the Old town. This square is the largest medieval plaza in Europe and was designed back in 1257. Featuring in the centre of the square is the striking Cloth Hall. Within lies a hub of market stands that sell a range of items from clothing, souvenirs and ornaments. The square also has many open air bars and restaurants that are heated during the winter. If you go during the Christmas period, a wonderful Christmas market opens up here to.  It offers mulled wine, great food and fantastic decorations.

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