Cracow guide

The Nowa Huta Meadows were founded around an oxbow lake, split from the Wisła in the Middle Ages, as part of the fields and meadows neighbouring Krakow. In the 1950s, it was planned for the area now occupied by the Nowa Huta Meadows to be turned into a massive artificial recreational lake, which now forms an integral part of today's so-called Old Nowa Huta. Nowadays, the Meadows are home to more than 370 species of flowering plants, including rare, protected Early Marsh Orchids, Pink Maidens and Valerian. 37 bird species also make their nests there

Rynek Underground is the newest branch of the Krakow Museum, open for visitors since 2010. It enjoys great popularity among tourists as one of its main attractions. And rightly it is. In fact, the exhibition appeals equally to children, teenagers and adults. It is a huge space hidden about 5 metres under the Main Square, filled with multimedia: steam screens, touch screens, holograms and sound effects. This modern technology is not meant to be an attraction in itself, but to complement the story of a guide through the Rynek Underground. And the guide will take you to an extraordinary world, the world of medieval Cracow, where you will feel as if you were in Cracow Market Square in the 15th, 14th or 12th century. Following the exhibition you will go back in time - like an archaeologist who digs deep into the ground and reaches ever older finds.

Podgórski Square is an unique market square in the shape of a triangle and the heart of Krakow's Podgórze district. The composition of its space comes from two periods: the end of the 18th and the first half of the 19th century. It is towered over by the beautiful St. Joseph's Church, a neo-Gothic masterpiece with an 80-metre clock tower. The Podgórski Market Square is a perfect place for a Sunday walk and an ideal base for exploring the narrow streets and old tenement houses. The cobbled paths gradually climb upwards leading to the Lasota Hill and the Krakus Mound, often visited by the cracovians and tourists. Along the way, we recommend a visit to the Bednarski Park located in the surroundings of the old quarry.

You no need to go to the seaside or to Masuria to surf or to sit on the beach. If after some sightseeing you would like to relax on the beach surrounded by nature, or if you would like to go sailing or do other activities, everything is right here in Krakow. The Bagry Deluge is located between Lipska Street and Wielicka Street in Krakow, in the Podgorze District. It is located almost in the geographical centre of the city, just a few kilometres of Wawel Castle. The Bagry beach is a place with a separate resting area for people who appreciate peace and relaxation and a space for enthusiasts of crazy fun and water sports. It is also an ideal place for bikes lovers or anglers, in short: there is something for everyone. In our opinion, it is a must-see spot on the walking map of Krakow.

Szeroka Street is the heart of Jewish Kazimierz.  In practice, it is an elongated square with old synagogues, a palace and houses from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. The fact that there used to be as many as four synagogues on this street, which was not the case anywhere else in Europe, testifies to its importance. The street served as a marketplace, around which the life of the inhabitants was concentrated. Many monuments of Jewish culture have survived to this day. Today, despite the fact that the Jewish town has long ceased to exist, it is here that one can most often come across Orthodox representatives of the Mosaic faith. The synagogues that have survived today are a remarkable reminder of those times. Tenement houses turned into cultural centres, small hotels and flats as well as atmospheric cafés and restaurants with gardens often refer to the history of this place by their architecture and decor. Once a year, Szeroka Street celebrates the revival of Jewish traditions. Every year since 1988, the International Festival of Jewish Culture - one of the largest and oldest festivals of its kind in the world - has been held here.

Krakow is famous for markets and bazaars. If you like strolling around the city's market squares, tasting local products and admiring handicrafts, then you know that Krakow can handle it! Apart from the city's famous Stary Kleparz (where you can often meet local artists buying vegetables), it is worth venturing a little further into the city and discovering other, equally charming places. It is worth going to Plac Imbramowski. They sell delicious bread, fresh fruit and vegetables, wicker baskets, small household goods, shoes or flowers. We also recommend Plac na Stawach and Rynek Dębnicki. You can't miss the famous Market Hall - Hala Targowa. Every Sunday at 4 a.m. it gets crowded. Traders set up their treasures and the first seekers, shining their torches, look for the most valuable items. In the evenings and at night the Hala Targowa is visited by tourists and clubbers who want to taste the legendary sausages from the Blue Nyska.

The street of the old Okół village, which was incorporated into Krakow in 1401. The first brick houses that were built here belonged to the cathedral canons, and today many renaissance and baroque tenement houses with decorative portals and attics have been preserved. Each house here has its own name. Kanonicza Street is one of the most charming streets in old Kraków. It has something mysterious and romantic about it. This combination of artistic architectural details and the beautiful view of the imposing Wawel Castle make up a wonderful image of the old city - you can definitely feel the spirit of history here.

This place is so strongly marked in the scenery of Krakow and the its Old Town that it is well known by every Cracovian, and often also by tourists visiting Krakow. The gallery of paintings hanged on the wall of the Florian's Gate is an unusual attraction. In this place, art is for everyone, you just want to stop and look at it. The pictures at Florian's Gate belong to the Art Gallery with which many artists have been cooperating for decades. You can also admire and buy paintings in the stationary gallery at Floriańska 36 Street, where there is also a picture framing point.

Krakow is an ideal base for quick day trips out of the city into nature. Being close to the city you can experience really beautiful views among rocks, picturesque gorges and babbling streams. Among the most beautiful valleys near Krakow we can mention the Będkowska Valley - the most touristic in terms of infrastructure, with ponds and a restaurant where you can eat fresh trout, the Kobylańska Valley perfect for rock climbing, the Bolechowicka Valley surrounded by limestone rocks, the Kluczwody Valley with large caves and castle ruins, or the less popular Eliaszówka and Racławka Valleys surrounded by forest and running along a stream.

Sausages from the blue Nyska at Hala Targowa in Krakow are one of the most popular street food in the city, which has become a culinary symbol of the nightlife of Krakow. Grilled sausages with ketchup or mustard and coloured orangeade are now a must for many locals and tourists when returning from clubs or evening walks. The sausage roasting in front of the Market Hall starts at 8 p.m. and finishes late at night around 3 a.m. You sometimes have to stand in a long queue to buy a sausage. Sausages from Nysa owe their popularity to the fact that they are simply tasty and cheap, and in the company of pleasant gentlemen sellers and the old Nysa they create a unique atmosphere.

Lost Souls Alley is an attraction we recommend to people with strong nerves. Located in the gate of an old abandoned tenement house at 6 Florianska Street, the House of Fear is Poland's first interactive haunted house with Escape room elements. It is a place full of strong emotions and thrills, which you experience together with your group members. Great fun in which you can participate with your family or friends. It doesn't take much time to get through Lost Souls Alley, but it's a lot of fun and lets you feel like you're in a real horror movie. Frightening and dark creatures are lurking in the dark corners, and every move can bring something unexpected. There are three routes with different levels of fear available. All daredevils are welcome to Loust Souls Alley.

A few years ago, the fashion for food trucks and eating outdoors spread all over the world and also reached Krakow. Foodtrucks have permanently established themselves in the urban space and are becoming more and more popular. Foodtrucks' snacks prepared in the spirit of "slow food" have many admirers, and the quality of the products they use would often make the best restaurants proud. Specially adapted trucks specialise in serving several dishes of a given cuisine, original novelties or standard dishes and smaller local snacks. During a single trip to a food truck park, i.e. a place where many such bars on wheels are stationed, we can taste dishes from all over the world: Japanese ramen, Hungarian langosz or crayfish in Old Polish style. During the summer, it is worth visiting Kraków's Bezogródek and the Kraków Picnic. Among our favourites, we also recommend Andrus Food Truck on the Judah Square serving the famous matzoh meal and its various variants, The Dog Food Truck on Izzaka Square - you won't find such buns with sausages anywhere else! Tempura Truck, on the other hand, serves fried pancakes and tortillas, also available in a light version. Belgian fries and Mr. Kumpir on St. Wawrzyniec are also worth visiting, and for the lovers of sweets we recommend Chimney Cake Bakery on Basztowa, specialising in cakes (we recommend the ones with nutella!) and delicious coffee.