Krakow in Poland - tips and guidance in Swedish

Have you visited Krakow in Poland yet? Whether you are a newcomer to the city or you already know it, there is always a lot that it has to offer you. Want to let Krakow surprise you?

Krakow in Poland - an experience

We have visited Krakow in Poland several times, and have to say that this is an amazing city, which is hard to get tired of. If you like history, there are lots of that here. Krakow also offers beautiful buildings, good food and many exciting excursions.

After a trade fair in Sweden, we got to know the Polish tour operators Marlena and Patrycja, who run the licensed firm of KrakowResor who, amazingly, both speak fluent Swedish even though they have never lived in Sweden. In collaboration with them, we offer tips for the city, and they welcome you to contact them before or during your next trip to Krakow.

8 things to do in Krakow

Krakow is the spiritual and cultural heart of Poland, with countless historic buildings, churches and museums. The city also offers charming alleys, cosy cafés, creative restaurants and exciting shopping. Here are eight highlights you won't want to miss during your visit to Krakow, Poland:

1. Old Town in Krakow

When you visit Krakow, you don't want to miss out on Old Town in Krakow with all its historic buildings and beautiful churches. The large square is the heart of the neighbourhood and here you will find the mighty Klädeshallen, among other things.

2. the Wawel hill

Basically a natural limestone cliff, Wawel Hill is home to the Royal Palace and the magnificent cathedral, both of which are very interesting to visit.

3. Jewish Krakow

Kazimierz, Krakow's medieval Jewish quarter, is considered one of the best preserved centres of Jewish culture and history. Here you can experience the architecture and learn more during guided tours.

4. schindler's factory

Oskar Schindler was a German entrepreneur who took over a factory in Krakow during World War II. There he employed Polish Jews, whom he tried to save from death, as depicted in the film Schindler's List Today it is a popular destination with interesting exhibitions.

5th Auschwitz Birkenau

Just outside Krakow are the two towns of Auschwitz (in Polish Oświęcim) and Birkenau (in Polish Brzezinka). In 1940, the Nazis established the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp here, which today reminds us of the Holocaust during World War II and the incomprehensible cruelty of the human race. Today, you can make an emotionally powerful and educationally important visit here.

6. The salt mine in Wieliczka

The smaller town of Wieliczka is located just south of Krakow and is famous for its salt mine, which is the largest and oldest in Poland. The mine, which is no longer in use, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is visited by over a million people each year.

7. Nowa Huta

Nowa Huta is a neighbourhood in Krakow created by the communists after World War II, where they planned to implement ideologies such as collective and uniform architecture. Instead, it became a place where the resistance movement grew strong. Don't miss a guided tour in Swedish here!

8. Zakopane

Zakopane is located in the Tatra Mountains, about 120 kilometres south of Krakow. This area, which has always fascinated artists and poets, offers wonderful nature experiences in summer and winter.

Planning a trip to Krakow in Poland

Krakow is located in southern Poland, about 300 kilometres south of the capital Warsaw.

You can easily travel to Krakow in different ways, such as by plane, car or motorhome. Groups can also get help with booking flights through KrakowResor if desired.

• Flight: There are many different flights to choose from. For example, you can fly directly from Stockholm Arlanda to Krakow with Ryanair.
• Car/caravan: By car or motorhome, you can drive from Gdansk or Swinoujscie, for example. Ferries run Nynäshamn - Gdansk (Polferries), Karlskrona - Gdynia (StenaLine), Ystad - Swinoujscie (Unity Line or Polferries) and Trelleborg - Swinoujscie (TT-Line). Soon the ferry Malmö - Swinoujscie (Finnlines) will follow.

Krakow, Poland - a city with a long history and rich culture

Krakow is Poland's second largest city and one of the country's oldest cities. City rights were granted in 1257, but long before that, Krakow was already an important place with a good location. Trade routes crossed here and there was also a hill and a river, which created good conditions for the city as a future centre of trade and power.

Religious centre in the 11th century

In 1000, the bishop's seat was established on Wawel Hill in Krakow, making the city a religious centre. Already in the 11th century Krakow was considered the capital of the Polish state, where since 1320 Polish kings were crowned and buried in the cathedral on Wawel Hill.

Krakow's golden age

In the pioneering 14th century, both the city and Poland gained its first university. At that time, the Jewish diaspora also settled in Cracow, creating a history that would last until the Second World War. The following 15th and 16th centuries were the period of Krakow's prosperity, which was interrupted by Warsaw becoming the capital in 1596. Krakow then lost its special status.

Part of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy

For the next 123 years, when Poland was divided between three neighbouring countries, Krakow was part of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, which is still evident in the city's architecture today. After World War I, the city began to rise and many attempts were made to develop the city. During the interwar period, Krakow Castle was the seat of the President of Poland. But it wasn't long before World War II broke out.

Occupation under Nazi Germany

Poland was once again divided and the city became part of the Nazi-occupied General Governorate, with Krakow as its capital. The Nazi claim to Krakow, which was said to be genuinely German, allowed the city to escape major destruction. But unfortunately, the fate of the Kraków inhabitants turned out to be tragic: Krakow lost a quarter of its population.

Tough post-war period

The Second World War put an end to the city's centuries-long Jewish history. The post-war period was not easy either. The newly built, utopian-communist city of Nowa Huta, with its steelworks in the centre - and hopefully free of religion - was supposed to be the opposite of the old traditional city. However, it turned out to be just the opposite and both Krakow and Nowa Huta were places where opposition to the regime was very strong.

Have you visited Krakow in Poland?

Have you visited Krakow in Poland? How was your experience? Please tell us!