Hello everyone. During our trip to Poland, we visited the city of Krakow. Krakow is not only one of the most beautiful cities in Poland but also in all of Europe. Since it was once the capital, it has a royal palace and a series of well-preserved historical buildings. The atmosphere is amazing, but as with every journey, there are some details to share. I will tell you everything without holding anything back.
We entered Poland and had to wait at the border for about two hours. Interestingly they asked how much money we were carrying, which is not usually asked. Then we headed towards Krakow. The traffic rules here are quite strict. The speed limit within the city is 50 km/h, but it increases to 60 km/h at night. We usually followed the local vehicles because they knew the signs better. We couldn’t find a café or restaurant on the road. So we went to a supermarket, but no one spoke English.
We wanted to buy a starter package for our phone, but we were told that registration was required and to do that, we had to go to the city. This was a bit inconvenient. Anyway we bought canned food, bread and yogurt, enough to last until Krakow. In the city center there is an environmental zone. Since I wasn't fully informed about this zone, I avoided taking any risks and chose a hotel on the outskirts rather than in the center. Along the way we saw many speed cameras. There were also cars exceeding the speed limit, driving up to 140 km/h. We had been on the road for about 100 km and had only seen three cameras up until then.
When we arrived in central Krakow, the streets were lively with people, but the weather was cold. We wanted to buy a SIM card for our phone. There were prepaid packages available in the supermarket, but activation required a mobile app and the process took 24 hours. This was a bit frustrating.
Krakow is a beautiful city. The historic center is surrounded by parks and the only remaining old gate is the Floriańska Gate. There are bike lanes throughout the city and the transportation system is well-organized. Even elderly people can move around comfortably.
The main square is filled with young people. It seems like a popular meeting point for them. We went for a walk around the center. Since Krakow was the capital until the 17th century, all the historical buildings and the royal palace are located here.
The heart of the city is actually a marketplace. Most of the buildings are hundreds of years old and were damaged during wars. Now, they have been restored. Exploring the entire center took about two hours because Krakow is a big city.
We walked towards the university district. The atmosphere was very calm and peaceful, with little traffic. We then headed toward the royal palace. The palace gardens were beautiful and well-maintained. Entry was free. But tickets were required to tour the inside of the palace.
We climbed to the top and admired the view. There wasn’t much to see at the very top, though. The weather was quite cold and windy. This place is a symbolic and important site for all of Poland. Krakow's cultural and historical heart is here. The city is enchanting.
Tourists usually visit Warsaw, but Krakow was closer to our route. At the end of our journey, we also visited Warsaw.
We stopped by the Jewish Quarter. This area is very vibrant and colorful. The streets are narrow and people enjoy their meals outdoors. It has a really unique atmosphere.
We found a small restaurant and had delicious goulash. The restaurant walls were decorated with street art. Later, we crossed the bridge over the Vistula River. This river is the largest in Poland and flows throughout the country.
Then we visited the Ghetto Heroes Square. The chairs here symbolize the people who were expelled from their homes during the Nazi era. Thousands of Jews were gathered here before being sent to concentration camps. As a memorial, 70 chairs were designed and at night, they are illuminated with LED lights.
At night the city's silence and ambiance offer a completely different experience. The atmosphere is unique.
So friends, that’s how our Krakow trip came to an end. It is an amazing city. If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend visiting. See you next time.