Visit Krakow

You're now standing in front of a beautiful example of Baroque architecture: the Juliusz Słowacki Theatre, Poland’s most famous theatre. It was built in 1893 on the ruins of the Holy Spirit Monastery. Constructing a cultural institution on a Read more

You’re now standing in front of Floriańska Gate. Kings would return from victorious battles through this gate, and dignitaries and diplomats would enter through here on official city visits. Kraków’s defensive walls once had seven gates. Floriańska Read more

Here he is, seated calmly as if still in his frame—the famous Polish painter Jan Matejko. If you haven’t heard of him before, know that he is Poland’s most renowned painter. He captured the most pivotal moments in Polish history on canvas. One Read more

Once you’ve passed through St. Florian’s Gate, you’ll arrive at Kraków’s Barbican. In medieval times, a “barbican” was an advanced fortification designed to protect a city entrance. It gave soldiers a place to gather and defend, while staying Read more

This small Baroque church is the Piarist Church, also known as the Church of the Transfiguration of Jesus. It was built in 1718, along with the Piarist monastery next to it. In case you’re not familiar with the Piarists, they were a mendicant religious Read more

You’re now standing on Pijarska Street, which ran along the city’s old defensive walls. It leads you to the beautiful Czartoryski Princes’ Arsenal Museum. Founded in 1796 by Princess Izabela Czartoryska, the museum was created to protect Read more

You’re now facing the beautiful St. Anne’s Church. This Roman Catholic church is one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in Poland. The church you see today was built on the ruins of a Gothic church destroyed in a fire in 1689. The Read more

Welcome to the charming and peaceful square in front of the Palace of Arts. The grand building ahead was built in the early 20th century in Viennese Secession style, for the Society of Friends of Fine Arts, founded about fifty years earlier. If you Read more

Welcome to the famous Jagiellonian University. You're surrounded by the neo-Gothic buildings of the Collegium Novum—the “New College,” as opposed to the Collegium Maius, the oldest part of the university. Founded in 1364, it’s one of the Read more

The building on the corner is the Kraków Philharmonic. Although that’s not hard to guess, as it’s written on the front! It’s the largest concert hall in Kraków and home to one of the finest symphony orchestras in the country. Behind its neo- Read more

You’re not imagining things, that really is a fire-breathing dragon in front of you. There’s probably a crowd gathered around it, waiting to see the real flames it spits out every 5 minutes. By now, you’ve probably noticed that dragons are everywhere Read more

Here it is—Wawel Castle, once home to Poland’s kings. You can explore the castle’s exterior, its courtyards, and ramparts free of charge, but the museums, the royal apartments and the cathedral require paid tickets. Two separate organisations Read more

This pleasant walk along the Vistula offers a beautiful panoramic view of the river and the castle. At 1,047 kilometres long, the Wisła—or Vistula in English—is the longest river in Poland. For thousands of years, towns and cities have sprung up Read more

You’re now walking along Grodzka Street, the second section of the Royal Route, which runs from the Market Square to Wawel Castle. The first part of the route is Floriańska Street, which links the square to the Barbican. Grodzka is one of the Read more

You’re now standing in front of the stunning Church of Saints Peter and Paul, one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in Poland. Built at the end of the 16th century by the Jesuits, it marked the beginning of the Counter-Reformation in Read more

You’re now entering Planty Park. You may have noticed that Kraków’s Old Town is surrounded by a ring of green—and this is it: Planty Park. It wraps around the city like a protective wall, and that’s no coincidence, since it was created on the site Read more

You’re now standing in front of the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi. Built in the 13th century by Franciscan friars from Prague, this is one of the oldest churches in Kraków—and one of the first brick buildings in the city. The Franciscans take Read more