Travel Guide
Krakow, Poland
I’ll be very honest — I visited Poland on a whim. A travel decision I am so glad I made because I did not expect to love Krakow as much as I did. Probably one of the coolest and most memorable cities I’ve ever visited, if Krakow isn’t on your travel hit list, then you might want to change your itinerary. Think lavish luxury cars, Michelin star restaurants, cool bars, great coffee, amazing castles and beautiful gardens. Plus, an interesting, complicated and in some ways, surprising, history.
Quick Travel Facts:
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In Poland, the currency is the Polish Zloty.
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While not the country’s capital city, Krakow is a major tourist city. So while the official language is Polish, many people speak English.
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I visited Krakow in July, Europe’s highest Summer month. However as Krakow/Poland is geographically further north of the equator, temperatures during this time can range from 13-25 degrees Celsius and it can also rain from time to time. Travelling during the summer months in Europe can naturally be more expensive, however I found Poland to be super affordable.
Where to eat + drink:
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Since 2016, they have been on the list of restaurants recommended by the Michelin Guide. I was not even prepared for this amazing meal. Definitely recommend the Gyu Teriyaki (sliced beef) - one of my best meals to date!
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Great toasted sandwich bar for lunch. Think American style toasties.
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Quaint polish restaurant where you can try traditional dishes, including Pierogi - filled dumplings made by wrapping dough around a savoury or sweet filling and cooked in boiling water. Not too dissimilar to a dumpling/ravioli.
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I didn’t get to try this place but the reviews and pierogi look amazing!
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Wine bar with lots of natural wines and limited seating.
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Large pub type place with food for everyone, cocktails and a bar.
Best cafes:
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Swedish bakery with bakery items and delicious cardamon scrolls.
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I haven’t been yet but the ratings were good for this cafe.
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Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to visit this one, but it’s on my list!
Top things to see + do:
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Fortified hilltop castle, initiated in the 14th century & prettified in a variety of later styles. It has a beautiful garden and lots to see.
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Underground tunnels & mine with chapels, chambers & saline lakes, plus themed tours for all ages.
Located outside of Krakow, but well worth the trip to learn about this amazing mine.
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4km chain of gardens with walkways, trees & lawns encircling the historic centre of Kraków.
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Renaissance-style market arcade with 13th-century origins & a 19th-century Polish art museum.
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Artificial mound built in 1820 to commemorate Tadeusz Kosciuszko, a military hero.
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Modern, pedestrianised river crossing adorned with sculptures of acrobats by artist Jerzy Kędziora.
Notes + Traveller’s Tips
A complicated and interesting past - Krakow and Poland respectively have a rich history, especially linked to WWII which I won’t go into here. However, Krakow’s proximity to Auschwitz has meant that many tourists are intrigued to learn about this dark past and come to visit and learn about what happened.
Michelin stars and more - Something I never expected was the scale and level of the amazing food in Krakow. There is every type of food you could want, from cheap local cuisine, to fine dining and even Swedish cafes/bakeries. The coffee was great as well, although you do need to scout out the right places. I had my favourite meal of 2022 in Krakow, at a Japanese restaurant called Hana Sushi (see the sliced beef below) - it also happened to be a 5 time Michelin star restaurant (I was expecting a small sushi takeaway bar) but I walked in, without a booking, and will never forget that meal!
Brown & queer, prepare for a stare - I loved Krakow, don’t get me wrong. But I can only describe my own experience. And unfortunately, some people (usually older nonnas) loved to stare me down and scowl (and they weren’t shy about it either). I was dressed appropriately, and acting appropriately and this happened multiple times. I also visited Wroclaw, and found this to be the same (if not worse) there. A part of me did feel a little bit like Pocahontas in a world full of ‘white’ people. Interestingly, Poland is considered to be one of the most homogeneous societies in Europe, with over 96% of it’s population being “Polish”. But don’t let this discourage you. Krakow especially is full of tourists and the views of some people, don’t reflect the country itself.
The early bird gets the worm cake - One thing I loved about Krakow, was the fact that people don’t get moving ‘early’. Coming from a culture of early risers in Australia, generally people in Poland will wake up later, have lunch around 2pm (this is the main meal of the day) and then have dinner later as well. Oh and let’s not forget an afternoon coffee/cake (they love their cakes)! Dinner is also usually a lighter meal and cold.
Krakow and dragons - Legend says that Krakow was established by a mythical ruler named Krakus, who built his home (now known as Wawel Castle) above a cave which was occupied by a dragon; Smok Wawelski. Krakus poisoned the dragon with a lamb and as a result, the town could flourish. When you visit Krakow, you’ll see many statues giving a nod to the dragon ‘motif’. In fact, people found bones in the Wawel Cathedral, which were probably mammoth bones, however they like to think they are ‘dragon bones’.
Cheap but not ‘nasty’ - if you’re looking for an affordable European travel destination, then look no further than Krakow. Food and accomodation were very reasonable. In fact, I stumbled across a Japanese Michelin star restaurant and ate for 2 people, with dessert and drinks for less than 60 euros. 🤯 You might also notice that the city feels very affluent in some areas, distinctly from the expensive cars that like to drive up and down the street, make a noise, and then park casually on the side of the road.
Try the Polish cuisine - the local food of Poland is different but also super hearty. If you try one food, make sure you try their Pierogi - filled dumplings made by wrapping dough around a savoury or sweet filling and cooked in boiling water. Not too dissimilar to a dumpling/ravioli.
