A Photo Essay: Krákow, Poland

Central Europe Poland Travel Tips

My trip to Krákow included my very first overnight train. To be honest, I hated it. (The train, not the city.)

This was our first trip since moving to Budapest, so the excitement level was at an all-time high. We strolled into the old, picturesque Keleti train station wild eyed and ready, a romantic haze filling the air. People were embracing, hefting old suitcases into cars, waving from windows. Pinch me. It was a scene from a different era. Thinking about it now, my heart still swells. 

As we entered our cabin, my first inclination was to claim the top bunk. Otherwise, I thought, I’d be up all night worried that Dan’s bed would, obviously, become unlatched and crush me below (yeah, I have anxiety). I quickly regretted this decision. The train’s movement seemed amplified from the top. It swayed and sped at such an alarming rate, and the top bunk jostled with such intense tremor, that I woke up every five minutes thinking we were going to derail. (Again, serious anxiety.)

We arrived to Krákow as the sun was rising, slightly muffled by rain clouds. I was a zombie, sleep-deprived, and, literally, rattled. (Just so everyone knows, Dan loved it and slept like a baby.) But it all changed the moment we walked into the city. Krákow is a beautiful, historic, and interesting urban dream, a place I could spend all day just roaming around. It perked me right up. 

Krákow may very well be one of the most colorful cities. It’s mostly dominated by moody brick sporting gothic spires, occasionally accented with pops of color. Autumn was exceptionally beautiful with golden hues showing off at every corner. Even speckled horses pulling white carriages were adorned in colorful, traditional garb. The center of Old Town was wide and bustling, but my favorite part of the city will remain the hushed and narrow side streets, frozen in time and without a soul in sight.

But don’t let the lively, bright squares fool you; sneak inside any cafe or church and a different scenes unfolds. St. Mary’s Basilica is dark and embellished in lavish gold accents. You could spend an entire day in this church just looking, staring, finding endless, remarkable ornaments.

Cross the city and enter Kazimierz, Krákow’s old Jewish neighborhood turned incredibly hip and bohemian. Once acting as a lively home for centuries, its history was horrifically rewritten during WWII. And because of this, many of the cafes and shops are reminiscent of a bygone age. They are small and dark, antiqued yet welcoming. You will want to sit for hours, absorbing all the stories of its past life.

Krákow is plenty understated, too, with white-washed buildings appearing almost whimsical amongst the mix of dark brick and vibrant facades. If you’re like me, you can’t get enough of the gothic windows and pastel highlights, but a dabbling of muted sophistication kind of pulls it altogether.

Do spend your time in Kazimierz and enjoy being steeped in history at every single turn. It was my favorite part of the city, and a truly amazing and humbling experience. But don’t forget Krákow’s impressive Wawel Royal Castle. Despite seeming a bit touristy, it’s certainly worth the time with plenty to see and do. I’m a cheap traveler and will almost always avoid anything with an entrance fee; but I’m thankful everyday that I opted to experience these gorgeous grounds. (Tip: go early as they sell out of tickets as the day goes on.)

Krákow is truly one of those magical places, where you can enjoy a bit of everything: aimless wandering, impressive architecture, captivating history, delicious foods and spirits, quirky public transportation, enormous and lively squares, quiet and mysterious corners, sprawling parks, unique art, and some of the kindest people on this planet.

If you’ve never considered Krákow as a travel destination, I highly recommend adding it to your list. Plus, it’s incredibly close to the unbelievable Tatry Mountains (stay tuned… I’ll tell you all about them in my next post!).

There are so many reasons to fall in love with Krákow, Poland. Here are 22 to get you started!

So, what do you think? Are you enticed by Krákow? Have you already been? What did you love?

Pin It

There are so many reasons to fall in love with Krákow, Poland. Here are 22 to get you started!

6 Comments

  • Reply
    lexklein
    November 6, 2017 at 1:33 am

    We loved Krakow also for many of the same reasons. Just so you don’t feel alone, I also hated the overnight train. My skinny daughter was above me in the bunk, and I worried all night she and her bed were going to break through the heavy fasteners and come crashing down on top of me (quite unlikely!) or that the train would tip off the tracks (perhaps even less likely?). I did finally fall asleep, but it was not the gentle lulling ride I expected!

    • Reply
      ashmerscher
      November 6, 2017 at 7:41 am

      I’m so glad I’m not the only one!! Yes, it’s all very unlikely to happen, but my mind was racing as fast as the train! I took another overnight to Munich, claimed the lower bunk that time, and still couldn’t sleep. So we’re on the same page! 🙂

  • Reply
    From Poland to Slovakia – Cairn and Compass
    November 25, 2017 at 2:17 pm

    […] train to Krákow as our first vacation since moving to Budapest. Krákow was a dream city, and you can see from these photos just how much we enjoyed it. Our time wandering the city’s historical cobblestones was far too short. It was filled with […]

  • Reply
    Finding Fall – Cairn and Compass
    November 26, 2017 at 9:29 am

    […] told a different tale of morning drizzle. Umbrellas up, we trudged into the Old Town of Krakow. I’ve never been more in awe of a city, especially with its large circular park circumventing the historic center and enormous trees […]

  • Reply
    soundcloud.com
    March 13, 2018 at 5:14 am

    Hi there, I enjoy reading through your post.

    I like to write a little comment to support you. https://soundcloud.com/user-285289871

    • Reply
      ashmerscher
      March 13, 2018 at 10:56 am

      Thank you so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed it, and thanks for spending the time to read and comment 🙂

    Leave a Reply