Often called the “New Prague, Krakow is a magical city. It attracts millions of visitors every year and is a major tourist destination in Poland, not without reason. At the height of summer, this stunning city is thronging with tourists who are absolutely enthralled with its Renaissance arcades, Baroque spires, and one of the best preserved medieval city centers in Europe. Located in southeast Poland, between the Jura uplands and the Tatra Mountains and on the banks of Vistula River, walking through this city is like entering an enchanted world.
Scores of churches, ancient towers and spires and domes dominating the skyline, while lively pavement cafes and market stalls occupy every available inch of the cobbled space in Rynek Glowny, the city center. It must be said though, of these myriad cafés and bars, that none has been allowed to spoil its appearance.
A UNESCO World Heritage site, Krakow, also called Cracow, has been left largely intact since the 13th century. It escaped the devastation caused by Hitler’s armies and hence it is a showcase for centuries of Polish architecture. Krakow also draws many catholic pilgrims as it is also the city of Pope John Paul II, where he lived for several years and served as archbishop and then cardinal before moving to Rome to start his Pontificate.
The city of Kraków is the capital city of the Malopolskie (Lesser Poland or Little Poland). It is Poland’s third largest city (after Lodz and Warsaw), with a population of 780,000 in 2004 (1.4 million after including surrounding communities).
Gastronomy
Krakow is consistently named one of the 10 most beautiful towns in Poland, the Gothic church spires of its Old Town looming above a patchwork of Baroque and Romanesque buildings. It was the country’s first capital. Today it maintains a different capital status as the 2019 Gastronomic Capital of Culture, no small feat for a city with a little over 750,000 people.
Local delicacies are very easy to come by in Kraków, and the prices are usually wallet-friendly. Just taking a walk through the Old Town will reveal a myriad of street-side openings that cook up Cracovian delights 24 hours a day. In the day, locals can be seen devouring mustard coated sausages, and there’s always a big crowd enjoying plates of late night pierogi in the city’s so called 4/8 bars (where a beer is just 4 PLN and a plate of any food on the menu , only 8 PLN), even if it is only to soak up the vodka.
The most famous of the lot are probably the pierogi dumplings, which are available en masse in most restaurants that have a Polish menu. These thick dough packets are usually dressed with oil and chopped onion, and can be filled with a real array of different mixtures. The most popular is probably Pierogi Ruskie (Russian style, with cream cheese and herbs), but meat versions are available, along with fruit-filled alternatives for desert. Pierogi usually comes served in plates of 8-10 pieces, and the price will range from around 4 PLN for the cheapest, to around 30 PLN in the more gourmet joints.
One dish that’s a must-try is the cabbage and meat stew, bigos. While it may not sound immediately enticing, this is an old Polish favourite, and is known as hunter’s stew for its raw and earthy ingredients, which can include a wide range of different meats, from veal to venison, to smoked bacon and sausage. Again, this one’s available in most restaurants throughout the city, but the best (like most things in Poland) is always home-made!
Poland is also famed for its soups, and in this category there are two that any visitor absolutely must try. First, the blood-red barszcz is a really rich beetroot soup, that’s often served with small, ravioli-like pierogi swimming at its bottom that add extra texture, while the sour żurek is great for warming up in the winter, and often comes served in a hollowed out bread roll (at least, that is in the more fancy places).
But, when it comes to the specialities of Kraków, there are a few select Polish foods that the city claims outright. Most notably perhaps are the half-baguette zapiekanka, a long pizza-style creation that’s packed on top with anything from feta cheese, to hefty chunks of Polish sausage. In the centre of Kraków’s Jewish Quarter, the stalls around Plac Nowy are said to sell the best in the whole country.
Also of Cracovian origin are the small pretzel-like breads that are usually sold by unassuming members of the older generation from little blue-framed stalls on the city’s street corners. These are called obwarzanek, and are particularly good when heated and served with butter.
Climate
Krakow has a temperate continental climate. The city doesn’t see much rain and summers are very hot. Most rain is seen in summer. So the best time to go is in May, June, September and October.
Krakow weather is characterized by cold winters (November – February) with an average temperature around 0°C.
During the month of June, July and August you are most likely to experience good weather with pleasant average temperatures that fall between 20°C and 25°C.
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