Top 5 museums in Krakow

1. Royal Wawel Castle on the Wawel Hill 

Permanent exhibitions at the Royal Castle:
1) State Rooms;
2) Royal Private Apartments;
3) Treasury and Armoury;
4) Oriental Art;
5) The Lost Wawel.

Castle seasonal routes:
1) Dragon's Den;
2) Sandomierz Tower;
3) The history of Wawel Hill

Wawel Hill is available to visitors daily from 6 am to dusk. Arcaded courtyard of the Royal Castle is closed half an hour before the gates of the Wawel Hill.

2. Czartoryski Museum

Da Vinci's Lady with an Ermine grabs your attention here. As for museum, it has many old masterpiecies like e.g. a dramatic landscape by Rembrandt. The museum collects European paintings of the thirteenth and eighteenth centuries. Further, museum posess monuments of European and Islamic art and crafts from the Middle Ages to the nineteenth century, also posess graphics, ancient art and military.

3. National Museum in Krakow

National Museum in Krakow is the oldest one bearing the name "National". The institution was founded in 1879 as a museum of Polish contemporary art. Thanks to many donations is now the largest museum institution in Poland in terms of the number of buildings, branches and facilities. Despite of the fact that museum specializes in mainly Polish art, those are also great collections of European art and from others including paintings, ancient art, military, Western sculptures, arts and crafts of the Far East ans so on.
The first seat of National Museum was the Sukiennice. To this day, you can admire Century Polish Art there (on the Main Square).
Entrance free on Sundays.

4. MOCAK - Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow

The project to establish the Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow began in late 2004 when the Municipality of Krakow took over and bought the buildings located in a place where the Schindler's Factory existed long time ago. The main aim of the museum is to present art last 20 years in the context of the post-war avant-garde and conceptual art.

5. Polish Aviation Museum 

Polish Aviation Museum was one of the oldest permanent airfields in Europe. It was founded for the Austrian and Hungarian aviations in 1912. Currently, the museum occupies a small piece of past military airport in eastern Krakow (Rakowice - Czyżyny) which include a large hangar and garage and storage facilities, built by Germans during the Second World War.

Zakrzówek

I wrote earlier about Zakrzówek. In day like this, I am of the view that you must to go there!
Judging from the fact that Krakow is very loud city and no one likes spend its spare time there, you should take your bags with blanket and healthy food (don't forget to take water because around the Zakrzówek you will not find any shops) and catch every warm moments with your friends or lover. Please remember you cannot swim in water if you don't have a permission to dive. Only professional divers are allowed to be inside water. The point is that there is a risk you will die or something like this. Nowithstanding, you can enjoy the view instead of swimming!

There is a legend that says long time ago Mr Twardowski was a teacher of magic. One day something went wrong during the lessons and somehow everything burned. Due to the exploision of laboratory were created stones which are named Stones of Twardowski. Beautiful story, isn't it?

Anyway, the place is amazing!

As far as I know, there is a fence along whole body of water. In summer time, young people are very stupid and not resposible for what they've done, because they drink a lot of alcohol during a party in fresh air and want to dive in water. So stupid! Thus you can lie on the grass. The place is located few kilometres from the centre of the city. Oh, thanks to God, without noise :)

Other places in Krakow

Where can you go on a sunny day? Zakrzówek, which is located in Ruczaj, is a quarry flooded by water. That breathetaking place is often visited by young people who organize parties and other event that type. Depth is about 32 m, but a limit visibility is about 25 m. Due to a specific of that place, many divers swim in water. They sometimes find weird things like e.g. flooded bus, mirrors, ships and car. On the edge between grass and trees you can make a picnic with your friends.

Another place worth seeing is Botanic Garden located almost in the centre of city. They have got lots of species of flowers, trees and others. In the break, when you are waiting for a train or a bus, you should go there and breathe some fresh air.

Around Krakow are many places you should see too. One of them is Auschwitz-Birkenau. You can go there from the main market, where workers of travel agency will suggest you a trip. That place is associated with a big historical tragedy. According books of history, Germans have put there polish politicial prisoners of oposition. Since 1942 Auschwitz has became a place of murders innocent people, mainly Jewish. Visitors have an access to the bigger part of camp and can go inside and watch real hairs, nails, shoes and other clothes which were the property of prisoners.

The second one is Wieliczka where is a mine of salt. You can also use the suggestion of travel agency workers and get there by bus with other turists. That place is recommend for people who has a problem with their breathe system.

One of the 23 National Park in Poland is the Ojcowski Park Narodowy. You have to be aware of danger, when you get into the park and wear comfortable shoes before the trip. It would be safe to take a guide with you. Łokietek Cave is the first point on your map. There is a legend associated with this person. After an escape from Krakow, Łokietek was hidden in a cave. His life was safed by a spider, who made a cobweb and thanks to the spider no one has seen Łokietek. The next one is the Herkules Club. Name of this nature monument was created thanks to its shape. It is a great opportunity to spend free time with your family together.

Schindler's factory was founded in 1937 as a place for production of sheet metal and enamel. In few years the factory was taken by Oskar Schindler, who was an entrepreneur. The Schindler's factory is located in Zabłocie. Since 1943 the production was expanded by reinforcing, mainly for Wehrmacht. Lots of Poles have worked there. However, many Germans wanted to eliminate Jewish, so they forced them to work in the camps. According to the history, when workers from the Schindler's factory have put into barracks, Oskar has moved the factory to other city named Brunnlitz and created a list of names of people who worked for him. Thanks to the Schindler's list, some of people were rescued from the death. Since 2007 the old factory was taken by representitives of Krakow authority and today we can go there and watch the exibition named Kraków – czas okupacji 1939-1945. Around an area of the factory was founded Museum of Contemporary Art in Kraków (MOCAK). 

Krakow Zwierzyniec

Do you have enough cars and noise of the public transport? Go to the Las Wolski and visit the ZOO. On the suburbs of Krakow is located a big ZOO in the middle of nowhere.

On holidays many animals are shown, because of the period of time. Many animals like giraffes, elephants, lions and so on, living usually in Africa are accustomed to live in high temperature. During winter, they are in their special houses. When you decide to go with your family on the weekend to the zoo, remember you must not to feed animals. There is an information written on every boxes.

In front of the zoo are small birds. Then you will probably see a real version of animated Julian King from Madagascar movie – meercats. Next, you will see wolfs and foxes. From my perspective, the most wanted animals in the zoo are these who come from exotic countries, whose usually you will not see in Poland.

If you want to see whole city from the top, you should go to the Kościuszki Mound. For the entry you have to pay, but nothing can replace that view. This is the highest Mound in Krakow. Near the mound is located the RMF FM radio. Therefore you cannot go there at the midnight to admire the view.

In Zwierzyniec are two football stadions of two teams: Wisła Kraków and Cracovia. Karol Wojtyła, who was the first polish pope in Vatican and recently has became Saint John Paul II, was a Cracovia team fan. On Błonie usually are held big events. Next to the Błonie is Jordan Park, where you can go and sit on a bench looking at the monuments of great artists. 

Krakow Kazimierz

The most important point in your visiting plan is Kazimierz. This district has cosy and comfortable places for lovers and people who appreciate their privacy. Due to the cultural lifestyle, Kazimierz can be compared to e.g. New York, where all day and all night people walk the streets. Lots of Jewish used to live in Kazimierz, that's way are held Jewish Culture Festival which drawing the attention thousand of people interested in that kind of events every year. 

From ages, Kazimierz have had its own law and was an independent city. However Kazimierz became a part of the Krakow in the end of the XVIII century. If you are hungry, you will try the most famous rolls baked in special cooker with different components like cheese, chicken, mushrooms, or ham. There is no place similar to that small bar in whole Krakow. Don't have any idea where to go with your lover? Choose Kazimierz at the night and feel the magic of this place, where street lamps suit perfectly to the rest of the architecture buildings.

For sure, places worth seeing are: National Pantheon (also called Cementery of Great Poles), Saint Catherine Church, Corpus Christi Church. On the Szeroka Street is Old Synagogue – the oldest synagogue in Poland, which was destroyed during the second world war. Monuments have been inscribed on the UNESCO in 1978. Since 1994 Kazimierz with other places in Krakow (like Podgórze, Wawel, Stradom, Piaski, Old City and Nowy Świat) was declared as the Monument of History.  

Nowa Huta

NowaHuta, a district declared as an odd part of the city, is located on the eastern Krakow. Because of its history citizens think that they can effort the difficulties of the disctrict and get an independency to become strong and sufficient area from economic point of view. Nowa Huta was founded as a first socialist city in Poland. Therefore people from whole country come to there to see architecture monuments. The mix of three eras caused an amazing atmosphere.

Its creation was based on the ideology of comunism as a contract to the other parts of cultural Krakow. What's grab your attention here is the Wanda Mound. According to the legend, Wanda did not want to marry some German guy and she jumped into the Vistula river. Her body was found near a current location of Wanda Mound. On the top of the mound is a monument of white eagle designed by Jan Matejko. In the middle of the Nowa Huta are the Central Square and the Alley of roses – the most famous street in that district. Around those places are amazing law and order and make an impression that every buildings and streets are symmetric.

Market Square

On the market square you have to be careful. This place is alive! When you are sitting on a bench, drinking a cup of coffee, eating a piece of cheesecake, you might see how the carriages with horses are waiting for tourists (but they are not the only one who want to ride this kind of ecology transport), how weird people put on their faces a make up to become e.g. a dragon or an angel, how a boy is buying flowers to his girlfriend in hurry and running for a meeting with her and finally how children are having fun during his breaks and running through the market between pigeons. Thoose pictures of different situations are components of the market square in Krakow. 

If you want to hide from the Sun you may go to the Sukiennice which are located in the middle. This place is fulled of stalls where you will find souvenirs. An interesting fact is that on the first floor was founded the first gallery of polish arts. Walking through the market square can let you feel relaxed. Why? The answer is simple. On the top of the Mariacki Church is played a bugle call every hour from ages. That sound is friendly for our ears and makes a smile on the faces. In summer lots of concerts are played on the market square too.

Thanks to the location and a proximity to every part of the city, you can quickly get there and meet your friends. Due to the fact that Krakow is a known city in Poland, there is a chance to meet celebrities or actors or any famous people who are living here or spending their holidays here. Being in Krakow is associated with visiting the Czartoryski Museum. There are very popular paitings like „Lady with an Ermine”. As a curiosity can be mentioned the movie (polish production) called „Da Vinci” in which criminals have stolen that paiting. What is important in that movie, they made a copy of „Lady with an Ermine” and no one noticed the difference between an original version and the copy. Near the Czartoryski Museum is a Floriańska Gate and Barbakan too. What do you need to know about that architecture monuments? There are a part of the defensive walls. In summer time porches are opened and available for tourists.

Are you hungry? Around the market square are some bars and restaurants where you can taste polish food or others if you want to. Afer the dinner you should go to the Chocolate Fountain by Wedel. I have never eaten such a delicious chocolate before! In the evening most of the people choose night clubs to relaxed after rough days at work. Thanks to a proximity, you can easily go out from one place and go to another in short time. One of the advantage, if you think about the market square, is the short distance between the market  square and e.g. railway station where are few stop buses and trams and you can easily come home after sucessful party.  

Wawel Castle

Krakow is a city located in a southern Poland. As you know, Krakow is known as a city of kings, because of its history. When you want to visit this semi-ancient and semi-modern city you cannot forget about a camera, of course! 

At the beginning, the most seen building in Krakow is the Wawel Castle which is located near the Vistula river. Inside the castle are a lot of paintings, chambers where used to live e.g. Zygmunt August long time ago. Since a dramatic situation in Smoleńsk where one of a polish president died in 2010, his grave has located between kings in the Wawel Castle. A main attraction for children is a dragon located next to the Wawel Castle. Parents willingly take photos of their kids with him. Moreover, the dragon sometimes breathes fire! 

Walking along the Vistula river can surprise you. Guess what? Lots of people spend their spare time lying on a field of grass, watching the Sun and an enormous Wawel Castle. This city is full of diversity. Why? It is a good question. A place with a long tradition, where the past and the present time are connected together into one piece might cause undescrible feeling. You don't have to run across whole city to enjoy your time. It depends on you what kind of leasure activities you want to follow here. It would be a sin if you did not use an alternative kind of transport like ships. There are many possibilities to get on the other site of the Vistula river. Some of people prefer an active way to get e.g. to Podgórze disctrict. Others prefer the cruise on the Vistula. 

At night you will probably see a footbridge in different colors. This is a place created for lovers, where they can make theirs promises that they will never ever stop loving each other. Due to a beautiful view of Vistula river fulled of magic, lovers who are just married often take photos here.