Historic Sites in Krakow

Historic Sites in Krakow, Poland

Krakow Historic Sites

Types of Attractions
Sights & Landmarks
Sights & Landmarks
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21 places sorted by traveler favorites

What travelers are saying

  • Mark Adams
    Edinburgh, UK12 contributions
    I spent a couple of hours, on a Sunday afternoon, at the Oskar Schindler factory. I booked my ticket beforehand, from the get your guide app. I collected my ticket from the guide at the arranged time, which meant not having to queue (heavy rain, no shelter if you don't pre-book). I would also advise you get the audio guide.
    The tour itself covers both the German and Soviet occupation, as well as covering Schindler's time. It was very informative, with interactive displays, etc.
    Written August 8, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • bartalm
    Constancia, Portugal71 contributions
    The whole cathedral is beautiful and very interesting with lot of tombs and chapels. Every chapel is beautiful in different manner. I highly recommend to see the Sigismund's Chapel, next to it the Vasa Chapel and the Chapel of Holy Cross. There are also some worthy tapestries from the Jagiellonian tapestries collection.
    Written August 6, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Ann T
    Moscow, Russia119 contributions
    Classical favorites played in a stunningly beautiful, easily accessible venue—St. Peter and Paul Church! Different concerts every night of the week at 8:00 PM. Reasonably-priced. Tickets available at the door. Highly recommend as a crowd-pleasing, relaxing cultural activity, that can fill in any free evening in Krakow!
    Written August 8, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • PiotrKal
    24 contributions
    In general it takes about 3 days to see all the exhibitions and it is quite expensive, there are some handy hacks. I have seen 6 exhibitions (5h trip) for as little as little as 5 euro altogether (children <7 are always free except for the Cathedral. To go to the hill itself and have a walk around is free. On Monday ~9 AM you can pick up free tickets (30m queue) for 3 exhibitions and cheap tickets for further 3. This is not even 30% of it but a good start. It is always worth it to buy Cathedral tickets, in the morning is better because there is no queue. Other exhibitions are breath- taking and you can buy tickets online but it will cost ya to see it all.
    Written August 13, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Hannelore H
    United Kingdom245 contributions
    Absolutely stunning street with so much to see in terms of architecture, monuments, just absorb the local feel and surroundings, especially on a sunny day.
    Written May 10, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Shane B
    Naantali, Finland53 contributions
    Very impressive site and quick to visit. Probably a more significant site than the time most would spend there. Certainly a must though.
    Written May 28, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • milkasim
    New York City, NY261 contributions
    Nice way to learn about Krakow!. I went with my kids and the movie definitely got their attention. My daughter said that we should have seen the movie before starting to explore the city. The first day we came to Krakow.
    Written July 31, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Richard M
    Hampstead Norreys, UK793 contributions
    We were not really bothered by all the shops will their jewellery, galls ware and souvenirs. The interior was stunning. The place is large and has an incredible history. Well worth the time to walk through.
    Written July 29, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Daveyboy03
    London, UK5,750 contributions
    One thing that 'stayed' with me after visiting the plaztow camp area was the 'cold chill' I physically felt while walking through the woods area. I am never one to believe in 'ghostly beings' & knew only the basics of the camp's history. The autumn day had barely a breeze but my bodily temperature significantly & noticeably dropped & I felt a 'cold chill' for 5-10 minutes. I then came across the public sign telling visitors to "respect the area.." etc . I also passed the SS guards house- who used to 'sniper shoot' prisoners from his balcony. I would recommend visitors to research 'Plaztow camp' before visiting- so you know what to expect.
    Written May 24, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Pernille I
    Copenhagen, Denmark4,857 contributions
    I am not sure where the rock is - when you arrive at the church it is situated at the end of a street; you enter the premises which are quite vast including the Pauline monastery - on the back is the Vistula river, but not a big drop down.

    The site has seen several churches - dating back from the Middle Ages and rebuilt in the 14th and then in the 18th century.

    As with the St Joseph church in the Podgorze district there is a park around it with modern sculptures as well as a sculpture at a lower level, which reminds you of the Laibela church in Ethiopia - only the statue is of the Saint Stanislaw, and during summer it becomes a well from which pilgrims drink the water.

    Interiors are quite sober with golden and cream colors; but the highlight is really the exterior with the semicircle of statues representing the Three Millenia and displaying seven huge statues of important people from Polish history - clergy and others; among these John Paul II of course but also the queen Jadwiga who funded the construction of the St Barbaras church at Rynek Glowny, and the martyr Adalbart namesake of the small church on Rynek Glowny too.

    Definitely worth a visit although a bit off the beaten track.
    Written April 18, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Neil K
    Liverpool, UK616,525 contributions
    I love nothing better than walking around the beautiful Old Town and a great set of buildings to enjoy is the Jagiellonian University complex,this is one of the oldest university's in the world comprising of 15 faculty buildings were 4000 academics teach 40.000 pupils ,the buildings are amazing ,the grounds were the buildings stand are fabulous ,nice statues and monuments to enjoy ,all in all a great university to visit if your in the area well worth checking out.
    Written August 21, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Donna S
    Florence, WI1,601 contributions
    I discovered this little museum when tickets for the Rynek Underground were sold out, but am glad I did. It proved to be interesting in its own right, and basically featured the development of Krakow as an urban center from 1257 to the early 20th c. There are a number of interesting scale models of the city over time, a weapons and shield collection, lots of historic photographs, medals, coins, portraits of local intelligentsia, some tools, and scientific stuff - even a hot air balloon! The building itself is interesting, dating from the 1600's, and featuring many architectural and ornamental details, and a courtyard with a collonaded loggia. It has served many purposes, including a private residential palace, a bishop's residence, revolutionary committee headquarters in 1848, and the recruitment office for the Polish Legion in 1914. Admission was free the day I visited.
    Written February 18, 2018
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Ernie H
    Cardiff, UK1,740 contributions
    Located in Wawel and is Krakow's memorial to the victims. You'll find memorials in many Polish Cities. The photo attached is independence day.
    Written November 13, 2018
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • WWalk
    4 contributions
    This place has so much information if only you could actually get to see it. The cinema section was perfectly put together.
    Unfortunately I went in when 3 large school groups entered who blocked sections up/off so you couldn’t see anything and struggled to get past due to the layout of the museum. I probably only got to see and read 30% of what was there. At one point due to the groups who were at different point made the whole museum come to a stand point and no one could move anywhere for 5 minutes.
    I’d have loved to have seen more but time wouldn’t allow.
    Written August 12, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions about Krakow







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Has anyone done both tours before?
Do you think the former is worth doing?

I have done the tour with a guide - so i guess techncially i have gone on the "General tour 3.5h" or something similar, but i am only at Auschwitz 1 for 1.5h, and then we rushed to Auschwitz 2-Birkenau for 1h. i recently went on a organized tour from Krakow bc i couldnt secure guided tour ticket at the last minute from the website. but i think my guide may a person in training (?) cos he was guiding us with an Auschwitz educator standing beside him all the time. I still couldnt figure out whether he is a new guide in training within Auschwitz, or he needs to be chaperoned bc he is a guide hired from the 'outside' (ie not someone hired by the Aushcwitz site). I am inclined to believe it is the latter, but not sure, so would appreciate anyone with better insights. So this means there could be 2 diff guides - one is a tour agency guide from the outside, and another is a Auschwitz educator guide?
Answer: for future readers - I did the 6 hour tour and it is a better pace,smaller group and you visit a few more places in the camps. Our guide was very good. Worthwhile if you have more than a passing interest in the history. We were at Auschwitz for 3 hours and birkenau for 2.25 hours. Crowds were smaller that day so we didn’t have to stop to wait for other groups. I then returned to Auschwitz around 4pm to walk through on my own and to visit some of the country specific exhibits - Hungary’s exhibit is especially good. In order to return to camp 1, I purchased free tickets ahead of time since you have to renter the queue.

Tour vs self guided - 100% go on a tour. The guides paint a more complete picture than you will get from a guidebook. You can arrive early if you want to see birkenau before it gets crowded and walk on your own. No ticket is required to visit birkenau.

Auschwitz vs birkenau - you want to see both. Auschwitz is more intact and has almost all of the exhibits. The exhibits of luggage,eyeglasses, shoes, and human hair is overwhelming. Birkenau is 25x the size of Auschwitz camp 1. Many buildings were destroyed but you can get a better feel for the scale of the genocide. Even with most buildings destroyed you get a chill realizing how people were sorted and put to death. Many times within hours of arrival.

Krakow ghetto - to round out your experience walk through the ghetto and Jewish quarter. Visit the synagogues. Realize the size of the Jewish community that thrived in this area and then 90% of them were killed.

Last - learn about the history that led up to the holocaust. Hitler did not rise up in a vacuum. There were 20 years of anti-semitism that occurred before the death camps. The nazis were very good at isolating Jews, cutting them off from day to day community and business involvement and then eventually shipped them off to forced labor and death. Awareness of that history will help prevent this from ever happening again.
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