Architectural Buildings in Krakow

THE 10 BEST Krakow Architectural Buildings

Architectural Buildings in Krakow

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What travelers are saying

  • Matt N
    Hunstanton, UK33 contributions
    Worth seeing as a prime example of amazing architecture, interior design and the excesses of the catholic church. In many ways the amount of gold on show in such a small space even outdoes the Vatican City!
    Written August 7, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • susangHK2015
    Hong Kong, China39 contributions
    This is a fabulous museum. It's a timed entry, and then you can go through at your own pace. It's not huge, but it's fascinating. Don't miss the tiny globe from 1510 with the first representation of the Americas. The actual globe is in the Copernicus room, in the glass cabinet, and there is also a model that is much bigger and easier to see.
    Written July 3, 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
    A very typical church giving a good sense of cultural, religious and historical background, would definitely recommend to visit.
    Written April 27, 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
    One of the most beautiful streets in Krakow is Kanonicza ,one of the most striking buildings along this pretty street is Bishop Erazm Ciolek Palace home to the Krakow National Museum.
    It's a stunning looking building ,an early 14th century building,it's considered behind Wawel Castle the most beautiful building in Krakow ,the facade is amazing ,so photogenic ,interior is superb ,never visited the museum on this trip to Krakow but I have on previous holidays to this beautiful city ,it's a great building to check out if you're in the area and easy to locate along Ulica Kanonicza .
    Written August 18, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • TheShis
    Tel Aviv, Israel39,117 contributions
    This important abandoned building symbolizes more than anything what happened to the Jews of Krakow who were murdered not too far from the city during WWII.
    The building, which belonged to a prominent family is closed shut and features some modern graffiti.
    Written March 20, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Ann_CatherineNorway
    Oslo, Norway351 contributions
    Nice little church. Do step in if you are passing by. A few nice side alters and peaceful atmosphere. Local church feeling
    Written June 27, 2023
    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.
  • Flyer58676982370
    Claremont, CA17 contributions
    The Ark of the Lord has an extraordinary 60 + year history of its founding by the steelworker residents of Nowa Huta (New Steel Plant) starting in 1960. Communist authorities, at the time of their approval of a new church, required it not look like a typical Catholic Church. The architect designed and made reference to the biblical Noah's Ark. It was built by hand by the local steelworkers who also made significant contributions to its construction. One must visit th o personally appreciate its design, construction and use for the community
    Written October 1, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • ChrisDAberdeen
    Aberdeen86 contributions
    Super food and location but the conference room was too small for the numbers and given the heat it was very uncomfortable.
    Written June 12, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • TheShis
    Tel Aviv, Israel39,117 contributions
    Thankfully, since the last time we were here a couple of years ago, they added some informative plaques on this house to tell its history.
    The house is regarded as the entrance to the Jewish quarter and houses several shops nowadays.
    It provides an interesting photo-op for visitors of the Jewish quarter.
    Written March 20, 2023
    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
    The Wolf Popper synagogue was founded by a single man - Mr. Wolf Popper; a 17th century rich banker and trader who lived in Kazimierz.

    The synagogue was beautifully decorated, but with Mr. Popper passing it lacked funding. The war further destroyed it, and some parts of the decorations are now to be found in Jerusalem museums.

    It ended services as a synagogue in 1965, and was converted into a bookstore selling Hebrew literature as well as beautiful notebooks. Also available are English and other language books on the history of Jews in Poland. A very eccentric little place.

    The main feature though to me was the mural on the left when entering the small courtyard; a painting clearly inspired by Chagall with the violin and the fiddler, the bride and groom, the wandering Jew, the menorah etc. Both modern and drawing lines back to key symbols of Hebrew art.

    It is a nice place to bring back a little souvenir from Kazimierz. Entrance is of course free!
    Written April 18, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • etbtravelphotography
    Denver, CO643 contributions
    This building is where 183 faculty members were invited to a "dinner party" by the nazi's and then arrested and murdered. More info and pics at etbtravelphotography blog
    Written March 1, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • OriginalTaz
    Ann Arbor, MI220 contributions
    3 stained glass windows best viewed at night from outside. As one a Main Street easy to work into evening. Free. Did not visit during day from inside
    Written September 5, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • kwiewiorowski
    Poznan, Poland2,322 contributions
    Cracow historic centre is vast and beautiful, although what’s beyond is much less enticing. One of the treasures there is Czartoryski collection. Essentially it’s a kind of Kunstkammer you can see in Dresden, Munich, V&A London etc. True, it’s on a much modest scale but still contains objects you won’t come across elsewhere. An undisputed priceless gem there is Leonardo’s Lady with an Ermine. The exhibits are arranged in a pleasant, modern way with English subtitles. It’s a “must see” in Cracow.
    Written October 1, 2022
    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
    There are lots of beautiful churches in Krakow ,walking around the beautiful Old Town streets is wonderful and you find some amazing looking buildings ,this is how I chanced upon Kosciol SW Tomasza Apistola .
    The Church Of St Thomas is an ancient church ,constructed at the beginning of the 17th century ,initially under the care of the Carmelites from Piasek ,this is a small but very beautiful church ,it's most definitely well worth checking out if you're in the area and easy to locate on the corner of Swietego Tomasza and Szpitalna
    Written August 14, 2022
    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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