Tours
Krakow can be visited by horse-drawn carriage (carriages stop in the Main Market), horse-drawn omnibus (stops at the Barbican at the mouth of ul. Floriańska - 10.00 daily from May to October) or by electric golf buggy (e-mail: rezerwacje@krakow-zwiedzanie.pl, Reservations and information: +48507525442; 9.00-20.00 weekdays, weekends 9.00-18.00).
Golf Buggy Tours
1. Kraków in one day:
Duration: 3.5 hours. Mon. 9.00-12.00, Tue.-Sun. 9.00-16.00. Prices, depending on the number of people from 95 to 200 zł per person. Route: Market Square, Cloth Hall, St. Mary's Church, Mały Rynek, Świętego Ducha Square, Słowacki Theatre, Barbican, Florian Gate, Jagiellonian University, the Bishops Palace, ul. Grodzka, the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Wawel Castle, the Church on the Rock (kościół Na Skałce), Wolnica Square, Corpus Christi church (kościół Bożego Ciała), the synagogues: Tempel, Kupa, Izaaka, Wysoka, Poppera, Remuh, Stara, New Square (pl. Nowy), ul. Szeroka, Heroes of the Ghetto Square (pl. Bohaterów Getta), the Eagle Pharmacy (Apteka pod Orłem), Schindler's factory and a tour of the exhibition there, and the walls of the ghetto.
2. Old Town and Kazimierz:
Duration: 2 hours. Every day 9.00-19.00. Prices, depending on the number of people from 75 to 155 zł per person. Route: Market Square, Mały Rynek, Słowacki Theatre, Barbican, Florian Gate, Jagiellonian University, Franciscan Church, the Bishops Palace, All Saints Square (pl. Wszystkich Świętych). ul. Grodzka, the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Wawel Castle, the Church on the Rock (kościół Na Skałce), Wolnica Square - Kazimierz Town Hall, Corpus Christi church, synagogues: Tempel, Kupa, Izaaka, Wysoka, Stara, Poppera, Remuh, New Square (pl. Nowy), ul. Szeroka, Helena Rubinstein's house, and the old Jewish shops.
You can choose shorter trips, such as just Kazimierz or the Old Town...
Walking
Route 1: Wawel
Leading toward Wawel Hill is the narrow Kanonicza street. This is one of the oldest, most important, and most beautiful streets of the city. The area covered by the walls of the castle is in terms of size comparable to the Main Market Square. And in the interior of the castle that still awaits us, it is essential to see: the royal chambers, the collection of eastern art and military trophies, collections of Flemish tapestries and archaeological exhibits testifying to a Christian presence of more than a thousand years on Polish soil.
It is obligatory to visit the cathedral and royal tombs. The huge Zygmunt bell only rings on occasions of the greatest importance to the country and the city.
You should also enter the castle walls at night - the gates are open much longer than the exhibitions - and admire the rare beauty of the arcaded courtyard, the cathedral, and look at the Vistula and the the unusual building standing on the other size. It contains Japanese artefacts collected by one of the most famous European collectors, Feliks "Manggha" Jasieński. After descending to the shores of the river, you will see the Wawel Dragon and the entrance to his den - a favourite destination of family walks. At this point in June, around midsummer night, an ancient pagan event is held with people dressed in traditional garlands.
Route 2: Kazimierz
Formerly it was a separate town, but today is a district of Krakow, to which we will get by descending from the Wawel Hill.
Every corner of Kazimierz in Krakow, tells the history of Polish Jews. It is felt in the system of narrow streets and marketplaces, in the small tenements, synagogues and Jewish cemeteries. After the tragedy of World War II and the extermination of the Jews by the Germans, Kazimierz was deserted and for decades fell into disrepair. The current turbulent development of this part of the city was sealed by the political changes of 1989.
Kazimierz was on the big screen thanks to Steven Spielberg, who shot the multi Oscar-winning Schindler's List here. The world famous Jewish Culture Festival, held since the early 90s, focuses on the history and traditions of the people who once lived here: workshops, lectures and exhibitions are held at this time. Today you can already speak of a revival of Kazimierz and see its new image.
For centuries, two nations and two great religions functioned here - close to the synagogues tower St Catherine's and Corpus Christi Churches, and on St. Stanislaus day there are processions to the Pauline Church on the Rock. Every visitor to Kazimierz discovers for themselves its extraordinary character, as the exclusive hotels and restaurants are still adjacent to craft workshops, such as those with leather goods, cobblers or engravers. To see it all, you should go for a walk in the vicinity of pl. Nowy, Miodowa and Josef streets, visit ulica Szeroka, where there is the final concert of the annual Festival of Jewish Culture.
Kazimierz is also a place especially cherished by all lovers of antiques and jumble. Flea markets are held here in Nowy square and in the nearby Market Hall on Grzegórzki.
