Posted by List of the top 10 sights of Krakow with short description.
Krakow is the most visited city in Poland. Many tourists come for the great Old Town. However, there are also important attractions outside the Old Town and in the surroundings of the second largest city in Poland. Below are the top 10 attractions in and around Krakow:
1. Krakow Main Market: a great square with many old buildings in different styles. Highlights include St. Mary’s Church (see below) and the Clay Halls. The Main Market, also known simply as Market Square, Market or Main Square of Krakow, is the largest city square in Europe (about 200 x 200 meters). Number 1 among the top 10 sights of Krakow.
2, St. Mary’s Church Krakow: One of the most famous churches in Poland and the city’s landmark. world famous are the two towers of different heights and the high altar inside the church. Also the trumpeter, who plays every full hour on the tower of St. Mary’s Church, is a well-known attraction for visitors to Krakow.
3. Wawel Castle: A few minutes walk south of the city center is the great castle of the city of Krakow. The city castle of Krakow is one of the very big attractions in Krakow. Also called the Krakow Castle or the Krakow Royal Castle.
4. Oskar Schindler Museum: The most popular museum in Krakow. The theme is the Oskar Schindler factory and the Nazi period in Poland. Here the entrepreneur saved many Jews from concentration camps and death during the Nazi period. Known from the Spielberg film Schindler’s List.
5. Cloth halls Krakow: The beautiful halls from the Renaissance period are among the most famous buildings in Europe from the Renaissance era. Located right in the middle of Krakow’s large market square.
6. Casimir: The former Jewish quarter south of the old town of Krakow with several synagogues is also a great sight. Today there are many good restaurants here and also bars for later in the evening.
7. Tour Auschwitz Concentration Camp: A sad sight about an hour’s drive from Krakow. Exhibits worth seeing, much has been preserved.
8. Salt mine Wieliczka: Very many tourists in Krakow visit the former salt mine Wieliczka, a good 10 km south of the center of the city. You can go down more than 60 meters on a staircase and see a lot. Rightly a top 10 sight.
9. Zoo Krakow: A nice, medium-sized zoo, which does not cost as much admission as similar zoos in Germany. Especially with children a great change.
10. Rynek Underground: A great, ultra-modern museum right under the main market in the center. A new attraction. Main theme of the museum is the great marketplace in the Middle Ages. Rynek (Polish) means market.
So 8 of the top 10 sights are in the city, 2 outside (Auschwitz and the Salt Mine).
In Krakow’s central market square are St. Mary’s Church, the Cloth Halls Krakow and the Pynek Underground Museum.
You can explore Krakow on your own or as part of a tour: Tours Krakow
Great YouTube video about top sights in Krakow
Longer list of many attractions in and around Krakow (Poland)
– Market Square (Rynek Główny)
The largest medieval market square in Europe.
– St. Mary’s Church (Bazylika Mariacka)
Famous for its Gothic altar by Veit Stoss.
– Wawel Castle
The royal castle on Wawel Hill, once the residence of Polish kings.
– Wawel Cathedral
The coronation church of Polish kings.
– Cloth Hall (Sukiennice)
Former market hall in the middle of the market square.
– Florian’s Gate (Brama Floriańska)
The medieval main entrance to the Old Town.
– Krakow Barbican
A circular building that defended the city walls.
– Rynek Underground Museum
A fascinating underground museum beneath the Main Market Square.
– Kazimierz – The Jewish Quarter
Historic district with synagogues, museums and Jewish restaurants.
– Oskar Schindler’s Factory (Fabryka Schindlera)
Museum dedicated to the history of the German occupation and Schindler’s rescue of the Jews.
– Nowa Huta
A socialist district that serves as an example of urban planning experiments.
– Wieliczka Salt Mine
UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest salt mines in the world.
– Krakow Plantation Park
A green belt surrounding the Old Town.
– Jagiellonian University (Collegium Maius)
The oldest university in Poland, founded in 1364.
– Czartoryski Museum
It houses the painting “Lady with an Ermine” by Leonardo da Vinci.
– Kosciuszko Mound
An artificial hill offering a panoramic view of the city.
– Krakow Ghetto and Plac Bohaterów Getta Memorial
Historic square with a memorial to the victims of the ghetto.
– Botanical Garden of the Jagiellonian University
The oldest botanical garden in Poland.
– National Museum of Krakow
The largest museum in the city with an extensive art collection.
– Benedictine Abbey of Tyniec
Monastery with a beautiful view of the Vistula River.
– Pope John Paul II Museum
Pays tribute to the life of the Polish Pope.
– Museum of Contemporary Art in Kraków (MOCAK)
Contemporary art from Poland and around the world.
– Ghetto Heroes Square
Memorial to the Krakow Ghetto.
– Wawel Dragon
A fire-breathing sculpture under Wawel Hill.
– St. Peter and Paul Church Krakow
Baroque church with impressive statues of apostles.
– Remuh Synagogue
One of the oldest synagogues in Kazimierz.
– Angel Bridge (Most im. Ojca Bernatka)
A modern pedestrian bridge connecting Kazimierz with Podgórze.
– Kraków Arena (Tauron Arena)
Venue for concerts and sporting events.
– Pilsudski Hill
Another artificial hill in honour of Józef Piłsudski.
– Galeria Krakowska
One of the largest shopping arcades in the city.
– Muzeum Sztuki Współczesnej w Krakowie (Museum of Contemporary Art)
Modern museum in the former Oskar Schindler factory district.
– Church of Our Lady
Gothic church with magnificent interiors.
– Zakrzowek
A beautiful lake popular with divers and hikers.
– Jordana Park
A historic park with sports facilities and monuments.
– Blonia Meadow
A large green area near the Old Town, popular for events.
37. Muzeum Armii Krajowej
– Museum dedicated to the history of the Polish Home Army during World War II.
– Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Culture
Unique museum presenting Japanese culture in Kraków.
– Museum of Municipal Engineering
A museum with a collection of historic vehicles and engineering.
– Stary Kleparz
A traditional farmers’ market near the Old Town.
– Kraków Ethnographic Museum
Exhibitions on folk art and Polish culture.
– Koscioł na Skałce (Church on the Rock)
One of the most important churches in Kraków with a famous crypt.
– Old Synagogue
The oldest surviving synagogue in Poland.
– Płaszow Concentration Camp
Former concentration camp near Kraków.
– Kopiec Kraka (Krakus Mound)
A prehistoric mound with great views.
– Cmentarz Rakowicki
A significant historical cemetery.
– St. Joseph’s Church
Neo-Gothic church in the Podgórze district.
– Ojcowski National Park
A national park with spectacular rocks and caves.
– Ojcow Castle A medieval castle ruin in the Ojców National Park.
– Pieskowa Skała A well-preserved Renaissance castle in the Ojcowski National Park.
