Kraków

The city of Kraków (also known as Cracow) is in the Lesser Poland region in the southern region of Poland. It is the capital city of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship. It covers both banks of the Wisła (or Vistula) river. Uplands region at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains. It is Poland's second largest city, with a population of 760 000 in 2015 (1.4 million if including surrounding communities).

Kraków is one of the oldest cities in Poland, with evidence showing settlements there since 20,000 BC. Legend has it that it was built on the cave of a dragon whom the mythical King Krak had slain. However, the first official mention of the name was in 966 by a Jewish merchant from Spain, who described it as an important centre of trade in Slavonic Europe.

Through trade with the various rulers of Europe, it grew from a small settlement in 1000 AD to a large wealthy city, belonging to the Vistulans. However, through the 9th and 10th centuries, it fell under the influence of the Great Moravians, then the Bohemians, before being captured by the Piast Dynasty of Poland. In 1038, Kazimierz the Restorer made Kraków the capital of Poland.

In 1241, the city was almost entirely destroyed by Tatars. It was rebuilt to a design that remains largely unchanged to the present day. However, after more successful attacks by the Mongols in the late 13th century, Kazimierz the Great set about defending the city. Walls, fortifications, and the original Wawel Castle were added. The University was also established. King Kazimierz established the district of Kazimierz for Jews to live in free from persecution. This area remained mainly Jewish for centuries until the Nazi occupation.

The 16th century was Kraków's golden age. Under the influence of the joint Polish-Lithuanian Jagiellonian dynasty, Kraków became a centre of science and the arts. In 1569, Poland was officially united with Lithuania and as a result government activity started to move to Warsaw. King Zygmunt III officially moved the capital in 1609.

However, the 17th century was a return to troubled times for Kraków and Poland. After being invaded by Russians, Prussians, Austrians, Transylvanians, Swedes, and the French, it went through a phase of various forms of political control. These included being part of the Duchy of Warsaw, established by Napoleon, and becoming an "independent city". However, it mostly fell under the sphere of influence of the Austrian Habsburg Empire, in the province of Galicia.

In the First World War, Józef Piłsudski set out to liberate Poland and the Treaty of Versailles (1919) established an independent sovereign Polish state for the first time in more than 100 years. This lasted until the Second World War, when Germany and the USSR partitioned the country, with German forces entering Kraków in September 1939. Many academics were killed and historic relics and monuments were destroyed or looted. Concentration camps were established near Kraków, including Plaszow and Auschwitz; see Holocaust remembrance. After German withdrawal, the city escaped complete destruction and many buildings were saved.

In the Communist period, a large steel work factory was established in the suburb of Nowa Huta. This was seen as an attempt to lessen the influence of the anti-communist intelligentsia and religious communities in Kraków; see Cold War Europe. In 1978, UNESCO placed Kraków on the World Heritage Sites list. In the same year, the Archbishop of Kraków, Karol Wojtyła, was made Pope John Paul II.

The communist government collapsed in 1989 and Kraków has undergone another period of regeneration, with historic buildings being restored, but many of the dull post-war buildings still remain.

There are four definite seasons to Kraków - summer being hot and humid (average highs of 25°C) and winter always seeing Kraków under a blanket of snow with bitingly cold days (average lows of -3/-4°C). Due to little wind, Kraków suffers from high levels of air pollution from cars and coal stoves, which especially affects children and people with respiratory problems.

Kraków is the most popular tourist destination in Poland and this supports much of the local economy. However, the University and numerous local colleges mean education is an important employer as well.

The service and technology industry is strong, with many banks and IT companies, such as IBM, Cisco, Oracle, being located here. There is a large manufacturing sector as well, especially in steel (owned by Mittal), pharmaceuticals and tobacco, mainly as a legacy of the communist era.

Unemployment is lower than average (5%) for the rest of the country (9%) and it is considered an attractive investment opportunity, especially for those buying real estate. A new financial and business district is planned along with a new sporting complex in the Nowa Huta borough on the Vistula river. This is for the regeneration of the Nowa Huta area, the poorest district of Kraków.

There is an English language monthly paper called Kraków Post available for free in clubs and culture venues throughout the city, where you can check the news, events taking place and new bars that opened in Kraków any given month.

Kraków consists of 18 districts. The historic Old City is situated in District I Stare Miasto. Even though the words Stare Miasto mean 'old town', it should not be confused with the historic old town of Kraków itself, as the medieval old town is only a small central part of District I Stare Miasto. Some of the communities around the edge of Kraków can show you real Polish life away from the tourist-focused economy of the centre.

The article for Kraków is divided into districts as follows:

Most of the popular tourist attractions including Wawel Hill with Royal Castle and Wawel Cathedral and Main Square with St. Mary's Basilica and Sukiennice are in the Old Town.

The Kazimierz district is very interesting for those who want to see Jewish heritage of Central Europe. The Remuh synagogue, for example, was built in 1557 and, also if it's not so well-conserved and the entrance costs 5 zł, it has a great atmosphere with its old walls and its ancient vestments. There is also the old cemetery, created in 1511 restored. The atmosphere is very melancholic there, and it deserves a visit.

The district of Nowa Huta was built during the Communist Era and was made for the people working in the huge steelworks (5 times larger than the Old Town of Kraków) that are located there. The architecture of the district is typical socialist; huge buildings surround green parks.

Travellers who come to Kraków often visit Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. Not many know that in Kraków there also was a Nazi concentration camp located in Podgórze district.

For aviation buffs there is the Polish Aviation Museum.

Kraków, the old royal capital, is acclaimed for its many precious architectural monuments and a unique friendly atmosphere. There are many things to do:

• Walk the entire Royal Way, from St. Florian's Gate, down Floriańska, across the Main Market Square, down Grodzka to the Wawel Castle.
• Listen to the Hejnał Mariacki (Trumpet Signal) while sipping a coffee in the Rynek Główny. The signal is played live every full hour from the tower of St Mary Church and is cut suddenly in memory of a trumpeter shot and killed by a Tatar arrow in 1241.
• Walk around the Planty, a large park that surrounds the entire Old Town.
• Lounge and take in the sun on the banks of the Vistula river. See the Dragon's Lair and see the dragon breathe fire. Walk across footbridge Kładka Bernatka which connects Kazimierz with Podgórze.
• Take a cruise down the river, it's a perfect way to admire the Tyniec Abbey and Bielany Priory. In summer there are several ships harboured next to Wawel Castle and there's also city-owned water tram but it's harder to find.
• Early on Sunday, go shopping at the open air flea markets at Plac Nowy and Hala Targowa. 7:00-13:00
• Participate in a Mass in St. Mary's Church. The church is impressive and the devotion of the believers will bring you inside of the real religious spirit.
• Visit Nowa Huta and lose yourself between the apartment blocks, built for the working class in a style heavily influenced by socialist realism.
• Visit the district of Kazimierz, losing yourself in the tight streets and searching the tracks of the Jewish past of Kraków.
• Learn about life in Kraków under Nazi German occupation in the original Schindler's Factory building in the Podgórze district.
• Take part in a city game which combines sightseeing of the city with adventure, integration and fun. You'll find them advertised in hostels.
• Foreign visitors can find locals eager to practice speaking English and other languages at the English Language Club on the second floor at ul. Sienna 5 (i.e. two floors above the ground floor at ul. Sienna 5, 100 m from the Main Market Square) on Wednesday evenings from 6-8PM.

• Jewish Culture Festival. A classic, one the biggest Jewish culture festivals in the world. A week of tours, concerts, workshops on cuisine, dance, music and calligraphy topped with a huge final show on Saturday evening. June/July
• Bajit Chadasz. Jewish culture festival, organised by Jewish Cultural Centre in Kazimierz with concerts, exhibitions and lectures.
• Krakow Film Festival. One of the oldest film events dedicated to documentary, animated and short fiction films in Europe. In a week over 200 films are shown in around six cinemas (10 screens) around the city and in an open air one next to Wawel castle. May
• Off Camera. International festival of independent cinema. April
• Etiuda&Anima. International film festival built around animations and short films. November
• ArtBoom Festival. Street art. In 2012 participants included Ai Weiwei and Russian collective Voina. June
• Photomonth. One month long festival with around forty different photography exhibitions around the city. May
• Live Music Festival. Typical summer open air music fest. Stars that appeared past years include: Kanye West, Muse, The Chemical Brothers, 50 Cent. second half of August
• Unsound. World-renowned experimental music and art event. October
• Sacrum Profanum. Music fest with concerts of such stars as Steve Reich, Aphex Twin or Kraftwerk taking place in unusual places like churches, museums and factories. September
• Wianki. St. John's Night (Midsummer) celebration. An evening of concerts finished with a fireworks show taking place on Vistula river banks next to Wawel castle. A booze-up. June
• Christmas Market Oldest Christmas market in Poland. Held every year from the end of November to the end of December on Main Market Square. December
• Krakowskie Noce. Five nights (one in each month from May to September): Night of Museums (free museums), Night of Theatres (free theatres), Night of Jazz (free jazz concerts), Cracovia Sacra Night (free concerts of church music) and Night of Poetry (free poetic evenings).
• there are many events happening at the TAURON Arena (large sports and concert arena) and ICE (newly built congress centre).

Jewish Culture Festival. A classic, one the biggest Jewish culture festivals in the world. A week of tours, concerts, workshops on cuisine, dance, music and calligraphy topped with a huge final show on Saturday evening. June/July

Bajit Chadasz. Jewish culture festival, organised by Jewish Cultural Centre in Kazimierz with concerts, exhibitions and lectures.

Krakow Film Festival. One of the oldest film events dedicated to documentary, animated and short fiction films in Europe. In a week over 200 films are shown in around six cinemas (10 screens) around the city and in an open air one next to Wawel castle. May

Off Camera. International festival of independent cinema. April

Etiuda&Anima. International film festival built around animations and short films. November

ArtBoom Festival. Street art. In 2012 participants included Ai Weiwei and Russian collective Voina. June

Photomonth. One month long festival with around forty different photography exhibitions around the city. May

Live Music Festival. Typical summer open air music fest. Stars that appeared past years include: Kanye West, Muse, The Chemical Brothers, 50 Cent. second half of August

Unsound. World-renowned experimental music and art event. October

Sacrum Profanum. Music fest with concerts of such stars as Steve Reich, Aphex Twin or Kraftwerk taking place in unusual places like churches, museums and factories. September

Wianki. St. John's Night (Midsummer) celebration. An evening of concerts finished with a fireworks show taking place on Vistula river banks next to Wawel castle. A booze-up. June

Christmas Market Oldest Christmas market in Poland. Held every year from the end of November to the end of December on Main Market Square. December

Krakowskie Noce. Five nights (one in each month from May to September): Night of Museums (free museums), Night of Theatres (free theatres), Night of Jazz (free jazz concerts), Cracovia Sacra Night (free concerts of church music) and Night of Poetry (free poetic evenings).

See a football game. There are two first league teams in Kraków (and obviously their fans hate each other) - Cracovia Kraków and Wisła Kraków, both have finished new stadiums on two sides of Błonia park. To buy a ticket you must present a document with a photo (passport, driving license, etc.) There are discounts for women, school kids and students aged under 26. The Cracovia stadium is smaller, which also means that no matter which seats you choose, you will get a good view of the pitch. At the Wisła stadium, check the sector before you book - some seats are quite far away from the pitch. Do not display any team colours, jerseys, or the like. Rival gangs associate themselves with the Wisła and Cracovia teams. Of course, this is a minority of football fans, but it's best to be safe, especially as an out-of-towner.

You can also play on one of the golf courses located near the city:

• Krakow Valley Golf & Country Club. Paczółtowice 328, Krzeszowice. Also a hotel, shooting range and horse rides.
• Royal Kraków Golf & Country Club. Ochmanów 124, Podłęże. Between Wieliczka and Niepołomice. Also a hotel.

Krakow Valley Golf & Country Club. Paczółtowice 328, Krzeszowice. Also a hotel, shooting range and horse rides.

Royal Kraków Golf & Country Club. Ochmanów 124, Podłęże. Between Wieliczka and Niepołomice. Also a hotel.

Walk the entire Royal Way, from St. Florian's Gate, down Floriańska, across the Main Market Square, down Grodzka to the Wawel Castle.

Walk around the Planty, a large park that surrounds the entire Old Town.

Lounge and take in the sun on the banks of the Vistula river. See the Dragon's Lair and see the dragon breathe fire. Walk across footbridge Kładka Bernatka which connects Kazimierz with Podgórze.

Take a cruise down the river, it's a perfect way to admire the Tyniec Abbey and Bielany Priory. In summer there are several ships harboured next to Wawel Castle and there's also city-owned water tram but it's harder to find.

Early on Sunday, go shopping at the open air flea markets at Plac Nowy and Hala Targowa. 7:00-13:00

Participate in a Mass in St. Mary's Church. The church is impressive and the devotion of the believers will bring you inside of the real religious spirit.

Visit Nowa Huta and lose yourself between the apartment blocks, built for the working class in a style heavily influenced by socialist realism.

Visit the district of Kazimierz, losing yourself in the tight streets and searching the tracks of the Jewish past of Kraków.

Learn about life in Kraków under Nazi German occupation in the original Schindler's Factory building in the Podgórze district.

Take part in a city game which combines sightseeing of the city with adventure, integration and fun. You'll find them advertised in hostels.

Foreign visitors can find locals eager to practice speaking English and other languages at the English Language Club on the second floor at ul. Sienna 5 (i.e. two floors above the ground floor at ul. Sienna 5, 100 m from the Main Market Square) on Wednesday evenings from 6-8PM.

The Old Town district offers excellent shopping, especially for clothes, jewellery, and art. You can wander all around the Old Town and Kazimierz, where antique stores abound. The centre of this all is the Rynek Główny ("Rynek" also means "market"), where you will find some of the city's top stores.

In the middle of the Rynek Główny stands Sukiennice (Cloth Hall), a centre of trade in Kraków for hundreds of years. The entire ground floor is a market, where local artists sell their wares. Look for amber jewellery and sheepskin rugs. A great place to check out if you want to bring an authentic piece of Kraków back home.

If you're addicted to shopping, be sure to check out the Royal Way (Floriańska - Rynek Główny - Grodzka) and the streets surrounding Plac Nowy in the Kazimierz district.

Luckily you can still get basic food supplies in the centre in independent and chain grocery stores but they start to give way to luxury hotels and bank agencies. Alcohol can be easily found in groceries and common 24/7 shops.

There are two shopping malls in the central area, which include many clothes shops and eateries:

• Galeria Krakowska. Immediately next to the Main Train Station and a 5-minute walk from the Main Square.
• Galeria Kazimierz. Located at the southern tip of Kazimierz, on the Vistula River bank offers 36,000m² of stores and a gourmet supermarket.

Plenty of other international chains (Carrefour, Real, Tesco, Lidl) are located in the outskirts/suburbs Kraków, i.e., Bonarka (ul. Kamieńskiego 11) the biggest but quite far from the centre.

Galeria Krakowska. Immediately next to the Main Train Station and a 5-minute walk from the Main Square.

Galeria Kazimierz. Located at the southern tip of Kazimierz, on the Vistula River bank offers 36,000m² of stores and a gourmet supermarket.

Kraków's cuisine has been influenced by the cultures that have inhabited central Europe, as well as the Austro-Hungarian empire.

The most popular dish from Kraków is obwarzanek (bagel). You can buy it at many stalls on the streets. Typical for Kraków is also maczanka, long-roasted pork. A local speciality from the voivodeship is oscypek - cheese from the Tatra Mountains.

If you want to try Polish simple cuisine for outstandingly good value prices (a big lunch for one person for about 8 zł) then find a 'Bar Mleczny' (a milk bar - a kind of cafeteria very prevalent in Communist times so called because it serves no alcohol). You can find one on the right side of ul. Grodzka (if you are going from Rynek Główny). They're not very posh and decorations are rather humble, but they offer classic Polish home food such as 'krokiety' at it's best. An English-Polish dictionary is recommended when ordering.

Casual dishes:

• Żurek is a soup based on fermented rye - it's sour and creamy and often has slices of kielbasa sausage or a hard-boiled egg added.
• Barszcz is a soup made with beetroot—very savoury.
• Kwaśnica is a soup made from pickled cabbage with a large proportion of sauerkraut and meat, usually eaten with potatoes or bread - while it's a less popular choice than barszcz and żurek, many visitors find it to be their favourite.
• Chłodnik is another beetroot soup, served cold as a refreshing summer dish. It makes use of the beetroot greens as well as the roots and is flavoured with gherkins, dill and sour cream.
• Pierogi are dumplings that are most often filled with "ruskie" ("ruskie" meaning "Ruthenian" - with curd cheese and potato), meat, cabbage, mushroom, bilberries, apples, and strawberries. The fruit Pierogi are usually served with cream and sugar.

You won't see this in most guides, but one of the true joys of a trip to Kraków is a visit to the kiełbasa van. Basically, it's these two gruff Polish men who, every night from 8PM-3AM (Mon-Sat), set up a fire grill outside of their van (parked in front of the market east of the Old Town near the train bridge) and grill kielbasa. For 8 zł, you get your sausage, roll and a squirt of mustard, stand at the perch nearby and chow down with the locals in-the-know. It is delicious, especially after a night of exploring Kraków's bars. A fun experience free of the usual tourist crush and off the main path (ul. Grzegórzecka, opposite ul. Blich)

By far the oldest street food in Kraków is zapiekanka which is a large open-faced baguette with baked toppings (traditionally cheese, mushrooms, and a lot of condiments like ketchup or garlic sauce). The most popular, location for zapiekanki is on the Plac Nowy market in Kazimierz. It is busiest at night on the weekends where you can purchase them until the early hours of the morning.

In Kraków you can also buy one of the best Polish sausages - Lisiecka.

Żurek is a soup based on fermented rye - it's sour and creamy and often has slices of kielbasa sausage or a hard-boiled egg added.

Barszcz is a soup made with beetroot—very savoury.

Kwaśnica is a soup made from pickled cabbage with a large proportion of sauerkraut and meat, usually eaten with potatoes or bread - while it's a less popular choice than barszcz and żurek, many visitors find it to be their favourite.

Chłodnik is another beetroot soup, served cold as a refreshing summer dish. It makes use of the beetroot greens as well as the roots and is flavoured with gherkins, dill and sour cream.

Pierogi are dumplings that are most often filled with "ruskie" ("ruskie" meaning "Ruthenian" - with curd cheese and potato), meat, cabbage, mushroom, bilberries, apples, and strawberries. The fruit Pierogi are usually served with cream and sugar.

Bars, pubs, and cafes in Kraków are one of its biggest attractions. Not just their number or quality, but close proximity. It has been said that there are more than 300 eating and drinking establishments in the Old Town alone.

• A tatanka is a unique (and delicious) Polish beverage made with apple juice and a special kind of vodka called żubrówka, which is flavoured with bison grass. It is also often referred to as a szarlotka, or apple cake. Tatanka is a Native American term for bison.
• Wódka miodowa is a honey vodka, often served chilled in shots. Some of the better Polish-themed restaurants will have house brands.
• Śliwowica, a plum brandy, is worth watching out for. There are two main variants: an 80-proof (40%) yellow tinged one and a 140-proof (70%) clear variety. While the 80-proof variety is often smooth and flavorful, some have compared the 140-proof to drinking gasoline. A good way to drink it is to deal with it like with an absinthe. Take a small spoon with sugar, put some Sliwowica on it and fire it. Let the sugar melt down for a while (10–30 seconds). Then, mix the flaming sugar with the rest of the drink. Let it burn for 5–10 seconds, then blow it and drink it. Watch out and don't burn your lips! You can also let it burn longer, but then use a straw to drink it to avoid burning your fingers or lips.
• Grzaniec, a sort of heated wine with cloves and other spices, very popular around Christmas when sold on Market Square.
• Wściekły pies, a shot of plain vodka with tabasco and raspberry sauces in the bottom. Must be drunk in one gulp. The name can be translated as rabid dog. Definitely worth trying.
• Kamikaze, a set of several shots of vodka-based alcohol sold usually in clubs. It usually contains equal parts of vodka, blue curacao and lime juice. Should be drunk in one gulp, one shot after another.

Warning: If you party with Poles you should be aware that some of them consume bigger dosage of alcohol than you're used to. Don't try to keep up with your Polish friends and make sure you have plenty of breaks when drinking.

A tatanka is a unique (and delicious) Polish beverage made with apple juice and a special kind of vodka called żubrówka, which is flavoured with bison grass. It is also often referred to as a szarlotka, or apple cake. Tatanka is a Native American term for bison.

Wódka miodowa is a honey vodka, often served chilled in shots. Some of the better Polish-themed restaurants will have house brands.

Śliwowica, a plum brandy, is worth watching out for. There are two main variants: an 80-proof (40%) yellow tinged one and a 140-proof (70%) clear variety. While the 80-proof variety is often smooth and flavorful, some have compared the 140-proof to drinking gasoline. A good way to drink it is to deal with it like with an absinthe. Take a small spoon with sugar, put some Sliwowica on it and fire it. Let the sugar melt down for a while (10–30 seconds). Then, mix the flaming sugar with the rest of the drink. Let it burn for 5–10 seconds, then blow it and drink it. Watch out and don't burn your lips! You can also let it burn longer, but then use a straw to drink it to avoid burning your fingers or lips.

Grzaniec, a sort of heated wine with cloves and other spices, very popular around Christmas when sold on Market Square.

Wściekły pies, a shot of plain vodka with tabasco and raspberry sauces in the bottom. Must be drunk in one gulp. The name can be translated as rabid dog. Definitely worth trying.

Kamikaze, a set of several shots of vodka-based alcohol sold usually in clubs. It usually contains equal parts of vodka, blue curacao and lime juice. Should be drunk in one gulp, one shot after another.

Thanks to their proximity to each other, Kraków's watering holes are ideal for bar hopping. Many locals and tourists have spent nights partying from the Old Town all the way to Vistula River at the end of Kazimierz. Walk down ul. Szeroka or head over to Plac Nowy for streets full of bars.

The newly-opened Tytano district offers a loft-style, London-like selection of coctail-bars, restaurants and clubs. It's based in the proximity of the city centre on the corner of Dolnych Młynów and Czarnowiejska streets. If you're looking for a place to relax, there is plenty of bars to choose from there.

In the warmer months, Kraków's nightlife moves outdoors into hundreds of sidewalk cafes and beer gardens. When winter comes around, it moves underground into cellars all around the city.

Kraków is not only full of cosy cafes but is also said to be the place of the first cafe founded in Europe. Most cafes offer good espresso and something to nibble at a very reasonable price. As a rule, international-looking places are much more expensive.

Like the rest of Poland, Kraków is generally a very safe city with strong police presence. Violent behaviour is rare and if it occurs it is most likely alcohol-related. While pubs and clubs are generally very safe, the nearby streets may be scenes of brawls, especially late at night. Try to avoid confrontations. Women and girls are generally less likely to be confronted or harassed since the Polish code of conduct strictly prohibits any type of violence (physical or verbal) against women.

Follow standard city travel rules: don't leave valuables in the car in plain sight; don't display money or expensive things needlessly; know where you're going; be suspicious of strangers asking for money or trying to sell you something.

Pickpockets operate, pay attention to your belongings in crowds, at stations, in crowded trains/buses (especially to/from the airport), and clubs.

In any case, do not be afraid to seek help or advice from the Police (Policja) or the Municipal Guard (Straż Miejska). They are generally helpful, polite and in most cases speak at least basic English.

As a result of Nazi German and Soviet terror, modern Poland is a very homogeneous society. Even though quite a few Asian and African migrants have settled in the larger cities (including Kraków) in the last couple of years, it is still quite rare to see non-Caucasians on the Polish streets. If you are a non-white traveller do not be surprised (or alarmed) if some people (especially young children) stare at you with curiosity. The overwhelming majority of Poles is composed of warm, hospitable people who are often curious to learn more about other cultures. Racist incidents are extremely rare, but, just like anywhere else in Europe, have taken place. If you are unfortunate enough to experience racism or too much curiosity, it is important not to get yourself involved in a confrontation. Walk away instead.

As in any major tourist city, there are people trying to take advantage of travellers. Generally, use common sense and follow simple precautions. Below is a list of the most common scams:

In line with its reputation as an inexpensive all-male trip destination, Kraków is unfortunately notorious for the bar scams typical of many popular tourist destinations. The scam, in short, involves being chatted up by attractive women and invited to join them in a club for drinks. The bill for the drinks then turns out to run up multifold of what one might have expected to pay. Two establishments notorious for perpetrating this are Saxon Club and Hard Candy, but you may be asked to follow your newly acquired company to nondescript premises not appearing to be a public open club as well.

A few Kraków visitors have been victim to the hotel scam. After a long day of travel, the victim is awakened when their hotel room phone rings. It's the receptionist apologising for the late hour but asking to verify credit card details. The victim reads them out and drifts back to sleep. As Kraków guides know, there is a growing black market for stolen credit card numbers, and the chances are that even before the victim remembers this late night conversation there will be high charges to contest, possibly even ending their vacation early.

When using a taxi always ask for a price for your journey before you leave. Scam taxis have been found to operate near to the main railway station. They are legally registered as "transportation services" and charge €20/km. The prices of regular taxis are limited by law, and the price list is easily visible. It should be around 2.30 zł per kilometre, with an initial fee of 7 zł (first kilometre included in price). Reliable licensed taxi companies include Taxi Barbakan, Taxi Dwójki, Lajkonik Taxi and Taxi 19191. While it is legal for "transportation services" to charge people as much as they like, their prices must be clearly displayed and must be clearly stated when you ask the driver. If you do not agree with the price, do not use the service. The best way to get a reliable taxi is to call them by phone (you can do it by yourself or ask hotel staff to do it for you).

Look very closely what the buy rate is when you exchange your currency into PLN, and ask for the exact rate in writing. Do not let the clerk point on the chart with rates; insist on their quoting the rate for you beforehand on a piece of paper. Very often the rate is displayed not on an electronic board, but with digits on small tiles; it may happen that a small tile with a zero is partially slid right under the comma in the "buy" rate, so e.g. instead of 3.45 zł the actual rate is 3.045 zł. This is difficult to notice and the clerks do not accept any complaints after you receive your money. Victims may lose up to 20% of the exchanged amount. This practice is definitely unfair and on the verge of legality. It has been described and condemned in the local press. However, if the tile with 0 is visible at least in half, the booth owner may escape responsibility, as your acceptance of the rates is assumed. Remember the rule of thumb - spread between the "buy" and "sell"rates should not exceed 2-3% of the "buy" rate on the main currencies (EUR, USD, GBP) and 5% on secondary currencies (CHF, JPY, SEK, NOK). Stick to banks (even if the rate is slightly worse, it is still perfectly acceptable) or large currency exchange points.

The currency exchange point at the railway station usually operates at rip-off spreads. Avoid at all costs, unless you are in a big hurry or selling złoty. Also avoid the exchange points at the airport, or exchange only the amount for the ticket to the city centre.

Best rates are available on Sławkowska Street, extending from the north-west corner of the Main Market Square.

Jaywalking is enforced in Kraków. If you're jaywalking (crossing at a red light for pedestrian, outside of a zebra-crossing), even if it was perfectly safe (you looked on both sides, there was no car coming, etc.), there are chances that a police officer will wait for you on the other side of the street, and give you a 100 zł ticket for doing so: tourist or not, you will have to pay for it.

Some of these are only honorary consulates. If you come from a country which has only an honorary consulate in Kraków, note down a telephone number to the embassy in Warsaw, as honorary consulates do not provide any services for travellers.

• Brazil Brazil, ul. Wrocławska 53, (12) 633 40 88. (honorary consulate)
• Chile Chile, ul. Floriańska 3, (12) 428 92 50. (honorary consulate)
• Croatia Croatia, ul. ks. Jerzego Popiełuszki 36, (12) 290 65 10. (honorary consulate)
• Denmark Denmark, ul. św. Anny 5, (12) 421 71 20. (honorary consulate)
• Estonia Estonia, ul. Floriańska 15/4, 0501 014 230. (honorary consulate)
• France France, ul. Stolarska 15, (12) 424 53 00. (full consulate)
• Germany Germany, ul. Stolarska 7, (12) 424 30 00. (full consulate)
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• Auschwitz-Birkenau Former German Nazi camp 2 km outside city of Oświęcim, 65 km from Kraków.
  • Getting there: Leave a whole day for this if you want to go. The Auschwitz camp and the much bigger Birkenau camp are a few kilometres apart. Frequent and inexpensive buses leave from the main bus station in Kraków, and trains leave approximately every two hours from the adjacent railway station. Most will let you out at the main Oświęcim station, a short walk from the camp (follow the signs to "Muzeum"). Alternately, a frequent PKS bus drops off and picks up directly in front of the visitor center—just check for destination "Oświęcim Muzeum." (You can buy a ticket from the bus driver.) You can find bus schedules at MDA and trains from rozklad-pkp. From Auschwitz, there is a free shuttle to Birkenau.
  • Tours and guides: There is no need to pay for overpriced organised tours from Kraków, which are heavily advertised. Travel to Auschwitz using local trains or buses is easy and inexpensive, and entrance is free of charge. The only thing you need to pay for when you get there is a guide (which is optional - English language tours cost 40 zł and run every hour between 10:30 and 15:30 Tours may be joined at the site without prior reservation. Auschwitz II-Birkenau is open to unguided visitors all day) -- they have official tours available in many languages for a modest fee. If you do want an organised tour from Kraków (which generally includes a bus there and a guide once there), they cost ~130 zł per person. Many hotels and travel agents in Kraków, as well as the Galicja Museum in Kazimierz, can direct you to reputable companies.
• Wieliczka, 17 km from Kraków, is the location of ancient salt mines, one of the original 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and a definite must-see. Entrance to the mines (64 zł) is rather expensive compared to other tourist attractions in Poland. Bus 304 (4 zł, recognisable yellow buses, the first stop is in front of Galeria Krakowska) makes frequent trips to and from the mines. There are 4 Wieliczka stops; get off at Wieliczka Kopalnia Soli (look for a giant "SALT MINES" sign). The ride takes 40 minutes. There is also a train to Wieliczka that lets off a short (and well-marked) walk from the mine.
• Bochnia — Historic salt mine, older than Wieliczka. 40 km from Kraków. Must see. SK-BUS minibuses from Kraków Main Railway Station (Dworzec Główny), or train (direction: Tarnów, Rzeszów, Stróże, Nowy Sącz/Krynica).
• Bielsko-Biała — 80 km southwest city with cosy old town and many beautiful buildings from Austro-Hunagrian times. Many buses from Kraków Bus Station (RDA).
• Tarnów — The second largest city in region with a beautiful main market.
• Nowy Sącz — 100 km southeast beautiful old city with a fine main market square.
• Zakopane — 100 km south in the Tatra Mountains is considered to be the Polish winter sport capital. Other winter sport centres near Kraków in the Beskids are Szczyrk, Żywiec, Zawoja, Korbielów, Bukowina Tatrzańska, Białka Tatrzańska, Rabka-Zdrój, Szczawnica, Wisła, Koniaków and Ustroń.
• Częstochowa - 120 km northwest is the most important pilgrim's place in Central Europe. In the Pauline Monastery on Jasna Góra (literally: bright hill) you can pray in front of one of the most known icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa.
• Wadowice - 40 km southwest is the birthplace of Karol Wojtyła, John Paul II.
• Beautiful Renaissance castles in Pieskowa Skała, Nowy Wiśnicz, Niepołomice, Sucha Beskidzka and Niedzica.
• The "Eagle Nest Castle Ruins" in the Jura in Ogrodzieniec, Olsztyn, Rudno, Mirów and Ojców.
• Monasteries near Kraków are in Tyniec and Kalwaria Zebrzydowska.
• Spas near Kraków are in Krynica, Muszyna, Busko-Zdrój, and Piwniczna.
• Zalipie, a small village, is unique because of its floral hand painted houses.

[[Auschwitz|Auschwitz-Birkenau]] Former German Nazi camp 2 km outside city of [[Oświęcim]], 65 km from Kraków.

• Getting there: Leave a whole day for this if you want to go. The Auschwitz camp and the much bigger Birkenau camp are a few kilometres apart. Frequent and inexpensive buses leave from the main bus station in Kraków, and trains leave approximately every two hours from the adjacent railway station. Most will let you out at the main Oświęcim station, a short walk from the camp (follow the signs to "Muzeum"). Alternately, a frequent PKS bus drops off and picks up directly in front of the visitor center—just check for destination "Oświęcim Muzeum." (You can buy a ticket from the bus driver.) You can find bus schedules at MDA and trains from rozklad-pkp. From Auschwitz, there is a free shuttle to Birkenau.
• Tours and guides: There is no need to pay for overpriced organised tours from Kraków, which are heavily advertised. Travel to Auschwitz using local trains or buses is easy and inexpensive, and entrance is free of charge. The only thing you need to pay for when you get there is a guide (which is optional - English language tours cost 40 zł and run every hour between 10:30 and 15:30 Tours may be joined at the site without prior reservation. Auschwitz II-Birkenau is open to unguided visitors all day) -- they have official tours available in many languages for a modest fee. If you do want an organised tour from Kraków (which generally includes a bus there and a guide once there), they cost ~130 zł per person. Many hotels and travel agents in Kraków, as well as the Galicja Museum in Kazimierz, can direct you to reputable companies.

[[Wieliczka]], 17 km from Kraków, is the location of ancient salt mines, one of the original 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and a definite must-see. Entrance to the mines (64 zł) is rather expensive compared to other tourist attractions in Poland. Bus 304 (4 zł, recognisable yellow buses, the first stop is in front of Galeria Krakowska) makes frequent trips to and from the mines. There are 4 Wieliczka stops; get off at Wieliczka Kopalnia Soli (look for a giant "SALT MINES" sign). The ride takes 40 minutes. There is also a train to Wieliczka that lets off a short (and well-marked) walk from the mine.

[[Bochnia]] — Historic salt mine, older than Wieliczka. 40 km from Kraków. Must see. SK-BUS minibuses from Kraków Main Railway Station (Dworzec Główny), or train (direction: Tarnów, Rzeszów, Stróże, Nowy Sącz/Krynica).

[[Bielsko-Biała]] — 80 km southwest city with cosy old town and many beautiful buildings from Austro-Hunagrian times. Many buses from Kraków Bus Station (RDA).

[[Tarnów]] — The second largest city in region with a beautiful main market.

[[Nowy Sącz]] — 100 km southeast beautiful old city with a fine main market square.

[[Zakopane]] — 100 km south in the [[Tatra Mountains]] is considered to be the Polish winter sport capital. Other winter sport centres near Kraków in the [[Beskids]] are [[Szczyrk]], [[Żywiec]], [[Zawoja]], [[Korbielów]], [[Bukowina Tatrzańska]], [[Białka Tatrzańska]], [[Rabka-Zdrój]], [[Szczawnica]], [[Wisła]], [[Koniaków]] and [[Ustroń]].

[[Częstochowa]] - 120 km northwest is the most important pilgrim's place in Central Europe. In the Pauline Monastery on Jasna Góra (literally: bright hill) you can pray in front of one of the most known icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa.

[[Wadowice]] - 40 km southwest is the birthplace of Karol Wojtyła, John Paul II.

Beautiful Renaissance castles in [[Pieskowa Skała]], [[Nowy Wiśnicz]], [[Niepołomice]], [[Sucha Beskidzka]] and [[Niedzica]].

The "Eagle Nest Castle Ruins" in the Jura in [[Ogrodzieniec]], [[Olsztyn, Silesian Voivodeship|Olsztyn]], [[Rudno]], [[Mirów]] and [[Ojców]].

Monasteries near Kraków are in [[Tyniec]] and [[Kalwaria Zebrzydowska]].

Spas near Kraków are in [[Krynica]], [[Muszyna]], [[Busko-Zdrój]], and [[Piwniczna]].