Krakow

Krakow is one of the largest and oldest cities in Poland. This beautiful city is situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region. Krakow was the capital of Poland for a long time until it changed to Warsaw- but Krakow remains close to the hearts of the polish people

-a fascinating mix of old tradition and modernisation, therefore there are plenty of sights to see and places to explore in Krakow. It has also been heralded as the “new Prague.”

Dating back to a legend a few hundred years old we begin with the Dragon’s Den, a 200ft long cave situated in the side of Wawel Hill. This cave is thought to have been the lair of a fearsome dragon that terrorised the villagers and devoured their livestock. In this small village lived Krakus who managed to kill the dragon with an ingenious plan. He was made ruler and was built a castle on the hill. When he died he was given a magnificent burial and the tombstone can still be seen to this day- be sure to visit and be taken back to days of old.

The Wawel Royal Castle situated on Wawel hill is definitely worth a visit. The castle is not only impressive from the outside but inside there is a museum where visitors can learn a little more about the history of this magnificent building.

There are plenty of other fascinating buildings – St Andrews Church is one of the oldest buildings in Krakow and from 1320 it was used by the Order of St. Klara's. Next to St Andrews is St Peter and Pauls church with its ornate white stone facade with intricate sculptures and a huge dome. There is also a Crypt below with the sarcophagus of Father Skarga, a famous 17th-century Jesuit preacher.
Another interesting although a little eerie is the Monastery of the Camaldolese Monks, underneath the monastery is the crypt of the hermits. Bodies are placed into niches without coffins and then sealed. Men can visit the church and crypt any day from 08:00 to 11:00 and 15:00 to 16:30; guests are allowed in every half-hour. Women can enter the complex only on certain feast days.
Kanoniczna Street is probably the most beautiful street in Krakow, and certainly one of the oldest streets in Krakow, which is steeped in history. Why not stroll down this cobbled street and admire the old buildings.

You can even take a carriage ride, buy a few souvenirs at the market in the square or stop off for a coffee in one of the cafes. For those of you with green fingers or you just want to relax, visit the Botanic Garden where there is a wide range of beautiful plants and trees as well as an astronomical observatory.
This review only scratches the surface of what the historical city of Krakow has to offer, so why not book a cheap flight and go and find out for yourself!