Walking Poland - Part 4: Kraków
Kraków is one of those cities where you want to go back again and again. I can confidently say that it was our favorite city on this trip. The Rynek Główny town square, its surroundings, and the overall vibe of the city were just captivating:
St. Mary's Basilica
Adam Mickiewicz Monument
Entertainment at Rynek Square
Felt like we were back in NYC
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Triptych
It is just sooo......again, this picture makes no justice to it
Next, we went to the Rynek Underground museum. It's a great exhibition to learn how Kraków came to be from the very beginning. It's also to rest from the Rynek Square crowd and get some quiet time.
I couldn't take decent pictures since it was pretty dark, but it's definitely worth a visit:
By that time we were pretty hungry, so we decided to have lunch in the plaza. I recommend trying the food stands at least once. The food is delicious, super affordable and the portions are right on point:
Pork and potatoes, pretty much everywhere!
Churros covered in chocolate for desert (why not?)
Narrow stairs, as expected (be careful)
But definitely worth it!
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First we went up to the observation deck, in which we enjoyed great views of Kraków's countryside:
View from the observation deck
The Observation Deck from the parking lot
Unfortunately we couldn't take many pictures inside the Sanctuary itself or the Chapel with the original Miraculous Image of Merciful Jesus, but the Chapel of Perpetual Adoration is in the vicinity and is astounding; and feel free to take pictures inside:
Main Entrance to the Chapel
The Chapel is massive, and it's divided in several smaller chapels, each one representing many faiths within the Christian faith:
This visit took us the entire day, in which we really took our time to contemplate every site and take in every corner. It's the perfect activity for a low-key day.
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On the third day we went to the Wieliczka Salt Mine. We booked the full-experience tour with SeeKrakow, which includes transportation to and from the salt mines. We waited for the bus just right outside Rynek Square. If you’d rather book through a more well-known platform, I recommend this tour via GetYourGuide. It's exactly the same!
Once we arrived, we started descending the stairs with the group, and after 46 meters, I was getting a bit worried...
When we finally make to Level I (64 meters), we passed through the Kreciny Chamber to our first stop, a monument to the Polish astronomer, Nikolaus Kopernikus:
Nick had the chance to interview as a mine worker, but I don't think he's going to get hired, lol:
Tour entertainment
When we finally reached the bottom of the mine, the last stops were the underground temples, Holy Cross Chapel, and St. Kinga's Chapel. At this point, we are 101 meters below ground, but it feels like we weren't!
Holy Cross Chapel
St Kinga's Chapel
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Kraków gave us more stories than we could fit in one post - but that's what makes traveling so magical. If you're planning your own adventure, check out our free itinerary template to stay organized and inspired along the way. Download your itinerary copy here and start mapping out memories of your own!
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