Poland – C'est le Brie

I love spending time in Krakow. It’s a beautiful, walkable city that is easy to navigate and centrally located. Krakow is a great city to visit, whether it’s your first time in Europe or if you’re a seasoned traveler. The architecture is splendid and photogenic, plus the city offers wonderful, hearty Polish food everywhere you turn.

Compared to some of the larger cities in Europe (like Paris, London, Rome), Krakow has reasonable prices, especially when it comes to food and shopping. This is because Poland uses the złoty as opposed to the euro as its currency. I also love that while there are landmarks to see, it isn’t too overwhelming with lists of must-sees. Instead, I think it’s a great city where you can choose-your-own-adventure based on what you are looking for in a trip. You can take a mini walking food tour, marvel at Wawel Castle and St. Mary’s Basilica, hike one or more of the historic mounds around the city, shop at vintage stores, or a combination. As always, I recommend bringing film cameras when traveling to new places. I brought my 35mm toy Holga camera and my Instax Mini 12 Polaroid Camera.

**Bazylika Mariacka taken with Holga 35mm**

Day 1: Arrive in Krakow

Krakow is the perfect city to add to a European itinerary because of its ease and location. It’s a 5-hour train ride from Vienna, a 6-hour train ride from Prague, and an 8-hour train ride from Budapest, to name just a few major cities nearby.

I checked into the AC Hotel by Marriott Krakow, which is a 30-minute walk from Old Town, but had great rooms and a lovely breakfast buffet. If you’re looking for something more central and in the action, then I recommend the Hotel Saski Krakow, Curio Collection by Hilton.

I recommend taking your first morning or afternoon in Krakow getting to know the Old Town. This includes visiting the main square that dates back to the 13th century, Rynek Główny. There is a lot to see and do just in this small area. Some of my favorite sites and activities are the following:

Climb the Town Hall Tower (Wieża Ratuszowa) for a unique view of the city
Take a food tour, such as this one – Krakow: Tipsy Polish Food Tour With History, Pierogi & Shots
If you don’t take a food tour, definitely grab Pączki, traditional Polish donuts!
Visit the local museums, Rynek Underground Museum and Historical Museum of the City of Kraków
Take in the splendor of St Mary’s Basilica (Bazylika Mariacka)
Promenade down the historical Floriańska street for some shopping, treats, and photo opportunities
If you have time, stroll down to Wawel Castle for a tour and visit the dragon statue (Smok Wawelski)
Stroll along the Vistula River for beautiful sunset views
Grab a fika break at KAFFE BAGERI Stockholm. The cinnamon & cardamom bun is an absolute must!

The best thing about it is all of these sites are near each other with meandering streets and beautiful architecture to gawk at in between!

When you’re hungry and ready for a big comfort meal, Gościnna Chata Restaurant is a must. This cozy restaurant is tucked right off the main square and has its own alleyway leading to the entrance. Be sure to order the pierogis (a traditional Polish dumpling)! The atmosphere is historic and traditional with quirky decor. Having dinner here was a relaxing way to start off my trip and prepare me for a good night’s sleep before heading back to the hotel.

Day 2: Exploring Krakow’s History

If you’re up for exploring more history on the second day, I recommend exploring Kazmierz (Jewish) district and visiting one or more of the historic mounds around the city.

For a lesser-known activity, I ended up walking about 40 minutes from the AC Marriott Hotel to Kopiec Kościuszki. It was chilly in January, and there was some ice and snow, but it was fun to explore a new side of the city. The hike was worth it for the views alone. This kopiec is a great spot for unique photos and offers amazing views. There was a museum that took you through the history of the commemorative mound, created in honor of the Polish national leader Tadeusz Kościuszko.

You can reserve your ticket and skip the line here.

If you’re itching for a tour outside Krakow or end up having extra time, I recommend the Wieliczka Salt Mine Tour. This includes transfer from Krakow to the Salt Mine and back and the entry ticket with a tour by a licensed guide. I recommend carving out around four hours for the tour, and this still leaves you plenty of time in the morning or evening to continue discovering Krakow. It has a fun souvenir shop where you can pick up salt lamps, and other fun decor.

For dinner on your second night in the Kazmierz, I highly recommend Piereszy Stopien. It’s another cozy restaurant that features local ingredients and modern takes on classic dishes. I got the homemade tomato soup with poured dough (little dumplings), chicken and vegetable shashlik, and a wonderful featured drink. Everything was warm and so fresh, perfect after a day of sightseeing in early February.

Last but not least, don’t forget to bring a film camera or two! This post features my 35mm toy Holga camera and my Instax Mini 12 Polaroid Camera.

❤ Natalie Anne

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by Natalie Anne ❤

Poland was one of those places I never thought I would actually get the opportunity to travel to. My sister, Millie, and I are part Polish, and it has sort of felt like a mystical place that doesn’t exist in our world. After growing up in rural Virginia, Eastern Europe seemed anything but tangible. When imagining Poland, I seemed to always fantasize about medieval pathways and towering Gothic cathedrals. When we magically got the opportunity to venture to Poland, my sister and I found ourselves staying in the historic Jewish quarter of Krakow and we certainly saw our fair share of cathedrals. But what caught us by surprise was just how delicious Polish cuisine is. We expected to experience the pierogis and Kielbasa sausage, but other than that we weren’t too familiar with what exactly classifies Polish food. We blindly found restaurants in every corner of Krakow. And not one of them disappointed us. We have compiled a short list of our favorite restaurants in Krakow to give you just a taste of what culinary delights Krakow has to offer!

1. Restauracja Szara

After finally getting checked in to our hotel after our 9 hour flight and layover in Belgium, we decided to check out Krakow’s city square and managed to find our perfect first Polish restaurant right in the heart of the city. Even though it was 4 o’clock in the afternoon and we weren’t sure if our meal qualified as a late lunch or early dinner, we eventually settled down with a glass of rosé at Restauracja Szara.

We may have been the only table in the restaurant given our unusual time of arrival, but we thoroughly enjoyed our meal with a bread basket followed by a salad with goat cheese and a perfectly tender chicken dish. This food soothed our empty and queasy souls after a long day of travel.

2. La Campana

Our second recommendation goes to La Campana, a whimsical Italian restaurant tucked on a quiet, picturesque street. We were nestled in a downstairs room wine cellar with brick exposed walls and a soothing ambiance. It was about an hour past noon and we were ready for pasta and red wine. La Campana exceeded our expectations with quite possibly the most delicious Pasta Carbonara we have ever eaten accompanied by an atmosphere that felt like Tuscany.

3. Restauraja AWIW

Right outside our hotel in the Jewish district was a slew of restaurants with patio seating and colored umbrellas, after a long decision process, we finally settled on a restaurant that appeared to offer classic Polish cuisine, pierogis and all. Restauracja AWIW was the perfect location for a relaxed Polish meal. We chose to be seated outside on the street and were given wool blankets to place over our laps after the sun went down. We shared everything we ordered, including pierogis with cheese, potato, and onion as well as a rich bailey’s ice cream sundae and a slice of the house cheesecake all downed with a few glasses of red wine.

4. Paprycyki

After going on an excursion to see Niedzica Castle, our tour bus dropped us off in the center of Krakow exhausted and hungry. Pizza was the move, so we found a nearby Italian restaurant that filled our every need. Paprycyzki Pizzeria won over our hearts and appetites with its laid back atmosphere and tasty food. I ordered a tasty lasagna made with asparagus, ham, and ricotta while Millie ordered a vegetable and cheese pizza that was both easy on the eyes and freshly flavored.

5. Manzana

By our last night in Krakow, we wanted a taste of home and found a Tex-Mex inspired restaurant, which offered comforting flavors, but with an added twist of sophisticated Eastern European style. We were seated on their peaceful Spanish-style patio in the back with beautiful mosaic tables and ivy covered walls. It was a warmer day outside so we ordered margaritas and a carafe of refreshing lemon and mint water. We indulged in the chips with salsa and guacamole for our appetizer before diving into a black bean quesadilla and fajitas. Before we could order dessert, it started pouring down rain and we moved inside where we finished our meal with mouth-watering chocolate covered cheesecake lollipops.

If you have a sweet tooth like we do, we suggest a few dessert spots as well.

6. Arlekin Cafe

Arlekin Cafe was a colorful escape from the world with a diverse array of delectable desserts and coffee. Once we saw their specialty ice cream sundaes being brought to a table beside us, we couldn’t resist and ordered a one for ourselves along with a few pieces of cake because it was impossible to pick just one thing.

7. Cupcake Corner Bakery & Cafe

We always like to try cupcakes everywhere we go for a little pick-me-up if we are in particularly grouchy moods. Luckily, the Cupcake Corner in Krakow gave us the sugar rush we needed to cheer us up. We tried the carrot cake, peanut butter cup, brownie obsession and my favorite, the caramel apple. It’s just a few blocks away from Wawel Castle if you feel the need to treat yo self, and we strongly suggest that you do.

https://www.mapcustomizer.com/map/Best%20Restaurants%20in%20Krakow

Click the link above for a map of these delicious locations.

If you have any other suggestions of delicious food in Krakow, feel free to comment and share!

❤ Natalie

Category: Poland

Two days in Krakow, Poland: Recommendations for the Best Food and Sightseeing

Best Restaurants in Krakow, Poland