In the Heart of History: Roaming Krakow’s Old Town and UNESCO Site

During our weekend trip to Poland, Krakow Old Town was our top destination. Known as the first UNESCO city and the former Polish capital, Krakow has rich history and grandeur. Exploring every corner of the city in just a few hours is quite impossible. Hence, we devised a walking itinerary to cover the key highlights while minimizing walking time.

While many tourists typically follow the Royal Route, starting from the city’s defensive walls to Wawel Hill, our route in Krakow Old Town included the iconic Wawel Royal Hill and several quaint streets around the bustling main market square:

• Wawel Royal Hill Round Walk
• The picturesque Kanonicza Street
• One of the oldest streets in Krakow, the Grodzka street
• The main market square in Krakow old town
• Part of the Royal Route, the Floriańska Street

Wawel Royal Hill Round Walk

As we walked alongside the Vistula River, just before we reached the Dragon Statue, something interesting caught our eye. There, on the pedestrian path known as Krakow Star Alley, were a series of handprints. These imprints belonged to renowned movie producers, actors, and directors.

Wawel Cathedral

The Wawel Cathedral is Poland’s foremost place of worship. Revered as the nation’s sanctuary and steeped in historical significance, it is the traditional coronation venue for Polish monarchs.

Throughout history, rulers have expanded and modified the cathedral extensively, incorporating various architectural styles and constructing numerous burial chapels, resulting in a unique blend of architectural elements.

Wawel Royal Castle

The Wawel Royal Castle is a spectacular renaissance palace. It was the residency of Polish kings and their closest family. The stately halls provided a backdrop for courtly and political life.

The Wawel Royal Castle is a spectacular Renaissance palace, once serving as the residence of Polish kings and their immediate family. Within its grand hall, the dramas of courtly and political life played out.

The picturesque Kanonicza Street

Leaving the Wawel Royal Complex behind, we retraced our steps to Kanonicza Street. This is an exceptionally picturesque street, with each building steeped in centuries of fascinating history. It is truly one of Kraków’s most enchanting corners.

Kanonicza Street is a blend of architectural styles from different eras. Its well-maintained cobblestone paths make strolling a pleasure. In fact, there’s even an option for an electric car tour offered by a local operator.

The Mansion of Bishop Erazm Ciołek

Back in the early 16th century, a series of smaller townhouses were joined together to create the magnificent Mansion of Bishop Erazm Ciołek. Once the grandest residence on the street, it now serves as a branch of the National Museum in Kraków. Inside, visitors can explore a rich collection of art from the Middle Ages to the late 18th century, including sacred pieces from the Orthodox Church.

The Deanery (Dean’s House, Dom Dziekański, No. 21)

Nowadays, the Deanery is home to the Archdiocesan Museum. Back in the 1950s and 1960s, it was where Karol Wojtyła, later known as Pope John Paul II, resided.

One of the oldest streets in Krakow, the Grodzka street

Grodzka Street offers a splendid view of the main market square. As one of Kraków’s oldest streets, it has significant historical value. Here are some noteworthy sites along this charming street:

• Dominican Church
• Franciscan Church
• St Andrews’s Church
• Church of St Peter and St Paul
• St Mary Magdalene square
• St Giles’ Church

Kraków’s architecture is chronologically in style through the different eras. You can start an architecture walking tour from any direction leading to its 13th-century market square.

The main market square in Krakow old town

At the end of Grodzka street lies Krakow’s main square, the second largest in Europe. The brightly coloured buildings surrounding the square appear recently renovated. I could spend hours admiring every architectural detail, every subtle flourish on each facade.

One of the standout buildings in the square is the Cloth Hall, now housing a market hall and a Polish art museum. Divided into two sections, one side hosts a street market with various Polish specialties, while the other has numerous restaurants and bars. Additionally, the Gothic Town Hall Tower and several museums are nearby.

Restaurants in the area offer a variety of culinary delights, including local Polish cuisine. We enjoyed a delicious Polish-style lunch on the ground floor of the Cloth Hall, savoring the Krakow’s famous meat-stuffed pastry.

Part of the Royal Route, the Floriańska Street

Floriańska Street, which begins at St Florian’s Gate and extends straight from the Main Market Square, is also part of the Royal Route. Notably, it’s one of the first cobbled streets in Krakow.

By the end of the 15th century, most houses on this street were occupied by nobility and wealthy citizens. In the late 19th century, Krakow launched its first horse-drawn tram line there. However, nowadays, horse-drawn carriages are mainly for sightseeing purposes.

We walked nearly the same road back to our parking place. The entire walk took us about five hours, including an hour-long lunch break. Honestly, that seemed too short to fully appreciate this incredible city. If possible, we’d love to stay for two or three days.

krakow old town travel tips

A convenient way to get around Krakow is by purchasing a Krakow City Card, which grants holders free access to city buses and trams, as well as complimentary entry to numerous museums in Krakow.