Krakow is a small and friendly city, ideally suited for families, with many attractions in the city and in the surrounding areas designed to keep children entertained and parents relaxed.

Park Wodny
This large and modern water park offers a whole day of entertainment for the young and old alike, with a variety of swimming and plunge pools as well as water slides to suit all ages. The park also offers many dry activities including dance and fitness centres, a beauty parlour and a massage centre. The park is open from 08:00 to 22:00 daily and is located at 126 ul. Dobrego, Pasterza.

Krakow Zoo
Krakow Zoo is located about seven miles to the west of the city centre, amid the tranquil 500 hectare Las Wolski forest. The zoo was opened in 1929 and today it is home to around 1,400 animals including 88 endangered species and 32 species on the verge of extinction. In recent years, the zoo has been highly acclaimed for the excellent treatment and facilities it provides for its animals, with large enclosures and conscientious staff ensuring an enjoyable and informative visit is had by visitors of all ages. The zoo is open between 09:00 and 15:00 in the winter months and 09:00 to 19:00 during the summer.

Fantasy Park
Krakow Fantasy Park offers a multitude of activities under one roof for all ages, with ten pin bowling, amusement arcades, virtual reality simulators and soft play areas for younger children. For parents, there is a choice of bars with snacks on offer and even a disco at the weekend. You will find the park at the Krakow Plaza on Al. Pokoju 44, to the east of the city centre.

Krakow is not only known as the cultural capital of Poland, but it is also regarded as one of the most culturally-significant cities in Europe. During WWII, many cities in the region were completely destroyed, causing the loss of hundreds of historical buildings and monuments; however, the majority of Krakow’s most important buildings came through the war unscathed. In recent years, the city has started to benefit from this relative good fortune, with tourist numbers rising every year as the awareness of Krakow’s cultural depth spreads.

Royal Castle (Zamek Krolewski)
As the name suggests, Krakow’s Royal Castle was the seat of Poland’s kings from the 11th century until the early 17th century, while today the castle is seen as a national symbol of Polish heritage as well as a popular tourist attraction. The castle is now a very impressive museum housing a large collection of period furniture and priceless artworks, while the most impressive exhibit has to be the fine collection of 16th century Flemish tapestries. You will find the castle on top of Wawel Hill in the city centre.

Wawel Cathedral (Katedra Wawelska)
Also located on Wawel Hill is Wawel Cathedral, which was for centuries the burial place of the countries kings, saints, bishops and numerous other national heroes. The cathedral was built around 1,000 years ago, but subsequent renovations culminated in the 14th century Gothic style still remain today. The cathedral’s main highlight is the impressive Chapel of King Zygmunt, while the views of the city from the bell tower are not to be missed.

Czartoryskich Museum
The large and impressive Czartoryskich Museum houses a wide variety of exhibits, ensuring there is something to interest everyone, with large collections of ancient china, glassware, furniture and tapestries forming a large part of the museum. Other exhibits to look out for include an impressive collection of armoury; sections on Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities; and an interesting display on notable Poles and Polish historical events. The museum also houses several outstanding works of art, with the most impressive being the world renowned masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci, ‘Lady with an Ermine’.

Bunker of Art (Bunkier Sztuki)
Although the Bunker of Art is Krakow’s foremost contemporary art gallery, the building’s modernistic style has always been controversial, with many local residents feeling it is out of place in the city’s revered old town area. Whatever your opinion on the architectural design of the Bunker of Art, it is a must-see for all lovers of modern art. The gallery displays artworks by established and up-and-coming Polish artists as well as hosting regularly changing exhibitions by international painters.

Mention eating out in Krakow and most people will envisage plates of stodgy cabbage and potatoes; however, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. The city of Krakow has a long and distinguished gastronomic history dating back to the days of grand medieval banquets, while in more recent years the city’s restaurant scene has grown rapidly with new establishments appearing to open on a daily basis.

As little as 10 years ago, visitors to Krakow may have found the city’s choice of restaurants limited to traditional Polish venues, with ethnic-type establishments not only rare, but considered exotic. Thankfully, things have changed dramatically in recent years, with restaurants such as Chinese, Indian, Italian, French and many more now commonplace throughout the city.

Although you will find restaurants, cafés and bars spread throughout every corner of the city, the central Old Town district is the place to head to for the widest choice. Visitors will find the Old Town area packed with eateries, especially during the summer months, when this mainly pedestrianised area comes alive with pavement cafés and restaurants.

As well as being responsible for the upsurge in the restaurant scene, the recent influx of tourists has also been responsible for a change in the city’s shopping culture, with many of the old style specialty shops giving way to outlets aimed at attracting passing tourist. One thing that has not changed is the seemingly endless number of shops crammed into every available space on the city’s streets, with no area deemed unsuitable including attics, basements and street corners.

Krakow’s most popular shopping experience can be found at the Cloth Hall in the main market square in the Old Town, with all manner of souvenirs and local handicrafts on offer here including leather goods, lace products and in particular, fine amber jewellery. Another popular option for souvenir shopping is the Cepelia store on Ulica Bracka, while the area around Cracovia Hotel is particularly well stocked with shops selling Polish handicrafts.

Visitors looking to take home local artwork should head to Ulica Florianska near the Old Town wall. Here you will find artwork to suit all tastes; however, you should shop around first, as the quality of works can vary. Shoppers with more upmarket tastes should look out for the growing number of stylish boutiques to be found around the city, with Ulica Florianska and Ulica Szewska two of the best streets to look out for.

In general, the Polish people are great lovers of the outdoors and they love to take advantage of the country’s natural resources, with mountain regions and areas for water sports conveniently located within a short distance of Krakow.

Skiing
Poland’s winter sport capital is the town of Zakopane, located less than two hours drive south of Krakow. Although the town has been a magnet for Poles for centuries, the rest of the world has only recently started to catch up, with the town’s world-class ski slopes and excellent value accommodation attracting foreign visitors in ever greater numbers. The area around the town has ski fields to suit all levels of ability and with over 50 ski lifts in operation, you are unlikely to feel as crowded here as in many of the more established European ski resorts.

Hiking
When the last of the winter snows have dispersed and the skiers have gone home, the resort of Zakopane welcomes a whole new crowd of outdoor enthusiasts in the form of hikers and campers. Zakopane is located amid the stunning Tatra Mountains, where the Alpine peaks and dense forests are home to a multitude of animals including lynx, brown bears, marmots and many types of falcon. The area around the town offers hiking trails of varying lengths and difficulty, so whatever your age or fitness level, you will be sure to find a trail to suit you.

Horseback Riding
Due to the Polish love of the outdoors and the generally beauty of the countryside, horseback riding has long been a popular pastime in Poland. There are many choices for visitors wishing to explore the Polish landscape on horseback, with stables open to tourist, both close to the city and farther afield. Visitors who don’t wish to stray too far from Krakow should head to the Krakow Golf and Country Club, which offers excellent facilities set in 160 hectares of beautiful countryside, while those willing to travel a little farther should head for the Beskid Wyspowy Mountains, where several stables offer riding trails around the high peaks and dense forests of this spectacular region.