A wonderful, striking combination. Krakow has a fascinating mix of historic elegance and youthful energy. Krakow is a pretty magical December destination and it really got us in the Christmas mood.
Winter is one of the best times of the year to visit Krakow. One of the main reasons why Lee and I went to Krakow was to check out the Christmas market. Strolling through the stalls set up in the central square will really put you in a festive mood. The scent of mouth-watering fried treats and sweet mulled wine fills the air and live music on the stage sets the mood. Check out this amazing list of things to eat at the Christmas market.
These days, the castle has been converted into an art museum — with a spectacular collection of paintings, sculptures, textiles, prints and more.
Each section is paid for separately and requires a different audio guide. Kazimierz is the historic Jewish district in Krakow. Jews started to settle here in the 12th century and by the 15th centry, Kazimierz had become a vibrant community. During World War II this community was devastated as Jews were forcibly removed from their homes and relocated to ghettos and concentration camps.
Only 10 percent of Jews in Krakow survived the war many of them with the help of Oskar Schindler who employed them in his factories. The district became a run-down and abandoned part of town during the communist era, until it was eventually revitalized in the s. It has now become one of the most hip and exciting districts in Krakow. Everyone should visit Auschwitz. We took a tour from Krakow that covered both Auschwitz and Birkenau and it was very well done and educational.
