That is quite a statement: Krakow is one of the best cities to visit in Europe. But I believe it to be true.
The city is actually spelled Kraków and not Krakow or – worse – Cracow as I used to see it spelled. It is pronounced Kra-koof. But regardless of how it is spelled or pronounced, on my recent visit to this city in Poland I found it entrancing.
Why Kraków is One of the Best Cities to Visit in Europe
- Largest and Best Central Square: The Rynek Główny or Main Market square in Kraków is ancient, huge, beautiful, and fun. The square has its origins in the 13th century and is lined with historic buildings. It is often called the largest Medieval square in Europe, although Prague has a larger one. The giant space has many restaurants with outdoor tables and there seem to always be street performers or musicians entertaining tourists and locals alike. The central square is simply alive and is the hub of the city.
- The Planty: The Planty is the park the circles the main square and historic Old Town. It is in place of the historic city walls and moat that once encircled the city but now is primarily gone except for a few parts. I love the Planty because it is the perfect spot to go for a walk or run – green, peaceful, and impossible to get lost since you’ll always return to where you started.
- Kazimierz / The Jewish Quarter: Kazimierz, also known as the historic Jewish quarter, is a popular place to do walking tours. But it is so much more than that. It has its own much smaller square surrounded by restaurants and pubs that are much more real. You are more likely to run into Poles here as compared to the Central Square and the vibe is very Bohemian.
- Ancient History: Kraków was the capital of Poland during the time when it was a Kingdom, dating back to the year 1038. It has thousands of years of history. The Wawel Castle still stands just over the river from the old town. In fact, a major reason Kraków is so appealing is that it was never destroyed during World War II. The entire old town is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
My History With Kraków
I lived in Kraków for a year after graduating from grad school. I was working in a program similar to the Peace Corps but for business grads who were assigned to help Eastern European companies converting from communism to capitalism. I loved Kraków and ended up spending four years in Poland. I had some amazing experiences, including acting in Schindler’s List where I had a direct conversation with Steven Spielberg.
On my recent visit to the country, I was shocked by how much had changed. Poland is modern. Everyone speaks English. People obey traffic laws. The restaurants are high quality. Life is pretty good. I remember walking through the main square of Kraków on a Saturday evening with a friend and we would be the only two people out at night. While I admit I wallowed in a bit of nostalgia during my visit, I am very proud of and happy for the Polish people who have created such a thriving country.
Our Two Adventures in Poland
We have two adventures in 2026 that are based from Kraków and Poland. Our Poland Biking Exploratory Adventure takes place May 25 – 31. We meet and end in Kraków and the biking takes place along the scenic Dunajec river, with relatively flat and mostly car-free paths. This is an Exploratory Adventure because 2026 will be our first running of this tour.
From September 7 – 12 we have our Tatra Mountains Hiking Adventure. This tour also meets and ends in Kraków and takes place in both Poland and Slovakia, the two sides of the Tatra Mountains range. The Tatras are delightful – real mountains with jagged peaks and yet very accessible. We spend two nights in the fun small city of Zakopane and two in a mountain hotel in Slovakia, so great diversity, and capped with a final night in Kraków.
But even if you do not join us on one of our upcoming Poland tours, I highly recommend visiting the area to see why I can claim Kraków is one of the best cities to visit in Europe.