Flight Tickets to Krakow airport

Discover Krakow

One of the oldest cities in Poland, Krakow is also the second largest city in the country and is illustrious for its well-preserved medieval architectural attractions and the Jewish quarter. The city is situated close to the border of the Czech Republic; and is scenically located on the banks of Vistula River and is a major hub of Poland’s academic, cultural, artistic life and economic sector. The city served as the capital of many dynasties who ruled here. Since the year 1999, it has been serving as the capital of Lesser Poland Voivodeship. The city is located at an elevation of 219 meters above sea level and is home to 761,900 people. Often termed as one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, the city also has a few UNESCO approved World Heritage Sites. The Jagiellonian University, which is one of the oldest universities in the world, is located in Krakow and the city once served as the most reputable establishment of higher learning in Poland. Polish is the official language of the people of Krakow followed by Hebrew, Ukranina, German and Russian.    

Overview

John Paul II International Airport Kraków is the international airport serving Krakow and all flights land at this airport. Located about 75 minutes from Kraków, the airport is a base for 21 airlines that connect the Karkow International airport with the rest of the world. The city experience Oceanic climate which is categorized by moderate summers and cold winters. The average summer temperature ranges from 18 °C to 19.6 °C while during winter the temperature ranges from −2.1 to 0 °C. During winter, the temperature dips to −15 °C. While the autumn and spring season is the best time to visit Krakow, those interested in skiing can also visit during the winter months. Misteria Paschalia, Sacrum-Profanum, the Cracow Screen Festival, the Festival of Polish Music, Dedications, the Kraków Film Festival, Etiuda & Anima International Film Festival, Biennial of Graphic Arts, and the Jewish Culture Festival are some of the major international festivals held in Krakow.

City Attractions

Begin your Krakow city tour by visiting the UNESCO world heritage site - the entire Old Town of Krakoy. Narrow lanes and by lanes of the city are adorned by attractive exteriors. A trip to the natural limestone hill, popularly known as Wawel Hill is another major attraction, the history of which can be traced back to prehistoric times. Czartoryski Museum is top attraction housing the collection of Princess Izabela Czartoryska, which she did for the purpose of preserving Polish heritage. A perfect example of human endeavor, the Wieliczka salt mine is a UNESCO World Heritage site which is believed to be the only mining site in the world to have been running continuously since the middle Ages.

At a distance of 50 km from Krakow, the small town of Oswiecim has a museum and memorial and the village is famed for being the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and death camp of Nazis. The site commemorates the death of huge number of Jews who were killed here. The Jewish Quarter is another notable attraction in Krakow and is known for its night clubs. A flea market, numerous bars and pubs and cafes are located here. St Mary’s Church on Main Square, National Museum, Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology, Ojców National Park & Castle and Stanisław Wyspiański Museum are the sightseeing places in Krakow.

Eating and Shopping

The people of Krakow enjoy Polish cuisine, but for those tourists, who are not too much into Polish cuisine, numerous Italian, French, fast food chains (like McDonald, KFC) and other multi cuisine options are also available. Generally the diet of the local is rich in proteins and lot of starchy food is also consumed. People generally eat heavy breakfast, a generous lunch (which they call dinner and is eaten around 3-4 pm) and light supper. Obwarzanek which is a type of Bagel is the most important dish in Krakow followed by Oscypek which is special cheese from the Tatra Mountains. Żurek, Barszcz, Chłodnik, Pierogi, Zapiekanka are some of the local delicacies and tatanka, Wódka miodowa and Śliwowica are the common drinks consumed by the locals. Thanks to their juxtaposition to each other, Krakow's is ideal for bar hopping.

Antiques, clothes, jewellery, home ware, sheep skin rugs and gourmet food are some of the major shopping items tourists can buy during their holiday in Krakow. Galeria Krakowska and Galeria Kazimierz are the two shopping malls located in Krakow and sell everything from clothing to food specialties. Tourists are advised to check the Old town to buy traditional and ethnic stuff. Alcohol can be easily found in groceries and common shops any time of the day. The city also has a few international boutiques for the brand conscious.