Kraków/West

North-western part of Kraków consists of six districts, of which most interesting is Zwierzyniec. Others (Grzegórzki, Prądnik Biały i Czerwony, Krowodrza, Bronowice) are mainly residential.

Kościuszko Mound

Get in

See

• 🌍 Błonia Park. Big meadow next to the centre of Kraków. It was used as a grazing field by villagers since the 12th century. In the 19th century swamps were drained and Błonia became suitable for large gatherings - Napoleon troops salute happened here, masses celebrated by popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI and concerts such as Selector Festival. 
• 🌍 Kościuszko Mound (Kopiec Kościuszki). The mound was built by Polish people in 1820s to commemorate a national hero - Tadeusz Kościuszko. In the 1850s Austrian authorities built a Neogothic chapel and a citadel around the mound, it was used as a strategic lookout. Today there is a museum dedicated to Kościuszko's life and the mound. Great views of the city from the top. 12 zł adults, 10 zł concessions. 
• 🌍 Piłsudski Mound (Kopiec Piłsudskiego). Similar structure constructed in the 1930s. 
• Las Wolski Forest. Biggest green area in Kraków has several hiking and bike routes and interesting places to see. 
• 🌍 Kraków Zoological Garden (Krakowski Ogród Zoologiczny). Most interesting specimen include two Indian elephants, pygmy hippopotamuses and Przewalski horses. Tickets - normal 18 zł, discount 10 zł. 
• 🌍 Villa Decius Palace and Park Complex, ul. 28 Lipca 1943 17a. Renaissance residence from the 16th century inspired by those around Rome and Florence. 
  • Bronisław Chromy Sculpture Gallery. A gallery and a cafe located in Decius Park. 
• 🌍 Botanic Garden of Jagiellonian University, ul. Kopernika 27. April–September: 9AM-7PM (glasshouses 10AM-6PM, on Friday closed). Also a museum in the price of the ticket (open We, Fr, Sa). 7 zł, reduced 4 zł. 

Churches

Norbertines monastery on the Vistula bank

• Camaldolese Priory of Bielany was built by Walenty von Säbisch and Andrea Spezza and was founded by Mikołaj Wolski and Sebastian Lubomirski in 1603 in early baroque style on the top of the Silver Mountain, called then St. Stanislaw Hills. It has one of the most beautiful baroque facades in Europe. The chapels are very rich in baroque art designed by Franciszek Placidi and Jan Falconi. There are also baroque paintings by Tomasz Dolabella and Piotr Brygierski. It is not easy to get into the church. Male tourist are allowed to visit it only on one day in the year. The church and monastery are still used by the Camaldolese monks, who are not allowed to get outside, talk or see women.
• The Church of St Augustine and St John the Baptist and the Norbertines monastery was founded in 1162 by Jaksa Gryfita. The original buildings were destroyed during the first Tatar invasion in 1241. Soon a new Gothic church was built, of which a section of the walls and the Romanesque portal survived. The complex was rebuilt in 1596 and the interior was renewed in 1777 by Sebastian Sierakowski, who created a classicist composition.
• The Church of St Salvator on Bronisława Hill was built in the 10th century in Pre-Romanesque style. In 1148 it got a new Romanesque shape. The church was partly rebuilt in early baroque style and the tower was added. The church is surrounded by the former parish cemetery of Zwierzyniec.
• Salvator Cemetery is next to Washington ave. on the way to Kościuszko Mound. Well-known science-fiction author Stanisław Lem is buried here among other prominent Polish people.
• Rakowicki Cemetery, north from the Main Train Station. One of the most important Polish cemeteries. Artists, writers and politicians such as Helena Modrzejewska, Jan Matejko and Wisława Szymborska are buried here.

Museums

National Museum in Kraków - Main Building

• 🌍 National Museum in Krakow - Main Building (Muzeum Narodowe w Krakowie - Gmach Główny), al. 3 Maja 1, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone]-18.00; Mondays closed. Three permanent exhibitions on three floors, from top: 20th-Century Polish Art, Gallery of Decorative Art, Arms and Uniforms in Poland, the first most worth seeing. On ground floor city's best temporary art exhibitions. Permanent exhibitions - 10 zł, reduced 5 zł, Sundays free. 
• 🌍 Museum of History of Photography (Muzeum Historii Fotografii), ul. Józefitów 16. Mo, Tu closed. Permanent exhibition "From the history of photography" shows works of Polish photographers since 1850s till WW2. Several temporary exhibitions a year on both documentary and art photography. Unfortunately underfinanced. 8 zł, reduced 5 zł. 
• 🌍 The Home Army Museum (Muzeum Armii Krajowej), ul. Wita Stwosza 12 (Behind main train station). 11.00 - 18.00, Mondays closed. Museum dedicated to Polish underground movement (during and after World War II) and its armed forces. 13/7 zł, Sundays free. 

Do

Theatres

• 🌍 STU Scene, al. Krasińskiego 16-18. 
• 🌍 Krakow Opera (Opera Krakowska), ul. Lubicz 48, ☎ [phone]. 

Cinemas

• 🌍 Kijów, al. Krasińskiego 34. For a long time (until multiplexes arrived) the biggest cinema in Krakow, interesting modernist building from 1960s. Hits, old Polish movies, concerts. 
• 🌍 Mikro, ul. Lea 5. European, art cinema, retrospectives. 
• 🌍 Multikino, ul. Dobrego Pasterza 128. Far from centre. Multiplex. 
• 🌍 Waterpark (Park Wodny), ul. Dobrego Pasterza 126. 8:00-22:00. 14 - 24 zł/h. 

Buy

Several larger and smaller shopping malls are located in the area. Big cluster of shops including IKEA and Galeria Bronowice lies next to the northern ringroad.

Eat

• 🌍 China Palace (Chiński Pałac), ul. Mackiewicza 14B. 12:00-22:00. Chinese cuisine. Beware - large portions. 
• 🌍 27 Porcji, Aleja Kasztanowa 1, ☎ [phone]. Tu-Sa: 12:00-21:00, Su: 12:00-20:00. M closed. Seasonal and fresh polish cuisine located in the green scenery of Park Decjusza. 

Drink

Sleep

Budget

• 🌍 Smok Campsite, ul. Kamedulska 18, ☎ [phone]. Open whole year. Around 4 km from the centre. Rooms are also available. Person - 25 zł, tent - 10 zł, campervan - 20 zł. 
• 🌍 Elephant on the Moon, ul. Biale Wzgorze 8, ☎ [phone]. Quite different than usual Krakow hostel, located outside centre, in a peaceful neighborhood, has a flower garden and eco-friendly ideas. It has won prizes for good atmosphere. 45 - 90 zł. 
• 🌍 Clepardia campsite, ul. Pachońskiego 28 A, ☎ [phone]. Open 15 April - 15 October. Bungalow rental, free WiFi, swimming pool maybe. Good public transport connection to the centre, shops, restaurants and a park in the vicinity. person 20 -24 zł, tent 10 zł, campervan 20 zł bungalows from 100 zł. + tourist tax of zł 1.60/night/person. 
• 🌍 Oleandry Youth Hostel, ul. Oleandry 4, e-mail: [e-mail]. Discounts for IYHF card holders. Dorm beds from 30 zł, linen 7.5 zł. 
• 🌍 Hostel Premium, ul. Pomorska 2, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Rooms for 1-4 and dorms for up to 8 people. All with ensuite facilities, all with TV, SAT, and internet connection (cable or wi-fi). 30 - 160 zł. 
• Student Hotele. Chain of college dormitories that open up available rooms both during the school year and in the summer (in summer it's cheaper!) Prices vary and so does quality. Try Hotel Żaczek first for it's the closest one to the Old Town, Żaczek has singles, doubles, triples, and quads available with and without baths. 

Mid-range

There are a lot of hotels located next to the northern part of Kraków ring road.

• Hotel Florian, Ul.Czerwonego Prądnika 19, ☎ [phone], [phone]. Three star hotel. 
• 🌍 Hotel Twierdza, ul. Do Fortu 8, Zielonki (northern outskirts, 6 km from the centre), e-mail: [e-mail]. Three star hotel in the former 19th century Austrian fort (part of Festung Krakau). Additional attractions: paintball, quads, etc. Double 225 zł. 
• Witek Hotel & Conference Centre, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. You can find this hotel on the outskirts of the city, in the picturesque surroundings of the Krakow-Czestochowa Jurassic Upland. Hotel is 6 km away from airport and 8 km from the Old Town. 

Splurge

• 🌍 Novotel Krakow Centrum, ul. Tadeusza Kościuszki 5, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Four stars, leisure centre with swimming pool, sauna, etc. 198 rooms. 

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