Krakow Explorers - Free Walking Tours

500 Things to do in Krakow (112/500): Do a Shots and Szopki Crawl! @kbf.krakow @muzeumkrakowa Okay this is a fun one- that we totally made up, but it’s perfect for touring the city in the winter months. Until February 2nd, there will be Krakow Nativity Scenes called Szopki scattered all over the city center. Each one unique enough that seeing several or more is the best plan. But how to make the Szopki Walkabout even better? Add some shots! So first step- download the map of Szopki from the Krakow Festival Bureau website. We’ll link it here. Then start to explore all the different displays and while you’re out and about stop in some local bars for shots! Now technically every bar in Krakow can be a shots bar, or vodka bar, but we went to some of the classics here like Pijalnia Wódki i Piwa and Bania Luka— with multiple locations throughout the city, it was easy to find one near every spot we were visiting. Every szopka is unique in style. And if you’ve never heard of them before- they are basically nativity scenes. So each one will of course have the star of the show- baby Jesus. But many will feature local legends like the trumpeter or Hejnał, the Lajkonik, or of course— the dragon! Prominent Krakowians are also present, from centuries bygone. But my recommendation is to always look around you when visiting a szopki because there is often a building near you that the artist has taken inspiration from. The szopki are often a combination of churches and castles and towers of the city all combined into one beautiful piece. The tradition was started back in the 1800s when unemployed construction workers needed a way to make money… Nowadays there is a contest every year on the main square where artists bring their creation for that year hoping to win. If you’d like to see all the entries from this year head to the Krzysztofory Palace on the main square. For the best entries from past years just look for the display cases we’ve shown you

500 Things to do in Krakow (111/500): Connect with the Jewish Past of Kazimierz at the Old Synagogue. @muzeumkrakowa As you can imagine, before WWII, the traditions and holidays of the Jewish people filled the streets of Krakow. The Jewish people made up 30% of the total population, totaling 68,000 Jewish Krakowians. If you’ve ever wondered what those celebrations looked like, or consisted of, this is the best museum in the city to come and learn about the centuries of Jewish life that existed here in Krakow. You’ll step back in time, entering the oldest synagogue still standing in all of Poland. Built in the 1400’s the space is now filled with the permanent exhibit- “The History and Culture of Jews in Krakow”. While you may have heard of some Jewish holidays like Chanukah or Rosh Hashana; there are many more to learn about like Purim and Sukkot. Centuries old traditions that used to fill the streets of the Jewish Quarter are highlighted here at the museum. You can also learn about the things you might find in a synagogue, how one is layed out, and it’s most important elements. And you’ll be able to see artifacts from hundreds of years ago that miraculously survived the war. Krakow was also home to some of the most important rabbis- and you can learn about those historical figures here as well, and their impact on the Jewish religion even now in modern times. The Old Synagogue is open 7 days a week, excluding certain holidays- and is free on Mondays. It also just happens to be the meeting point for our Jewish Quarter Walking Tours. So consider a visit here, before joining us on a walk around the district of Kazimierz. #krakowexplorers #krakowexplorersfreewalkingtours #freewalkingtours #freewalkingtourskrakow #krakow #poland #krakowpoland #jewishkrakow #thingstodoinkrakow

500 Things to do in Krakow (110/500): Pair a Cocktail with Live Jazz Music at The Artist. @theartist_cocktailbar Tucked away on Świętego Marka, but only a five-minute walk from the Main Square, you’ll find The Artist Cocktail Bar. Every night from 7pm to 10pm the bar is filled with live jazz music. But it also has a rotating selection of art to view. And an elaborate cocktail menu. You can always order a classic cocktail- but the special menu prepared for guests, that changes throughout the seasons, always has something interesting to try on it. I tried the Pear Noir, and really enjoyed it. The interior of this bar is really beautiful and I think it’s a great place to go if you want to try something new- but not venture too far from the Main Square. Most days the bar opens at 4pm, and stays open until 1am- but always check directly for current hours. I must say, the team at The Artist does a great job of keeping everyone up to date on what’s going on through their social media- so that would be the best way to get in touch and book a spot.

500 Things to do in Krakow (109/500): Step into History at the Remuh Synagogue. In Krakow you will find many synagogues that survived the darkest days in the city, some of which are still actively used by the community and this is one of them. The synagogue itself is open for visitors everyday except Saturday; and a small donation gets you inside and also access to the cemetery we’ll bring you to in another video. Built in 1558 it is named after one of the most famous Rabbis from Krakow; the Remuh, who actually was alive when it was built- and used it to teach, lecture, write, and of course pray. Now of course he wasn’t born the Remuh- he was born Mojżesz Isserles, but due to his importance in the community he was given a more prominent name later. In fact one of the books the Remuh wrote, called the “Mappa” is still used by the religious Jewish community today all around the world. The synagogue itself was built by the Remuh’s father, in memory of his mother as the inscription on the gate reads. But it was Mojżesz Isserles who is often associated with the synagogue. To learn more about this synagogue, and others in the Jewish Quarter of Kazimierz here in Krakow, consider coming on our daily Jewish Quarter tour. #krakowexplorers #krakowexplorersfreewalkingtours #freewalkingtours #freewalkingtourskrakow #krakowfreewalkingtours #krakow #poland #krakowpoland #thingstodoinkrakow #kazimierz #jewishkrakow

500 Things to do in Krakow (108/500): Head down for a Drink in the Basement of Piwnica Pod Baranami. @piwnicapodbaranami Krakow is known for cellar bars, and this is one of the best! In 1956 in the basement of the “Pod Baranami” Palace this literary cabaret was founded. We hope to bring you back for a show another day, but tonight- we’re just focused on the bar. This bar is actually on the main square! You’ve just got to go into the courtyard of the palace, and down the steps. Originally this space was founded for students of the Academy of Fine Arts to hang out, but it grew into something so much more. You may have seen the founder of the cabaret, Piotr Skrzynecki, already- his monument sits in front of the Vis-a-Vis bar on the Main Square, one of his favorite places to hang out in the city– he was known by everyone in Krakow and said once, “The Only people who are really afraid of alcohol are the people who have something to hide”. So if you’ve got nothing to hide… grab a beer, take a shot, maybe split a bottle of wine… and if you do something to hide, don’t worry the bar is fully stocked with non-alcoholic beverages as well. #krakowexplorers #krakowexplorersfreewalkingtours #freewalkingtours #freewalkingtourskrakow #krakowfreewalkingtours #krakow #poland #krakowpoland #thingstodoinkrakow

500 Things to do in Krakow (107/500): Check out the New Park at Kościuszko Mound. Not only can you come out to Salwator to climb the historic Kościuszko Mound, and visit the small exhibit based on the freedom fighter (all covered in our previous video) but you can also take a moment to spend some time in the new park opened next door. The city spent over a decade fixing up the surrounding areas of the most famous mound in Krakow, and finally this month opened the area up to the public. Throughout the park you can see the photos of the original pieces of the fort that were built by the Austrian rulers in the 1850’s, but dismantled between 1945-56. The construction of a brick citadel surrounding the mound allowed it to be used as a strategic overlook and now the city has been able to rebuild them into all their glory. The bastions were reconstructed, while parts of the original were also preserved, and walking paths were added throughout the greenery with many new plants being installed as well. In the future, the city will use part of this park for outdoor events, so keep an eye out if you’re a local! There just may be some concerts, films, or activities held in this space in the coming seasons. Which will be especially beautiful at night, when the fort is illuminated. Work is still being done to parts of the park, so expect it to get bigger and better as that work is completed. And as the plants they just planted begin to grow, expect the park to get more lush in the coming seasons as well. There is also a planned sensory garden to be opened next year. So make sure if you’re coming all the way out to the mound, you leave some room in your schedule to also take a stroll through the former fort, now park. #krakowexplorers #krakowexplorersfreewalkingtours #freewalkingtours #freewalkingtourskrakow #krakowfreewalkingtours #krakow #poland #krakowpoland #thingstodoinkrakow

500 Things to do in Krakow (106/500): Climb to the top of the Kościuszko Mound. The mounds of Krakow are all worth visiting for various reasons, with Kościuszko being the most visited of them all, but you can check our earlier videos for the other mounds- Krakus and Piłsudski, today however, we’re focused on this one. The Kościuszko Mound was built by local Cracovians who volunteered to construct it in the 1820’s, commemorating the freedom fighter Tadeusz Kościuszko. Not only did volunteers build it, but it was completely funded by donations! The Poles even brought dirt from all the battlefields Kościuszko fought on around the world, including dirt from the United States. Because guess what- he fought in the Revolutionary War, before leading the Kościuszko Uprising in Poland. While the hero himself is buried in the Royal Crypts of Wawel Castle under the Cathedral, it’s this monument that was constructed by the people to make sure his legacy did not fade. In fact when it was first built, there were plans to actually move many of the peasants here that had fought heroically by Kościuszko’s side, but these plans fell through. The mound offers great views of the city- the Old Town is off in the distance so be sure to look out for St. Mary’s, Wawel Castle, and all the famous landmarks. You can see below you the huge open field known as the Błonia Meadows where Pope John Paul II famously gave mass. Not only can you climb to the top of this mound- by the way the boulder at the top was brought from the Tatra Mountains- but you can also spend some time learning about Tadeusz Kościuszko, because to enter the mound, you must first walk through a little museum about him. What did I learn? That when Kościuszko went to America he was an unemployed down-on-his-luck guy, but he came back to Poland a hero- and went on to bring the nation together as it fought to try to keep its independence. #krakowexplorers #krakowexplorersfreewalkingtours #freew

500 Things to do in Krakow (105/500): Grab a Bite at Hummus Amamamusi @hummus_amamamusi Hummus Amamamusi has been the best place to go in Krakow for hummus for years, and now they’ve expanded into two locations! Both are in Kazimierz, with the original on Beera Meiselsa and the new one on Plac Wolnica. While they both specialize in hummus their menus differ a bit. At the original location I usually go for the tofu reuben; but they’ve got a breakfast menu available all day, as well as a huge selection of various hummus plates- including their vegan chorizo plate, caesar plate, sun-dried tomato or jalapeno plates . The newer location has a smaller menu- with it’s most popular item being the Tokyo Cloud Cakes- the fluffiest pancakes you’ll ever have! So add this to the long list of Vegan/Vegetarian restaurants we’ve already shared with you, and consider it’s cozy atmospheres one of our favorites. #krakowexplorers #krakowexplorersfreewalkingtours #freewalkingtours #freewalkingtourskrakow #krakowfreewalkingtours #krakow #poland #krakowpoland #thingstodoinkrakow

500 Things to do in Krakow (104/500): Unwind with a Movie at Kino Pod Baranami. @kinopodbaranami Did you know that on the Main Square of Krakow there is actually a movie theater! In Polish it’s called Kino Pod Baranami, which translates to Cinema Under the Rams, so just look for the building on the corner of the square with all the ram heads decorating it. Go inside and to the left- and you’ll find the theater! The cinema started operating in 1969, and is known for its more intimate art house setting. And while you won’t find popcorn, you will find everything from classic films to indie releases to current blockbusters. In the summer we love to come here for their Cheap Summer Movie Festival when they put on a whole array of films from years past at a huge discount, but there are other festivals throughout the year so check their website to see what is currently going on. The cinema’s unique events has earned it a spot on the list of the Best Cinemas in Europe, as well as the Polish Film Institute Award as one of the best cinemas in Poland. Many, if not most, of their films are offered in English, because if it came out of Hollywood they’ll keep the audio in English, and just add on Polish subtitles. Check their website for current showtimes and languages. #krakowexplorers #krakowexplorersfreewalkingtours #freewalkingtours #freewalkingtourskrakow #krakowfreewalkingtours #krakow #poland #krakowpoland #thingstodoinkrakow

500 Things to do in Krakow (103/500): Visit the Ghetto Heroes Square in Podgórze. Originally known as Plac Zgody, and laid out in 1836, this space is now known as Plac Bohaterów Getta, or Ghetto Heroes Square. Any time of day you can go to visit the infamous installation of empty chairs, honoring the people of the Krakow Ghetto, and the Jewish community at large- ninety percent of which perished in World War II from this city. This space isn’t just a memorial; it is a deeply reflective experience. As visitors walk among the chairs, they are urged to pause, to remember, and to honor the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust. It is especially poignant to go at night- when the chairs are illuminated from below. With all modern art, it is of course open to your interpretation. And there are many of those when it comes to why these artists chose to scatter chairs across the square. Some say the chairs represent absence, but also a waiting—waiting for those who would never return. During the war, this square was often used to herd the people and literally sort them into groups, being sent away from the city one last time. But for me, these chairs represent the actual chairs that were abandoned here on this square. Chairs that the Jewish people had passed down for generations- that families had sat upon for morning coffee, weekly Shabbat dinner, or to read a newspaper. Chairs that had been a part of these families for years, and suddenly their families were gone. Never to return to this city. Never to sit on them again. Currently the National Museum of Krakow has added photographs to the chairs- a temporary exhibit that they’ve done before, but gives a unique opportunity to remember who these pieces represent. This is just one of many sites in Krakow that remembers the Jewish past of the city; and we invite you to learn more about this history on our daily walking tours of these areas. #krakowexplorers #krakowexplorersfreewalkingtours #freewa

500 Things to do in Krakow (102/500): Attend the Annual Dachshund Parade “Marsz Jamników” by @radio_krakow Did you know the first dachshund to come to Krakow, was brought as a gift to King Sigismund the Old? That was over 500 years ago! And ever since the short and long breed of dog has become intertwined in Krakow’s history. This year marked the 26th Annual Marsz Jamników in Krakow. This is a long standing tradition despite many changes through the years. What used to be hosted on the Main Square, has now been moved to the boulevards of the Vistula River. Today’s parade began near the chess tables past Wawel Castle on the riverfront, and ended at the stage that was set up near the Dżok the dog monument. The parade has an interesting history. To celebrate the 28th anniversary of the Polish magazine, “Przekrój” the editor in chief decided to throw a sausage dog parade; inspired by a drawing competition the magazine had thrown. The event was a huge hit! People filled the streets to celebrate, dogs rode in carriages into the Main Square, foreign press came to cover the event, and even the waiters at the famous Wierzynek restaurant handed out actual sausages… But the year was 1973- so the communist authorities became weary of such a large gathering, and were convinced that it must be about something more than just the adorable dogs, declaring it a mockery of May Day activities, the organizer got in a bit of trouble- and so the event didn’t occur again until 1994, when Radio Krakow decided to take over. While this year’s march is complete, if you’re headed to Krakow next year, be sure to keep an eye out on RadioKrakow’s pages to see when they’ll be hosting the 27th annual march- and if you’ve got your own hot dog- don’t forget to bring him or her with you. Your dog might just get crowned the Queen or King of the march! #krakowexplorers #krakowexplorersfreewalkingtours #freewalkingtours #freewalkingtourskrakow #krakowfreewalkingto

Don’t have a dachshund to march in the parade? Here’s a great solution to your problem! 🐶26th March of the Dachshunds 🐶26. Marsz Jamników Radio Kraków #krakowexplorers #krakowexplorersfreewalkingtours #thingstodoinkrakow #marszjamników #marszjamnikow #marszjamników2024