‘I visited Europe’s cheapest city – 5 reasons it should be on your bucket list’

Krakow is a city steeped in history and culture, from parks to nightlife you won’t be bored when exploring.

There’s certainly nothing dissapointing about making a trip to the city, especially for a bargain price.

Most visitors head to Krakow to see Auschwitz, and it was for this same reason I made a trip to the city. 

Having never been to Poland before, I didn’t know what to expect. The city has a run-down feel in parts but it’s one that prompts you to think of it’s history and the communist era of its past.

This historical district of Poland is located south of Krakow’s Old Town. Kazimierz was left in ruins following the war but has since became a popular spot following its revival.

You’ll find an array of pubs, traditional restaurants, unique buildings in what is now a desirable area.

I walked here from the Jewish Quarter which took around 30 minutes. Feeling ready for lunch, I went to Makaroniarnia – an incredible pasta restauraunt. On the inside, this lunch spot has a French feel with shabby chic decor. It certainly has a cosy feel and even more so while I was there, because there was a dramatic storm outside. 

Visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau is an experience you will never forget. Tours take place in silence, as you walk around with your guide, you hear the names of holocaust victims narrated through your headset.

Tour guides take you through buildings containing items belonging to victims from glasses to suitcases and even children’s clothing items. 

It’s a place everyone should visit to pay their respects. As I walked around, I saw visitors discretely dabbing tissues under their sunglasses – while I was also left furious after spotting some people taking selfies.

On the tour of Birkenau, our guide took us into a building where victims were living before being murdered. Inside there are tiers of three wooden shelves on each wall where people slept. Each of the shelf-like spaces is around the size of a double bed but we were told that up to eight prisoners slept on each one, with a total of 700-1000 in the building on average. It was awful to see such an uninhabitable place used for such cruel purposes.

Krakow’s architecture is one of a kind, the whole of the Old Town is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The city has a mix of communist era concrete buildings, often covered with graffiti, which reminds tourists of its history.

In the main square of the Old Town, a much different feeling is present. It’s the biggest market square in Europe and you can take a seat at one of the surrounding restaurants to watch the bustle of the area.

A stand out place in the square is the Bull Pub, walking into here is like being transported back to England. It’s bright green roof juxtaposed against the white stone of the building draws your eye straight to it from across the square. Inside, red velvet sofas and iconic English songs such as Mr Brightside by The Killers blast from the speakers while people waited to watch the Euros.

Poland offers a variety of delicious foods which you should definitely try when you go.

Some of the most popular choices are:

The best place to head for food is to the Old Town – there is a huge selection of restauraunts with every style food you could want. You’ll see lots of people selling Obwarzanek during your time in Krakow and for such a cheap price, it’s best getting this from a traditional stall.

The second most popular thing to do in Krakow, the salt mines shouldn’t be missed. Deep underground, you can explore a vast network of historic mining tunnels, saline lakes, and intricate salt sculptures carved over centuries.

One visitor said: “This was the best experience, it was worth every pound. Our tour guide helped us to have an amazing experience. I would like to go there again, it was perfect.”

While I didn’t go to the salt mines, many people I met on the trip said they did and how interesting the experience was. If I were to visit Krakow again, I’d be sure to go. 

Overall, Krakow is a great little city to explore for a few days. It’s the kind of place that would be great to visit in winter or summer. You won’t need more than three or four days to see the city but it’s absolutely worth a visit.