This used to be the capital until the late 1500s, when it moved to Warsaw. This is a university town with lots of cafes and is the beating heart of Poland’s art, music, and academic scene.

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Lots of notable sites. The Wawel Royal Palace is where great Poles are buried (kings, queens, Chopin).

The Wieliczka Salt Mine is an easy day trip from Krakow. Mining stopped in the 1990s but tours of this UNESCO World Heritage Site are available.

The Barbican. Part of the old city defenses.
Wawel Royal Castle
The first bookstore in the world
Collegium Maius. The first university in Poland. Nicolas Copernicus studied here in the 1490s.
The Cloth Hall. 15th century mercantile site.
Now souvenir shops and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
St. Mary’s Basilica
One of the most stunning interiors!
Wieliczka Salt Mine. A tourist site now.
Lots of walking in the mine.

Nosh:

This was the last city in Poland I visited…so KFC was a ‘change of pace’ meal.

Polish donuts! Sweet glaze outside with a little orange zest and cherry filling.
KFC seems better overseas than in the USA

Nip:

A tale of two vodkas. Bison Grass is legendary in Poland. It’s available in France, Germany, and other parts of Europe. Hard to get in the USA. It has a slight sweetness without the sugar and herbaceous flavor without the bitterness.

Lubelska has a nice flavor without tasting like cough syrup. A little sample was good but Zubrowka is better.

Bison Grass is my favorite vodka. Period.
A Polish cherry vodka. A nice nip.