Krakow-based Gabriela Francuz is a fashion photographer who snaps stylish locals for her blog Street Fashion in Krakow. Recently, she took some time out from trend-spotting to take us on a tour of her hometown – check out her tips on where to eat, shop and make the most of your time when exploring Krakow...
“When a friend comes to explore Krakow, the first place I take them to is Kazimierz (the Jewish district) because it’s quite an artistic, bohemian place, full of cafés, bars, museums, interesting people and mysterious corners. Spring (May) is the best time of the year to visit Krakow because everything is blooming everywhere and there aren’t too many tourists visiting the city yet. It’s definitely not as crowded as it is in June, July or August. You get the best view of Krakow from Kopiec Krakusa (Krakus Mound). You can see the whole Krakow panorama from there and it’s the perfect spot to take a picnic when the weather’s warm and sunny. Krakow is quite a small city (in comparison to London, say) and you can easily get around its centre by foot, especially the Kazimierz and Podgórze districts. If you’re planning to travel further than the centre, buses are a cheap and reliable way to explore Krakow.
Kolanko nr 6 at Józefa Street (Kazimierz district) is my favourite place for breakfast in Krakow because of their delicious, varied menu and reasonable prices. Also, the morning buffet is open until 12pm. A good place to enjoy a coffee is Tribeca Café at Plac Szczepański or Massolit Café (American Bookstore) at Felicjanek street. I’d also highly recommend the Bedouin style coffee in Hamsa at Miodowa Street. Chimeraat Świętej Anny Street is a great spot for lunch in Krakow, depending on how hungry I am, I always order one of their amazing salads either as a small or big plate. Curry Up at Krakowska Street is one of my favourite places to go for dinner in Krakow – you have to try their yummy Hoisin beef and mango lassi!
Before exploring Krakow you should read something about the Nowa Huta district and the history of the Kazimierz district. People think Krakow is old-fashioned and conservative but it’s actually young at heart, well-developed and modern despite its old fashioned architecture.
Vintage Classics Style, Pasaż 13 at Rynek Główny, Galeria Kazimierz and Galeria Krakowska are the best places for shopping, here you’ll find many interesting shops with accessories, retro outfits, Polish fashion designers and high-street stores, as well as the most popular Polish brands. In winter, there’s a Christmas market on The Rynek, the huge market square in the centre of the Old Town. The Christmas market usually runs from the end of November to the beginning of January.
In the summer, one of the best things to do for free while exploring Krakow is to take one of the yoga classes at Bednarskiego Park. Many bars also offer free outdoor cinema events in the summer. In autumn, look out for the Najedzeni Fest at Forum Przestrzenie. It’s a street food festival where you can wander around and sample different types of delicious food. And don’t forget about Muzeum Narodowe w Krakowie and its permanent exhibitions – on Sundays they’re for free! The Nowa Huta district is somewhere that not many visitors know about but they should go there because of its interesting architectural style and its rich history.
People from Krakow still work to live, instead of living to work – they don’t forget about having a social life and they always make time to relax. If you want to enjoy Krakow’s nightlife, head to the Kazimierz area, you’ll find plenty of clubs and bars along Plac Nowy.”
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