I went to Krakow in my early twenties for a student exchange trip. The center was so gorgeous. I bought a wooden chess set that I never used because I sadly never learned to play. I also visited Auschwitz and later wrote my thesis on the holocaust. It was a transformative experience.
We didn't visit Auschwitz this time (it was our anniversary weekend and knew it would be a heavy visit) but I will never forget the day I visited Dachau a few years ago. It will be engrained in my head forever.
Poland is such an underrated country to visit. Aside from Krakow and Warsaw, you probably would enjoy Wroclaw, too. That town is probably the most German influenced out of the three.
I have heard super good things about Wroclaw, I have a colleague that lives there! Next on my list! I saw people eating zapiekanka! I wasn't sure of the name but from the picture there were lots of stands and places to get it.
Food poisoning really limited my eating options haha so I'll have to go back!
I've only ever been to Warsaw in Poland, but I really loved it there. So beautiful and relaxing, with many cafes and shops. The Old Town section is completely rebuilt, but it's done in the old style and is lovely. I ate SO many pierogi while in Poland, and all of them were delicious. Perhaps my favorite part of the trip, haha.
I went to Krakow in October 2023 and I loved the city! The city center was so gorgeous both at night and day. I loved the food too. I went to Massolit Books too and it was such a cozy bookstore! It was an amazing trip! I am glad you had a great trip!
Krakow is a fantastic city, I've been there a few times and it's always a delight. Glad you visited Nowa Prowincja, that's my usual go-to spot on every visit, and Massolit is excellent as well. Kazimierz is a great area of town to hang out, there are some cool cafes and live klezmer music places.
Pączki...mmmm...can't get them (very easily) in North Carolina, gotta go visit my family around Chicago for that!
I don't know, I want to visit the village (Kąkolowka, near Rzeszow) my dad's side came from one day and I guess Jasna Gora (home of the original Our Lady of Czestostowa), but don't like travel period, let alone overseas!
That's what's so great about the USA, you don't have to travel far to meet people from all over the world and share some food with them. Very cool you have explored your Polish ancestry too!
Yes. You walk down a small mining shaft with the tubes exposed that are pumping literal air down there. I was worried something would happen to the pipes and we'd lose oxygen! Then on the way up you traveled in a real true mining elevator! A little metal gate closed and we were shuttled upstairs very quickly with the sides exposed. They didn't even tell us to keep our hands inside (obvious but seems like a risk).
Poland’s been on my list for a long time! Krakow, Warsaw, and Czestochowa are the cities I want to visit. I grew up with a lot of Polish people in my neighborhood and my parish used to go on pilgrimages to Doylestown (Our Lady of Czestochowa shrine). This also gives me the incentive to check out Port Richmond the next time I’m in town!
Wow that's so crazy! I had no idea about that shrine in Doylestown! Port Richmond and Kensington has changed a lot but it seems like there are some true mom and pop Polish restaurants left :)
It’s a gorgeous shrine. It’s pretty big so I recommend a day or two if you want to explore the whole thing. There’s a lot of cool spots like that in the East Coast that I’ve only started to appreciate now.
If you happen to go towards Bosnia in your trip, I recommend Medugorje.
Krakow has one of the most beautiful old towns in Europe, I need to go back, it's been a while... Thanks for sharing your experience and thanks for the lovely photos!
I ❤️ Poland. If you haven’t yet, you should definitely go to Warsaw as well. My in-laws lived their final years there, so we visited often. It is a very hip and affordable city, and interestingly is one of the top vegan cities in the world! (I’m not vegan, but love the vegan restaurants in Poland.)
This vegan bakery in Warsaw is probably the best bakery I've ever been to. Not the best vegan bakery; THE BEST BAKERY. https://eterveganbakery.pl/ I am salivating just thinking about it.
I went to Krakow in my early twenties for a student exchange trip. The center was so gorgeous. I bought a wooden chess set that I never used because I sadly never learned to play. I also visited Auschwitz and later wrote my thesis on the holocaust. It was a transformative experience.
We didn't visit Auschwitz this time (it was our anniversary weekend and knew it would be a heavy visit) but I will never forget the day I visited Dachau a few years ago. It will be engrained in my head forever.
Poland is such an underrated country to visit. Aside from Krakow and Warsaw, you probably would enjoy Wroclaw, too. That town is probably the most German influenced out of the three.
Also, have you tried zapiekanka? Delicious! - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zapiekanka
I have heard super good things about Wroclaw, I have a colleague that lives there! Next on my list! I saw people eating zapiekanka! I wasn't sure of the name but from the picture there were lots of stands and places to get it.
Food poisoning really limited my eating options haha so I'll have to go back!
If you do go to Wroclaw, you should check out this cafe! https://youtu.be/Wb78yQPRCo8
Zapiekanka is delicious, good call!
I've only ever been to Warsaw in Poland, but I really loved it there. So beautiful and relaxing, with many cafes and shops. The Old Town section is completely rebuilt, but it's done in the old style and is lovely. I ate SO many pierogi while in Poland, and all of them were delicious. Perhaps my favorite part of the trip, haha.
Food leaves such lasting memories of a place!
Thanks for the recommendations! Will definitely reference this for a future trip!
You had me at pastries!!
Thank you for the recommendations!
I went to Krakow in October 2023 and I loved the city! The city center was so gorgeous both at night and day. I loved the food too. I went to Massolit Books too and it was such a cozy bookstore! It was an amazing trip! I am glad you had a great trip!
I got some really good books there :) Thanks for reading Reema!
Krakow is a fantastic city, I've been there a few times and it's always a delight. Glad you visited Nowa Prowincja, that's my usual go-to spot on every visit, and Massolit is excellent as well. Kazimierz is a great area of town to hang out, there are some cool cafes and live klezmer music places.
Nowa Prowincja was a great spot! We loved it!
Pączki...mmmm...can't get them (very easily) in North Carolina, gotta go visit my family around Chicago for that!
I don't know, I want to visit the village (Kąkolowka, near Rzeszow) my dad's side came from one day and I guess Jasna Gora (home of the original Our Lady of Czestostowa), but don't like travel period, let alone overseas!
That's what's so great about the USA, you don't have to travel far to meet people from all over the world and share some food with them. Very cool you have explored your Polish ancestry too!
Pastries look so yum! 130 feet underground scares me, might as well have been in space! Did it feel scary at all?
Yes. You walk down a small mining shaft with the tubes exposed that are pumping literal air down there. I was worried something would happen to the pipes and we'd lose oxygen! Then on the way up you traveled in a real true mining elevator! A little metal gate closed and we were shuttled upstairs very quickly with the sides exposed. They didn't even tell us to keep our hands inside (obvious but seems like a risk).
Poland is one of my absolute favorite places in the world. Loved everything about it! Can’t wait to go back someday!
I liked the jovial atmosphere of the bar we went to. I will definitely be back. Thanks for reading Nicole!
Poland’s been on my list for a long time! Krakow, Warsaw, and Czestochowa are the cities I want to visit. I grew up with a lot of Polish people in my neighborhood and my parish used to go on pilgrimages to Doylestown (Our Lady of Czestochowa shrine). This also gives me the incentive to check out Port Richmond the next time I’m in town!
Wow that's so crazy! I had no idea about that shrine in Doylestown! Port Richmond and Kensington has changed a lot but it seems like there are some true mom and pop Polish restaurants left :)
It’s a gorgeous shrine. It’s pretty big so I recommend a day or two if you want to explore the whole thing. There’s a lot of cool spots like that in the East Coast that I’ve only started to appreciate now.
If you happen to go towards Bosnia in your trip, I recommend Medugorje.
Krakow has one of the most beautiful old towns in Europe, I need to go back, it's been a while... Thanks for sharing your experience and thanks for the lovely photos!
Thanks for reading Gabi! The old town was really charming.
I ❤️ Poland. If you haven’t yet, you should definitely go to Warsaw as well. My in-laws lived their final years there, so we visited often. It is a very hip and affordable city, and interestingly is one of the top vegan cities in the world! (I’m not vegan, but love the vegan restaurants in Poland.)
I love vegan food too! I would love to go to Warsaw, thanks for reading and sharing.
This vegan bakery in Warsaw is probably the best bakery I've ever been to. Not the best vegan bakery; THE BEST BAKERY. https://eterveganbakery.pl/ I am salivating just thinking about it.