When you visit Poland – especially Warsaw, Krakow and Gdansk – it can feel like World War II is everywhere. Monuments, museums, memorials. In Krakow this is even stronger: the moment you land at the airport you’re greeted with banners advertising trips to Auschwitz. Ask at a tourist information point what you should do here, and the first answer is usually: “You must visit Auschwitz, you must see Schindler’s Factory.”

And of course, these are important places. Visiting them is a moving and meaningful experience, one you should definitely include in your trip. But here’s the paradox – many travellers come to Krakow almost only for its wartime history, skipping what actually makes this city unique.

The truth is that 1939–1945 is just a small fraction of Krakow’s story. For centuries it was one of the most important cities in Poland – the royal capital, a hub of trade and culture, and a city of kings, merchants, and artists. Its wealth came from commerce that attracted people from all over Europe, turning Krakow into a true crossroads of cultures. If you want to understand Krakow, you need to see more than its World War II scars.

Medieval Krakow – a city built on its own history

The Old Town is more than just charming cobblestone streets – it is literally built on layers of its own past. Beneath the Main Market Square you can explore the Underground Museum, where the foundations of medieval Krakow reveal how the present city centre grew on top of an even older one. Above ground, the square itself is framed by the Cloth Hall, once the beating heart of international trade, and the St. Mary’s Basilica, whose magnificent altarpiece carved by Veit Stoss is one of the greatest Gothic works in Europe.

Just a short walk away rises Wawel Hill, home to the royal castle and the cathedral where kings were crowned and buried. For centuries, Wawel was the symbolic heart of Poland, and standing there today, you can still feel the echoes of that golden age.

Equally important is the Jagiellonian University, founded in 1364 and one of the oldest in the world. Its Collegium Maius still preserves Gothic lecture halls and libraries where some of the greatest minds once studied – among them Nicolaus Copernicus, Jan III Sobieski and, centuries later, Karol Wojtyła, who would become Pope John Paul II. This intellectual tradition shaped not only Krakow, but also Europe.

And when you need a break from history, you can settle into one of Krakow’s traditional cafés, some of which have been serving guests for hundreds of years. Few cities in Europe can match this sense of continuity – where you sip coffee in the same spot as poets, scholars and politicians did centuries ago.

Kazimierz – centuries of Jewish life

Right next to the Old Town lies Kazimierz, the historic Jewish quarter and one of Krakow’s most distinctive districts. For hundreds of years this was a vibrant centre of Jewish life, home to synagogues, schools, markets and a community that once numbered tens of thousands. By the time World War II began, Jews in Krakow were deeply rooted and well assimilated – they were not just neighbours but simply fellow citizens, Krakowians like everyone else. Their contribution shaped the city’s culture in countless ways, from religious scholarship to art, music and even cuisine.

The Holocaust tragically broke this continuity, wiping out a community that had flourished for centuries. Yet Kazimierz today is not only a place of remembrance. It is alive again, with synagogues turned into museums, bustling cafés, cultural festivals and restaurants that revive traditional Jewish flavours. Walking its narrow streets, you can feel both the weight of history and the resilience of a culture that will always remain part of Krakow’s identity.

The “white gold” that built Krakow’s wealth

In the Middle Ages, salt was known as “white gold” – a resource that gave Krakow its prosperity and power. Today, you can still step into this history by visiting the two salt mines near the city: Wieliczka and Bochnia, both recognised by UNESCO.

Bochnia is the older of the two, with a quieter and more intimate character, where you can sense the authentic atmosphere of centuries-old mining traditions. Wieliczka, on the other hand, is more frequently chosen by visitors. Booking a Krakow salt mines tour takes you into an underground world that feels almost unreal – chapels carved entirely from salt, intricate sculptures, and even chandeliers that glitter in the darkness. For many travellers, it is this extraordinary art hidden beneath the ground that makes Wieliczka so impressive.

Together, the two mines tell the story of how salt shaped Krakow’s wealth and cultural importance, showing why this city became a major hub of trade in medieval Europe.

The Eagle Nests Trail

North of Krakow stretches the Eagle Nests Trail – a chain of medieval castles perched dramatically on limestone hills between Krakow and Częstochowa. These fortresses once protected trade routes and stood as a symbol of the kingdom’s strength. The ruins of Ogrodzieniec Castle are the most spectacular, but the trail also leads to Jasna Góra in Częstochowa, the famous monastery and fortress that for centuries has been both a spiritual and military stronghold, never conquered in its prime. Every fortress along the route carries a story of knights, sieges and legends.

Krakow’s mysterious mounds

Krakow also has its own version of pyramids – the mounds. They might look simple, but their meaning is almost mystical. The oldest, Krakus Mound, contains traces of settlements dating back to the Bronze Age, and archaeologists believe it may have been raised as early as the 7th or 8th century. The Wanda Mound, linked to the legendary daughter of King Krak, is another ancient structure with mysterious origins.

Even more fascinating is the astronomical alignment of the two – the positioning of Krakus and Wanda Mounds relative to each other, and to the rising and setting sun, suggests they may once have functioned as part of a prehistoric calendar or astronomical system.

The most famous mound today is Kościuszko Mound, offering one of the best panoramic views over Krakow. Climbing a mound is not just sightseeing – it is stepping into the city’s mythology, where legend, history and even ancient astronomy intertwine.

Nature at your doorstep

If you need a break from the city, the Ojcow National Park is just a short trip away. Despite being the smallest national park in Poland, it is filled with wonders: limestone cliffs, caves such as the “King Łokietek’s Cave”, picturesque valleys and castle ruins. The wider Kraków-Częstochowa Upland (Jura) is also a paradise for hiking, cycling and climbing, combining natural beauty with medieval heritage.

Nowa Huta – Krakow after the war

To understand Krakow fully, you should also see Nowa Huta, a district built after World War II as a model of socialist realism. Planned around a giant steelworks, it was designed to contrast with Krakow’s royal past – wide avenues, monumental architecture, and entire neighbourhoods built from scratch. For decades it stood as a symbol of communist ideology, but today it is an inseparable part of the city, where history, architecture and everyday life blend in surprising ways.

Krakow as a city of art

Beyond history, Krakow is a thriving centre of art and culture. The National Museum houses Leonardo da Vinci’s Lady with an Ermine as well as masterpieces by Rubens and other European greats. At the same time, MOCAK, the Museum of Contemporary Art, offers a bold and often provocative view of today’s world. Few cities can offer such a seamless blend of Gothic altars, Renaissance paintings and contemporary installations.

But art in Krakow is not confined to museums. The city also lives through its festivals – from the Jewish Culture Festival in Kazimierz, to the Summer Jazz Festival, the Krakow Film Music Festival, and countless other events that fill the streets with music, theatre and performance. This combination of centuries-old heritage and vibrant creativity makes Krakow a true cultural capital.

More than war

Yes – visit Auschwitz and Schindler’s Factory. They are essential for understanding Europe’s darkest chapter. But don’t let that be the only story you take home from Krakow.

This city has layers upon layers: royal splendour, medieval trade, Jewish life in Kazimierz, mystical mounds, salt mines carved deep into the earth, castles on limestone cliffs, communist-era architecture in Nowa Huta, and world-class art. If you explore beyond World War II, you’ll discover why Krakow has been called the heart of Polish history and culture for centuries.