Off-the-Beaten-Path: Krakow to Wroclaw, Poland

You can arrive in another city and take the train to Wroclaw. Since I took the Krakow route, that is where this adventure will start. If you are landing in Krakow, check into Hotel Copernicus and drop your bags off to get straight to exploring Krakow.

Grab a late lunch or early dinner at Pod Aniolami for a charming dinning experience with traditional Polish food.

After eating, if its before 6pm, stroll over to Krakow Cloth Hall to look at local crafts and souvenirs. If it is after 6pm, stroll through the market square taking in the beautiful architecture and scenery before heading back to the hotel.

To start the day, consider exploring the Royal Way, a historic route that starts at the Barbican and takes you through some of the most important parts of Krakow before finishing at Wawel Castle.

If you missed Cloth Hall the night before, or want to check it out again, head here next to find a local spot for lunch. As well as checking out St. Marys Basilica and seeing if any street performers are out and about.

To condense and for flexibility, these are the highlights you should not miss:

• Wawel Castle: Head to Wawel Hill to explore the Wawel Castle and Cathedral. The castle is a historic residence of Polish kings, and the cathedral is a significant religious site. Don’t miss the Royal Apartments and the impressive views from the castle grounds.

• Old Town and Market Square (Rynek Główny): Stroll through the Main Market Square. It is one of Europe’s largest medieval town squares. Visit the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) for some souvenir shopping and admire the beautiful Town Hall Tower.

• Take time to see St. Mary’s Basilica, known for its stunning Gothic architecture and the famous trumpet signal (Hejnał Mariacki) played every hour.

• Kazimierz District: Explore the Kazimierz district, Krakow’s historic Jewish quarter. Visit the Old Synagogue and the Galicia Jewish Museum to learn about the area’s rich Jewish heritage.

• Wander through the lively streets, which are filled with cafés, galleries, and unique shops.

• If possible, after doing everything your heart desires in Krakow, catch the 4pm train so you have the full 3-hour train ride in sunlight and during sunset before arriving in Wroclaw.

Breakfast

• Catch a taxi to your hotel, The Bridge Wroclaw - MGallery (6-minute drive, 30-minute walk, 17-minute local bus ride):

• You have complimentary breakfast at the hotel as well as 100USD to be used at the hotel

• If you are hungry and feeling up for it, take a walk from the hotel to either Restauracja Radość (5-minute walk) or Karczma Lwowska (10-minute walk). Both offer traditional Polish cuisine.

• Sleep in (breakfast at hotel) and then keep an eye out for the dwarfs/gnomes! Nobody knows exactly how many there are, but it is speculated to be over 600.

Sights and local fare

• Market square: Head to the market square, one of Europes largest and most medieval town squares

• Check out the Hala Targowa market: For fresh and local foods. You can grab lunch here.

• You can also visit the Wroclaw town hall museum inside town hall to learn history and see artifacts

• You can also stroll through the botanical gardens

• Walk over to St. Elizabeths Church and walk the 300 steps for an incredible view of the city

• Check out Ostrow tumski, the oldest part of Wroclaw known for beautiful cathedrals and charming streets, as well as the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.

• Take a stroll along the Odra river to end your day and then get dinner at one of the places you have not tried before.

Auschwitz

Have some breakfast then pick up rental car at airport by 11am.

Leave directly from the airport and drive to Auschwitz (2.5 hours) and spend as much or as little time here as you want.

Other stops

On the way, consider stopping in:

• Opole: See the charming Opole Cathedral and Piast Tower.

• Pszczyna: Stop for a light lunch at Restauracja Zamek, in a historic castle.

• Consider booking a general tour of Auschwitz in advance as they do fill up

• Oświęcim: The town in which the Auschwitz concentration camp is situated.

• Auschwitz: The name of the camp itself, which is derived from the German name for the town.

Drop the rental car off at the airport and catch a flight to Amsterdam, or wherever home or the next adventure awaits!