I wonder why Krakow is more popular than Warsaw. I notice that there are several topics focus on Krakow and Auschwitz.
Warsaw has some interesting places such as
1. Museum of the History of Polish Jews
2. Warsaw Uprising Museum
3. Castle Square
Is it because Warsaw is very closer to Ukraine? So the tourists are afraid to go there?
No it has nothing to do with people being afraid to go there because it is next to Ukraine after all the Warsaw Airport is bigger and received 11 million more passengers than the Krakow Airport in 2024; it has more to do with marketing/word of mouth and Krakow's old town and proximity to Auschwitz and other tourist sites. I don't remember Warsaw being covered by Rick Steves so much over the years.
I myself would not determine popularity based on this forum alone. Go where you want to go.
I don't remember Warsaw being covered by Rick Steves so much over the
years.
It hasn't been, but in recent years have changed their tune, as evidenced by the improvement in guide book coverage for Poland, a RS tour of Poland, plus a 2025 TV episode on the country that covers much more than Krakow: https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/video/tv-show/poland
I personally found Krakow to be a nicer visit, with much more to do than historic Warsaw, and many nicer walks. I'm not sorry we visited Warsaw. Don't forget the Wawel Chakra, by the way (just kidding.)
By the way, the Museum of the History of Polish Jews is a nice visit, but they show an annoying number of reproductions of things, rather than the actual objects. Now, in the case of wooden synagogues, there is no doubt that a reproduction is necessary. But I'm talking about everything from jewelry to rugs, in reproduction or photo/transparency.
Proximity to Ukraine has nothing to do with it, if anything Krakow is closer, or at least a more direct route to get to from Ukraine than Warsaw.
It has more to do with the larger Krakow region, the area and the town are more scenic than the Warsaw area, some due to nature, some due to WW2 and Cold War urban architecture.
I am sure some of it is the "Rick Steves Effect", people on here read his books, take his tours. He talks up Krakow and the area a bit more, it is included on a couple tours, whereas Warsaw only one. However, most guides and info on Poland talk about the same three regions, (Krakow, Warsaw, and Gdansk/Pomerania) with the Krakow area and the South getting more attention.
Krakow is known as a tourist destination in a way that Warsaw isn’t. I know lots of people who’ve been to Krakow for a long weekend or mini break. It’s very well known. Warsaw isn’t popular in the same way for whatever reason.
Well, I know I went with the preconceived idea I would not particularly like Warsaw. And I was surprised - it was not what I expected. I think my feeling came from non-researched thoughts that it had been destroyed, would be ugly, and industrial. I admit that I still love Krakow better - I love the size better and the feel of walking through both the old city area and the Jewish area. But I would definitely go back to Warsaw - my 4 nights were enough to show me my misconceptions and intrigue me. So I have to agree with marketing as a partial cause.
Krakow is the old capital of Poland, a much older city than Warsaw. Its architecture is more beautiful in many people’s opinion. One reason for that is that as part of the Austrian Hapsburg empire for a long time before 1918, it looks more like other major tourist cities of Central Europe like Vienna, Prague and Budapest than does Warsaw, which was part of the Russian empire. And even more importantly, Warsaw was almost completely destroyed in World War II so anything “historical” you see there is a postwar reconstruction, often not particularly well done because it was in the Communist period when resources were scarce (but it’s to their credit they did try to restore it at all), while Krakow was spared wartime destruction. And Warsaw has a lot of pretty ugly Communist era construction in its center, whereas in Krakow that is mostly found in suburbs such as Nowa Huta (the steel town) where tourists rarely go. Not the only reasons for the relative popularity, but part of it.
It hasn't been, but in recent years have changed their tune, as evidenced by the improvement in guide book coverage for Poland, a RS tour of Poland, plus a 2025 TV episode on the country that covers much more than Krakow
Our tour guide told us how she and a few other guides suggested stops and sights to add and to delete. The RS Poland tour was wonderful. I enjoyed Krakow a bit more than Warsaw.
It starts with the density of gorgeous architecture. As already mentioned, Krakow came through the war in good shape; Warsaw's historic core was obliterated. Warsaw has a rebuilt Old Town of modest size. It's not an unattractive city, but it can't match Krakow. People tend to be dazzled by Krakow's historic architecture initially and only later delve into things like museums. Therefore, recommendations are often based primarily on surface appearances. The museum-loving traveler needs to do some research on what is available in each city and then decide how to split his or her available time.
Warsaw wins on the museum front--it's not even close.
Krakow also has the strong Pope John Paul II ties, which is likely a draw for many travelers.
Thanks for your wonderful and interesting views on Krakow and Warsaw.
Personally, I decided to skip Warsaw and visit Krakow. It has nothing to do with proximity to Ukraine, but more to do with my interests and logistics.
1) I like smaller towns/cities with medieval architecture to big cities. Warsaw is sprawling. Krakow is compact.
2) The proximity to other places I am interested in visiting: Auschwitz, Zakopane, Klodzko Valley.
I wanted to include Warsaw too, but given the time I had, I had to eliminate one place and Warsaw was it because of my interests. That said, I hope to visit it in future.
We spent about four days apiece last summer in Gdańsk and Kraków, with a day trip to Warsaw. I personally don't have any desire to return to Warsaw for any reason, but I could return to both other cities every year. They're delightful, with much to see and do.
I like Warsaw, I've visited four times and I'd happily go again, the war in Ukraine has zero influence on any visit to Poland. I've also been to Krakow, found it an attractive city but it doesn't pull me back in the way Warsaw does.
Tourists may prefer Krakow because the area they visit - the Stare Miasto inside the Planty + Kazimierz - is geared for tourism - perhaps a bit too much. It looks like "old" Europe - so it's not what we encounter in the States. If tourists were forced to stay in everyday Krakow away from the historic center they might have a very different opinion.
One needs to take Krakow, Gdansk and Warsaw on their own terms. Warsaw was completely flattened at the end of the war, so the fact that it exists today in its bustling, cosmopolitan state, after surviving decades of Soviet rule, is reason enough to admire it.
I think markcw has nailed it. Yes Krakow is attractive but outside of the main tourist area not so much and as Europe has so many old and attractive towns and cities as a European we tend to get used to them. As a result I find Warsaw's dynamism and positivity to be more of an attraction.
Is it because Warsaw is very closer to Ukraine? So the tourists are
afraid to go there?
I would suggest with the Slovak border so close to Krakow it’s probably a safer and more convenient location to evacuate from when the Russians begin their bombardment or cross the border into Poland.
A few Russian drones and missiles have fallen in Poland. No one has been hurt yet.
Warsaw I hear has great museums and a vibrant culture, but a totally reconstructed city. From an architectural point of view not too interesting. Krakow horrible history that everyone should learn. But a bit uncomfortable for me that so many Christians are making money off the Jewish history. No problem with the Christians per say, its just a reminder that pre WWII there were maybe 80.000 Jewish in the city, today less than 2.000.
So fascinating to me that you are fixed on dangers and fear. Krakow is a beautiful, preserved city. Warsaw is a large capital city that was largely destroyed in wars nearly 100 years ago. Which would you rather visit?
when the Russians begin their bombardment or cross the border into Poland
Aren't you guys tired of this fearmongering? It's been 3.5 years of this bs and all this time life in Poland has been pretty much business as usual - both Warsaw and Kraków continue to receive millions of visitors every year.
Emily, each to their own... Krakow.
qq just answering the question ...
Mr. E - that was directed at the OP, not you :).
And you probably caught my sarcasm. I need to stop, rarely goes off well. Wrong audience. But I would worry about being in a country that borders Ukraine ..... oooops, there i go again.
