My 16 year old son and I will be in Krakow for 5 days (3 nights in Old Town, 2 in Kazimierz). I have Auschwitz booked and am about to buy the Salt Mine tickets (we will just take the train there). Are there any particular tours that you really liked? Old town? Wawel Cathedral? He wasn't interested in Schindler's Factory when he heard that it was more about the Nazi occupation. Fair enough. Thank you!
Posted by
martinez, ca, usa
2404 posts
hey hey crazyNavylife
crazyguides.com
click the tours they have and any interests
thetimes.com/21 best things to do in krakow
krakowmonamour.com/kazimierz & jewish quarter
thetravelmentor.com
under top categories click poland, scroll down and see/read the topics in blue. so much great info
theculturetrip.com/poland/12 things you can buy only in poland
atlasobscura.com/krakow
things to do in krakow/poland. cool, hidden and unusual things to see and do. between you and your son, he can research also what he might like, you'll never know what you'll find
deliciouspoland.com
fouraroundtheworld.com/must try foods in poland
my friend had pork knuckle at a small restaurant served on a spit thingy at the table. she loved it
secretfoodtours.com/krakow
my BFF's husband is from poland, tells us lots of stories and when he/she cooks polish food we get invited yummy
have a great time, it is a short time but make do with it all.
aloha
Posted by
Barcelona + Sweden
4180 posts
Everyone has different interests, but for things a teen might find cool in and near Krakow I can suggest:
Polish Aviation Museum in Krakow: has well preserved airplanes from WWI, WWII, and the Cold War. Including Hermann Göring's personal WWI airplane collection and Pope John Paul II's Papal Helicopter, located on the outskirts of Krakow (can take a taxi). I was there over last summer had most of the place to myself.
Czartoryski Art Museum: home of the famous Leonardo da Vinci's Lady with an Ermine painting.
Zakopane: Mountain resort town with plenty of outdoors activities like hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter.
Trail of the Eagle's Nest Castles" a string of 25 medieval castles and fortresses as a bulwark against the encroaching Kingdom of Bohemia. The castles are located in a protected area called the Polish Jurassic Highlands, a hilly landscape of Jurassic limestone cliffs and valleys, dotted with many charming villages and dense forests. This is a daytrip not many foreigners know about but is probably the best daytrip from Krakow if you want to see castles. I visited them driving with a rental car back in 2019, here is my trip report - https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/new-daytrip-from-krakow-eagle-s-nest-castle-trail
Pszczyna, an ancient market town and former capital of the Duchy of Pless in German or Pszczyna in Polish. Another nice daytrip from Krakow. The main attraction is the Pszczyna Castle (https://www.inyourpocket.com/katowice/pszczyna-castle_155752v), also known as Schloss Pleß. Once the residence of local German dukes, it is a fine example of baroque architecture and is surrounded by a beautiful English-style park. Inside, the castle offers perfectly preserved 18th and 19th century interiors including original furniture and artifacts, a rarity to survive both WWI and WWII. There is also a Silesian ethnographic museum and European Bison reserve close by.
Maybe you can have your teen do research for a 1-2 things they'd like to see.
Posted by
Los Angeles
1171 posts
Your son might enjoy the Rynek Underground - entrance is on one side of the cloth hall. Not necessary to book a tour.
I found the castle to be a bit underwhelming.
He might enjoy the food trucks and food stalls in Kazimierz.