Delicious Food in Krakow, Poland
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My trips in recent years tend to involve as many as five to six cities, sometimes in multiple countries, spending two to three days in each. Maybe it is an attention-span thing, but I think it is more about maximizing the travel to experience a taste of history, architecture and culture in as many places as convenient to airplane and train routes. Oh yes, don’t forget the food!
Usually, the two to three days of highlights is just enough, then I am ready to move on. A recent trip to Krakow, Poland, was an exception, compounded by a flight issue that cut short my visit by almost a full day.
Krakow, I found, is amazingly rich in the history, architecture and culture I crave. With both Palaeoithic and Neolithic evidence, first century settlers are known to have traded with the Roman Empire. Chartered in 1257, Krakow, with its Old Quarter, Medieval Main Market Square and many impressive churches, some dating back to the early 13th century, offers much to satisfy that craving.
Did I mention the food?!? Yes, no problem finding genuine, hand-made pierogis, as a meal or as a complement to other Eastern European flavors. Note from the picture, fried pierogis were not what I think of, as in fried in butter. They were deep fried, but still remarkable.
As if those were not temptation enough, expansive Market Square on a Saturday night is alive with activity and even more food to tempt, even on a full stomach. Unparalleled street food, less tourists and more Polish people from the countryside, are what you will find on a Saturday night in the square. You choose your food and demonstrate the size, length of kebab, sausage, etc. you want, they cut it off and weigh it to order. Reliving those experiences through these pictures, makes me hungry and want to go back.
My primary reason for going to Krakow was to visit Auschwitz and Birkenau. Read about my tour by clicking here.
The shortness of my time in this region is regrettable. I wish I could have allowed more. The Wieliczka salt mines, which are supposed to be spectacular, and Schindler’s Factory, are a couple places I wish I had at least one more day to visit. Krakow is definitely a city I would consider for a return visit.
If you go, an Auschwitz visit involves a 1 1/2 hour bus ride each way from Krakow, and requires booking in advance for a time and language-specific guide. You can not just wander around Auschwitz. A guide is necessary for learning or understanding the details of its history.
