5 places in Krakow for different people

Everyone can find their place in Krakow. It is one of the oldest cities in Poland, full of magical locations and people. Below are just five of them (but for different people).

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For Photographers

If you are looking for the best shot of Krakow's Market Square you should visit the Cafe Szał. It is located in the heart of the city, in Sukiennice - one of the city's most recognizable icons. However, the best location does not mean that everyone knows about it. Mainly because the entrance to the café is also the entrance to the National Museum. BTW, I also recommend the museum. It holds the largest permanent exhibit of the 19th-century Polish painting and sculpture.

The Sukiennice (or the Kraków Cloth Hall).

The entrance.

A terrace overlooking the Market Square.

The Cafe Szał is on the first floor and has one big advantage: a terrace overlooking the Market Square. It is an ideal place to take pictures.

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For Lovers

If you are looking for an oasis where you can sit with a girl/boyfriend and forget the hustle and bustle of the city, you have to go to the Mehoffer's garden. It is 16 acres of trees and flowers near the house located at 26 Krupnicza Street. It belonged to Józef Mehoffer - a Polish painter and decorative artist, one of the leading artists of the Young Poland movement. This charming spot was designed during the 1930s by the artist himself. Unfortunately, after the Second World War it was an abandoned place. The Garden was restored and reopened in 2004.

The garden is located next to the "Writers' house" also called the "House of 40 Poets" by Gałczyński. Sławomir Mrożek, Jerzy Broszkiewicz, Konstanty Ildefons Gałczyński, Kazimierz Brandys, Jerzy Andrzejewski, Stefan Kisielewski, Stanisław Dygat, Stefan Otwinowski, Leon Kruczkowski, Adam Polewka, Bronisław Maj, Wisława Szymborska, and others lived here with their families.

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For Students

If you are a student and need peace and quiet in the heart of the city just visit the Professors' Garden near Collegium Maius (the Jagiellonian University's oldest building at Jagiellońska Street). It has only 0.15 hectares, but in the 15th century, the area was twice as large as today. The garden was first mentioned by university recordings already in 1467. Nowadays attractions of the garden are sculptures presenting University professors and modern educational installations, e.g. a sundial and a model of the armillary sphere.

The garden is open from the first sunny days of spring to the first frost and snowfall from 9:00 to 18:30. It is a perfect place for learning and preparing for exams.

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For Hungry People

The Polskie Smaki is located at 5 Św. Tomasza street in a house erected at the turn of the 17th century. They have the best dumplings (pierogi) in the city - filled with meat or fruit, or cottage cheese and potatoes... But the best are "pierogi z kaczką i bazylią" - dumplings filled with duck and basil. I highly recommend!

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For Old School Fans

Dolne Młyny is a city within the city. 15,000 square meters and six large buildings. A long time ago it was "Kaiserliche Koenigliche Tabakfabrik" - the cigarette manufacturing complex built in the second half of 19th century. Nowadays the place gathers a large number of different entities. It is a space to integrate local businesses and community initiatives in food, nightlife, art, culture, design and entrepreneurship. For this reason, it is one of the best party venues in the city... at least until 2020, when the contract ends and the place is likely to be partially demolished and converted into a hotel.

@foggymeadow also reccomends.

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All photos (except photos from the Professors' Garden) were taken at the end of October 2018. Photographs from the Professors Garden were taken in June 2018.