My third day in Poland. I had planned to take the day trip from Warsaw to Kraków, another world heritage and historic city. Indeed, Kraków was not destroyed during WW2 like Warsaw. Every building and architecture are still in complete form. With this reason, it made me thrilled and could not wait to see this city.
Kraków is about 300 km away from Warsaw. To get there, I decided to use morning train from Warszawa Centralna to Kraków Główny (Kraków central) which take time about 2 hours and 30 minutes. Then, I would back to Warsaw in the same day evening. The train ticket can be book from Polrail website (the official website of state railways of Poland). The ticket can be purchased up to 6 months in advance. I recommended to book at the earliest to get low price.
For my day trip, Herewith my train schedules.
– Outbound (Warszawa Centralna – Kraków Główny) : Train #EIC1350 Tatry (7.40AM – 10.12AM)
– Inbound (Kraków Główny – Warszawa Centralna) : Train #EIP3500 EIP (4.56PM – 7.20PM)
In the morning, I woke up at 6AM to take shower and had the easy breakfast before walk to Warszawa Centralna which is 1 km away from my hotel. I checked the weather forecast at Kraków, it seems today was the rainy day. But everything has been planned, the show must go on. It would be the chance to see Kraków in romantic raining scene. 🥰🌧️🎬 I arrived at Warszawa Centralna station at 7.20AM. On the screen, I would board the train at track number 3. The train was departed right on-time.
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The train arrived at Kraków Główny with no delay. As the weather forecast, Kraków welcomed me with light rain and it seemed to be like this all day long. But it was not the problem, I prepared myself with water proof jacket already. The first place what I would visit is Kraków Old Town Square (Rynek Główny). It is just 1.50 km away from railways station. I could walk there.
I arrived Kraków Old Town Square at 11AM. This area is the heart of Kraków and one of the largest medieval squares in Europe. It was created in the 13th century after the city was rebuilt. For centuries, this square has been a center for trade, public events, and daily life. Surrounded by colorful buildings, churches, and the famous Cloth Hall, Rynek Główny shows the rich history and lively spirit of Kraków. Even it was raining day but I could see many of tourist taking the photo with this historic square. The rain and wet floor made it looked so classic.
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Just next to Kraków Old Town Square, it has outstanding double towers church, St. Mary’s Basilica. I did not hesitate to get inside the see the architecture as well as took a break from rain. NO PHOTO ALLOWED INSIDE THE CHURCH.
St. Mary’s Basilica is one of Kraków’s most famous churches, built in the 14th century on the main square. It is known for its two towers of different heights and the hourly trumpet call played from the taller tower. Inside, the church is richly decorated, with colorful walls and a stunning wooden altar carved in the late 1400s. The interior feels grand, artistic, and full of history. This church is open daily 11.30AM – 6PM with free admission. ⛪
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Next, I walked cross the sqaure to the opposite site, The Main Market. This market has been the center of city life since the 13th century. It was once a busy place for trading goods like salt, cloth, and food. Today, it is filled with market stalls selling souvenirs, local snacks, and handmade crafts. With street performers, horse carriages, and historic buildings all around, the market feels lively and full of old-world charm. The Main Market is open daily 10AM – 8PM.
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At the market, I walked about 15 minutes to find the souvenir and knickknack. The visitor should not miss to grab “Wawel Dragon 🐲” souvenir such as doll or keychain as this dragon is the symbol of this city. Then, about 12PM, I walked (through the drizzling rain ☔) to the next destination, Wawel Royal Castle Complex which is about 750 meters away.
Wawel Royal Castle Complex has 2 main parts, Wawel Cathedral and Wawel Castle. Both parts have separated ticket. I planned to spent about 2.5 – 3 hours here. The opening hour of Wawel Royal Castle Complex is 9AM – 5PM daily. The first place what I would visit is Wawel Cathedral as it is just next to the main entrance. I could by the ticket from automatic ticketing machine in the office opposite to the cathedral. The ticket cost was 25 PLN/person (about 7 USD).
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Wawel Cathedral is one of the most important churches in Poland. It has stood on Wawel Hill for over 900 years and was the place where Polish kings were crowned and buried. Inside, the cathedral is filled with chapels, tombs, and royal symbols. You can see beautiful decorations, historic bells, and the resting places of kings and national heroes. Even on a rainy day, the cathedral feels powerful, quiet, and full of history. NO PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO INSIDE THE CATHEDRAL ALLOWED.
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The Royal Sigismund Bell Tower
Source : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sigismund_Bell
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I spent about an hour in the cathedral, climb-up to The Royal Sigismund Bell Tower and visit the Cathedral Museum. About 1PM, my stomach alerted me that it is the time to feed him. Fortunately, I grabbed some snack and juice with me before getting here. Because it had just one main restaurant in ticket office of Wawel Castle and always crowded. After quick lunch, I moved to Wawel Castle by going to the ticket office to buy the ticket. The ticket cost was 49 PLN/person (about 14 USD). The ticket had specified the visiting time, as I am a solo-traveller, the officer could put me in the next round, 1.30PM which is just next 5 minutes. I wasted no-time to walk to the entrance of the castle. 🏰
Wawel Castle was once the home of Polish kings and the center of royal power for centuries. Built mainly in the 1500s, the castle shows a mix of different styles and strong royal influence. Inside, visitors can see grand halls, old furniture, paintings, and royal rooms. The castle also offers beautiful views of the Vistula River, making it both historic and impressive.
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About 3PM, I said good-bye to Wawel Castle Complex and walked back to the Old Town Square. The last place what I would visit before heading back to railways station was Holy Trinity Church. It is just near to the Old Town Square.
Holy Trinity Church is one of Kraków’s oldest churches, built in the 13th century by the Dominican order. Over the centuries, it was damaged by fires and later rebuilt. Inside, the church feels calm and spacious, with tall pillars, colorful stained glass, and historic chapels. It is also known as the burial place of important religious figures. Today, it remains a quiet place to reflect in the busy Old Town. Holy Trinity Church is open daily, 6.30AM – 9PM with free admission.
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About 4PM, it was the time to bid farewell to Kraków, the Polish Athens and walk back to railway station to catch the train back to Warsaw at 4.56PM.
As I could see, at Kraków has true Polish aura but it has different charming compared to Warsaw. Because Warsaw is looked modernized but Kraków is traditional and classic as the destruction almost untouched during world wars. The city and architecture are well preserved. So, if you are looking for typical and old style Polish, taking the day-trip to Kraków from Warsaw is highly recommended if you have limited time in Poland. 😃
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Written by : Shipy Siwarit Tiasuwattiseth
Shipy-Ship 