There are two football teams in Krakow, Wisła and Cracovia. They are more than rivals. If you want to go to a game- you may be able to purchase tickets online- but registration on each website is required and an id number is necessary. When i made my account just now, I used my pesel…
Category: Culture, Holidays, Traditions
Fika in Krakow: Swedish Treats
Kanelbulle, Semla, Coffee, oh my! Have you heard of Fika? To say it is simply a coffee break would be to insult every Swede that has negotiated 4 fikas into their workday (seriously look it up, they demand these things). To say it is just grabbing coffee with friends would be to downplay the importance…
13 Interesting Facts About Easter and Springtime in Krakow, Poland!
Easter is the most important holiday on the Polish calendar, comparable only to Wigilia; usually taking the cake as the most prepped for, and celebrated time. Not only is the day important, but the build up to the Easter Feast is filled with events and activities for months; as well as, the days after. Springtime…
11 Polish Easter Foods To Try This Holiday Season
So you find yourself in Krakow during the Easter season- great! There is nothing better than immersing yourself in a culture during an important time of year. The month of Easter will provide you with a pretty intense amount of events- from the Easter Market in the Main Square, to the single-day events such as…
140 Things to do in Krakow Poland
140 Things to do in Krakow Krakow, or as the British like to call it Cracow, is an amazing city, and there is so much to do here. I’ve taken a lot of time to compile a list of almost everything you can do! Coming soon is a printable checklist for your next trip. But for now,…
12 Things to Put on Your Krakow Christmas Market List this Year
The Christmas market in the Rynek Główny is set up for the whole of the Christmas season in Krakow and it’s a wonderful place to pick up Christmas gifts, souvenirs and to try some amazing Polish food and drinks! The video above shows you a selection of things to be had at the annual holiday market! Open…
Krakow at Christmas: 73rd Annual Szopki Competition
Every year on the first Thursday of December, the Historical Museum of Krakow holds the annual Szopka Competition! This year was its 73rd year. Children, adults, everyone brings their handcrafted szopka to the statue at the heart of the Main Square. Krakowians and visitors gather together, starting around 9am, to watch the szopki be brought in….
Polish Traditions: Christmas Time
If you will be in Krakow during or around Christmas time you are in for a real treat. Not only will the Main Market Square be filled with a bustling Christmas Market, complete with Polish Market Food, homemade goodies, and crafts, but the city will also have events for you to enjoy as well! See…
12 Days of Christmas in Krakow
Follow us the next twelve days as we take you all over the city of Krakow to show you what Christmas in Krakow is really like! Each day we will post a new video and pictures as a countdown to Christmas. Below is a sneak-peek at what we have in store… And remember everyday on…
All Saints’ and Souls’ Day in Poland: Halloween in Krakow
Every year on November 1st and 2nd, Polish people celebrate All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. This is everything you need to know to participate in All Saints’ Day on your trip to Krakow, Poland.
Herring Night
Carnaval in Poland (the time just before Lent) is filled with many strange traditions. We already showed you Paczki Day, but now, as lent approaches, it’s time for herring. Herring Night, or Śledzik in Polish, is the last day before Lent begins and Poles fast for 40 days from indulgent things such as alcohol, sweets, or…
Eat a Meal in a Local’s Home
My biggest fear when I travel is that I am going to end up at a restaurant where a local person would never go. I always search before a trip to find a place that is recommended by a local blogger or talk to my friends that may have spent some time actually living in…
Fat Thursday (Tlusty Czwartek): 3 Things You Have to Eat
In Poland, instead of celebrating Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras like everyone else in the world, they celebrate Fat Thursday. The holiday is aptly named, as just about everything you are supposed to eat on that day is deep fried, sugary, and delicious! Here are some of our favorite foods to have on Fat Thursday….
ChanuKrakow: Celebrating Hanukkah at the JCC Krakow
Christmas Markets aren’t the only thing happening in Krakow this time of year- just a short look at part of the ChanuKrAkow celebrations at the Jewish Community Center in Krakow this year! We were lucky enough to be able to attend just part of the ChanuKrakow celebrations this year in the Kazimierz District. Hundreds gathered…
Polish Traditions: The Name Day and Grilled Sausages
I am combining these two topics because last night I experienced them both together! Where we Americans take pride in roasting marshmallows, Poles take pride in roasting sausage over a fire. They eat more grilled sausage than hamburgers, hotdogs, steaks, or especially marshmallows (since those are pretty hard to find here) combined. Playing in an…
Polish Traditions: Goodbye Winter, Goodbye Marzanna
On the first day of spring, all the school children of Krakow take dolls they have made from hay or corn-stalks, and throw them down the river, sometimes even lighting them on fire. These Marzanna dolls, were born from a Pagan tradition, and its quite suprising that they live on in such a Catholic nation….
Polish Holidays: Palm Sunday
On Palm Sunday you can head to the Main Square to see a competition of “palms” beautiful handmade poles filled with color and vibrance; as well as, traditional song and dance all day long. If you have your own palm, don’t forget to take it to church to have it blessed by a priest (you’ll…
Festivals, Traditions, and Holidays
The best way to find out what is going on in Krakow during your stay is to check in with the Krakow Festival Bureau or grab a copy of the Karnet magazine. (For those of you with an Instagram or Facebook, I suggest following the accounts for both those offices, among others, to get a feel…
Polish Traditions: The Legend of the Lajkonik
You can see the Lajkonik all over the city, it is on the fabric used to cover some bus and tram seats, its on many brochures, used in logos, it is a true symbol of Krakow. The Lajkonik is a man on a hobby-horse, dressed in fanciful clothing, that is said to bring good luck,…
Day Trippin: Czestochowa, the Czarna Madonna, and Jasna Gora Monostary
To anyone interested in Catholic history, or is a Catholic themself, heading to Czestochowa to the Jasna Gora Monostary from Krakow might be a good idea. The original Czarna Madonna is held here, and the monostary is also an end-point for thousands of people on pilgramages, my mother-in-law included. The actual piece of art is held behind…
Say Hello to the Hejnal
Every hour on the hour, keep your ears open for the Hejnal playing his trumpet from the top of St. Mary’s Church Tower. Legend has it that during a Mongol Invasion in the 1200’s, the Hejnal began playing his trumpet to warn the city, and was shot in the heart. Today if you listen closely,…
Polish Traditions: Easter Basket and Eggs
If you’re lucky enough to be in Poland for Easter, we suggest joining in some of the traditions, whether you are Catholic or not. Two very unique traditions are the dying of Easter eggs and the blessing of Easter baskets. Go to a local farmer’s market to find all the supplies you will need to put…