Krakow-wow: take your next tour with Google Arts & Culture

Apr 05, 2023

[[read-time]] min read

Magdalena Kotlarczyk

Country Director, Google Poland

A collage of images from the Krakow exhibition: a painting of a woman breastfeeding an infant, images of buildings, a trumpet and a painting of a woman with an animal

Why is Krakow so unique? The city of kings rarely sleeps! To inspire your next trip, Google Arts & Culture, together with 13 cultural institutions, launches Krakow-wow! — a new online destination for culture and travel fans. Our new collection is dedicated to all Krakow has to offer: from its stunning architecture and its rich history, to the city’s one-of-a-kind character and bubbling cultural life.

Find out what to do, once you are there.

1.Stroll through Krakow's Old Town

Look around one of the most spectacular and largest medieval town squares in Europe. Seek out dazzling cathedrals, old cobbled streets, charming outdoor cafes, heritage horse and carriage rides, and hundreds of years of the richest Polish history. Hear St Mary’s trumpet call, look inside Mitoraj's sculpture and find the artists hiding in the square.

2. Step into Wawel Royal Castle

The ancient seat of Polish kings and the UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Historic Centre of Krakow, Wawel is one of the most famous castles in all of Europe and Poland’s most important historical and cultural monument. Explore a place where the nation’s story has been written many times. Take a tour around Wawel Hill, walk through the royal chambers and find the Dragon’s Den! Looking for something special? See armor for the Young King Sigismund Augustus in 3D and other treasures from the Royal Castle.

3. Explore the Mine of Mysteries — Wieliczka Salt Mine

You cannot miss the tour to massive salt mines that were in use for around 800 years and descend deep underground. During the tour see the historic mining machinery, great chambers and salt cellars — tiny masterpieces from the valuable and diverse collection in Wieliczka.

4. Marvel at the masterpieces

Zoom into ultra high resolution image of Lady with an Ermine by Leonardo da Vinci from The National Museum in Krakow collection, get to know some of the Stanisław Wyspiański's pastels and dive into artworks of master of dystopian surrealism by Zdzisław Beksiński. Take a historical journey with Jan Matejko and admire the nineteenth century theater curtain designed by Henryk Siemiradzki from the Juliusz Słowacki Theatre — a painting on canvas, over 11 meters wide and almost 10 meters high!

5. Discover handmade gems

Toys, memorabilia, or tiny works of art? The Ethnographic Museum of Kraków houses a unique collection of unusual toys. Admire the colorful décor and mysterious atmosphere of rural culture. Fall in love with the craftsmanship of traditional clothing and lose yourself in the spring parish fairs which are still held in Kraków today.

6. Learn about legends and myths

Did you know that according to legend, a man-eating dragon plagued Krakow in the 13th century? Have you ever wondered why Lajkonik is jumping around the Main Square in Krakow? Explore the legend of Mr Twardowski portrayed in dance, watching a performance of Cracovia Danza Ballet in the Kraków Barbican.

7. Dive into city life when the night falls

Once considered the most futuristic building in Krakow, the vast Hotel Forum is today an empty hulk, serving as a busy attraction on the banks of the Vistula river. Walk to Kazimierz District — Krakow’s Jewish quarter — to find an array of bars and bohemian cafes. With more festivals than any other European city, Krakovians may spend an evening listening to a literary talk, dancing to indie rock, or sampling pierogi. For lovers of futurism, there is the Megabit Bomb Festival dedicated to Polish sci-fi writer Stanisław Lem.

Now, anyone, anywhere can experience Krakow by visiting goo.gle/krakow on Google Arts & Culture webpage or downloading the Android or iOS app.

The sixteenth-century Renaissance armor, which belonged to Sigismund II Augustus, king of Poland from the Jagiellonian dynasty. The armor was given to Poland - the Wawel Royal Castle by Hungary in 2021, it’s digitized as a 3D model.
Anyone who stays more than sixty minutes in Krakow will hear St Mary's Trumpet Call, a five-note bugle call which sounds on the hour, every hour. The bugler blows in the four principal directions – East, West, North and South – from St Mary's Basilica in the Market Square.
Collection of The Ethnographic Museum in Krakow - toys from Krakow Workshops, designed by one of the best-known Polish women artists of the interwar period, art deco representative - Zofia Stryjeńska.
Composers, singers, instrumentalists, theatre and film stars and masters of the word – ICE Kraków is visited by numerous famous guests.
The Legend of Mr Twardowski by Cracovia Danza Ballet. Performance inspired by the most important elements of Kraków heritage and works of art which transport the audience to the most beautiful and cherished locations in Krakow. Get to know the legend of Mr Twardowski, watching a dance in the Kraków Barbican.