After a two-year break, we are back to sightseeing in full swing. All attractions for children and adults are now open, so you can plan a really cool tour program. The only downside may be the weather. Although as seasoned tourists say – there is no bad weather, only bad clothing. However, I, if possible, recommend checking forecasts and adjusting attractions to the aura outside the window. It is certainly not worth giving up on outdoor walks in advance.
The Old Town in a Nutshell
This is an absolutely basic excursion for those who are first-time visitors to Krakow or traveling behind small children. It is a two-hour walk, during which you will learn about the most important places, historical events and characters of the City of Cracow. It won’t be boring, because almost every tourist regardless of age loves legends, trivia and anecdotes.
University district
An innate and interesting sightseeing topic for children. We will answer a lot of questions about famous scholars, find out how long vacations lasted in the old academy and whether women could officially study. We’ll find out what privileges the żak (students) were entitled to, where their dormitories were located and why they once crowded to leave Krakow. In addition, we will see the most important buildings associated with the Jagiellonian University and learn about their history.
Secrets of Jewish Kazimierz
This tour will enable you to learn about the culture of the Jews of Cracow. You will learn what the Jewish New Year looks like, what you are not allowed to do on Shabbat, during which holiday children get presents. In addition, you will learn how a synagogue differs from a Christian temple, under what rules a mikvah is used, and what the symbols on Jewish tombstones mean.
Secrets of the Cracovian nativity scene
Once a year you can admire up close the most beautiful of Krakow’s nativity scenes. The post-competition exhibition of nativity scenes is located in the Krzysztofory Palace and can be admired until February 26 this year, an ideal idea for a family trip during the winter holidays. Watching the cribs you will learn the principles of their construction and choice of colors, and above all you will see characters from the legends of Cracow: the Wawel dragon, Lajkonik, Mr. Twardowski on the moon and more.
Cracow from the beginning, without end
This is a new permanent exhibition, which is also located in the Krzysztofory Palace. It is partly multimedia, arranged in the Gothic cellars and beautiful palace rooms on the first floor of the building. The exhibition is a kind of Cracow in a nutshell – legends, rulers of Poland, historical events, traditional Cracow dress, folklore, spirituality, famous residents. The exhibition will ideally appeal to the tastes of small tourists. It is mysterious, colorful, fairy-tale-like, and you can also measure, touch, build.
Kosciuszko Museum
This time a biographical exhibition dedicated to Tadeusz Kosciuszko. The exhibition has a narrative and multimedia character. In the arranged spaces we learn about Kosciuszko’s life, his family home, education, studies in Paris or the circumstances of his unhappy love for Ludwika Sosnowska. The story of the hero is supplemented by videos, slides, quotes and memorabilia. In addition, the exhibition has a special tour path for young children with legends, trivia and practical tasks to perform.
Podgórze Museum
This one, on the other hand, is aimed at tourists who are already familiar with the Old Town and all the standard points of interest, but would like to expand their knowledge of other districts of Krakow. The exhibition at the Museum of Podgórze also introduces the history of Cracow – the silhouette of the legendary ruler Krak and, most importantly, his mound. In addition, we learn about the fate of Podgórze as a royal free city, the circumstances of its merger with Krakow, as well as the difficult times of the German occupation period. Watching the subsequent spaces and memorabilia, you will learn how Podgórze has changed over the centuries.
WOMAI: Science and Senses Center
Two exhibitions await you at the center: „Toward darkness: not to see – to experience” and the interactive exhibition „Toward light: to see – to understand”. Both will give you a lot of excitement and inspiration. At the „Toward darkness” exhibition, your guide will be a blind or visually impaired person. Plunged into total darkness you will check how your other senses work and cope with shopping, crossing the street. On the other hand, on the second part the guide will explain to you the principles governing the world of physics, optics or nature. For children, trying and discovering phenomena on their own will be great fun.