Ojców National Park
Just 40 minutes north of Kraków, Ojców National Park is the best way to reconnect with the serenity of nature during your stay in Kraków. Climb to the ancient ruins of a cliff-top castle, Pieskowa Skała, or take a casual stroll through the lush woods, passing dramatic rock formations and limestone caverns.
Auschwitz-Birkenau
It would be remiss to visit this city without acknowledging and understanding its deep and troubling past during WWII. This concentration camp turned museum, located one hour outside town, is where 1.1 million people were killed, most of them Poles of Jewish descent, and a visit provides life-changing insight into the genocidal atrocities that took place during the Holocaust. To visit Auschwitz, you can take a guided tour that leaves from Kraków, or drive or take a bus from town yourself.
Trail of the Eagle’s Nests
This 101-mile trail takes in 25 medieval palaces and fortresses, many of which were built on vertiginous limestone cliffs framed by dense woodland. The section of the route nearest Kraków takes in Tęczyn Castle and its red-tiled tower roof, more than 400 meters above sea level. You can make the journey through the countryside by car, bus, or on two wheels, but bear in mind that the cycling route is longer.