Day 4 Jewish quarter, Krakow

Exploring Kraków’s Jewish Quarter

Another beautiful, sunny morning saw us heading across the river to explore Kraków’s historic Jewish Quarter.

Our first stop was the Corpus Christi Basilica, an imposing building with a beautifully maintained courtyard, complete with several statues. 

But it was the interior that really caught our attention. The magnificent Gothic design is a feast for the eyes, with the walls and ceilings seemingly covered in gold. Everywhere we looked there were intricately carved icons, ornate decorations and religious artefacts, making it a truly impressive sight.

From there, we made our way to Schindler’s List Passage, another rather sobering location associated with the film Schindler’s List. Kraków provided many of the authentic locations used in the movie, and standing in these places really brings home the history behind the story.

We then stopped for a coffee at Cytat Café, a quirky little place with a wonderfully unusual atmosphere. The interior is packed with books, giving it a cosy and slightly eccentric feel — just the sort of place you could happily sit for an hour or two.

Our next stop was the Remuh Synagogue, one of the most important Jewish sites in the area. The exterior walls carry plaques and memorials commemorating the Jewish community and those who lost their lives during the Second World War. It was another poignant reminder of the tragic history of this part of Kraków.

We continued wandering through the narrow streets and side lanes of the Jewish Quarter, where there seemed to be something interesting to discover around every corner. The area has a character all of its own, with historic buildings, small cafés and fascinating little details that make simply walking around an enjoyable experience.

By lunchtime, we headed back towards the Old Town and stopped at Ronnie Drew’s Irish Pub. I know, an Irish pub isn't exactly the most traditional Polish lunch stop, but the food was actually much better than we expected. Our waitress, Justina, was friendly and helpful, which made the experience even more enjoyable.

We chose to sit outside on the side street, which turned out to be a great spot for some people-watching. I opted for traditional Polish dumplings, while Mandy went for the pork schnitzel. Neither of us was disappointed!

After lunch, it was time to continue exploring, with plenty more of Kraków still waiting for us around the next corner.

After a restful afternoon we decided to take walk down the banks of the Vistula river , passing by the remains of the Old Ghetto wall. At the river, we found a bench by the riverfront and spent some relaxing time watching the slow moving water pass us by as the sun dipped over the rooftops.  We even saw two swans with their four young cygnets gentley glide pass us.