Rynek Główny, the main square of Kraków, is the largest medieval marketplace in Europe. The site of several historical events, it’s now home to the greatest concentration of outdoor cafés and souvenir shops in town, and serves as a stage for concerts, shows, and occasional political rallies. Within the square, visitors will also find several museums (two of which are located in the Cloth Hall in the middle of the square) and two churches (including St. Mary’s Basilica with its famous Weit Stoss altar). Horse-drawn carriages, flower stalls, street musicians, and pigeons all crowd the area, where time is measured by the trumpet call played from St. Mary’s tower every hour.
Grzegorz Zak/Polish National Tourist Office
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Main Square
All roads in Krakow lead to Rynek Główny, the largest medieval market square in Europe. In the city’s heyday, this central point would have been full of merchants and traders who would bring and take away all manner of goods in their horse-drawn carts. The horses remain, now carrying thousands of tourists daily around the square in elegantly painted carriages. The square is the great meeting point in central Krakow and there is no better way to absorb its charm than to order a drink at one of the many cafés around its perimeter and indulge in the timeless pursuit of people-watching.
A Snippet of Magic in the Main Square
Illuminating the night sky brighter than the stars are some of the buildings around the main square themselves. Shops stay open for business and restaurants await the hungry. The best part is that you’re unlikely to run into large crowds having a beautiful and magical bright city to you and a few others.
Polish Nesting Dolls
Brightly colored dolls on display in a Krakow market.
Little Flower Lady
Walking through the Planty as the city lights started to turn on, I stopped to take a few pictures. Through my viewfinder, I noticed the small elderly woman huddled by the streetlamp, hiding behind the flowers she was selling. After snapping this picture, I walked over to her. Still nervous to use my Polish speaking skills, after finding I could easily get by with English in Krakow, I had a brief, but lovely conversation completely in Polish with the little flower lady. For only 5 zlotys, I walked away with a beautiful bouquet of red flowers, and an encounter I will always remember.
Krakow Square at Night
Beautiful city at night and during the day. Great food, atmosphere and people. A must visit especially to the old Jewish community. Terrell
Krakow
For me it was like going home.
