Would you like to get to know Cracow a little bit better, eat doughnuts and not feel guilty about it, all at the same time? If the answer to this question is “yes”, then you should definitely check our guide "Donut Stop Sightseeing" which is designed specifically for doughnut-lovers but can be enjoyed by absolutely everybody!
Photo by Anna Sullivan on Unsplash
There is definitely nothing better than enjoying a tasty pastry while being surrounded by a beautiful city. Being inspired by this thought, a course at our university and the growing number of doughnut shops appearing on the map of Cracow, we decided to create a guide designed for those who would like to explore various parts of the city while enjoying some sweetness. We have included several doughnut shops and different landmarks that we consider worthy of a visit. All of them have been carefully selected, so that one can take the tour without the need of using public transportation, as the amount of walking between the objectives is just perfect. Not only do you get to enjoy some tasty doughnuts, but also you do not feel guilty about devouring them!
The first stop on the map would be a highly renowned cafe “Słodko i Czule” located at the end of Lea Street, right next to the Park Krakowski. Inside, one can find various types of coffees and desserts, both in vegan and non-vegan versions. Once you acquire your item of choice, you can take it with you and enjoy it while relaxing on the bench in a nearby park. The park was founded in 1885 and has originally contained a plethora of different attractions such as an ice-skating rink or a zoo. After the Great War, its size has decreased significantly and is now considered to be a sculpture park. Nowadays, instead of previously mentioned attractions, there are numerous sculptures to be found there. Once in the park, you can appreciate a little bit of quietness inside of a big city, indulge yourself in greenery and admire modern art.
After you decide to return to city exploration, you need to follow Karmelicka Street until you reach its end. There you can find another stop, a doughnut shop called “Dobra Pączkarnia” which offers doughnuts filled with almost anything you can dream of.
Fresh, tasty and handmade - every day they fry up thousands of doughnut specialties with the best values especially for you. Pączki from Dobra Pączkarnia are distinguished by something more than fluffy, delicate dough, perfect shape, bright ring and richly filled interior. In each of them you will find love and care for the highest quality ingredients. Their adventure with gastronomy dates back to 1989, when the first doughnut shop in Szczecin was established. They use the original recipe for doughnuts and guard it like a precious treasure, taking care of every stage of preparing sweets, in accordance with proven and established production methods.
When, after waiting in a small queue (unless it's Fat Thursday - then the queues can be madly long) you've grabbed your doughnut, stroll on and in a minute or two you'll be standing in front of the entrance to the Bagatela Theatre.
The corner of Krupnicza and Karmelicka Streets has a rich past. At the beginning of the last century, an ordinary one-storey house stood here - just like all the houses on this street. It often changed owners, and one of them added a floor to it. On the corner there was a colonial shop, with Gustaw Goldstein's buffet and dining room next to it. University students often dropped in for a glass of beer. Władysław Lubelski and Józef Król bought the tenement house in 1913 and took over the business. Had it not been for Marian Dąbrowski, the building would probably still be a restaurant with a rich tradition.
Marian Dąbrowski occupies a special place in the history of the Polish press. However, he must also have loved the theatre, because as early as 1916, he financed the emigrant Polish Theatre in Vienna. In 1918 he also decided to endow Krakow with a theatre. It was to be built right here - at the corner of Karmelicka and Krupnicza Streets. Persuaded by Dąbrowski, Mr Lubelski and Mr Król decided that a theatre was a better deal. On 5 September 1918, an application was submitted to the Krakow City Council for permission to begin construction. On 3 October, the Magistrate agreed to rebuild the real estate at Karmelicka Street.
The history of this theatre is long and beautiful. If you happen to be there on a day when a play is staged, don't hesitate to buy a ticket! The acting is excellent and the entertainment is unique.
When you turn left and cross the walkway you will reach another important point on the map of the city - Planty Krakowskie. Planty is one of the largest city parks in Kraków and it encircles the Stare Miasto. The park has a length of 4 kilometers and consists of a chain of thirty smaller gardens designed in varied styles and adorned with numerous monuments and fountains. There are over twenty statues of noble historical figures in the park – monuments of Mikołaj Kopernik, Jan Matejko, queen Jadwiga and king Wladyslaw II Jagiello, just to name a few. The park forms a scenic walkway popular with Cracovians. In summer, sprinkled with ponds and refreshment stalls, it is a cool and shady retreat from the nearby bustling streets. However, it doesn't matter what time of year it is when you visit Krakow, because it's always worth sitting on a bench in this park and taking a breather.
Another few minutes walk from the park along Szewska Street, through the main square to Sławkowska Street and you will reach the newest and most crowded doughnut shop in Krakow! We are speaking of the Royal Donuts. Their first doughnut shop in Poland opened here on 24.04.2021. The brand was founded 2 years ago in an inconspicuous district of Cologne. They consider diversity their greatest passion, because with over 120 varieties and more than 5 different core products, they are the most innovative and modern brand on the market. On opening day in Cracow, long queues lined up outside the shop as many people wanted to try these wonderful looking doughnuts. Their shop opens at 12, but be quick as they close when their last prepared doughnut is sold.
Once you've enjoyed your beautiful looking doughnut, let's go back to the main square, where the tourist life of Krakow takes place. You'll find plenty of cafes around the market, so don't hesitate to buy yourself a coffee or a cold lemonade, because here you'll have plenty to see!
Let's start in the centre! The Cloth Hall dates to the Renaissance and is one of the city's most recognizable icons. It is the central feature of the main market square. It was one of the most important institutions of the city, for it was where trade was concentrated. The original Cloth Hall, built in the 13th, consisted of two rows of stone stalls forming a street in the centre of the market square. The grates of both ends were locked for the night to keep thieves away. A roofed masonry version of the Cloth Hall was built in the 14th century. Trading in the Cloth Hall was a significant source of the city’s revenue: according to a royal privilege cloth merchants arriving in the city could only sell their goods here. If you go inside, you will see that today there are only souvenir shops there, but it is worth knowing that on the first floor there is The Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Art. In 2010 a branch of the Historical Museum of Kraków, the Rynek Underground, was opened, the entrance to which is located in the Cloth Hall. Visitors travel underground around the Cloth Hall by glass ramps and footbridges, suspended above the old routes, including the cobblestones of the medieval Cloth Hall.
When you leave the Cloth Hall, stop by the famous Noworolski Café located there and you will see the 80-metre high St. Mary's Basilica. Built in the 14th century, its foundations date back to the early 13th century and serve as one of the best examples of Polish Gothic architecture. It is particularly famous for its wooden altarpiece carved by Veit Stoss (Wit Stwosz) and some of its monumental polychrome murals, which were designed by Poland's leading history painter, Jan Matejko. In 1978 it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside the Historic Centre of Kraków. Make sure you are there at the top of the hour! On every hour, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, a trumpet signal—called the Hejnał mariacki—is played from the top of the taller of Saint Mary's two towers. The tune breaks off in mid-stream, to commemorate a famous 13th century trumpeter who was shot in the throat while sounding the alarm before a Mongol attack on the city. The noon-time hejnał is heard across Poland and abroad broadcast live by the Polish national Radio 1 Station.
To reach your next destination, you will be encouraged to take a pleasurable stroll through the astounding streets of Cracow for the next confectionery is located at św. Wawrzyńca Street, in the middle of a quaint district of Kazimierz. The history of this cake shop, Cukiernia Starowicz, goes back to the 50s when the mother of its present owner, Stanisława Starowicz set up an ice-cream business. After a few years, Mrs. Starowicz and her husband opened a confectionery under the name “Fortuna” and started selling caramels, fudge, huge red lollipops, wafers and sweets packed in colourful cellophane during the Christmas season. Then, they had to move their family business to another street in Krakow and they additionally began to produce cakes, pastries, and ice-cream. Exactly 40 years ago, in 1981, a son of the confectionery owners joined the team and he, along with his wife, has continued running the business to date. The last important event that needs to be mentioned here is moving the venue to its present location, to Świętego Wawrzyńca Street in 2013.
Generally, this confectionery is famous not only for its delicious cakes but also other desserts. What we are interested in, however, are obviously doughnuts! They are available during the academic year, from October to July.
What you need to know is that Starowicz confectionery is closed on Mondays, so you had better plan your trip for another day of the week. Its opening hours from Tuesday to Friday are from 9am to 4pm, and on Saturdays and Sundays slightly shorter - from 10am to 2pm.
Starowicz confectionery has a good reputation. On the scale of Google star rating it has 4.5 stars and it has been based on the opinions of more than 200 people.
P.S. Doughnuts are frankly recommended!
Source: <https://www.facebook.com/cukierniastarowicz>
Now you would surely want to find an enjoyable place to consume your scrumptious doughnut, wouldn’t you? We have a good piece of information! As it happens, the Vistula River is just around the corner! What we propose is taking a pleasant walk on the boulevard by the river and then enjoying your doughnut on a bench with a priceless view.
Hopefully, this treat gave you a solid boost of energy and now you are ready for a fascinating lesson of history! Your next stop will be the Old Synagogue and to get there you will have the amazing opportunity of exploring the astounding Kazimierz district. It had been the centre of Jewish life in Kraków for more than 500 years until WW2 broke out. During communism, in turn, it began to fall into decay and became one of the most disreputable districts of Kraków. Fortunately, as communism came to an end, the situation of Kazimierz started to change and currently it is Kraków’s most exciting district full of historical sites, art galleries and a plethora of fabulous cafes.
Before you get to the Old Synagogue, you should probably know that it is one of the oldest preserved synagogues in Poland and one of the most valuable monuments of Jewish religious architecture in Europe. It was built in the 15th century after the fashion of German and Czech Gothic synagogues. In 1570, however, it was rebuilt by the Italian architect Matthew Gucci who gave it a Renaissance form. In 1941, when the Germans were establishing a ghetto in Krakow, the synagogue was taken over by German officers and used as a warehouse. The furnishing inside was destroyed after that time. Then, it was renovated and in 1959 a museum was established inside the synagogue. What the museum collects are monuments connected with Jewish history and culture, especially those related to the Jews of Krakow.
The tickets to the Old Synagogue are really cheap. If you are eligible for a student discount, you may purchase the ticket for around 2 pounds (10 zł). In case you are not, do not worry! The price will be only slightly higher (2.6 pounds)
The museum is open from Monday to Sunday, from 10am to 5pm (except Monday when it closes at 2pm).
Now it’s time for something extraordinary, so you had better have your camera ready to take a couple of pictures! We are heading for a mural at Józefa 17 Street which was installed there as part of the Kazimierz Historical Murals project. This mural was created by Piotr Janowczyk, a painter and art historian, in autumn of 2015. It features five portraits of Polish historical figures, Kraków's most prominent past locals. These are, from left to right, Emperor Józef Hapsburg II (after whom the street is named), Helena Rubinstein (founder of one of the first cosmetics companies, born in the district), Karol Knaus (local architect, artist and conservator), Esterka (the reputed lover of King Kazimierz the Great), and finally King Kazimierz the Great himself. Information on each of the figures has been provided in English beside the painting.
A few minutes walk and you will find another Dobra Pączkarnia! As you can see, there are quite a few of them on the map of Krakow. This time we are on Stradomska Street. Here, you can take that doughnut that on Karmelicka Street was your second choice. Come on, don’t be shy! There's still plenty to see.
Now you can take a stroll, looking at the beautiful Krakow tenement houses, as we approach one of the most significant places on the tourist map of Krakow - the Royal Castle. The Wawel Royal Castle is a castle residence and the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in the world. Built at the behest of King Casimir III the Great, it consists of a number of structures from different periods situated around the Italian-styled main courtyard. The castle, being one of the largest in Poland, represents nearly all European architectural styles of medieval, renaissance and baroque periods. The Wawel Royal Castle and the Wawel Hill constitute the most historically and culturally significant site in the country. The Wawel Hill and Arcaded Courtyard stay open to visitors 6 am-8 pm. You can book a tour in advance to make sure you see lots of great exhibitions on that day. Among others, you can see State Rooms, Crown Treasury and Armoury, Art of the Orient - Ottoman Turkish Tents, The Lost Wawel, Wawel Recovered. Reservations for the State Rooms or the Crown Treasury and Armoury for groups up to 9 people costs 16 PLN. The guide service, for groups of up to 5 people, costs from 140 to 390 PLN, depending on the exhibition.
Below the castle, on the bank of the Vistula River, you will find another must-see attraction when visiting this city. Smok Wawelski, The Wawel Dragon, also known as the Dragon of Wawel Hill, is a famous dragon in Polish folklore. His lair was in a cave at the foot of Wawel Hill. It was defeated during the rule of Krakus, by his sons according to the earliest account; in a later work, the dragon-slaying is credited to a cobbler named Skuba.
The monument of the dragon was designed by a local, Bronisław Chromy and exhibited in 1972. Surprisingly enough, this is not a usual statue like a hundred others for this particular dragon is able to breathe fire! Some time ago you would have had to ask the dragon for this superb demonstration of skills by sending him a text message, but it is no longer required. Now all you have to do is to wait patiently and be careful not to blink too often (you probably wouldn’t like to miss out the opportunity of seeing the great show).
Source: <https://www.krakow.z-dzieckiem.pl/2020/04/28/krakowskie-legendy-o-smoku-wawelskim/>
A visit to the Wawel Dragon concludes our adventure filled with amazing landmarks and doughnuts. We hope that anyone who decides to take part in it will truly enjoy what they see. And maybe what they taste, too? :)
Have you already listened to our podcast episode based on this trip?
If not, make sure to click on the link below: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qIjSv2OxRoH8cQ1XYSg5qjCils0kMAbf/view?fbclid=IwAR0egzMy9h-ImifAlY_LtBX9enrvJSS6I8Jd4moxWQcGZlqHHD6sgjYG-vk
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