11 Things to Do in Krakow in Fall

Autumn is the last season to visit Auschwitz. A few weeks later, freezing temperatures can make this trip an impossible task. But what’s more, Kraków has so much more to offer at this time of year! During this season, you can hear some of Europe’s finest pianists, and the city also hosts some of the country’s most important festivals, such as Independence Day and the Conrad Festival. Read on and discover what to do in autumn!

It’s not the most pleasant of plans, but visiting Auschwitz is a must if you’re travelling to Kraków – a way to delve into contemporary European history and learn about the atrocities committed there.

To do this, I recommend booking a tour so you don’t have to worry about how to get there. This way, you’ll also be accompanied by a professional guide who will give you all the details of the history of this terrible place. You also have the option of combining your trip with a visit to the Wieliczka Salt Mines, an underground complex that will leave you speechless. Here are the different options:

• Tour to Auschwitz from Kraków, from S$45
• Tour to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum from Kraków, from S$76
• Excursion to Auschwitz-Birkenau from Kraków, from 76
• Tour to Auschwitz and the Wieliczka Salt Mines from Krakow, from S$164
• Tour to the Wieliczka Salt Mines and Auschwitz-Birkenau from Kraków, from S$192

In Poland, Halloween is overshadowed by the celebrations of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. At this time of year, Polish families gather to clean their relatives’ graves, lay wreaths and light candles. The result is very evocative and it is well worth visiting a cemetery to understand this aspect of local culture. This activity should be carried out with due respect.

I recommend visiting Rakowicki Cemetery, the largest and most important in the city. The cemetery is located at 26 Rakowiecka Street and covers an area of 43 hectares. It is famous for its funerary art and for housing the graves of famous historical figures. In one section, you will also find the graves of British soldiers who fought in the Battle of the Rhine. If you enjoy these kinds of visits, I recommend reading the post on the best churches in Kraków.

And to get here from the city centre, you can take the tram (line 2 from Teatr Bagatela) and get off at the last stop (Cmentarz Rakowicki). My recommendation, in fact, is that you book the Krakow Card with a pass for museums and transport so you can make the most of your trip.

The International Piano Festival is the only cultural event in Kraków that is entirely dedicated to music. According to the organisers themselves, this festival aims to bring the world’s piano elite to the city.

To ensure high standards of quality, the event features artists who have competed in international competitions in Warsaw (Frédéric Chopin), Fort Worth (Van Cliburn) and Moscow (Tchaikovsky).

The festival takes place at various venues across the city. If, after a night out, you’d like to delve deeper into music, I recommend the Harris Bar (Rynek Główny 28), a venue that has hosted some of the biggest names in international jazz, or you could book tickets for a Chopin piano concert.

11 November marks Independence Day, a very important date for the Polish people. In 1918, following the signing of the armistice between the Allies and Germany, Poland regained its independence after 123 years! Over the course of that long century, the country had literally vanished from the map, having been partitioned between three foreign powers: the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Russia and the German Empire.

Unfortunately, the anniversary could only be celebrated on very few occasions because the country was annexed by Germany in 1939 and subsequently fell under Soviet rule. The Poles had to wait until the fall of the Berlin Wall to celebrate it again!

For these reasons, Independence Day is deeply felt. In the morning, a mass is held at Wawel Cathedral, followed by a military parade which sets off from Wawel Hill, follows the Royal Route, crosses Florianska Street and ends at Matejko Square. The army band accompanies the infantry platoons and the mounted troops. In the evening, the crowd gathers in the Market Square to sing some patriotic songs. Take the opportunity to book a tour of Kraków’s Old Town and learn more about this episode in history.

Herbaciarnia Czajownia is a must-visit for tea lovers and a cosy spot to warm up after a stroll. The establishment is located in Kazimierz, the old Jewish quarter, so I recommend popping in after your tour of Kraków’s Jewish quarter.

The place is characterised by its cosy atmosphere, which invites you to spend a little time within its walls. It has good Wi-Fi, so it’s not uncommon to see freelancers and digital nomads there. If you have a genuine passion for tea, you’ll find a wide variety of flavours. In the list below, you’ll find the most distinctive ones:

• Bai Mao Houe, a white tea originating from the Taimu Mountains in Fujian Province, China. Also known as ‘White Monkey’, it is characterised by its strong grassy aroma.
• Darjeeling, a black tea grown on the slopes of the Himalayas. Much like Champagne, this variety can only be grown in a single region.
• Gyokuro, a Japanese green tea with a high antioxidant content. Its sweet fragrance softens the vegetal notes.
• Chi Tse Bing Cha, a tea from southern China that is often given as a gift at weddings.
• Yogi Masala Chai, a blend of honey, ginger, cardamom, white pepper, aniseed, cloves and other spices.

Poland is famous for its mushrooms to the extent that its most famous epic poem, “Pan Tadeusz”, contains a famous mushroom-picking scene. However, this practice is much older and is revived every year during one season: autumn. From the second half of October, the people of Kraków head out early to the forests surrounding the city. Mushrooms taste best if cooked on the day they are picked.

In Kraków, you can sample some delicious mushroom-based dishes at Pod Aniołami, a restaurant housed in a 13th-century building that for over three hundred years was the residence of Kraków’s goldsmiths.

In autumn, the chefs recommend two specialities: boletus soup with noodles and white mushroom soup with noodles. In both recipes, the mushrooms used by the chefs have been foraged in the Gorce National Park, which is located just over an hour’s drive from Zakopane. Why not book a trip to Zakopane!

In autumn, the leaves turn red, yellow and orange, transforming every park into a magical place. Kraków has several green spaces where you can admire this phenomenon. Book a tour of Kraków and discover them. I’ve also put together a list of the must-see destinations:

• Zakrzowek, a park just a short distance from the city centre. It is characterised by the blue lake that fills the hollow of an old stone quarry. It is very popular with locals who come here to have barbecues or stroll through the woods surrounding the pond (Salezjańska 19). To get there from the city centre, simply take the tram (line 52, Poczta Główna stop).
• Planty, a green belt encircling Kraków. In the late 18th century, the old city walls were demolished and the space once occupied by the walls was gradually transformed into a garden. In autumn, there is nothing better than strolling amongst the English gardens and Belle Époque buildings.
• The Jagiellonian University Botanical Garden (Mikołaja Kopernika 27), the oldest in Poland. To escape the cold, you can admire the tropical plants growing in its greenhouses. For more information, I recommend checking out its official website.
• Wolski, a forest stretching across the hills. It is located 8 km from the Old Town and features signposted trails for walkers and cyclists. There is also a bridle path and a cross-country ski trail. As well as the trees, with a bit of luck you’ll spot deer, badgers, foxes and other wild animals. If this interests you, I recommend reading the post on the best day trips from Kraków.

The Conrad Festival is the city’s most important literary event. The event takes its name from Józef Teodor Konrad, better known as Joseph Conrad. The author of Heart of Darkness was born in Berdyczów (then part of the Russian Empire) on 3 December 1857 into a family involved in the Polish nationalist movement.

He was orphaned at an early age, had to leave the country and ended up signing on to a ship in Marseille. This event changed his life, as it inspired him to write adventure novels.

Following his death, the people of Kraków paid tribute to him by establishing a festival in his honour. The aim of the festival is to showcase the most significant works of world literature and foster artistic and social discussions. Polish and international writers take part in this event, which explores a specific theme each year. On the final day, the Conrad Prize (a statuette in the shape of a telescope) is awarded to the author of the best debut work of prose.

The Kraków Book Fair takes place at the same time as the festival. During these days, the Polish city is an ideal destination for all novel lovers.

The event takes place at Expo Krakow (9 Galicyjska Street) and brings together publishers, authors, translators and literature enthusiasts. It is on the outskirts of the city but is very easy to get to. You can choose to take the bus (lines 174 and 178) or the tram (lines 1, 14 and 22).

Did you know that gospel and Kraków are linked by a double thread? The genre derives from the songs that black slaves used to sing on plantations in the southern United States. In the 1930s, this music experienced a boom in America and gradually spread to other parts of the world.

Since 2006, it has found a niche in the Polish city, which every autumn hosts 7xGospel, a unique and undoubtedly fascinating festival. The events usually take place at the Kärcher Hala concert hall (Aleja Marszałka Ferdynanda Focha 40), which is just a stone’s throw from Błonia Park, a highly sought-after spot in Kraków during the summer months.

Another musical festival in Kraków is the Sacrum Profanum Festival, which combines classical masterpieces with jazz and other genres. The first edition took place in 2003 and, within a few years, it has become an unmissable event for lovers of artistic fusion. The event usually takes place in the city between late September and the first half of October. The concerts take place at various venues:

• Congress Centre (Marii Konopnickiej 17).
• Łaźnia Nowa Theatre (O siedle Szkolne 25).
• Aula Florianka (Sereno Fenn'a 15).

The people of Kraków often refer to autumn as “Zlota Polska Jesień”, which translates as “Poland’s Golden Autumn”. At this time of year, the trees turn orange and red, and temperatures rarely drop below freezing. So, visiting Kraków in autumn is ideal! If you’d like more information, I recommend reading the post ‘10 tips for travelling to Kraków’.

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly getaway, Kraków is the perfect destination. At this time of year, you can book a hotel room or a holiday home at very affordable prices. What’s more, during autumn, the city isn’t swarming with tourists, so you can visit the main attractions without the crowds.