Okolice Krakowa - trasy na spacer i ciekawe miejsca
Not many cities can boast such diverse landscapes as Krakow! Just a short distance from the city, we have interesting trails (even mountain ones!), as well as numerous caves, castles, and... mines!
The Jura Region near Krakow
There are kilometers of trails and paths among limestone rocks - perfect for little hikers, as they are much easier than mountain trails. The gem of these areas is the smallest but charming Ojcowski National Park, located just 15 km from Krakow. Its main trail - Pradnik Valley - is an asphalt path accessible and comfortable for strollers and bicycles. It is surrounded by high rocky walls, and during the walk, we will come across two caves and the ruins of Ojcow Castle (one of the "Eagle Nests"). There is also an Ojcow trout farm along the trail, where we can eat smoked, fresh fish.
Ojcowski National Park
It is the smallest national park in Poland! But as the old saying goes, "small is beautiful" - so what will we see in Ojców? ...
The Most Beautiful Jura Valleys near Krakow
Although Pradnik Valley is one of the most beautiful, it is also the most popular and crowded during summer weekends. It might be worth going for a walk to less popular but equally charming valleys near Krakow. Many of them can also be explored with a stroller!
The Most Beautiful Valleys near Krakow
The valleys near Krakow - which one is the most beautiful? The white, limestone rocks surrounding Krakow hide many extraordinary trails and paths. ...
Caves near Krakow
The youngest tourists will surely be fascinated by the underground corridors of caves and rocky grottoes, and there are plenty of them here! Many can even be found in the center of Krakow (such as Dragon's Den and Twardowski's Cave). Most of them are accessible for guided tours, but there are also some that are completely "open." The largest and one of the most interesting caves near Krakow is Wierzchowska Cave - it has the longest tourist route among all caves in Poland!
Caves in Krakow and around Krakow
The area around Krakow is rich in caves, grottos, and rocky hideouts. Some can be visited with a guide and are commercial, but there are quite a few "open" and publicly accessible grottos. ...
Castles near Krakow
We love to visit castles! They often become the goal of a family hike - it is much easier to conquer a trail when we have a specific destination in mind. The surroundings of a castle are usually an interesting place for a family rest, with a beautiful panorama (as they were mostly built on hills). There are quite a few castles near Krakow, as the oldest and most beautiful trail connecting 14 fortresses runs from Krakow to Czestochowa - the "Trail of the Eagle Nests." It is a medieval defensive system that was established during the reign of King Casimir the Great to protect the borders of the Kingdom of Poland and trade routes. In the article below, you will find descriptions of castles and ruins located near Krakow:
Castles and ruins near Krakow
Table of ContentsCastles near KrakowKorzkiewRudnoRabsztyn Rabsztyn Castle near OlkuszCastle in OjcowPieskowa SkalaZ ...
Salt Mines
There are also two salt mines near Krakow that are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Each of them is unique! The most popular and world-famous one is the Wieliczka Salt Mine. It houses the largest salt chambers, including the famous "St. Kinga's Chapel."
Wieliczka Salt Mine
The Wieliczka Salt Mine quickly became not only a place of salt extraction but also a tourist attraction. The first tourists appeared here in the Middle Ages! Did you know that the Wieliczka Salt Mine has been listed as one of the first 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites? ...
Less known (and the oldest in Poland!) is the Bochnia Salt Mine. It may not be as spectacular, but its visit is more intimate and offers interesting attractions, such as a ride on an underground train or a boat trip.
Bochnia Salt Mine
Bochnia Salt Mine is the oldest and deepest salt mine in Poland. Depending on the age of young tourists, you can choose suitable tour routes: multimedia, nature, or family tours. ...
Forests near Krakow
Living in the city, we crave green walks, especially seeking refuge in the shade of trees on hot days. There are quite a few forests near Krakow, and it is easy to escape the city for a peaceful forest walk. Check out where you can find comfortable forest paths near Krakow, suitable for strollers and bicycles:
Forests in Krakow and forests around Krakow
Tired of your local park? Even the most elaborate and modern playground doesn't excite you anymore? ...
Bicycle Routes near Krakow
Do you enjoy family bike trips? Are you looking for safe routes away from streets and cars? You will find many kilometers of paths suitable for a family ride in the forests near Krakow, and one of the most popular bike routes from Krakow is the one leading along the Vistula boulevards to Tyniec. Below you will find tested routes and bike trails:
Family Bike Routes near Krakow
Are you tired of cycling on paths in urban parks? It's time to go on a family bike trip outside the city! Here are a few of our favorite and tested bike routes. ...
Nearest Mountains near Krakow
Just a short drive outside Krakow, you can find mountain trails. The nearest trails to Krakow (and the nearest mountain hut!) with good accessibility are in Myślenickie Zarabie: with a pebble beach by the river, Góra Chełm with a chairlift, and the Kudłacze mountain hut.
Zarabie (recration area) and Chełm Summit - Myślenice
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PTTK Shelter on Kudłacze Meadow
PTTK Shelter at Kudłacze - so close to Krakow that you can visit for an afternoon family walk. ...
...and a Real Desert!
The Błędów Desert is the largest inland area of shifting sands and dunes in Poland! In the article below, you will find many useful pieces of information - how to get to the Błędów Desert and where to park? Where are the viewpoints and many more:
Błędów Desert - How to Get There, Viewpoints, Attractions
Błędów Desert - the largest inland area of flying sand and dunes in Poland. Surrounded by forest, the Błędów Desert covers an area of approximately 33 km² (less than 10 km long and 4 km wide). ...
