10 Things to Do in Krakow in Fall

Autumn is the last season to visit Auschwitz. A few weeks later, freezing temperatures can make this excursion a mission impossible. But Krakow has much more to offer at this time of the year! During this season you can listen to the best European pianists and some of the country's most important festivities such as Independence Day or the Conrad Festival take place. Read on and find out what to do in autumn!

It is not the most pleasant plan, but visiting Auschwitz is a must if you travel to Krakow, a way to delve into contemporary European history and learn about the barbarities that were committed there.

To do this, I recommend you book an excursion so you do not have to worry about how to get there. This way, in addition, you will go with a professional guide who will give you all the details of the history of this terrible place. You also have the option to combine your trip with the Wieliczka Salt Mines, a subway complex that will leave you speechless. Here are the different options:

• Excursion to Auschwitz-Birkenau camp from Krakow, from $36.
• Excursion to Auschwitz from Krakow, from $35.
• Excursion to Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and museum from Krakow, from $44.
• Excursion to Auschwitz-Birkenau from Krakow, from 44.
• Excursion to Auschwitz and Wieliczka salt mines from Krakow, from $120.
• Excursion to Wieliczka Salt Mines and Auschwitz-Birkenau from Krakow, from $132.

In Poland, Halloween is overshadowed by All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day celebrations. On these dates, Polish families gather to clean the graves of relatives, leave wreaths of flowers and light some candles. The result is very evocative and it is worth visiting a cemetery to understand this page of the local culture. This activity should be carried out with due respect.

I recommend you to go to the Rakowicki Cemetery, the largest and most important cemetery in the city. The cemetery is located at 26 Rakowiecka Street and occupies an area of 43 hectares. It is famous for its sepulchral art and for housing the tombs of popular historical figures. In one area, there are also the graves of British soldiers who fought in the Battle of the Rhine. If you like these visits, I recommend you to read the post about the best churches in Krakow.

And to get here from the center, you can take the streetcar (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 pass for museums and transport and so you can make the most of your trip.

The International Piano Festival is the only cultural event in Krakow that is entirely dedicated to music. According to the organizers themselves, this kermesse sets itself the goal of inviting the world's piano elite to the city.

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

The festival is held in several venues in the city. If once you've left you want to delve further into the music, I recommend the Harris Bar (Rynek Główny 28), an establishment that has hosted big names in international jazz, or you can also book tickets for a Chopin piano concert

November 11 is Independence Day, a very important date for the Polish people. In 1918 and after the signing of the armistice between the Allies and Germany, Poland regained its independence after 123 years! In this long century, the country had literally disappeared from the map being divided between three foreign powers: the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Russia and the German Empire.

Unfortunately, the recurrence could only be celebrated very rarely because the country was taken over by Germany in 1939 and subsequently came under the Soviet yoke. The Poles had to wait for the fall of the Berlin Wall to celebrate it again!

For these reasons, Independence Day is very much felt. In the morning, a mass is celebrated in Wawel Cathedral, followed by a military parade leaving Wawel Hill, walking along the Royal Road, through Florianska Street and ending at Matejko Square. The army band accompanies the infantry platoons and mounted troops. In the evening, the crowd gathers at the Market Square to sing patriotic songs. Take the opportunity to book a tour of Krakow's Old Town and learn more about this episode in history.

Herbaciarnia Czajownia is a must for tea lovers and a warm place to warm up after a stroll. The establishment is located in Kazimierz, the old Jewish quarter, so I recommend you to visit it after the tour of the Jewish quarter of Krakow.

The place is characterized by its cozy atmosphere that invites you to spend some time within its walls. It has a good Wi-Fi connection, so it is not uncommon to see freelancers and digital nomads. If you have a real passion for tea, you will find a wide variety of fragrances. In the list below you will find the most peculiar ones:

• Bai Mao Houe, a white tea originating from the Taimu Mountains in Fujian Province, China. Also known as "White Monkey", it is characterized by its strong grassy aroma.
• Darjeeling, a black tea grown on the slopes of the Himalayas. Like Champagne, this variety can also only be grown in a single area.
• Gyokuro, a Japanese green tea with a high level of antioxidants. Its sweet fragrance underlines the vegetal notes.
• Chi Tse Bing Cha, a tea from southern China that is often given as a wedding gift.
• Yogi Masala Chai, a blend of honey, ginger, cardamom, white pepper, anise, cloves and other spices.

Poland is famous for its mushrooms to the point that its most famous epic poem, "Pan Tadeusz", contains a famous mushroom picking scene. However, this practice is much older and revives every year in one season: autumn. Starting in the second half of October, the citizens of Krakow arrive early in the forests surrounding the city. Mushrooms taste better if you cook them on the day of picking.

In Krakow, you can taste some tasty mushroom-based recipes at Pod Aniołami, a restaurant housed in a 13th-century building that for more than three hundred years was the residence of Krakow's goldsmiths.

In autumn, the chefs recommend two specialties: boletus soup with noodles and white mushroom soup with noodles. In both recipes, the mushrooms used by the chefs have been picked in Gorce National Park, which is located about an hour's drive from Zapokane. Plan to book an excursion to Zakopane!

In autumn, the leaves turn red, yellow and orange turning every park into a magical place. Krakow has some green areas where you can admire the phenomenon. Book a tour around Krakow and get to know them. In addition, I leave you a list in which I list the must-see destinations:

• Zakrzowek, a park a short distance from the center. It is characterized by the blue lake that occupies the hollow of an old stone quarry. It is very popular with the locals who come here for a barbecue or a walk in the woods surrounding the pond (Salezjańska 19). To get here from the center, you can simply take the streetcar (line 52, stop Poczta Główna).
• Planty, a green ring surrounding Krakow. At the end of the 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 among the English gardens and Belle Époque buildings.
• Jagiellonian University Botanical Garden (Mikołaja Kopernika 27), the oldest in Poland. To escape the cold, you can see the tropical spices that grow in their greenhouses. For more info, I recommend you to consult its official website.
• Wolski, a forest that extends over some hills. It is located 8 km from the old town and has marked trails for hikers and cyclists. There is also a trail for horseback riding and a cross-country skiing track. In addition to the trees, with a little luck you will see deer, badgers, foxes and other wildlife. If you are interested in this one, I recommend reading the post about the best hikes from Krakow.

The Conrad Festival is the most important literary event in the city. The event is named after 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 December 3, 1857 into a family involved in the Polish nationalist movement.

Orphaned at an early age, he had to leave the country and ended up enlisting on a ship in Marseilles. This event changed his life as it motivated him to write adventure novels.

After his death, the Cracovians paid tribute to them by instituting a festival in his honor. The purpose of the kermesse is to present the most important works of world literature and to hold artistic and social discussions. Polish and international writers participate in this event, which each year investigates a specific theme. On the last day, the Conrad Prize (a statuette in the shape of a telescope) is awarded to the author of the best first prose work.

The Krakow Book Fair is held on the same dates as the festival. These days, the Polish city is an ideal destination for all those passionate about novels.

The event is held at Expo Krakow (Galicyjska Street 9) and brings together publishers, authors, translators and literature enthusiasts. It is on the outskirts of the city but it is very easy to get here. You can opt for the bus (lines 174 and 178) or the streetcar (lines 1, 14 and 22).

Did you know that gospel and Krakow are linked by a double thread? The genre derives from the songs that black slaves used to sing on the plantations in the south of the 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 that every autumn hosts the 7xGospel, a curious and certainly interesting festival. The events are usually held in the concert hall Kärcher Hala (Aleja Marszałka Ferdynanda Focha 40) which is located two steps away from the Błonia Meadow, a very coveted area in the summer months in Krakow.

Another musical kermesse in Krakow is the Sacrum Profanum Festival, which combines the masterpieces of classical music with jazz and other genres. The first edition was held in 2003 and in a few years it has become an unmissable event for lovers of artistic contaminations. Normally, the event comes to the city between the end of September and the first half of October. The concerts take place in several locations:

• Congress Palace (Marii Konopnickiej 17).
• Łaźnia Nowa Theater ( O siedle Szkolne 25).
• Florianka Hall (Sereno Fenn'a 15).

The inhabitants of Krakow often call autumn "Zlota Polska Jesień" which translates as "Poland's golden autumn". At this time, the trees turn orange and red and the temperatures hardly reach the negative peaks of winter. Therefore, visiting Krakow in autumn is the ideal! If you want to have more info, I recommend you to read the post 10 tips for traveling to Krakow.

If you are looking for a cheap getaway, Krakow is your ideal destination. At this time of year, you can book a hotel room or a tourist house at more than affordable prices. In addition, during autumn, the city does not welcome a large number of tourists so you can visit the main attractions without large crowds of tourists.