Travel
Warsaw vs Krakow: which Polish metropolis will win your coronary heart?
In terms of two Polish titans battling for first place, how will you presumably select only one to spend your time in? Fantastic Warsaw and compelling Kraków each have unbelievable experiences to get pleasure from, glorious eating scenes, inspiring culture, historic significance and a thriving nightlife.
Chill out, sit again and fear no extra. Two esteemed Lonely Planet writers are right here to pitch you the most effective that their beloved cities have to supply in an effort to win your coronary heart. The one factor left so that you can do is begin planning that journey.
Ahead-looking Warsaw by no means fails to encourage
Laura Studarus is a contract author who has visited Warsaw each summer time for the final decade. Her concept of a great time is fueling up on pierogi from a milk bar, grabbing her digicam, and spending the day strolling throughout as a lot of the town as attainable.
Warsaw remains to be Poland’s wild little one, continuously redefining its id because it grows and leaves communism additional within the rearview mirror. Whereas Kraków is undeniably stunning, it additionally feels caught in time. Experiencing the trendy facet of Poland requires a go to to its capital metropolis.
The capital metropolis has a singular means to repurpose the previous. You possibly can see the fashionable pizza place, bakery, and jazz bar housed contained in the Former Polish Communist Social gathering HQ. There’s additionally Hotel Warszawa, a former WWII stronghold turned five-star lodging. Or possibly you’d favor to eat at Hala Gwardii, a former boxing corridor turned meals corridor. The high quality artwork of repurposing has led to comparisons with Berlin however like all journey dupes, the similarities are solely a place to begin.
You’ve in all probability seen pictures of Warsaw’s colourful Outdated City. The neighborhood is an attention-grabbing window into the previous however remember the fact that at solely 71 years outdated, it’s a historic recreation. However age (or the dearth of) has no affect on the fantastic thing about this fairytale-like enclave – significantly from the viewing platform subsequent to the main square when all the space is drenched in pink hues by the sundown.
Praise the expertise by visiting the Palace of Culture and Science to get a birds-eye view of the town. A “reward” from Stalin to the folks of Warsaw, the monument positioned within the actual metropolis middle is now a inventive and social hub that includes a movie theater, a full of life bar, and a viewing platform, which items you the view of a loopy quilt of twisting streets, brutalist structure, and modernist skyscrapers.
Although the town middle has a powerful record of sights, fashionable Polish life takes place exterior the hub. Head south to go to Mokotów, a neighborhood stuffed with inexperienced areas like wild Arkadia Park or serene Morskie Oko. Lately Żoliborz has additionally been gaining recognition, as extra eating places and retailers transfer out of the town middle. And don’t overlook to cross the river to the Praga facet of the town the place creativity (and enormous murals) dominates. Stroll down the yarn-covered Kawęczyńska avenue, peep communist-era indicators on the Neon Muzeum, or discover Saska Kępa to discover the boutiques and eating places, or simply folks watch within the shadow of the National Stadium.
The realm round Vistula River isn’t a lot a neighborhood however relatively a seasonally particular delight. In winter, you’ll discover an deserted strip of icy riverbank however through the summer time, the house comes alive with seashores at Poniatowski Bridge, Płyta Desantu, and Saska Kępa. Public ingesting legal guidelines are relaxed and the site visitors from pop-up river barge bars spills over onto the concrete steps. Go to the OG waterhole BarKa for his or her deep bench of Polish beer and common live shows from native bands.
Meals is a central a part of Polish tradition and a few may say the most effective a part of Warsaw. A decade in the past, essentially the most notable eating places within the metropolis would have mirrored essentially the most conventional delicacies. You possibly can nonetheless get pleasure from conventional Polish pasta at Pyzy Flaki Gorace, which locations their carb-blessed creations in jars, or fashionable twists on pierogi at Syrena Irena. Milk bars – low-cost cafeterias serving recent meals shortly – additionally dot the town, and actually, you possibly can’t go fallacious at any of them. And, regardless of a practice of meat consuming, Warsaw is shortly rising as a vegetarian vacation spot, with high quality eating (Peaches), burgers (Krowarzywa), and even bakeries (Eter) amongst their notable choices.
Why not? For Warsaw, reinvention is vital, making every go to extra vibrant than the final.
Romantic Kraków will at all times have my coronary heart
Anna Kaminski is a contract journey author who has traveled the world and delighted in reporting again on her experiences. She’s been visiting Kraków since childhood and has no plans to cease anytime quickly.
I first got here to Kraków after I was fourteen years outdated, as a part of a faculty historical past journey to Poland. I keep in mind it vividly: seeing bison and having a snowball combat in Białowieża National Park; the desolate remnants of Nazi focus camps; consuming an obwarzanek (Cracovian bagel) in Kraków’s immense Market Square; snow glistening on the town’s impressive castle; getting surreptitiously drunk with my pals for the primary time in my life on vodka of questionable classic; surreptitiously licking the wall of the underground salt cathedral on the Wieliczka Salt Mine to find out that it was certainly made from salt (it was!); the claustrophobic trip again as much as the floor in a tiny miners’ elevate…
Out of Poland’s two primary city facilities, it was Kraków that beguiled me. It appeared like a correct metropolis to me, neglected by the spectacular Wawel Citadel, the enticing cobbled streets of its Outdated City filled with Renaissance, Baroque and Gothic mansions, palaces and church buildings. Against this, I discovered Warsaw unmemorable – it had no discernable middle and consisted of haphazardly constructed, unpretty Soviet-style structure. In fact, that wasn’t Warsaw’s fault. Our lecturers defined it had been bombed extensively by the German Luftwaffe in WWII, whereas Kraków was spared, however I couldn’t perceive why Warsaw grew to become the postwar capital as an alternative of its far more regal-looking sister that had been the seat of Poland’s kings and queens for a lot of centuries.
As an grownup, I’ve been drawn again to Kraków again and again. It’s so packed with diverse attractions which you can spend weeks exploring and never see every part on supply. Each curiosity is catered to right here – delve into the fascinating workings of medieval Kraków’s sewer system on the improbable interactive Rynek Underground; study to create stained glass within the method of Poland’s artwork nouveau maestros, Wyspiański and Matejko, on the Stained Glass Museum; behold abstraction items by Kandinsky and Malevich on the National Museum; try Copernicus’ non-public rooms on the Collegium Maius, Poland’s oldest college; attend a cabaret efficiency on the Piwnica Pod Baranami cellar bar or groove alongside to klezmer as you eat at Klezmer-Hois; or make a journey down nostalgia lane by trying out classic trams and Nineteen Fifties motorbikes on the Museum of Municipal Engineering. Regardless of the actual fact I have been visiting for years, I’ve by no means run out of recent wonders to find.
There’s nothing like wandering by neighborhood streets which might be so vastly totally different from each other. Take within the grand boulevards and brutalist structure of the Nineteen Fifties socialist employees’ paradise of Nowa Huta, with its unbelievable Arka Pana church, the artwork nouveau mansions of the Piasek and Nowy Świat neighborhoods, and the offbeat sights of Podgórze, from the traditional Krakus Mound to the overgrown, deserted Liban Quarry – a former labor camp utilized in WWII.
The town is stuffed with remnants of Poland’s vanished Jewish neighborhood: Schindler’s Manufacturing facility, the Pharmacy Under the Eagle, Kazimierz’ cluster of synagogues (many changed into museums), and it’s normally the bottom for visiting Auschwitz, essentially the most infamous of Nazi loss of life camp. My Jewish ancestors had lived in Poland for hundreds of years, so it’s all a part of my household’s historical past, too, and I believe {that a} go to to Auschwitz is crucial to understanding how darkish humanity can turn out to be.
On a lighter observe, Kraków is stuffed with surprises, and an unexpectedly fantastic summer time vacation spot. You wouldn’t essentially consider it as a solar, sea and sand choose, but they’ve turned the flooded, forest-fringed Zakrzówek Quarry right into a beat-the-heat attraction, full with 5 lifeguard-manned swimming swimming pools, related by floating wood docks. Alternatively, I head for Bagry Lagoon or the Przystań Brzegi reservoir in jap Kraków to swim, paddleboard or watch a sport of volleyball, or take a bus out to Wolski Forest and go mountain climbing on this huge protected woodland earlier than coming again for pizza and beer at Kazimierz’s Weźże Krafta.
And don’t get me began on the meals! Look, I’m an Jap European, and Polish consolation meals – pierogi (dumplings), kielbasa (Polish sausage), zurek (conventional bitter rye soup) – gladden my gluttonous coronary heart. In Kraków, I’ve my new favourite spots: Miła Bar Mleczny, an old-school Nineteen Eighties-style canteen that harks again to life behind the Iron Curtain, the place you possibly can fill your boots with pierogi for a pittance; Goose Restaurant for fancier goose-filled dumplings; Unitarg Hala Targowa Sausage Stand for late-night sausages grilled over an open hearth by two guys who’ve been doing it since 1991.
After I begin to flag after that late evening, I hit Somnium for excellent espresso and people-watching in Kazimierz, then chew into an epic maczanka (Cracovian pulled-pork sandwich) from the Andrus Meals Truck on the Skwer Judah meals truck park. See out the night with some nouvelle Polish delicacies resembling pearl barley kashotto with white asparagus at Pierwszy Stopień, and finish a enjoyable evening with the most effective Thai avenue meals exterior of Bangkok at Molam Thai. Sorry, Warsaw: you simply can’t compete with Kraków!
Trustees of the British MuseumThe primary go to of Hawaiian royals to London two centuries in the past will characteristic in a brand new exhibit on the British Museum.
Hawai’i: A Kingdom Crossing Oceans is a “dazzling celebration of the wealthy artistry of Hawaiian makers, previous current and future”, based on the museum.
The exhibition, which opens in January, will commemorate greater than 200 years for the reason that go to of Hawaiian King Liholiho and Queen Kamāmalu to London in 1824 when the royal delegation have been searching for an alliance and safety from the Crown.
This journey to the capital included a go to to the British Museum – the primary file of Native Hawaiian royals on the museum.
Royal Assortment Enterprises LtdThe exhibition will characteristic round 150 objects and artworks together with many by no means seen within the UK.
Among the many highlights is an ahu ʻula, a feathered cloak despatched in 1810 by the primary king of unified Hawaiʻi, Kamehameha I, to King George III.
Lent by King Charles III from the Royal Assortment, the cloak will probably be on show for the primary time in over 100 years, alongside the Hawaiian king’s authentic letter requesting assist and safety from the British Crown.
Trustees of the British MuseumGuests to the museum will probably be greeted on the steps of the Nice Courtroom by a nine-foot (2.7m) picture of the god Kū, the god of warfare and governance, dressed with a recent loincloth and standing atop a pole rediscovered inside a historic plinth.
A finely carved drum accompanied by an historic chant recounting early Polynesian migrations to Hawaii will characteristic alongside a bowl with determine, not too long ago returned from mortgage to Hawaii’s Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, that represents actions of individuals and objects between the Pacific and the UK.
The Anglo-Franco proclamation of 1843, on mortgage from The Nationwide Archives, highlights the UK and France’s formal recognition of Hawaii’s independence and emphasises diplomatic bonds between the nations.
Trustees of the British MuseumThe creation of the exhibition concerned “the meticulous conservation of ancestral treasures and the inclusion of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (the Hawaiian language) all through the area”, the British Museum mentioned.
Dr Alice Christophe, head of Oceania on the museum, mentioned the exhibit is a tribute to Native Hawaiian makers, previous and current.
She added: “It tells the story of the deep and layered relationship between Hawaii and the UK, reflecting on care, sovereignty and the complexity of allyship.
“We hope this present will spark conversations and uplift folks within the archipelago and past.”
The exhibition will run from 15 January to 25 May 2026.
France is a rustic steeped in historical past, and nowhere is that this extra evident than its fantastically preserved medieval cities.
From Alsace’s timber-framed homes to Provence’s dramatic hilltop villages.
These cities permit guests to step again in time, wander cobblestone streets, marvel at historical structure, and expertise the appeal of bygone eras.
On this listing, we’ve gathered 20 of the best-preserved medieval cities in France that you simply completely should see.
20 Greatest Medieval Cities in France To Go to
Scroll down to find the 20 finest medieval cities in France that needs to be on each historical past buff and tradition fanatic’s bucket listing!
1. Riquewihr, Alsace
Riquewihr is a picturesque village in Alsace typically described as some of the lovely in France.
Its well-preserved Sixteenth-century structure, with colourful half-timbered homes lining slender cobblestone streets, makes it really feel like stepping right into a fairy story.
Guests ought to come right here to expertise the distinctive Alsatian tradition, discover the encircling vineyards, and style the area’s well-known wines.
Don’t miss the Dolder Tower, a Thirteenth-century defensive gate, or wine cellars providing tastings. The Alsace villages are among the most picturesque places in France.
2. Eguisheim, Alsace
Eguisheim, a cute fairytale town in France, is thought for its concentric round format and vibrant floral shows.
The city’s magnificence lies in its colourful medieval homes, charming central sq., and surrounding vineyards.
Guests will take pleasure in strolling by the slender streets, visiting the Chapel of St. Leo IX, and mountain climbing the close by Three Castles path.
The city can also be well-known for its storks, which nest on rooftops throughout summer time.
3. Rocamadour, Occitanie
One in all France’s most unique towns is Rocamadour, a vertical village dramatically constructed into the face of a cliff. Its beautiful location and spiritual significance make it a must-visit place that needs to be in your France bucket list.
The city is dwelling to a number of vital spiritual websites, together with the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Guests can climb the Grand Escalier (Nice Staircase) to the château on the prime, which gives breathtaking views of the Alzou Canyon.
4. Sarlat-la-Canéda, Dordogne
Sarlat is without doubt one of the best-preserved medieval cities in France, well-known for its golden stone buildings and gastronomic delights.
Guests ought to come right here to wander the labyrinthine streets, discover the bustling market, and take pleasure in native specialties like foie gras and truffles.
Don’t miss the panoramic view from the highest of the Sainte-Marie church tower or a go to to the Manoir de Gisson.
5. Dinan, Brittany
Dinan is a walled city recognized for its spectacular ramparts, half-timbered homes, and picturesque port.
Guests will love strolling alongside the previous metropolis partitions, exploring the quaint Rue du Jerzual, and having fun with a meal at one of many cafes alongside the previous port.
The city’s magnificence is enhanced by its location overlooking the Rance River. Go to the Château de Dinan and climb the Tour de l’Horloge for panoramic views.
6. Honfleur, Normandy
Honfleur, with its picturesque previous harbor and slate-covered home facades, has lengthy been a favourite topic for artists.
Guests come for the charming ambiance, maritime historical past, and glorious seafood eating places.
Key points of interest embody the wood Church of Saint Catherine, the Eugene Boudin Museum, and the gorgeous Jardin des Personnalités.
7. Perouges, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Perouges is a superbly preserved medieval walled city that appears frozen in time. Its cobbled streets and stone homes make it a preferred movie location.
Guests ought to expertise life in a Fifteenth-century city, style the native specialty “galette de Pérouges,” and benefit from the peaceable ambiance. Don’t miss the central Place du Tilleul or the Eglise-Forteresse.
8. Saint-Cirq-Lapopie, Occitanie
Perched excessive above the Lot River, Saint-Cirq-Lapopie is a shocking medieval village that has impressed many artists. Its magnificence lies in its dramatic setting, Gothic facades, and slender alleyways.
Guests can discover quite a few artisan outlets, hike within the surrounding space, or take a ship journey on the Lot River. The village is especially magical within the night when the day-trippers have left.
9. Gordes, Provence
Gordes is a placing hilltop village within the Luberon area, well-known for its stone buildings cascading down the hillside.
Guests come for the breathtaking views, particularly at sundown, and to discover the encircling lavender fields and olive groves.
Key points of interest embody the Sixteenth-century château, the close by Sénanque Abbey, and the standard Tuesday market.
10. Locronan, Brittany
Locronan is a small city that has maintained its Renaissance appeal, with granite homes and an exquisite central sq..
Guests will admire the dearth of seen trendy infrastructure, making it really feel actually timeless. The city is thought for its spiritual heritage, conventional Breton festivals, and as a filming location.
Don’t miss the Church of Saint Ronan or the native artisan workshops.
11. Cordes-sur-Ciel, Occitanie
Cordes-sur-Ciel, or “Cordes within the Sky,” is aptly named for its hilltop location, typically shrouded in morning mist. This bastide city is thought for its well-preserved Gothic structure and thriving arts scene.
Guests ought to come to discover the medieval homes, go to artisan workshops, and revel in panoramic views of the countryside. The city hosts a well-known medieval competition every July.
12. Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy
Mont Saint-Michel is without doubt one of the most iconic landmarks in France, a medieval marvel that rises dramatically from the ocean.
This UNESCO World Heritage website is a small rocky island topped by a shocking abbey and surrounded by a picturesque village.
Guests are drawn by its distinctive structure, wealthy historical past, and the fascinating phenomenon of maximum tides that isolate and join it to the mainland.
Discover the winding streets, go to the magnificent abbey, and be taught concerning the website’s significance as a pilgrimage heart.
13. Minerve, Occitanie
Minerve is a small village with a dramatic historical past, perched on a rocky peninsula between two deep gorges. Guests come for its Cathar historical past, beautiful pure setting, and glorious native wines.
Discover the village’s slender streets, go to the Twelfth-century church, and be taught concerning the Cathar siege on the small museum.
14. Monpazier, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Monpazier is without doubt one of the best-preserved bastide cities in France, recognized for its excellent grid format and exquisite central sq..
Guests will admire the well-preserved medieval and Seventeenth-century structure, the lined market corridor, and the peaceable ambiance.
15. Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is nestled between two rocky cliffs, with a star suspended on a series between them.
The city is known for its advantageous porcelain and proximity to the Verdon Gorge – one of many best places in the French Riviera area.
Guests ought to discover the slender streets, go to the Notre Dame de Beauvoir chapel perched above the city, and store for native ceramics.
16. Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert, Occitanie
Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert is a serene medieval village tucked right into a dramatic gorge on the pilgrim path to Santiago de Compostela.
Its UNESCO-listed Gellone Abbey, with its exceptional Romanesque structure, rises above a maze of slender streets and stone homes.
Don’t miss the abbey’s lovely cloister, the Place de la Liberté with its historical elm tree, or the satan’s bridge spanning the gorge.
17. Conques, Occitanie
Conques is a jewel of Romanesque artwork nestled in a wooded gorge in Occitanie.
Its magnificent Abbey Church of Saint Foy, with its intricate tympanum and golden reliquary, has drawn pilgrims for hundreds of years alongside the Santiago de Compostela route.
Don’t miss the treasury’s medieval goldsmith assortment, the carved capitals within the cloister, or the sundown view from the Bancarel viewpoint.
18. Najac, Occitanie
Najac is a shocking medieval fortress city perched dramatically alongside a single ridge excessive above the Aveyron River.
Its majestic Thirteenth-century royal fortress stands on the highest level, whereas the village’s stone and half-timbered homes stretch alongside the ridge in a novel linear format.
Don’t miss the Gothic church of Saint-Jean with its uncommon fortified options, the panoramic views from the fortress hold, or the traditional lined market corridor the place native farmers promote their produce.
19. Vézelay, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Vézelay is a hilltop village in Burgundy topped by its magnificent Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene.
This UNESCO World Heritage website rises majestically above the Remedy Valley, its golden stone glowing within the sundown whereas its medieval streets are lined with historic homes and ramparts.
Don’t miss the spectacular views over the Burgundian countryside, or the home the place Jules Roy lived, now a literature museum.
20. Saint-Paul-de-Vence, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
Saint-Paul-de-Vence is a remarkably preserved medieval city perched on a hilltop close to Good, remodeled into an inventive haven within the twentieth century.
Its large medieval ramparts encircle slender cobblestone streets lined with elegant stone homes, whereas up to date artwork galleries and boutiques occupy historical buildings.
Remaining Ideas on The Greatest French Medieval Cities
Exploring France’s medieval cities is like stepping right into a residing historical past e-book.
Every village gives a novel glimpse into the nation’s wealthy previous, well-preserved structure, and timeless appeal.
From the long-lasting Mont Saint-Michel to the lesser-known gems like Perouges, these cities present unforgettable experiences for historical past lovers, tradition lovers, and informal vacationers alike.
Able to plan your trip in France? Use our complete France Travel Guide to make sure you don’t miss any of the unbelievable locations.
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