Places to Visit Near Krakow:
Once you have experienced the delights of this beautiful Polish city you may want to do some exploring in the surrounding area. Hiring a car in Poland is usually a relatively stress free process and hiring you own wheels can be a great choice if you want to discover some unforgettable places.

- Wieliczka Salt Mines
Location: The town of Wieliczka is around 8 miles from Krakow. To get there you can drive, take the train from Krakow’s Glowny station to Wielicska Rynek Kopalnia train station or get a bus from Krakow (bus number 304 runs from Ul Kurniki) and get off at Wieliczka Ryek.
This is an astonishing and impressive place and deservedly a recognised World Heritage Site. The salt mine here dates back to the 13th century and is one of the oldest salt mines in the world. Visitors are transported via a deep lift shaft to a subterranean world where you discover a special place created by the salt miners. Chapels, sculptures carved out of salt, galleries and passageways await you. These rooms and arts of works have been developed over centuries and added to and enhanced by generations of talented miners. There is even an underground Cathedral which may take your breath away. At the end of your trip there is even an underground restaurant where you can get refreshments before returning to the world up above.


- Auschwitz
Location, Auschwitz is located some 43 miles from Krakow. It is possible to drive to Auschwitz or you can take the train from Krakow’s Glowny station to Oswiecim and walk around 20 minutes from Oswiecim on arrival.
Auschwitz is a sombre place to visit. This place is known the world over for the massacre of jews that took place at this former concentration camp. It is a little known fact though that many Polish cities and towns were the scenes of violations against the Jewish people and that Jewish children in particular were also murdered in towns and villages outside of such camps. Poles too were murdered and gypsies in particular suffered greatly. Nevertheless it is a harrowing fact that around 232,000 children were sent to Auschwitz along with many more adults in a shameful time of history where hatred of Jews ran deep through the veins of the German Nazi Party.

 There are few people who would not be moved on the sight of the gas chambers at Auschwitz and the deceptive and cruel German ‘Work makes Free’ sign that greets visitors at the gates of Auschwitz. Some like to go to shed a tear, remember the victims and visit this historical place whereas others find the idea visiting a former concentration camp far too disturbing to want to go. To visit or not very much is a personal choice. Opinions on Auschwitz vary but few would disagree that it is important to remember what happened here with the perhaps naive hope that tolerance, love and peace will thrive in the world.