The Planty ring of public gardens surrounds Krakow's entire Old Town historic district since 1822. 

Krakow’s Varied Parks 

The city of Krakow boasts some forty public parks, including the 1020-acre Las Wolski forest on the range of hills that adjoin the downtown area from the west. Visitors cannot miss the Planty ring of about 30 gardens since it encircles the central Old Town historic district. Its leafy alleys and flowerbeds replaced Krakow’s once awesome city walls in the 1820s. At the same time the natives prefer the 22-hectare downtown Park Jordana (near the National Museum) with its recreational facilities from a paddling pond to playgrounds to volleyball and basketball courts. As the park borders on the plethora of dorms alongside three major campuses and the central university library, no wonder it teems with students besides families, kids and mothers with babies. The Park Jordana adjoins also grounds of the Wisla Club, Krakow’s biggest sports organization, with its main stadium, public swimming pools, and hall that seats 1,500. Moreover, the huge Blonia common stretches the full length of both the parkland and the sports grounds. The 120-acre meadow amid bustling downtown Krakow has the legal status of a national heritage. The everyday refuge of joggers, strollers, dog owners, sunbathers, etc.–and an occasional cow–proves ideal for open-air events when necessary, be it a concert, a parade, or a papal mass heard by millions. 

Krakow’s botanical garden at 27 Kopernika street was set up in 1779 and nowadays boasts some 5,000 plant, both exotic and native. Situated in the city’s downtown, it appears an oasis for traffic-weary residents. 

Krakow contains also a number of wildlife preserves within the city limits, established mostly for the protection of endangered flora species.

 
Botanical garden of the Krakow university adjoins the 18th-century palace 
that served as its first astronomic observatory. 

Ojcow National Park

With its mere 21.5 sq. km it may be the smallest of Poland’s twenty national parks, but the Ojcow National Park ranks among the most attractive recreational areas in Europe, and it is just a 15 minutes’ drive–i.e. 24 km–northwest of Krakow.

Botanical Garden in Krakow

Downtown green oasis boasts some 5,000 plant species.

Krakow's Blonia Commons
A vast expanse of grassland in downtown Krakow, called Blonia, is protected by law as the national heritage.

 Krakow's Wildlife

Krakow Geography

Krakow Environment

Krakow Weather

Strolls
The best way to enjoy Krakow is on foot.

Tours
In Krakow and beyond.