Things to Do in Lesser Poland, Poland: City Guides

Lesser Poland is a historic region in southern Poland, shaped by Kraków, mountain landscapes, old towns and an unexpectedly wide variety of local food. From the Tatras and the Pieniny to the Błędów Desert, there is plenty to explore beyond the region’s best-known city. Neywo offers free audio guides for four cities in Lesser Poland, covering 241 narrated places in total.

What to see and do in Lesser Poland

Discover Kraków, the region’s historic centre

The story of Lesser Poland is closely tied to Kraków. The territory was inhabited in the Early Middle Ages by the Vistulans, an old Polish tribe, before becoming part of Poland in the 10th century. Kraków soon gained importance as the seat of one of Poland’s oldest dioceses and as a centre of the country’s Christianization.

In 1038, Casimir the First, known as the Restorer, chose Kraków as Poland’s capital. The city kept that role for several centuries, apart from short interruptions. Its historic importance can still be traced through places such as Wawel Cathedral, St. Mary’s Basilica in Kraków, Wawel Castle and St. Florian’s Gate.

Kraków is also one of Poland’s great centres of learning. The Jagiellonian University, established as the Kraków Academy, is the country’s oldest university. Its graduates include Nicolaus Copernicus and Karol Wojtyła, later Pope John Paul the Second. Today, the city’s higher education institutions serve about 130,000 students.

Explore Oświęcim and its layered history

The town of Oświęcim was once one of the seats of a local branch of the Piast dynasty, alongside Zator, in the Late Middle Ages. Its history also includes the German Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz I, the Państwowe Muzeum Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Auschwitz Jewish Center.

Oświęcim Castle adds another layer to the town’s past. Visiting Oświęcim calls for time and attention: its different sites reflect medieval political history, Jewish heritage and the memory of the Second World War.

See Tarnów, a city of history and culture

Tarnów is one of the region’s important urban centres and is described as Poland’s hottest place throughout the year. Its historical and religious landmarks include the Cathedral Basilica of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Church of the Assumption in Tarnów and the Holy Cross and Our Lady of Perpetual Help church in Tarnów.

Nalepówka Villa is another place to include when exploring the city. Tarnów also has a higher education centre, adding to the city’s role in the modern Lesser Poland region.

Head into the Tatras at Zakopane

Zakopane lies in the southern part of Lesser Poland, where the landscape rises towards the Tatras. The town is a natural starting point for discovering the region’s mountain character and its distinctive cultural traditions.

Among the places to visit are Pustelnia Brata Alberta, the Museum of Zakopane Style at Villa Koliba, Villa Oksza in Zakopane and the main building of the Tytus Chałubiński Tatra Museum. Zakopane is also a good place to encounter the food traditions of the mountain areas, including cheeses such as Bundz, Oscypek and Bryndza Podhalańska.

Compare the region’s different landscapes

Lesser Poland changes quickly from one part of the voivodeship to another. The Świętokrzyskie Mountains lie to the north, while the broad hills of the Jura Krakowsko-Częstochowska extend to the west. To the south are the Tatras, the Pieniny and the Beskids.

Almost all of the voivodeship belongs to the Vistula River catchment area. Mountains, hills and river country therefore form part of one connected landscape. National parks, landscape parks and reserves protect many of these environments.

The Błędów Desert is one of the region’s most surprising places. It is Poland’s only desert, and summer temperatures there can often reach 38 degrees Celsius. Its dry, open landscape feels very different from the mountain scenery farther south.

Taste the food of Lesser Poland

Food is one of the best ways to understand the region’s variety. Mountain areas are known for Bundz, Oscypek and Bryndza Podhalańska, while local kitchens also produce kiełbasa, bacon and honey. Lesser Poland has its own versions of pierogi, kluski, kołacz and various soups.

Some local foods are officially protected by Poland’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Regional specialties include obwarzanek krakowski and krówki from Regulice. Drinks include several kinds of nalewki and śliwowica, including Śliwowica łącka.

Together, these products reflect the different parts of Lesser Poland: mountain cheeses, meat products, honey, dumplings, baked goods and local spirits. The region’s cuisine is not one single tradition, but a collection of local tastes.

A region shaped by history and modern life

After the Partitions of Poland, Lesser Poland experienced repeated uprisings against foreign rule. Kraków remained a major cultural centre during this divided period, helped by the relatively relaxed policies of the Austrian partitioners.

The modern voivodeship uses the old name Małopolska, or Lesser Poland, although it covers only part of the much broader historic region. Today, Kraków is the capital and largest city. Its economy combines high technology and banking with chemical, metallurgical and food-processing industries. The region also has many small and medium-sized businesses, while the Kraków Park Technologiczny forms part of the city’s technology and business landscape.

Railways and roads connect Kraków with major Polish cities. The city also lies on international routes linking Dresden with Kyiv, and Gdańsk with Budapest. Its John Paul the Second International Airport is Poland’s second largest after Warsaw’s.

Explore Lesser Poland with Neywo

Download Neywo and explore the region with free audio guides for four cities: Kraków, Oświęcim, Tarnów and Zakopane. Together they include 13 walking tours and 241 narrated places. Narration is available in 11 languages.

The app tells the story of each place as you reach it, at your own pace. There is no group and no schedule: just walk through the city and listen when you arrive at the next stop.