Wawel in Bloom – Spring in Krakow

Photo Series: Wawel in Bloom

Spring in Krakow, Poland (1/48)

Winter is difficult for me. The lack of light and cold weather are torture for my mental health. But spring, the perennial rebirth, makes me feel light with its new-ness and mildness. And spring is in full swing in Krakow.  Going out and taking pictures of new life around my beloved home base has been therapy for me. I can’t get enough of all the blooms in and around Wawel Castle. From the crocuses and cherry blossoms in April to the roses and azaleas of May, Wawel boasts a beautiful bounty. Finding and documenting it has provided me with release, calm and a child-like joy. I hope it brings you a little of the same.

An interactive map of photo locations for further exploration is at the bottom.

To be honest, I don’t exactly remember where this was taken. It was near Hotel Forum and the location marker on the map. I had to stand on a tiny ledge and be pushed against a fence in order to be get up into the branches. Judging by the faces of people in the foreground (who were cropped out), it was quite an entertaining spectacle.

I’ve been waiting for these roses to bloom since I found this garden in April. I call it secret because you have to go all the way through the castle and courtyard to get to it. Being so tucked away, it is a quieter respite from the crowds.

After the gates open early in the morning (depends on the season) and until dusk, anyone can enter Wawel Castle for free. None of the locations shown here require payment. If you wish to go inside the museums or cathedral, you need to buy a ticket. Some of the exhibitions are free on Sundays and others on Mondays. Detailed information here.

The Manggha Museum is the only place I know of in the city that has Japanese Sakura cherry trees. It is across the Wisła river from Wawel. There is also a statue of an origami crane in front of it. And the river has many real-life aquatic birds, but they’re not nearly as friendly.

Even if you aren’t lucky enough to get to Krakow in the spring, these locations make for great shots of Krakow’s iconic castle on a hill.