10 Things to Do in Krakow in November

Are you planning a trip to Krakow in November? I have very good news, although the weather is not always good, this is a month when, in addition to the things to do on any trip to Krakow, there are many cultural events, such as music festivals and film festivals, but also many other traditional celebrations. In the penultimate month of the year, the Polish city comes alive- discover it!

Do you want to combine the most touristy part of Krakow with a more sporty one? In November the ski slopes start to open, and the Zakopane ski slopes are about two hours away from the city. Plus, you don't need to travel with all your ski equipment and prices in Zakopane's resorts are low compared to those in other cities, so for around €40 you can get access to the slopes and ski clothes.

If you're more of a snowboarder than a skier, Zakopane' s slopes will also welcome you. In general, it's an area that's more than suitable for winter sports, but I particularly recommend the Białka tatrzańsk ski resort, which is open until almost 10pm. Perfect for a last spectacular night run!

And if you like the mountains and nature but not for snow sports, I recommend a day trip to Zakopane from Kraków. You will discover this beautiful city, the capital of winter tourism in Poland, enjoy incredible snowy landscapes and take a cable car ride to Mount Gubalowka to admire the Tatra mountain range. The icing on the cake? A visit to the Bukowina thermal baths to relax and take the chill off the November cold - great!

Did you think that celebrations around death and ghosts end with Halloween? No, All Saints' Day (1 November) is almost as important, and more traditional, for Poles, who use the day to visit cemeteries and fill them with candles and flowers. It's a somewhat mournful, but equally beautiful celebration, so keep that in mind if you visit a cemetery to see the festivities.

Flowers, candles and traditions on All Saints' Day

Poland is a country with deep-rooted Christian traditions, so it's common for people to be buried underground and with gravestones. That's why on All Saints' Day you will find the cemeteries more crowded and decorated than ever, with thousands of traditional 'znicze' candles. In fact, families go to great lengths to create original candles and floral decorations.

Night visit to the cemetery

As you can imagine, the thousands of lit candles create a beautiful scene at nightfall - never has a cemetery looked so scary! If you feel like it and are prepared for the cold (November nights in Kraków can get close to freezing), you can take a night tour of one of the city's cemeteries, such as the Rakowicki Cemetery, which is one of the best known for housing the graves of great Polish cultural figures.

It is also a good day to get to know the mysteries of the city first-hand by booking a Krakow ghost tour, a walking tour of the city where you will learn about the mysteries and legends hidden in its streets.

If you are going to Krakow in November, be aware that it is likely to be rainy and cold on some of the days of your trip. At such times, my advice is to take a full-day trip to the Wieliczka Mines, which, being underground, are protected from the weather.

Descending into these mines is to enter a hidden but very valuable world, as salt has been extracted from them for years and they also contain important works of art in the form of chapels and liturgical decorations (many of them made with salt).

To make the most of your visit and to make Krakow worthwhile even when you are driving, I recommend you book an organised tour with a guide. The mines are full of passages, galleries, monuments and secrets that you will not be able to fully understand without someone specialised in the subject explaining them to you. In addition, transport to and from the city is also included, which is much more convenient.

How much do you know about Polish history? You may be familiar with the fact that on 11 November 1918 Poland gained its independence after hundreds of years of its territory being divided and its people punished for their culture or language. If your trip to Krakow coincides with this celebration, pack some red and white, the colours of its flag, and join one of the marches organised on this day: every year there are military parades and public demonstrations, although the celebration also reaches homes in the form of traditional meals.

Since 11 November is a day to bring out the Polish spirit, I recommend going to a typical Kraków restaurant, where the dish of the day will probably be goose with apples and herbs, very traditional on this date, and for dessert a croissant filled with almonds, sultanas, walnuts and oranges.

Another plan more than appropriate for the date could be to take a guided tour of Krakow, where you will learn about the main monuments and the rich history of one of the most important cities in Poland from an expert guide.

On the night of 29-30 November, magic (and a bit of witchcraft) fills the streets of Kraków. Why? Because it's St Andrew's Day, when Poles perform a ritual with wax and water to make omens and omens. The culture of this country has many traditions of this kind, as they believe in the power of predictions. Even if you are not so convinced, I recommend you join this tradition and perhaps return from Krakow with a much clearer future.

Although St Andrew's Day is on 30 November, it is the night before, the 29th, when the omens should be made. There are different ways of trying to predict the future, but the most common is by pouring hot wax through the keyhole into a container of cold water to create a wax figure.

This is another great day to take a ghost tour of Krakow and learn about all the stories and legends that this magical city has to offer.

Kraków is a jazz city, so twice a year, once in November, a jazz festival is held in Kraków. This is a great opportunity to appreciate the improvisational art that makes this music so unique.

Still in autumn, the Autumn Jazz Festival in November brings together musicians from all over the world, as it has an international character, and in particular it is held in Kazimierz, the Jewish quarter of Kraków. It is clear that, jazz or not, this area is a must-see during your trip to the Polish city, so I recommend you take the opportunity of the festival to give rhythm to your walk.

If your enthusiasm for music runs through your veins, be sure to attend a Chopin concert in Kraków. They are held in the Chopin Gallery in the Bonerowski Palace and include the famous Polish musician's best-known nocturnes, mazurkas and polonaises.

I know, I start to get into the Christmas spirit in November too. The good news is that Krakow's big Christmas market opens its doors in the last week of November, so you'll be spoilt for choice when it's a little less crowded and you'll be able to do some initial shopping.

Krakow is a beautiful city and when Christmas starts to arrive, it becomes even more magical, something you'll especially enjoy if you're in Krakow with children. You'll feel it as soon as the Christmas market opens, where there are plenty of stalls with handmade decorations and gifts, but also traditional food and drinks to warm you up (and I don't just mean hot chocolate, because the high proof vodka cuts the cold).

The market is located in Krakow's central Market Square, so you'll find it hard to resist stopping by. My advice is also to make the most of it; Krakow at Christmas time tends to fill up with tourists, especially in December, so November is the ideal time to kick off the festive season without the crowds.

Don't hold your breath, but there is one drink that is very typical of winter in Kraków and that is warm beer. It may seem like something you don't want to try at first, but when you're out in the cold on a November evening in Kraków, you'll appreciate popping into a bar and having a glass of warm beer. It's not unusual; in fact it's quite a traditional drink, especially among young people.

If you go to Kraków in November you'll notice that with the first few days of freezing weather in the city, the bars start serving warm beer. Don't think that it is just microwaved, because Grzane Piwo, as it is called in Polish, also contains ginger, cinnamon, cloves and other spices. All in all, a delicious cocktail that will warm you up quickly. Be careful, drink it slowly to savour it and so that it doesn't go to your head too quickly.

Vodka is also an excellent option to warm you up (but always in moderation) and I can't think of a better plan than booking a vodka tour of the Jewish quarter of Kazimierz, where you'll taste four varieties of this spirit and learn about the history of the quarter. Two for one!

Kraków may seem a little traditional when you first arrive, with its low houses and cobbled streets, but it also has a very alternative and avant-garde side. If you don't believe me, you have to go to the Audio Art Festival, which fills the city with postmodernist, experimental and multidisciplinary art every November.

Every November, the Krakow Audio Art Festival welcomes artists from all over the world who want to exhibit their creations, which often mix visual art with sounds. What can you expect? Installations, concerts and performances where artists create sound on the spot thanks to technology, becoming composer and performer at the same time.

Most of the events take place in concert halls and cinemas in the city, and admission to some of them is free, so take this opportunity to get to know the hipster side of Kraków.

Do you like art? Then you're in luck if you're going to Kraków in November, as the Etiuda&Anima film festival takes place during the last few days of the month, giving visibility to the film creations of students, independent producers and artists from all over the world. In addition to workshops and talks, this festival, which has been held since 1994, also consists of two competitions.

The two names of the festival, Etiuda and Anima, refer to the two prizes. Etiuda is a competition for students submitting feature films and documentaries, while Anima is a competition dedicated to animated films.

This is the oldest film festival in Poland. During the festival, Kraków is filled with art and art-house films, especially animated films that are not widely available, so if you're a fan of this kind of art, you'll want to pay the festival a visit. Tickets are quite affordable (around €15 for general admission and €5 for film passes), so it's well worth a visit.

Just one thing: be prepared for the cold. In November low temperatures hit Kraków, so you'll need to pack warm clothes to withstand lows of almost 0°C (32°F). On the other hand, rainfall is quite frequent (it rains about half the days of the month), so remember to pack a good waterproof coat and several layers - you'll need them!

Knowing the weather forecast for November, you may be wondering if this is really the best time to go to Kraków, but I can assure you that if you're prepared, you'll be able to handle the cold. The nights are even colder, so take advantage of the daylight hours (approximately 8 or 9 hours) to visit the city and, when the sun goes down, go into a bar and have a hot chocolate.

Oh, and if the cold gets harder than you'd like, don't hesitate and hop on the Krakow sightseeing bus to continue exploring the city, but in a super comfortable way and sheltered from the cold.

Average temperatures in Kraków in November are around 5°C (41°F). One of my tips for travelling to Krakow is to pack wisely and logically, packing clothes that allow you to wear several layers during the trip (e.g. thermal T-shirts, jumpers and fleece jackets or windbreakers).

Of course, don't forget your heaviest coat at home; if it's waterproof, all the better, as it usually rains in the middle of the month. I don't recommend an umbrella, as it's uncomfortable (especially if you're going to be walking into places or if it's windy) and if you need one, you can buy one there. What you should pack in your suitcase are gloves, a hat and good shoes that are warm enough to walk comfortably.

Are you all set to go to Krakow in November? Don't forget to let me know what you think of all the plans I've suggested.