Wadowice, Poland - A Travel Guide
Last Updated: June 19, 2025
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ABOUT WADOWICE | SHOULD I GO? | WHAT TO DO | WHERE TO STAY | WHERE TO EAT | WHERE TO PARTY
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Fuelling The Vatican
Wadowice is a small town in the south of Poland, a short distance southwest of Krakow and to the north of Zakopane and the Slovakian/Czech border. Whilst small, Wadowice boasts amazing foods, stunning buildings and the fact that it was the birthplace of Pope John Paul II.
Whilst Krakow takes the crowning glory for style, design, fashion, and tourism in Poland, Wadowice shouldn’t be forgotten. First settled in the early 11th century - a relatively late settlement for Europe - Wadowice wasn’t given towns rights until as late as 1430. Whilst during its existence the town has survived many wars, battles, and atrocities, nothing has hit the town harder than World War 2.
Just 30 minutes to the north of Wadowice you will find possibly the most distressing, disgusting and inhuman place the world has ever produced: Auschwitz. Today it is open to the public and whilst we understand not everyone can or wants to visit the site, we felt it important to go, to pay our respects, learn about the history and the people who lost their lives there.
The town of Wadowice during the war was virtually desolate as the thousands of Jewish residents were moved into the camp. Today, thankfully, the town is thriving and growing with some of the most amazing people I have met on my travels. The town is now known for its industrial work, most of which surrounds the small town centre.
Romance in Wadowice
Ok, so this is a true story, and I'm not sorry in the slightest.
During one of my trips to Krakow, I was chilling back in the apartment after a long day exploring the wonderful city, and as a single traveller with a free evening, I was Tinder-tapping. After a bit of back and forth chat with a match, we decided to meet up in Wadowice, and I thought if it all goes wrong, at least it’s another city to explore, so why not? Having caught the early bus a couple of days later, I arrived in the town confused and lost, with no battery on my phone thanks to some dodgy charger the night before.
Having found my way from the rough and ready outskirts of town I met my date, who showed me around the warm and glowing artsy centre. We ate at some of the best restaurants and dessert places in town, accidentally interrupted a service at the Basilica of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the main town square, and saw the house Pope John Paul ll was born, amongst other places. It was a really good day overall, laughing our way around the town.
Whilst I am sure there is more to explore in the beautiful little town, we made the most of our time and the fact that she had transport. However, I'm not sure you'll need more than one night in the town, I feel a day trip was good enough.
I did, unfortunately, have to catch the last back to Krakow that night as I had an early start the following morning, and even that turned into a crazy last-minute dash to the bus stop, chasing the bus up the road to overtake it just prior to the stop.
For those of you who are interested to know, we're still in touch.
So Should I go there?
As much as I would love to say yes to this, as I had a great time in the city, it isn’t somewhere we would recommend as a single destination. The reason for this is because of its size and the surrounding cities. What I mean by that is if you wanted to visit the south of Poland, you'd head to Krakow as there is so much more to do and see. Similarly, if you want culture, tradition, and amazing views then you’ll head to Zakopane.
The only real reason you would come to Wadowice is if you had a burning desire to see the birthplace of Pope John Paul II, or you were visiting Auschwitz and staying close to shorten the drive in the morning, allowing you to beat the queues.
I really don’t have anything bad to say about the town, it's beautiful, fun and friendly, but it just hasn’t got enough to keep you busy when there are other places nearby that have. It's a great place to stop over in though.
What to do when Backpacking Wadowice
The town, as I've already alluded, hasn’t got a lot to do, and what it has got will not take you too long, with one exception. So, let's start with the exception, and if you don’t want to read about it we totally understand, and suggest you bypass this one.
Auschwitz
Firstly I would like to point out I have visited Auschwitz on two separate occasions, and both tours started from Krakow. However, due to its proximity to the town of
After Germany invaded Poland in September 1939, the former Polish army barracks was turned in to a Nazi prison and quickly evolved into the most feared names in the war. Out of the estimated 1.4 million prisoners, over 1.1 million were murdered in Auschwitz. It is also where the world-famous Anne Frank was sent prior to being moved to
Today the Auschwitz and Auschwitz-Birkenau complexes are one of the most visited locations in Poland. They tell and share the stories of the prisoners as well as life inside and outside the camp during Nazi occupation. There are a number of humbling and upsetting artefacts and personal possessions, from glasses to suitcases, people’s ashes and pictures as you walk around the site.
Auschwitz-Birkenau is an eerie, quiet and desolate place. One thing that stood out for me was there are no birds or animals. It has a really sombre atmosphere. The site is famous among many things for its entrance and the train line under the central arch. but the first thing that hits you other than its sheer size is how different it is to Auschwitz 1. The conditions were much worse, more distressing and hard to take in as you simply couldn’t imagine how badly the people were treated. The gas chambers to the far side of the site are semi-demolished but still give you an insight into how they would have looked.
Whilst both Auschwitz and Auschwitz-Birkenau have some of the most devastating and disgusting histories, I feel that the stories they now tell and teach are some of the most important. It is impossible to understand fully or even imagine life during the period of Nazi occupation, but to see the reality and try to understand the best you can means the story will never be forgotten and hopefully, lessons will be learned, and the future will be a better, safer place.
Tours are run daily and can be booked before from a number of locations nearby or online. I do recommend you book in advance and online to secure your booking at the time and date you want. You can either join at the main Auschwitz entrance or can be picked up by a minibus from your location. Tickets start at around 60
John Paul II
John Paul II was born Karol Józef Wojtyła on the 18th May 1920 in Wadowice. He became Pope in 1978 and lived in The Vatican until his death in 2005, and is now buried within the Vatican. His family home, where he lived until 1938 when he moved to Krakow with his father, is now open to the public.
The house can be located on the main square next to the Basilica of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary and is now a museum dedicated to the Pope John Paul ll and life in Wadowice during his time there.
Personally, I don't understand the setup, the interior is a mass of old and new, standard museum vs modern art. Some of the rooms are full of history & culture locked in for all to study. The rooms are set out as he would have lived as a child which is great. It is then you enter a rather bizarre almost modern arty room with screens and modern ways of exploring John Paul II's life. It all felt a little mismatched, but each to his own.
Entrance costs 35 zloty (~£7) for a tour, which will last roughly 70 minutes. The tours start every 20 minutes so check prior to going on what times, it is best to book online as the numbers of tourists are limited each day.
Basilica of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Located on the main square next to John Paul II’s family home, this beautiful building stands as a centrepiece of the town, and somewhere you cannot miss as you walk past. The beauty is not just on the exterior however, the interior is just as stunning. The basilica is only small, but every inch of the interior is shrouded in exquisite artwork. The ceilings and the pillars that stand throughout the basilica are beyond striking.
Entry is free, but a donation is always a good suggestion to help with preserving the building, keeping it open to the public for many years to come.
Honestly other than wandering around the centre,
Where to Stay Whilst Backpacking Wadowice
Unfortunately, I haven’t stayed in the town, and there isn’t really somewhere I can recommend or talk about. However, as always there are Airbnb options in the small town or a couple of hotels. The only issue seems to be most of the hotels are out of the main town, which is odd, as the outer regions are not the most beautiful.
Where to Eat When Backpacking Wadowice
Having only been to the town for a day trip, I haven't tried many of the establishments, which is a
There is only one place I can start, and that is where we had a world-beating crêpe at Cukiernia, located just south of the main square. Having been ushered upstairs to a small but stylish restaurant away from the shop floor, we were treated to a one to one service which I feel was partly due to how quiet the restaurant was. I do, however, think the standard of service would continue for whoever was lucky enough to enjoy a meal here. The staff were so attentive, the food was well presented and the flavours fantastic. I would happily try everything on the menu over the course of a couple of days, but time was tight and I had a lot to squeeze in.
Once the crêpe had gone down and I started craving my next tastebud-tickling experience, I was taken to a wonderful little ice-creamery called Lodziarnia Caterina. This small but perfectly formed haven is a must-visit for all you frozen food fans. Most people tended to grab something to go, but we ate within the bright and colourful premises. I can honestly say it was delicious and well worth the cheap prices we paid for a scoop of frozen heaven.
Our final foray into the world of food and beverages within the city was at a wicked little place called Restauracja Wadowice Ogrodowa Bar & Cafe. Unfortunately, this has now closed down permanently and we do not know what has replaced it. Hopefully, it will be another amazing restaurant serving some of the delightful delicacies, and one of the worlds best hot chocolates I have ever had. The location itself was so relaxing and is crying out for another restaurant, surrounded by wonderful trees and greenery. A true place of tranquillity.
Where to Drink and Party when Backpacking Wadowice
Again we didn’t have time to party or drink within the town, so we are unable to help you out with this topic. It didn’t look like the sort of place where you would party hard, but some of the bars looked very nice. Any suggestions or experiences - leave them in the comments!
What You'll Need to Blend In
A smile
A love of good food