Tyniec-Bielany Salwator (in and near Krakow)

After a couple of days in Krakow and visiting the depressing Auschwitz-Birkenau and Oscar Schindler sites we needed somewhere to chill out for a few hours, somewhere quiet and tranquil preferably with a scenic view, so we headed to the Benedictine Abbey of Tyniec a few miles south of the city and high above a bend of the Vistula river.
We weren't disappointed, the abbey is picturesque and quiet and there's a cafe (that sells the abbey's traditional beer) and a small museum.
The wider area of Tyniec-Bielany Salwator encompasses parkland, woods, riverside walks and plenty of opportunity for hikers to get out of the city and enjoy nature.
There are plenty of buses to take you into the various villages that you can start your hike from but we chose a Bolt taxi that cost around 7 euros.
It's incredible to think that you are just 15 minutes away from a major conurbation when you are enjoying the tranquility of the area.
A UNESCO listing though? Not for me, there's just not enough to justify it in my honest opinion.