Criminal Kazimierz: A Terrifying Walking Tour of Cracow's Old Jewish Quarter - In the Footsteps of the Cracow's Vampire

Step into the shadows of Krakow’s Kazimierz, where 20th-century crimes and dark legends still linger. This guided walk reveals the true story of Karol Kot — the “Vampire of Kraków” — whose brutal acts terrified the city in the 1960s. Discover where it all happened and explore the psychology, history, and haunting aftermath of one of Poland’s most infamous killers.

Highlights:

• Walk through Kazimierz’s eerie streets and crime scenes
• Learn the chilling story of Karol Kot, the “Vampire of Kraków”
• Hear true crime stories from post-war communist Poland
• Visit real locations of murders, investigations, and arrests
• Experience Krakow’s dark past with a local expert guide

This immersive evening walk combines true crime, psychology, and history for an unforgettable look into Krakow’s darkest chapter. More than horror, it’s a study of fear, society, and the thin line between normality and madness. Not recommended for children or the faint-hearted.

Itinerary:

Kazimierz
Begin at the heart of Kazimierz, where your guide introduces the district’s turbulent 20th-century history and the chilling background of Karol Kot. 

The Poisoned Beer
Learn about Kot’s early twisted experiments: arsenic-laced beer bottles left in plain sight, and his fascination with death, self-harm, and slaughterhouses in the grim reality of communist-era Kraków.

The Skilled Marksman
Discover Kot’s double life as an accomplished shooter in a youth paramilitary organization and how his obsession with knives and violence escalated behind a façade of discipline and precision.

The First Serious Attack
Stand where Kot’s early knife attack shocked the community. Explore how law enforcement first took his crimes seriously – and how his lack of a robbery motive hinted at something far darker.

The First Murder
Visit the site near where Kot committed his first fatal stabbing. Learn how the city’s elderly began wearing pots on their heads in fear.

Escalation of Violence
Trace the moment Kot crossed the point of no return – from murdering a child to nearly killing another just weeks later. Dive into the disturbing calmness with which he operated.

The Police Investigation
Explore the city-wide manhunt: school inspections, student interrogations, and the chilling testimonies from Kot’s classmates that eventually helped identify him.

The Breakthrough
Hear about the brave student who reported Kot’s threats, leading to his arrest. Examine the forensic evidence that tied him to the crimes and the crucial victim identifications.

Karol Kot’s Home and Final Fate
End the tour outside the killer’s former residence. Uncover the psychological profile of a remorseless killer, his trial, and execution – and the strange tales told by later residents of his haunted apartment.