Krakow
Poland's former royal capital effortlessly fuses medieval pomp and pageantry with modern-day, student-fuelled fun into a harmonious whole.
Alternating themes of destruction and rebirth run throughout Kraków's history, all the way back to the 13th century, when marauding Tatars sacked the city and pierced the town crier's throat with an arrow. A century later, Kraków was back on top as Poland's capital, and then dashed again in the 16th century when the capital moved to Warsaw. In more recent times, Kraków re-emerged after WWI only to be occupied by Nazi Germany 20 years later. After that came communism, and another chapter of rebirth. It's a never-ending episode of Games of Thrones and just as enthralling.
Architecture buffs will think they died and went to heaven. Over the thousand years of Kraków's existence, all of the great European architectural styles – Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, baroque and art nouveau – have cycled through and left behind traces that prove the whole is infinitely greater than the sum of the parts. Find the world's largest late-Gothic altarpiece within the darkened interiors of St Mary's Basilica, and then step out into the sunshine to see the gleaming 16th-century Renaissance Cloth Hall, built at a time when Kraków's royal authority was at its apex.
Kraków may no longer be Poland's political capital, but it makes a strong case for being the country's cultural capital. The annual list of festivals and events is as long as your arm, and every week, it seems, brings another celebration of theatre, the arts, music, film, dance, literature and, yes, food. Did we mention there's even a pierogi fest? Outside the festival calendar, Cracovians are inveterate theatregoers, jazz aficionados, poetry lovers, film buffs and klezmer listeners, and seemingly every corner of the city, every dark basement and hidden garden, buzzes with artistic anticipation.
No accounting of Kraków's charms would be complete without a nod toward the culinary. Come for your fill of traditional delights like kiełbasa (Polish sausage), pierogi and vodka, served everywhere from grand Gothic cellars to simple stands. But Cracovians also love to expand their palates. French, Italian and Asian-inspired restaurants are popular, while vegan and vegetarian foods are experiencing something of a moment – vegan sushi and meatless kebabs are all the rage. Finish off with lody (ice cream), a national mania.
Where To Stay In Krakow Internet In Krakow Travel Insurance What To Pack For Krakow, Poland How To Get To Krakow How To Get Around Krakow Top 10 Things To Do In Krakow 1. Explore Kazimierz 2. Eat Your Way Through Kazimierz 3. Explore The Old Town 4. Walk Around The Wawel Cathedral 5. Climb The Kościuszko Mound 6. Admire The Work Of Oskar Schindler At His Factory 7. Wander Around The Wieliczka Salt Mine 8. Learn About The Holocaust At Auschwitz 9 . Get Away From It All And Head To The Tatra Mountain Further Reading For Poland
Share Top 8 Things to Do in Krakow on Pinterest.
Are You In A Rush?
You can save this page to your Pinterest board for later.
Krakow Itinerary Map
Krakow Itinerary Map
Poland Travel Video
Play Video
When To Go To Krakow
Krakow is the most fun in the summer months of May - October where it is warm outside and all the outdoor festivities are in full swing. You will see that the locals become more lively during this time, picnicking, enjoying the sun with their friends, and best of all, most of the high viewpoints are open for you to climb and absorb the view of Krakow from above.
Let's be honest, it is no longer possible to escape the crowds in Europe. Places like Krakow is no longer a hidden gem and even though, you can try to avoid the peak months, you will likely see many tourists still. The question to ask is, is it worth trading that with nice clear days, warm temperature and having places be opened when you are there? I'd say no because winter Poland is really really cold and there are still tons of tourists everywhere I go.
This place is cheaper than most countries but not dirt cheap. Expect to pay around 30 - 50 USD per day per person including accommodation and food.
Keep in mind that this is just a suggested daily budget based on my style of traveling, which is leaning more toward the budget side of things. If you want to stick to this budget, expect to sleep in dorms, eat out only a few times, and be comfortable using the cheapest and most convenient way of transportation, which often times involves walking.
No, we are not done with Kazimierz yet! One of the most interesting parts of traveling abroad is the food and Kazimierz have everything you crave for. Are you craving for street food? Do not worry, Kazimierz has plenty for you to choose from.
Insider's Tips: You can try the best zapiekanka (baguette sandwich) in the country at the New Square on Plac Nowy street where you can choose your own toppings and it is served to you fresh and hot from the oven.
Andrus Food Truck is another great option when it comes to street food in Krakow. They open in the evening and there are several food trucks serving all kinds of food and snacks for you to choose from.
You have to try the Maczanka, a Krakowian burger that serves with juicy pork in onion gravy. You can also try the famous Hungarian sweet bread here and many other delicious snacks!
Are you craving Polish food? If so, be sure to drop by Starka Restaurant for cozy lunch or if you are looking for a place for fine dining and a glass of wine, Nova Resto Bar is highly recommended.
Sick Polish food? There's also a nice Georgian restaurant called Chinkalnia where you can find delicious Khinkali, a Georgian dumpling, and then you can compare it with the Polish one (Pierogies).
If you want something lighter (European food can be quite heavy sometimes), you can go to a restaurant called Baozi House and try their dumplings. Definitely my favorite kind of dumplings but I am Asian so I'm pretty biased. 😂
You crave Indian food in Poland (hey, it happens!)? I've got you covered! Head over to Taste of India restaurant and order yourself a butter chicken and a garlic naan. It's cheaper than most Indian restaurants I found and it is delicious!
Do you like Jazz? There are many cool jazz clubs around Kazimierz and one of the most well-known is the Alchemia. Tucked away in a basement, this hip jazz club is decorated with old vintage furniture, lit by candles and are not fond of large tourist groups, the best combination for everyone to have a great time.
Seriously, you can eat your way through Kazimierz for days!
Step into the Fairy-tale-like Old Town Square of Krakow and admire all the old architecture like the St Mary Basilica, the Town Hall Tower, and the Kraków Barbican. Go down the Florianska tourist street and experience the liveliness of the city in full swing.
If you are there in the summer months, you might be able to participate in many activities organized in the Old Town Square like a flea market or street food market as well.
Insider's Tips: You can climb up one of the towers of St Mary Basilica for a grand view of Krakow and the Old Town Square. If you climb up there at the right time, you will be able to witness the old tradition of St. Mary's Trumpet Call where a trumpeter on the tower will come out and play the five-note Polish anthem on the hour every hour, 4 times on each side of the tower.
Wawel castle is one of the most important landmarks in Krakow, and a must visit when you are in the city. The architecture of Wawel castle is a mixture of Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, and Early Baroque due to it being occupied and captured by different rulers over its existence. I recommend you spending at least a few hours there to learn more about its importance among the Polish people.
Insider's Tips: The best place for the best view of the Wawel castle is from the Grunwald Bridge across the Vistula river, south of the castle. During the day, you will see plenty of people walking around the river, and you will be able to get a clear view of the castle in its entirety while at night, the reflection of artificial lights on the river added to the mystical and magical feel of the castle.
There are several ancient prehistoric mounds in Krakow that are believed to either be monumental tombs or fortifications or pagan temples. Nowadays, the mounds serve as a great place to climb up at get a nice view of the city.
Krakus mound is another great one with a closer view of the old town than from Kościuszko Mound so if you don't have much time, you can climb up Krakus mound instead.
Insider's Tips: Kościuszko Mound is the largest one and it is located far enough from the city that you will be able to see both the Wawel Cathedral and the St Mary Basilica in one go. You will also have a panoramic view of the city and its surrounding landscape that you can't see from any other place.
Be sure to go there when the weather is clear, otherwise, you will be disappointed to see nothing but fog and clouds. Pollution is a big problem in Krakow and you will be able to see how bad it really is from here on cloudy days.
If you have not watched the movie "Shindler's List", do so now before your trip and you will understand why Oskar Shindler's factory is a must-see. He was one of the few lights of hope to the Jewish people during Poland's darkest time, and this is the location where he helped many to escape the concentration camps. If you are a history buff, you can not miss this place.
Insider's Tips: They only allow a certain number of tourist per day so if you are there during the summer months, be sure to book a ticket online prior to your arrival. The entry fee is 24 PLN. You can book the ticket here on their.
One of the most popular tourist attraction in Krakow, the Wieliczka Salt Mine located in the city of Wieliczka, located only 15 km away from Krakow. The labyrinth of tunnels goes as deep as over 300m underground and inside, you will find large chambers, chapels, and even a salt lake.
One of the large chambers housed the Chapel of St Kinga, which was made entirely out of salt. There's also a salt lake in the Erazm Barącz Chamber which is apparently even denser than the dead sea!
Insider's Tips: The cheapest way to get there is by the 304 bus that leaves from the bus main station near the Old Town which should cost you 4 PLN one way. Make sure you get off at the "Wieliczka Kopalnia Soli" stop.
Those who want to learn about what went down during the Holocaust. How the Nazi systematically exterminated a large population at once is heart-wrenching but it is important to know how low humanity can go so that we do not repeat the same mistake.
There are 2 concentration camps in Auschwitz, the original concentration camp which is turned into a museum (and required that you have a ticket) and the Auschwitz 2-Birkenau, the second concentration and extermination camps where the infamous train track goes, and you have to visit both.
You will need an entire day to see it all.
Insider's Tips: Not many people know this but you have to have a ticket prior to arriving at Auschwitz 1 in order to get in. During the summer months, the place is jam-packed and if you want to get in, I would recommend you reserve a ticket online and pick a time slot that works for you, days before you arrive.
You do not need a ticket to go to Auschwitz 2-Birkenau, which is connected to Auschwitz 1 via free shuttle buses so if you got an afternoon time slot, you can easily travel between the 2 camps.
To get to Auschwitz, you will have to get a bus from the MDA bus station in Krakow to Oswiecim or you can tell them to Auschwitz and they will issue you the right ticket. If you want to do it in a day, you will have to go as early as 8 AM and get the ticket from the counter downstairs.
If you are sick of Krakow already, why don't you get out of the city and head to the mountains? Only 2 hours by bus, you can be surrounded by the snowy peaks of the Tatra mountains. You can go hike the Morskie Oko trail or simply enjoy the cozy vibe of Zakopane.
Walk around the tourist street, have a nice Polish dinner at Karcma Zapiecek and listen to traditional music performed by local musicians, or go up a gondola to Kasprowy Wierch to see the view from above. Zakopane is the perfect side-trip for nature lovers when you are in Krakow.
Insider's Tips: Zakopane is ALWAYS crowded, may it be summer or winter so to prevent disappointment, be sure to book your accommodation and a bus days prior before you plan to go.
If you believe urban legend (like we do) Kraków has the highest density of bars in the world. Simply hundreds of bars can be found in cellars and courtyards stretching from the Old Town to Kazimierz and beyond. Keeping them open, of course, are the thousands of tourists that flock to Kraków every year, and with higher tourism comes higher prices: expect to pay about 10zł (2.35 Euros) for a large lager these days, and up to 15zl (3.5 Euros) for a craft beer. The opening hours we list are flexible; basically if people are drinking, the barman is pouring.
For clubbing, the main hedonist high streets are Floriańska and Szewska, where nary a medieval cellar will be left unthronged by sexed-up students on a Friday or Saturday night; you can also expect most clubs to charge a cover of anywhere from 5-20zł those nights. While the opening hours we list here are confirmed by the venues themselves, most are rather flexible; basically if people are drinking, the barman is pouring.
Hope this helped !!!