Kraków (pronounced kra-kuhf in Polish) is one of those cities you simply can keep coming back to. This was my third time in Kraków and I already talked to my friends about heading there another time soon. Why do I keep coming back? Well, to begin with, it’s simply stunning. The (old) city is made up of characteristic cobble-stoned streets lined with colorful medieval buildings. It’s also a very walkable, friendly and social city. On a summer evening all terraces are full and buzzing. And most importantly, there is simply so much to do: topnotch museums, beautiful churches, an impressive castle, a nice river boulevard to walk, run or cycle on and plenty of possible interesting day trips around Kraków. Here are some of my top things to do in Kraków (in random order).
1Visit Wawel Royal Castle
At some point during your visit to Kraków you will walk up Wawel Hill with Wawel Royal Castle and Cathedral, both overlooking the Vistula river. Wawel Royal Castle is one of the largest castles in Poland and was once Poland’s cultural and political heart. The castle has a turbulent history where at several moments in time it was sacked and vandalized. It’s a great place to wander around. At the Hall of Deputies (part of the State Room section), there is a unique (and kind of creepy) ceiling with 30 carved wooden heads staring down at you illustrating the life cycle from birth to death.
2And visit next door Wawel Cathedral (and the ‘Wawel chakra’)
Next door to Wawel Royal Castle stands beautiful Wawel Cathedral. Wawel Cathedral is originally a Gothic cathedral, but later on chapels in different styles were added. The interior definitely has a ‘wow-factor’. It’s a dense maze of tomb stones, shrines, paintings, tapestry and altar pieces. Our guide told us there are many myths and legends surrounding the cathedral. At the iron entrance door you will find huge bones hanging onto a chain. According to the legend, these are the bones of the Wawel dragon. If they fall, the world will end. Don’t miss the bell tower. If you touch the bell with your left hand, a wish will come true.
Another myth (or truth, depending on how you see it) is the so-called Wawel chakra. This a place on Wawel hill and is considered of the main centers in the world of (spiritual) energy, attracting many believers each year.
3Marvel at St. Mary’s Basilica
At the main Market Square stands the impressive St. Mary’s Basilica, a Gothic style 14th church with stained glass windows and the famous 13 meter high altar piece. Every day the panel doors of the altarpiece close at 5pm30.
4Explore Kazimierz (also known as the Jewish Quarter)
Our hotel was right in the middle of bustling Kazimierz, full of hipster bars, vintage shops, clubs and restaurants serving dishes from all corners of the world. Plac Nowy is a must visit for Zapiekanka (crispy baguette with melted cheese, mushrooms and other toppings), nice cafes and they have a small flea market on Saturdays. For hundreds of years a mixed Jewish and Christian population resided in Kazimierz. The eastern part of Kazimierz was once the ‘Jewish district’. Here you can still visit the Galicia Jewish Museum, synagogues, kosher restaurants with live klezmer music, the Jewish cemetery and see the passageway that was the backdrop for some scenes in the famous (and controversial) movie Schindler’s List.
5Go salty and underground at the Wieliczka Salt Mine
The Wieliczka Salt mine makes a spectacular half day trip. The salt rocks were discovered in the 13th century and the mine operated until 1996. During your 2-3 hour visit you will go down the mine by 800 steps leading to a network of tunnels and halls. Here you will learn more about the lives of the miners, the mining of salt and you will get to see the most insane art created of salt including statues and a huge chapel where even the chandeliers are made of salt. The guides are knowledgeable, patient and ours had a great sense of humor too. Please note you will always visit the mine in a group of approximately 40 people and these groups are quite close to each other. It’s also a tiny bit ‘disneyfied’ with light effects and music, but I actually like it this way. I promise you won’t be disappointed visiting this mine! It’s one of a kind in the world. Make sure to book beforehand so you will have a guide in your language of choice. It’s a 20-30 minutes drive from Kraków.
6Go for a stroll or run past the Wisla (Vistula) river
Especially beautifully during sunset.
7Enjoy the spectacular view at the Kościuszko Mount
Before entering the 34 meter high mount itself, you will walk through a small, but excellent museum about the life of ‘Polish hero’ Tadeusz Kościuszko, the man who is also one of the key figures in the amazing Racławice Panorama (15 × 114 meter cycloramic painting in Wroçlaw). We really liked this museum as -I feel sometimes this is forgotten- there is so much more interesting history in Poland besides WW2. At the mount you will have a beautiful view over Kraków.
8Visit the Ghetto Heroes square and the Pharmacy Under The Eagle
The Pharmacy Under The Eagle is a small interactive museum dedicated to the story of Tadeusz Pankiewicz. Tadeusz Pankiewicz was one of the only non-Jewish Poles who was allowed to stay in the ghetto. He risked his own life secretly helping many Jewish people in the Ghetto during the Second World War. Close to the Pharmacy is Ghetto Heroes Square (Plac Bohaterów Getta), this square functioned as a meeting place in the Ghetto and it was also a deportation site. The 70 metal chairs stand there to commemorate the victims of German oppression who are no longer there.
9Visit Rynek Underground Museum
This is a fun, hi-tech museum located 4 meters underneath the Central Market square taking you past archeological remains and medieval market using a mix of holograms, interactive screens and regular signs. It’s an excellent place to learn more about Krakow’s entire history.
10Be amazed at the Princes Czartoryski museum
This museum was recommended by our guide and we were not disappointed. Not only is the building itself exquisite, but inside it’s full of treasures ranging from art and other (historical) items from all over the world. The most famous piece is Leonardo da Vinci’s Lady with an Ermine, but the museum also showcases works from Rembrandt, Pieter Brueghel The Younger and Jacob Jordaens. It is one of the oldest museums in Poland.
11See the dragon’s den and watch the dragon breath fire
Once upon a time ago Wawel Hill was inhabited by a dragon (according to the legend). These days you can still visit the dragon den (behind the Thieves’ Tower) and you can see the statue of the dragon that will breathe fire every 5 minutes. You can find the dragon down at the riverside behind the castle.
12Do some ‘people watching’ at the Central Square and shop for souvenirs at the Cloth Hall
If you pay a visit to the gigantic and lively Central Square (Rynek Główny), the center of Kraków’s Old Town, you will find cafes, hotels, museums, churches, street artists, large flocks of pigeons, carriages (not a fan) and (souvenir) shops. It’s a great place for ‘people watching’ as there is so much going on. Right in the middle stands the medieval Sukiennice Cloth Hall, which used to be an important trade hub in Eastern Europe. Nowadays, the Cloth Hall houses stalls with local handicrafts and souvenirs.
13Walk around in Schindler’s Enamel Factory
Another cool things to do in Kraków is a visit to Oskar Schindler’s enamel factory, which offers much in-dept information on Poland and Kraków during the second World War and provides more insight on the horrible consequences of Nazi occupation for the people of Kraków. We learned that an estimated 6 million Poles lost their lives during the war. The factory is mostly famous thanks to the famous Spielberg movie. You can see Schindler’s original desk and some other items, but other than that, the information on Schindler itself (and some controversies) is quite limited. The museum is well set-up basically offering a walk through history. Right next to it, stands the modern art museum. This is a popular museum, so consider to book your tickets in advance.
14Enjoy good food and drinks in Krakow
We loved our dinner at the Starka restaurant in Kazimierz with live acoustic music (not too loud and really nice), a great atmosphere, tasty Polish food and home-made vodka. Bazaar Bistro is also located in Kazimierz and is popular with locals for breakfast. We enjoyed a delicious tagliatelle and cheese cake for lunch. Another awesome place to have lunch of dinner is elegant Klimaty Południa, tucked away in a quiet courtyard far away, where it feels like you’re far away from the hustle and bustle of the city center. They have delicious food for very reasonable prices. Also there is an extensive wine menu. We enjoyed the ‘grunge’ vibes at Klub Piękny Pies, at night it turns into a small club with a dj.
In general, I recommend to try Polish food! Starka is a good place where they serve some Polish food (with a modern twist). Our guide recommended Pod Baranem, but we haven’t visited this ourselves. You could also try a milk cafe.
More a student snack to the Polish people, but still popular with tourists from all ages is the Zapiekanka. One of the best places to try this is at one of the many hole-in-the-wall zapiekanka stalls at the circular ‘former slaughterhouse’ building at Plac Nowy. Another local snack to try is ‘obwarzanek‘, a sort of pretzel. You can find them at every street corner. In general, I also recommend to try Polish ice cream ‘lody‘. This looks like regular ice cream, but the texture is more rich and creamy.
15Go for a relaxing stroll in ‘Planty’
Planty is the circular park built upon the place where the Medieval City walls used to stand. It encircles Krakow Old Town and is great place to go for a relaxing stroll in summer, but an even better time is autumn when the leaves color yellow and red.
16Half day trip: Cycle past the Vistula to the Tyniec Abbey
This was one of our favorite things to do. We had a lot of fun riding a tandem bike for the first time. First we cycled to the Kościuszko Mount and after that past the Vistula to the impressive Tyniec Abbey, built on limestone rocks. You will pass the Olympic Canoe Slalom course and in the distance see several castles in the hills. We highly recommend to have your break at the end as there is a really great little café / snackbar right next to the Abbey called Przystań Pod Lutym Turem. We enjoyed an ice cold drink, french fries and a Zapiekanka. The best views on the abbey are probably from across the river. You could cycle around or if you’re lucky catch a small ferry boat. Cycling from the main square (Rynek Główny) to the Tyniec Abbey takes about 40 minutes. We hired bikes at Krk bikes. A tandem was 28 euro for a full day.
17Day trip: Visit Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains
Only 2 hours by car you will find the beautiful mountain town Zakopane (Lesser Poland or Małopolska region), the gateway to the splendid Tatra Mountains (see my other post on the Tatra mountains here, there is another post coming on day hikes). Obviously if you have more time, I would spent 2-3 nights in Zakopane and Tatra.
Read more: Guide to hiking the Tatra Mountains
18Day trip: Visit the Pieniny Mountains and go for a traditional rafting trip on the Dunajec River
Also about 2 hours by car (and much lesser known and busy than the Tatra mountains) you will find the Pieniny Mountains in the Lesser Poland (or Małopolska) region. This is also the place to go for a traditional rafting trip on the Dunajec river. Consider spending a few nights here.
19Day trip: Visit Auschwitz
Over 1.1 million people were systematically killed by Nazi Germany in Auschwitz. The majority were Jews, but also Sinti/Roma, Poles, Soviet Prisoners of War and many others. Visiting Auschwitz is an incredibly somber, emotional and intense experience for most people.
I’ve visited both with a tour and by myself. The advantages of a guided tour are stories, background information and the ability to ask questions to the guides. However, during the tour you’re always in a long line of people and the guides don’t take you everywhere. We also had problems understanding the guide, because the headphones produced much static. Visiting by yourself can be a bit overwhelming, as there is no clear route or map of the place. However you can also visit the museum baraxks (e.g. they have an entire barack on the Netherlands, one on the Sinti/Roma etc.) and generally the signs are good (except in Birkenau!) You also don’t wear the head phones, which makes the experience more personal. Overall, I prefer going by myself. Tip: bring drinks and a snack (you can’t buy anything on the grounds)! It’s a 1 – 1.5 hours drive from Kraków. Book tickets well in advance.
20Day trip: Visit the colorful town of Zalipie
Only a 1.5 hours drive from Kraków lies the tiny, unique and pretty village of Zalipie (Lesser Poland or Małopolska region), famous for its painted houses with colorful flower patterns. The decorations are uplifting and incredibly photogenic. You can simply walk around in the village in about 40 minutes or so. There is also a museum and House of Malarek (or the Painter’s House). Please note: most houses are privately owned and inhabited, so keep your distance.
What I haven’t done yet, but would like to do a next time in and around Kraków
- Visit a Milk bar
- Visit the Harry Potter themed cafe
- Swim in Zakrzówek
- Go the contemporary art museum
- Day trip to Energylandia (amusement park famous for its rollercoasters)
- Go for a river cruise on the Vistula
- Visit Krakus Mound
- Visit the Liban quarry
- Visit the Museum of the People’s Republic of Poland
- Visit Nowa Huta Underground
- Visit the site of the Kraków-Płaszów labour camp
- Explore other neighbourhoods
- Go shopping (I still haven’t found out what’s the best place to go shopping)
4-day Krakow itinerary
If you have 4 days in Kraków, I would spent them like this:
- Day 1: Wawel Castle and Cathedral, Market square, St. Mary’s Basilica
- Day 2: Kazimierz, Podgórze (Ghetto sq, Pharmacy Under The Eagle), Schinder’s Factory
- Day 3: Wielicza Salt Mine and afternoon bicycle trip to the Abbey
- Day 4: Day trip of your choice
Where to sleep
I’ve stayed in several hostels and hotels in Kraków. My favorite area to stay is Kazimierz. From Kazimierz it is a 15-20 minute walk to the Central Square, 10 minutes to the castle and 20 minutes to Schindlers Factory. Kazimierz feels a bit ‘more local’, artsy and hipster than the city center. We highly recommend staying at the Golden Tulip Kazimierz. It does not have a hipster vibe, but the beds are super comfy, the room has all you need (including airco), the location is unbeatable, the breakfast is extensive and it offers excellent value for money! Another more upscale (and more expensive) option is the Puro Hotel, which is also very comfortable, hip and offers a la carte breakfast with eggs benedict and shakshuka. There are many hostels in Kraków. I enjoyed my stay in the small Greg and Tom Home hostel, which indeed offers a very homely and social experience, perfect for solo backpackers.
Please let me know if you have any questions regarding your stay in Kraków!
I visited Kraków partially in collaboration with UM Krakow, Małopolska Organizacja Turystyczna and Polish Tourism Organisation. Views and opinions remain my own.
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