10 unforgettable things to do in Kraków, Poland

Kraków is one of Europe’s most charming cities, packed with history, culture, and plenty of fascinating places to explore.  Plus there’s no shortage of fantastic bars and restaurants, so you can add some fun to your trip.  We visited for a long weekend getaway and were blown away by how many different things there are to do and see.  It’s proximity to Auschwitz makes it the ideal base if you’re planning a visit, but it’s a wonderful destination in its own right, with plenty to discover in the city itself.

In this post, we’re sharing our personal pick of the best things to do in Kraków, including the top attractions, must‑see neighbourhoods, and unforgettable day trips.  Read on for our 10 unforgettable things to do in Kraków.

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Kraków is in the south of Poland, close to the borders with Slovakia and the Czech Republic. It sits on the Vistula River and is about a 2.5‑hour train ride from Warsaw, making it easy to reach for a weekend break or part of a longer trip around Central Europe.

As Poland’s former royal capital, it is home to some of the country’s most important historic buildings and landmarks.  It is also just over an hour from Auschwitz, the notorious  WWII concentration camp.

Kraków’s Old Town is the perfect place to start your visit. It’s compact, walkable, and full of atmosphere, making it ideal for families, couples, groups, and first‑time visitors.

At the heart of the Old Town, this huge medieval square is always buzzing.  Here, you’ll find cafés, bars, restaurants, shops, and historic buildings.

It’s also a wonderful place to soak up the city’s lively atmosphere, and we saw many impromptu dances in the evenings.  As it’s the central point of the city, you’ll probably pass through the square numerous times during your stay.

Dominating the square is the stunning St Mary’s Basilica, an impressive Gothic church with a beautifully ornate Baroque interior.  You’ll have to pay a small admission fee to go in, but it’s worth it to see the interiors.  Don’t miss the hourly trumpet call from the tower, as it’s one of Kraków’s most iconic traditions.

Right in the centre of the square, the Cloth Hall is a historic shopping mall that’s been trading since the 13th century.  Today it’s lined with small stalls selling local crafts and souvenirs and remains one of Kraków’s most popular tourist attractions.  You can stop here to get your gifts to take home!

What might surprise visitors, is that there’s a subterranean history and archaeology museum hidden below the cobbles of the market square.  It’s an interactive museum with treasures excavated from below the city.  We didn’t have time to go in, but it’s a top attraction for history-buffs.

One of the streets you must visit in the Old Town is Kanonicza.  With its cobbled streets and colourful Renaissance buildings, it’s a great spot for photos or to absorb Kraków’s charm.

Just a short stroll from the Old Town, Wawel Castle is one of the top Kraków attractions and a must‑see for any visitor. Even if you don’t buy a ticket to go in, the castle grounds are free to wander, and the views over the Vistula River are lovely.

The castle has an unusual ticket system, with separate tickets for the Royal Apartments, Crown Treasury, Armoury and State Rooms.  Alternatively, you can simply enjoy the courtyards and views from outside.

Within the castle grounds, Wawel Cathedral is one of Poland’s most important national landmarks, as it’s been the coronation and burial site for many Polish kings.

It’s a good idea to  pay for the self-guided audio tour, as it helps you understand the history and symbolism inside.  We really loved the tour, which includes a climb up the tower to see the enormous Sigismund Bell.

Down by the river at the foot of the castle is a fire-breathing dragon statue, which is a fun stop for all ages.  It breathes fire about every ten minutes, though I’d imagine the flames are easier to spot in the evening.

A short walk along Floriańska Street brings you to Saint Florian’s Gate, one of the seven original entrances to the city.

Walk through the gate to reach the Barbican, a medieval fortress built to defend Kraków.  It later became the city’s stables and is now part of the Museum of Kraków.  You can go inside to see the courtyard and displays about the city’s  defensive history.

Kazimierz is one of Kraków’s most characterful neighbourhoods and one you should definitely include in your itinerary.  Once the centre of Jewish life, it’s now a lively area full of cafés, street art, and synagogues.  Look out for Schindler’s List passage, one of the filming locations from the movie and now a small memorial.

For lunch, head to Okrąglak in Nowy Square to try Zapiekanki, a Kraków street-food favourite.  These baguette pizzas are amazing and will fill you up for the rest of the day!

Kazimierz is perfect for wandering, relaxing and soaking up the creative vibe.  It’s only a 15-minute walk from the Old Town or a quick train or tram ride.  Whist we were there the historic tours of the Jewish quarter by golf cart were extremely popular.

Just across the bridge from Kazimierz lies Podgórze, the site of the WWII ghetto.  One of the most significant spots is the Ghetto Heroes Square Memorial, with its empty chairs symbolising the lives lost.

It’s an important area to explore and easy to combine with a visit to Schindler’s Factory.

Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory is now a compelling museum telling the story of Kraków during WWII.  The museum is informative and emotional, offering a deep insight into the plight of the Jewish community.

We would recommend doing a guided tour, as it adds more context to the exhibits and helps you really understand the city’s experience during the occupation.

Allow about two hours, as there’s a lot to take in, and book ahead as it’s one of the most popular Kraków tourist attractions.

A day trip to Auschwitz is a sobering but essential experience.  It’s certainly not a fun place to visit, but it offers a vital insight into the atrocities of the Holocaust.   The different blocks are now museums, with information, photos, and personal belongings of the prisoners.  It’s a grim reminder of the millions who were murdered here.

After Auschwitz I, a short transfer bus takes you to the Birkenau, the former concentration camp.  You’ll see the site, but not much remains.  It’s hard not to be shocked at how vast it is.

Auschwitz is one of the most significant places to visit in Kraków and was our main reason for booking our weekend getaway.  Many people book a guided tour from Kraków, but we travelled independently by train, which was also easy.

For something completely different, head to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You’ll take a lot of steps to travel 101 metres underground, where you’ll explore tunnels, statues and even an underground lake.  Without a doubt, the highlight is the underground cathedral, carved out of salt.  Yes, all of it – even the chandelier!  It’s absolutely breathtaking and worth the trip just for this.

The mines are located about 30 minutes outside of Kraków and easy to get on public transport.  Or to make it even easier, you could book a guided tour.

Absolutely.  The city is beautiful, the people are friendly and the food is amazing.  Plus, there is so much to see and do.

• Luxury Accommodation:  Bonerowski Palace Hotel is an elegant, 5-star boutique hotel in the centre of Kraków
• Mid-budget Accommodation:  Hotel Teater is modern 4-star, in the heart of Kraków
• Budget Accommodation:  FiveHostel is a clean, comfortable hostel in a central location

We stayed at the Portal House Apartments, which I’d highy recommend.  The hotel was close to the Old Town and train station and was clean and comfortable, with a tasty breakfast.

Kraków’s cuisine is a delightful blend of traditional Polish and modern flavours, with lots of hearty meals on offer.  One of the foods you must try is Pierogi, traditional Polish dumplings filled with meats or cheese.  We sampled these at Pierogarnia Krakowiacy on Floriańska Street.   Or you could try Restauracja Starka in Kazimierz, which always has good reviews.

If you want to stretch the budget, go to Pod Aniolami on Grodzka Street, where we had a delicious meal in their 13th century cellar.

If you’re on a budget, try a Milk Bar (bar mleczny), an old-style café, serving very traditional food at super cheap prices.  Milkbar Tomasza in Kraków is popular for breakfast and lunch, and always has a small queue outside.

The local currency in Poland is the zloty.  However, we didn’t take any cash, as you can use your credit card everywhere.

Kraków is perfect for a weekend getaway.  Although, you could see most of the Old City in one day, I would recommend staying two or three days.  This would give you time to do a day trip to Auschwitz or the Salt Mines.  If I had longer, I would also have visited the Chocholow Thermal Baths near Zakopane, but this is a full day trip and we didn’t have time.

With so much to see, you might prefer to take a guided tour in Kraków

• Evening river cruise
• City sightseeing tour in heated golf cart
• Tipsy Polish Food Tour

Kraków  is easy to explore by foot.  However, whilst we were there the city tours in a golf cart were really popular.  If you are doing day trips, it’s cheap and easy to get the train or you can book a tour.  There are also evening boat tours, if you want to explore the river.

You may prefer to book a Kraków City Walking Tour with a local tour guide, who can help you discover more about the history of the city.

Here is a map of Kraków, with all the best attractions, things to do and places to eat.  You can use this when planning your own itinerary.

To save the map to Google Maps on your phone or computer, click on the star next to the title. Once you do this, you’ll be able to find the map in your “saved maps” list on your phone.

To see a list of all the items on the map, click the box with arrow on the left. To enlarge the map, click the box on the right.

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