Following our short trip to the northern city of Gdańsk we knew there was something special about Poland. Since then, the city of Krakow has constantly come up when talking to other travelers. After hearing so many good things we decided to see for ourselves why so many people call it the best city in Poland! From our initial steps onto the streets of Krakow old town to our first bite of pierogi at Pierogarnia Krakowiacy, we couldn’t have had a better end to our summer in Europe. In this Krakow travel guide we’ll go over what to do, everything we loved to eat while visiting, and all the interesting historical sites in the city!

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Krakow Travel Guide Info

Location: Southern Poland

Official Language: Polish

Currency: Zloty

How Long to Visit: 3-4 Days

Airport: Kraków John Paul II International Airport

Best Time to Visit: May-August

Honest First Impression: After spending the past week hiking in Zakopane we were ready to explore a new Polish city! When first arriving in Krakow in early August we were overwhelmed by the amount of people and colors before us. It felt like it was booming with tourists and international influence, but also still had plenty of traditional restaurants to enjoy. Without thinking twice, we were off and racing to explore one of the best cities of Poland!

Krakow Travel Guide Cost Breakdown

Luxury Hotel: $120+

Budget Hotel: $70+

Hostel Bed: $10-20

Local Meal: $4-6

Big Beer: $1-2

Vodka Shot: $.75-2

City Tour: $10-12 per person

Arrive By… Flight, Train, or Bus

Train/Bus: Being the 2nd largest city in Poland, Krakow is easily accessible by train or bus. The trains are much nicer, and you can even get overnight sleeper cars from other major European cities to visit Krakow. The train and bus station are next door to each other and just a few minutes walk from Krakow old town.

Flight: Kraków John Paul II International Airport is just 20 minute taxi ride outside of the city. Flights are very cheap within Poland and fairly priced from most surrounding countries.

Stay… Near Krakow Old Town

If you’re looking for what to do in Krakow there’s no better place to start than old town! Located in the very center of the city near all the best sites, you won’t find a better place to stay than here. When searching for a hotel, try and shoot for anywhere within walking distance of old town. Also, make sure to check the bottom of our Krakow travel guide for our recommendations of where to stay!

Eat… Zapiekanki at Plac Nowy

One of our favorite parts about visiting Krakow is the diverse food options. You’d think with so many restaurants serving traditional food that’s all you’d see. However, the city has it’s own culinary style and things unique to Southern Poland.

The Zapiekanki is one thing we didn’t expect to find, and we went back for it again and again! It’s kind of like a long french bread pizza with as many delicious toppings as you can handle. At Plac Nowy you’ll find numerous food stands all serving the same Krakow treat.

For our favorite meals in the city check out A Food Lovers Day in Krakow Poland

Drink… Polish Vodka

While there’s plenty of great beers in Poland, the drinking culture all starts with vodka! There’s a few ways to taste the famous spirit when visiting Krakow. The first would be to walk into any of the old school saloons, some with “Wodka and Piwo” (vodka and beer) written on the front. We also recommend as part of our Krakow travel guide to go to an actual tasting where you can try all the different flavors. We went to the Wodka Cafe Bar for our tasting and it was quite the experience!

→ Wodka Cafe Bar Location

Get Around The City… By Walking & Uber

We always recommend walking as the best way to get around any major European city, and Krakow is no different! Although the old town is very walkable, you may want to utilize taxis or Uber service to get to the other different sections.

We chose to stay a bit outside Krakow to save money, so if it was late coming home at night we would take a taxi. We couldn’t believe how cheap Uber was with rides everywhere only being around $3 USD each!

Explore… The Jewish District

Like other cities in this part of Europe, the most interesting and historic part of Krakow is the Jewish Quarter. For over 500 years Jews of Poland called this area now known as Kazimierz home. Unfortunately, during WWII most were killed or forcibly moved to the Jewish Ghetto across Krakow.

These days there’s still great heritage shown in the monuments and food of the area. The Jewish Quarter is also where you can find a lot of the new and hippest restaurants in the city. There are also large golf cart style vehicles that circle the streets and offer inexpensive but informative tours of the area.

→ Kazimierz Location

Relax… On a River Boat

If you’re looking for a way to relax in one of the best cities in Poland you might want to get out on the water! The Vistula River is the longest in Poland, and it runs right through the center of Krakow. As you walk over the many bridges you’ll see both tour boats, restaurants, and bars all out on the river.

You can choose from one of the many different kinds of boats based on what type of experience you want to have. The city offers everything from party boats to private sailings. There’s even a stationary restaurant boat where we were able to enjoy a view of the Wawel Castle with an ice cold beer.

Shop… At the Cloth Hall

The Cloth Hall is one of the most important buildings in Krakow old town, and is a must visit for any traveler. Located right in the main square, this iconic building has been a part of the cities commerce since the 1300’s. Krakow has always been an international trading hub, and there’s nowhere better to see its architectural glory than here.

Today it’s more of a souvenir stop for one of the best cities in Poland than a cloth market. However, even if you don’t buy anything it’s still fun to walk through this historic building when visiting Krakow. Directly above the Cloth Hall you’ll also find the National Museum, and a beautiful view of the main square which we talk more about soon!

→ Cloth Hall Location

Find Culture… At St. Mary’s Basilica

Another incredible work of architecture you can’t miss in Krakow is St. Mary’s Basilica. Towering high above the main square, this 13th century church has long been a huge part of the city’s identity. It’s from the Northern Tower of St. Mary’s where you can witness one of the more unique musical scenes you’ll see anywhere in Europe.

Every hour the “hejnał mariacki” takes place which is a bugle call to the east, west, north, and south. What used to be a signal of fire or enemy attack has now become the most recognizable sound in Krakow. Make sure to wave up to the trumpeter when he’s done his performance!

→ St. Mary’s Basilica Location

Walk Down… Floriańska Street

Floriańska is one of the beautiful streets jetting from the main square in old town, and a hip place where there’s always something going on. If you can look past the McDonalds and other western entities you’ll see the charm of the cobblestone and olden day feel.

In fact, this is one of the main sections to the “Royal Road” which showcases all the best medieval architecture in the city. Isn’t it amazing that Polish Royalty used to come down these very same Krakow streets? At the very end of Floriańska you’ll see the 13th century St. Florian’s gate which is also the oldest defense tower left in Krakow.

→ Floriańska Street Location

Take in History… At Rynek Underground

Still searching for what to do in Krakow? Once you’ve explored most of old town it’s time to take a trip down below! Yes, there’s actually an outstanding museum located directly under the main square. The excavation began around 15 years ago when they found some interesting historical materials near St. Mary’s Basilica and the Cloth Hall.

This discovery lead to a full scale uncovering of artifacts that show what life was like in Krakow almost 800 years ago! Today the Rynek Underground museum showcases their findings in a unique and creative way. As one of the most unique museums in the city it’s well worth a stop when visiting Krakow.

Book an Underground Museum Guided Tour

See Art… At Sukiennice on Sundays

Right above the famous Cloth Hall you’ll find a special part of the National Museum. The Sukiennice houses an amazing collection of 19th century Polish art that takes you through the history of the country.

We were in awe of the artistry and scenes painted throughout the halls, and the insane level of color and detail. Another awesome part about this art display is that it’s FREE on Sundays. So be sure to stop in if you’re visiting Krakow on the weekend!

→ Sukiennice Locaiton

Spend the Afternoon… Soaking in the Main Square

Like we’ve shown above there is so much to do centered around the main square of Krakow old town. There’s some great restaurants, bars, and monuments right in the square. Also, it’s a fun place to just relax with a cold beer and people watch. Yes it is touristy and there are so many other parts of this city, but the Krakow old town is truly special.

If you’re lucky they’ll even be a festival or music if you’re visiting Krakow in the summer or holiday season. When we went in August, there were dozens of vendors set up serving local Polish foods that we’ve never even heard of. Even if you don’t know exactly what the food is, you can bet it’s good when people are lining up for it!

Spend the Night… Bar Hopping in the Jewish District

Some of the most attractive and up and coming bars in the city are located in the Jewish Quarter. If you’re looking for what to do in Krakow at night this is definitely the place to be! We loved this area so much during the day we went back for dinner and drinks and couldn’t believe how it had come alive.

The options range from fancy traditional restaurants to funky dive bars with music. There’s even a couple areas with food trucks set up if you need to grab a snack. Whatever the case, you’ll have plenty of options in the Jewish Quarter for your night on the town!

Live Like a Local… And Eat at a Milk Bar

Some of our favorite local food experiences we’ve ever had traveling took place in the Gdansk Poland Milk Bars! So when we decided to visit Krakow we knew we had to try some more.

Head into the cafeteria-like setting and choose from an assortment of traditional specialities. Some of the best Milk Bars we went to in Krakow were Bar Mleczny pod Temida and Milkbar Tomasza. Try the sour rye soup if you’re at one of these places for breakfast.

Take in the View From… A Secret Balcony Above the Square

This is one tip that you probably won’t find in any other Krakow travel guide. Once you finish at the Cloth Market, and the Art Museum you still have one thing left to do in the same building! If you head outside near where the coat check is in the museum there’s a secret door.

Go through it outside and you’ll have the best view of the main square and Krakow old town! You can also enjoy a drink or snack at Szał Cafe just to the left of this balcony.

Be a Tourist… At the Wawel Royal Castle

Out of all the tourist attractions to see while visiting Krakow, this is one you really can’t afford to miss! The Wawel Royal Castle stands proudly on the river side of Krakow old town, and is a well deserved UNESCO World Heritage Site. Aside from the sheer size of this castle, we were also surprised to learn a fact about before its construction.

People have been living on the Wawel Hill since the Paleolithic Age. Yes, that means humans were living here as early as 50,000 years ago! The famous castle went on to be built in 13th and 14th centuries, and was home to many Polish Kings and Queens. We recommend showing up early to explore all its amazing features as it does get very crowded. After seeing it in person we can seriously see why many call Krakow the best city in Poland!

Skip The Line and Book a Wawel Castle Guided Tour

Day Trip… To Wieliczka Salt Mine or Auschwitz Concentration Camp

All around town you will see tours offered to go to these two important sites near Krakow. The salt mine is very interesting, but if you have time for only one then to go to Auschwitz. Visiting the largest Nazi concentration camp is both an intimidating and sad experience, but it’s important to see this side of history.

After experiencing the Jewish Quarter and Ghetto of Krakow, everything comes full circle at Auschwitz. If you do book a tour to either of these places be prepared for an early start as they are far outside the city.

Continue On… To Zakopane

If you’re anything like us, after a few days in the city you’ll be ready to get back into nature. Only a couple hours drive from Krakow are the Tatra Mountains and beautiful Zakopane! As we would see firsthand, this Polish ski resort turns into a hikers paradise every summer.

We hiked for days through the glorious mountain range between Poland and Slovakia and had a blast. So no matter what time of year your visiting Krakow make sure to add Zakopane as your next stop!

Have any questions about our Krakow travel guide, or your own tips for the best city in Poland? Comment below and let us know!

Safe Travels,

Brigitte & Jake

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Where To Stay In Krakow Poland

Ultra Luxury (High End) – Hotel Unicus Palace – Modern luxury in the heart of the city, and within walking distance of the best sites. Also complete with beautiful royal rooms and a wellness spa centre with hot tub and sauna. Staying here it’s easy to see why Krakow is one of the best city in Poland

Fun Vacation (Mid Range) – Hotel Imperial – Set by the main square in old town, this hotel has large rooms, with traditional decor, and bright natural light. Massive buffet breakfast served to get your day started right while visiting Krakow.

Hostel Life (Budget) – Mundo Hostel – Good location close to old town with cozy dorms and private rooms. This hostel offers a late night bar to meet other travelers, and a common kitchen with free coffee and tea.

For more places to stay while visiting Krakow you can explore the latest prices here!

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