Krakow Travel Guide
One of our favourite places we have travelled to! Krakow, the place that literally has everything in such a small area!
Krakow is Poland‘s 2nd largest city behind Warsaw , and it is bursting with history, grand basilicas, castles, and great museums. You can be a Scholar by day and party-animal by night! Krakow blends the two personas effortlessly.
Country: Poland
Population: 766,683 (2019)
Time zone: UTC +1
Closest airport(s): John Paul II International Airport Kraków-Balice
Why should you visit?
Krakow is one of Europe’s finest destinations and deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as the likes of London, Paris and Rome. Although not on the same scale as any of those three cities, Krakow still has a heck of a lot going for it, and there’s little surprise that its Poland’s tourism hotspot, welcoming millions of visitors each year.
Simply put, Krakow hits all the right notes. There are nice places to stay, its airport it well served by major airlines, it has a great food scene and nightlife, there’s so much to do which are of real historical and cultural significance and, perhaps best of all, it’s really cheap!
“This medieval city looks like it was taken straight out of a fairy tale, with its bustling market square, spiralling Gothic towers, castles and legends of dragons. Explore the city’s narrow backstreets, hidden courtyards and the network of underground cellars and tunnels. Krakow is known as the cultural capital of Poland through its love of music, poetry and theatre. After years of occupation and struggle, Krakow has emerged a proud city with a strong sense of identity, yet has still maintained its artistic and fun-loving soul.”
If you have a European adventure in the pipeline, then you’d be doing yourself a real disservice by leaving Krakow off your list.
Best time to visit
The best times to visit Kraków are from March to May and between September and November. The weather is pleasant and the summer’s throngs of tourists are nowhere to be found, and although its cheap all-year round, you will find it even cheaper during the shoulder months.
July and August’s weather often climbs into the mid-70s (mid-20c), and will be jam-packed with tourists. You will find January to be bitterly cold in the low 20s (-6c)
Getting around Krakow
Krakow is big enough to have a lot of options, but small enough to not really need to rely on public transport to get around. Walking should suffice in this city, although we did get a golf buggy taxi (super fun) back to the main square after visiting Schindler’s Factory.
It is best to organise tours to Auschwitz and the salt mine as it takes the difficulty out of having to do everything yourself and isn’t much more expensive.
We would definitely say that Krakow is a city best explored by foot. With most restaurants, attractions, and sites all within the Old Town, there’ll be no real need to hop in a taxi or bus.
The city has a well-connected bus and tram system which runs from 05:00 – 23:00 and a night bus and train too.
Getting from the Airport to the City centre
Choose the best way to get to the city center of Kraków depending on your preference:
Airport transfer service
The easiest and fastest way to get to your hotel is by booking a transfer service. If you don’t speak Polish, and wish to avoid complications, or possible scams and swindles, this is the best option for you. A chauffeur will be waiting for you at the airport terminal with a sign with your name on it and will take you directly to your hotel for just 22€ (zł 90 (£ 16.80 $22) per vehicle. Book your airport transfer via our recommended partner here
Train
A train connects Kraków Airport and Kraków Głowny railway station between 5am and 10:30pm. The trains run every 30 to 60 minutes (in winter, trains run less frequently).
The route takes around 20 minutes and the ticket costs zł 9 (£ 1.70 / $2.70) per journey or zł 16 (£ 3 / $4.50) a return ticket.
Bus
During the day, bus lines 208 and 252 connect the airport with the city centre. At night time, the bus 902 runs all night long to and from the airport to the centre. The buses depart every 20 to 60 minutes (depending on the time of day).
Buses to Kraków Głowny railway station take between 30 and 40 minutes and cost zł 9 (£ 1.70 / $2.50) per journey.
Taxi
If you don’t have time to book a transfer service, you can also take a taxi from the airport. The journey to the city centre takes approximately 25 minutes and costs zł 90 (£ 16.80) (22€ / $25).
Things to see and do
St. Mary’s Basilica
St Mary’s Basilica, a brick Gothic church that was built in the 14th century. Every hour a trumpet signal is played from the top of the taller of St Mary’s two towers, but pauses mid-sound to commemorate the famous 13th century trumpeter who was shot in the throat with an arrow while sounding the alarm before a Mongol attack on the city. It also houses the coveted Veit Stoss altarpiece – a Polish national treasure.
Price
Regular / PLN 10 / $2.50 / £1.90 / €2.20
Seniors 65+ / PLN 8 / $2 / £1.50 / €1.80
Students, children / PLN 5 / $1.50 / £0.90 / €1.20
Useful Information
- Address: Plac Mariacki 5, Krakow
- Email: [email protected]
- Opening hours: 11:30-20:00
- Phone: +48 12 422 05 21
- Website: www.mariacki.com/en/
Auschwitz Concentration Camps
This is a sobering sight for visiting tourists, but harrowing and essential for any visit to Krakow. You can catch a bus for a 90-minute journey to the former Nazi concentration camp, where millions of Jews were exterminated during the Second World War. Most travel agents organise day excursions to the camp (Recommended)
Auschwitz is one of those places that no matter how many times you see it on television or hear stories about it, you can’t experience it properly until you’ve been there. It’s eerie at times, and saddening at others, but it is well worth visiting.
We have visited twice and can honestly say, you NEED to go here.
We have our own dedicated page to Auschwitz , so please check it out once you have finished this guide. The link is here
Our recommended guided tours can be found below:
Wieliczka Salt Mine
Wieliczka Salt Mine is about half an hour outside of Krakow, but it is one of Poland’s most visited attractions, welcoming over one million people every year.
The mine opened in the 13th century and produced table salt continuously up until 2007. Today it is open to tourists who can take tours of its grand chambers which are chiselled out in rock salt. On the tourist route you’ll see the stunning Chapel of St Kinga, an underground place of worship illuminated by beautiful glass chandeliers and an ornate carved floor. Here ceremonies still take place, including weddings and Holy Mass.
This tour is a MUST!
For more information and how to book, please visit our own page dedicated to Wieliczka salt Mine
Book our recommended tour below:
Schindler’s Factory
Before you go to Krakow we recommend watching Schindler’s List – a Spielberg classic about German businessman Oskar Schindler and his efforts to save over a thousand Jewish refugees during World War II. He did so by employing them in his factory where they would help to manufacture cookware and various metal vessels, preventing them from going to Auschwitz concentration camp where they, almost certainly, would have been exterminated.
Schindler’s Factory has been converted into a museum which gives great insight into the history of Krakow and extensive exhibitions on the city during wartime and its occupation. This fantastic museum, housed inside a place of such significance, is not to be missed.
Price of tour – £6 / $8 / 32 Zloty / €7
To book this tour via our recommended partner, see below:
Market Square – Rynek
Main Square is Krakow’s centrepiece. Located in the middle of the city, it has various attractions, as well as seasonal events, which take place throughout the year. It was originally designed in 1257 and has changed little in the years that have followed.
Measuring 200 square metres the Main Square, or Rynek Główny in Polish, is surrounded by elegant townhouses which all face Krakow Cloth Hall, placed in the square’s centre. The Cloth Hall was once a major centre of international trade, where merchants would meet to discuss business and barter. It hasn’t strayed too far from its roots as inside the hall is a galleria with stalls selling various handcrafts and souvenirs.
On the hall’s upper floor is the Sukiennice Museum division of the National Museum, Krakow, which displays a variety of artwork, while below the square is Rynek Underground, a museum which predates the Cloth Hall and explores the recently excavated medieval merchant stalls that once stood there.
Main Square is also home to the iconic St Mary’s Basilica, a brick Gothic church that was built in the 14th century. Every hour a trumpet signal is played from the top of the taller of St Mary’s two towers, but pauses mid-sound to commemorate the famous 13th century trumpeter who was shot in the throat with an arrow while sounding the alarm before a Mongol attack on the city. It also houses the coveted Veit Stoss altarpiece – a Polish national treasure.
Krakow’s annual Christmas markets take place in the square, where a selection of restaurants, cafés and bars can be found. It’s a nice place for a drink or meal, but be warned, prices are generally higher around that area of the city due to the number of visitors that frequent it.
For more information of things to do and other interesting facts, go to our dedicated Market Square page
Wawel Castle
Perched on Wawel Hill, Wawel Castle is one of the most important structures in Poland. It was the residence of Polish kings for centuries before being converted into a museum and extensive art gallery in 1930. The castle represents nearly every European architectural style, including medieval, renaissance and baroque and consists of a number of structures situated around the Italian-styled main courtyard. You can enter all the buildings with the relevant ticket and also climb up the bell tower!
Underneath the hill is a limestone cave where the legendary Wawel Dragon is said to live. Although the entrance to the cave is gated, a fire-breathing statue of the dragon stands outside. You can enter the cave from the castle at the top and work your way down a spiral staircase into the caves below!
Book your guided tour below:
Rynek Underground
Rynek Underground is a subterranean route between several Medieval market stalls and other rooms located below the Market Square of Krakow.
Situated four meters below the Main Square, Rynek Underground (Podziemia Rynku) is a unique museum that takes you through the excavated Middle Ages vendors stalls. It includes multimedia exhibits, videos, and Medieval artefacts that will introduces you to the Medieval times in Kraków.
The museum’s permanent exhibit is called “Following the Traces of European Identity of Kraków” and its objective is to retrace the history of the city from the first settlers to the Medieval period thanks to the archaeological site and other interesting photographs and recreations
Price and opening times
Adults: zł 19 (US$ 4.90 or £3.50 / €4.20)
Students: zł 16 (US$ 4.10 or £3.20 / €4)
Tuesday: free entrance
April – October:
Monday: from 10am to 8pm
Tuesdays: from 10am to 4pm
Wednesday to Sunday: 10am to 10pm
November to March:
Wednesday to Monday: 10am to 8pm
Tuesday: 10am to 4pm
Entrance is located at the main square at the cloth hall, directly across from St Marys Cathedral
Barbican
The Kraków Barbican (barbakan) is the most famous part of the medieval walls still standing and one of the few constructions of its style built in Europe.
Founded in 1499, the Gothic-style fortification was designed in response to the Ottoman occupation of Kraków. The Barbican, which is one of the Old Town’s gateways is a circular construction of nearly 25 meters in diameter surrounded by a several-meters-thick wall of stone and brick. The landmark is encircled by a moat.
Although the inside of the Barbican is quite bare, with a simple staircase to the first floor, the entrance ticket includes a visit of the outpost and the city walls, which will allow you step back in time to the Middle Ages.
During the visit to the Barbican, you’ll see the building’s watchtowers and the first floor.
Price and opening times
Adults: zł 8 (£ 1.50 or $2 / €1.70)
Concessions: zł 6 (£ 1.10 or $2.50 / €1.50)
April – October: Daily: 10:30am – 6pm.
15 – 30 October: Daily: 10:30am – 5pm.
November – March: closed
Closed the second Monday of every month.
Location
Head north from the main square.
Basztowa, 30-547 Kraków, Poland
Pharmacy Under the Eagle in Kraków
Although it isn’t as well-known as Schindler’s Factory, the Pharmacy Under the Eagle (Apteka pod Orlem) played a critical role in the Kraków Ghetto, as the owner of the apothecary helped thousands of Jews.
When the Germans established Podgórze, the largest ghetto in Kraków, they advised the Poles to leave the district. Tadeusz Pankiewicz, a Polish pharmacist, owner of Under the Eagle pharmacy declined the offer to run another pharmacy on the non-Jewish side. Under the Eagle was the only pharmacy that remained open in the Ghetto.
Under the Eagle became a strategic location for the imprisoned Jews that would be frequently given free medication by Pankiewicz and a safe meeting point for the Jewish leaders.
The pharmacist saved numerous lives by providing the older generations with hair dye to disguise their identities and sedatives to the children to help them hide. The pharmacy survived the war and closed in 1967. Years later, it was transformed into a very poignant museum.
Price and opening times
It is never overly busy so its best to pay at the Pharmacy.
Adults: zł 10 (£ 1.90 / $2.50 / €2.20)
Students: zł 8 (£ 1.50 / $2.20 / €2)
Monday: free entrance
Monday: 10am to 2pm.
Tuesday – Sunday: 9am to 5pm (closed the second Tuesday of every month).
Location
Apteka pod Orłem, Plac Bohaterów Getta, Kraków, Poland
Other notable things to see
- The empty chairs of Krakow – Jewish Ghetto Memorial
- Gestapo Headquarters
- Krakus Mound
- Planty Park
- Giant Head Statue
Book Tours and Purchase Tickets
Where to stay
To narrow it down, all hotels located inside Planty Park are perfect if you wish to explore the city by foot. Moreover, Main Market Square is also a great area to find a hotel or apartment.
If you prefer to spend a little less on accomodation, you can search for hotels or apartments that are well connected with public transport, either trams and buses.
Hotels in Kraków
Hotels in Kraków are relatively inexpensive and it is easy to find double rooms in good centrally-located hotels for around 50€ per night. If you wish to save and don’t mind taking a bus every morning, you can find rooms for a little over 20€ per night.
To find the best deals and enjoy up to a 75% discount, we recommend Booking.com, where you’ll be able to book accommodation with the minimum price guaranteed:
- Hotels in Kraków – Find and compare the best hotels in Kraków booking.com
Apartments in Kraków
Holiday apartments are becoming extremely popular and have become a great alternative to a hotel, especially if you travel with your family or a group of friends or when you spend a long time in one destination. To find the best selection, we also recommend Booking.com:
- Apartments in Kraków – Find and compare the best serviced apartments in Kraków. booking.com
Hostels in Kraków
Kraków also has a great number of hostels where you can share a room for just 6€ a night.
Recommended site for booking hostels:
Where to Eat
Poland has a strong culinary tradition that combines the best Slavic, Turkish, German, Hungarian, Jewish and Armenian cuisine. The traditional Polish dishes are usually wholesome and very nourishing.
Traditional Polish cuisine includes a great variety of ingredients. Nevertheless, the most important components are: meat, spices and pastry.
A typical Polish lunch or dinner consists of various courses, including soup, appetizer, main course, (meat-based), and dessert.
Typical dishes
These are some of the most famous Polish dishes, especially renowned in Kraków, and all well worth trying once in the country:
- Obwarzanek krakowski: Bread shaped into a ring that is then sprinkled with poppy or sesame seeds.
- Sour rye soup (Zurek): White colored soup made of sausage or ham, potatoes and soured rye flour.
- Tomato soup (Zupa pomidorowa): tomato and vegetable soup.
- Polish dumplings (Pierogi z mięsem): Meat dumplings that can be fried or boiled.
- Polish dumplings (Pierogi ruskie): Dumplings made of cheese and potato.
- Paprykarz szczeciński: A type of fish paté made with rice, tomato paste, onions and a mix of spices.
- Oscypek: Smoked goats’ cheese from the Tatra Mountains in Poland.
- Bundz: Sheep milk cheese made in Podhale.
- Polish goulash: Thick beef or pork stew, onion and paprika. It is usually served with potato salad.
- Kotlet schabowy z ziemniakami i kapustą: Battered pork filet served with fried cabbage and potatoes.
- Schab ze sliwkami: Pork with plums.
- Bigos: Known as the “Hunters’ Stew”, it is considered by many as the Polish national dish. This stew always has sauerkraut, meat and fresh cabbage.
- Sernik krakowski: Typical cheese cake from Kraków
- Torcik piszyngier: Polish dessert made of crispy wafer and a bit of liquor.
- Papieska kremowka: Puff pastry filled with cream. Also known as Polish Papal Cream Cake, as it was one of Pope John Paul II’s favorite.
- Kompot: Home-made fruit juice
- Woda: Water
- Piwo: Beer
- Kawa z mlekiem: Latte
Bar mleczny
A bar mleczny literally means “milk bar” in Polish. These typical Polish cafeterias serve “Polish fast food”. The milk bars were created in the 60s by the Communist regime to provide all citizens with a place to eat good, typical and cheap food near their offices.
These restaurants were called “milk bars” because they served food that was nearly entirely based on dairy products, since meat was rationed during this period.
These restaurants are still very popular, as dishes are much cheaper than other Polish restaurants, making it an excellent choice if you wish to try traditional Polish cuisine at a good price.
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Final thoughts
To put it simply, JUST GO! Incredible place!
Other Poland Related Guides
Be sure to check out our other exciting guides related to Poland:
More photos
We love Poland! Absolute gem! Make sure it’s on your list.
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