11 Best Things to do in Krakow
Soak up the ambience in one of the Main Market Square’s cafes, learn about the harrowing history at Auschwitz-Birkenau, appreciate the magnificent art in the Wieliczka Salt Mines, marvel at the elegant architecture at Wawel Castle, and conquer Rysy; Poland’s highest mountain. These are just some of the wonderful things to do in Krakow. Read on to discover more and everything you need to know when visiting Krakow.
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Krakow, alongside Lisbon, is one of our favourite European cities. Charming cobbled streets, a rich history, beautiful architecture, delicious hearty food and beer the price of water, what’s not to love?!
There are so many amazing things to do in Krakow it’s easy to see how it’s become a top destination. Set on the banks of the beautiful Vistula River, full of quirky bars and cafes, steeped in a rich yet harrowing history, it’s become one of the most vibrant and modern cities in Europe.
Krakow is still a bit under the radar compared to other European cities, like London, meaning tourist hotspots aren’t as crowded and prices are kept low. A pint of beer on Krakow Main Square costs about USD 3.50 and in the bars away from the Main Square, closer to USD 2.50.
In this guide, we’ll share with you the very best things to do in Krakow as well as everything you need to know including where to stay, how to get around, the best time to visit Krakow, how long we’d recommend for a Krakow itinerary and so much more.
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Contents
Things to do in Krakow
Main Market Square; best places to visit in Krakow Old Town
Exploring the Main Market Square is one of the best things to do in Krakow Old Town. You’ll undoubtedly end up stumbling upon it at some point as it’s the nerve centre of the medieval Old Town. The square has some of the most magnificent middle-age architecture in the city and exudes an irresistible charm and ambience.
The Main Market Square has been the centre of social, administrative and commercial activity since the 13th century and is the largest medieval square in Europe.
Surrounding it are historic townhouses and churches, most of which have retained their Polish baroque architectural style. Dominating the square are the picturesque Cloth Hall and the imposing Gothic towers of St Mary’s Basilica; two of the best places to visit in Krakow Old Town (more on those later).
The Main Market Square is a hive of activity! One of the most enjoyable things to do in Krakow is to sit in one of the many cafes, pubs, music bars or restaurants that envelop the square, soak up the atmosphere and watch the world go by.
We’d recommend sitting on the eastern side where you’ll be treated to some of the best things to see in Krakow Old Town. Street entertainers at the foot of St Mary Basilica’s towers, the only remaining section of the Krakow Town Hall, the quaint Church of St Adalbert, which is one of the oldest stone structures in the whole of Poland, and a statue of one of the country’s much-loved poets; Adam Mickiewicz.
This statue is a well-established meeting place. So, if you’re joining a city tour or a food experience, you’ll more than likely meet here.
Kazimierz; best things to do in Krakow at night
Just south of Krakow Old Town and within walking distance lies our favourite area in Krakow; Kazimierz. A bustling network of narrow cobbled streets lined with artisan shops, quirky cafes, vintage stores, galleries, restaurants and iconic pubs and bars. This district has a distinct unique and charming atmosphere and exploring it is one of the very best things to do in Krakow.
Kazimierz was once a city in its own right and the centre of Jewish life for 500 years. During World War II, however, it was destroyed by the Nazi occupation of Krakow. The Jews were forcibly removed from their homes and herded across the Vistula River to a ghetto; Podgórze.
During the 1990s, Kazimierz faced a revitalization and is today the most exciting and trendiest neighbourhood in Krakow. It’s become a place of incredible cultural significance alive with vibrance and character. Spend time ambling the streets soaking up the laidback ambience that feels very different to other parts of the city.
One of the best things to do in Krakow at night is to explore the unique and creative bars in Kazimierz. Our three favourites were:
- Eszeweria; a deceptively large, shabby-chic cosy bar with furniture that looks like it belongs at your nans and a twinkly-lit garden
- Alchemia; candlelit rooms, wardrobes for doorways and old forgotten photographs
- Propaganda; a dark and dingy communist themed bar with old artefacts such as radios and pushchairs thrown together and strewn around the room
Wawel Castle and Cathedral
Perched on a hill above Krakow Old Town are the majestic Wawel Castle and Cathedral; monuments of real national importance. Wawel Cathedral has been the site of many royal weddings, funerals and coronations while the castle has been home to many Polish monarchs.
Wawel Castle was rebuilt in 1499 after a fire and has had several extensions during different time periods. The complex you see today, therefore, is a beautiful amalgamation of different styles including elements from Baroque, Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance.
The gorgeous castle grounds are free to enter and are definitely worth a stroll around on your Krakow itinerary.
If you fancy heading inside Wawel Castle, it’s now a museum housing valuable paintings, 16th-century Italian furniture, beautiful tapestries, archaeological findings and much more.
The Wawel Complex was actually one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world!
Wieliczka Salt Mine
One of the best places to visit near Krakow is the 700-year-old underground Wieliczka Salt Mine.
During a tour of Wieliczka Salt Mine, wind your way around several kilometres of passageways leading to enormous chambers, chapels and clear saline lakes.
Hear about the history of the mine, dating back hundreds of years, the old mining tools and methods of salt extraction, the transport and the legend of Princess Kinga. This is one of the world’s oldest operating salt mines and is now a historical monument. Exploring the Wieliczka Salt Mine is definitely one of the top things to do in Krakow.
Throughout the mine are several impressive chandeliers, statues and other works of art portraying the history of the mine and figures sculpted into the walls, all made from salt – it’s pretty spectacular!
The most impressive part of the mine is without a doubt the breathtaking wonder of St Kinga’s Chapel; an underground cathedral made entirely from salt! This chapel is still used for weddings, masses and concerts.
The salt mine is a mind-blowing 287 kilometres and 327 metres deep! The tour takes you 135 metres deep and you cover 3.5 kilometres; a mere 2% of the actual size of the mine – it’s quite unbelievable to think about its true size!
Our Top Tip: bring a jacket. The mine has to be kept at a certain temperature and it can get quite chilly.
Auschwitz-Birkenau; harrowing places to visit near Krakow
One of the best places to visit near Krakow for history is Auschwitz-Birkenau. A day trip here will be emotional, thought-provoking and moving.
Initially serving as a detention centre for political prisoners, Auschwitz then went on to become the largest and most notorious of the Nazi death camps where over 1.1 million people were murdered between 1940 and 1945.
The vast majority of these people were Jews, but there were also non-Jewish Poles, Gypsies, Hungarians and many more.
Throughout the museum are over 150 buildings and 300 ruins of the former camp. You’ll make your way around rooms containing many authentic items including prisoners’ personal objects such as shoes, glasses, clothes, suitcases and even human hair!
You’ll also see tiny cells where people were made to stand for days at a time, the “death wall”, where people were lined up and shot, the gas chambers used to exterminate thousands at a time and the crematoriums used to dispose of the bodies.
Visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau on your Krakow itinerary is an absolute must. Although you can visit independently, we’d recommend doing a tour. The guides are extremely knowledgeable and offer an informative and in-depth insight into the horrors and destruction of the Holocaust. They also do transfers to/from your accommodation in Krakow.
Escape to the Mountains
Not something you usually think of when talking about things to do in Krakow, but something we’d definitely recommend.
Krakow is only two hours from Zakopane; Poland’s premier mountain town. Surrounded by shimmering alpine lakes and dramatic mountain peaks and full of endless outdoor activities, Zakopane is an idyllic retreat from the city and one of the most beautiful places to visit near Krakow.
One of the most popular things to do in Zakopane is visit Morskie Oko; the largest lake in the Tatra National Park. With a stunning setting nestled beneath majestic jagged peaks, you can easily spend a few hours enjoying the scenery.
For those of you fancying a challenge, one of the best things to do in Zakopane is conquer Poland’s highest peak; Rysy Mountain.
Hikers are rewarded with panoramic views across the Tatra National Park, Morskie Oko and Czarny Staw lakes below and the incredible mountain scenery of Poland and Slovakia as far as you can see.
Another of the best things to do in Zakopane is to take the funicular up Gubałówka Hill where you can easily spend a few hours on the man-made beach, in the cafes, bars, shops and restaurants or trying out the tobogganing!
Although you can easily visit Zakopane as a day trip from Krakow, we’d recommend spending a couple of days here to really appreciate the beauty of this mountainous area. There’s a regular bus from Krakow that costs about USD 8 and takes two hours which you can book online.
To read our full, detailed guide to Zakopane, head to the link below.
The Cloth Hall; best places to visit in Krakow Old Town
One of the best places to visit in Krakow Old Town and dominating the centre of the Main Market Square is the Cloth Hall. This was once an important hub of trade and commerce and today serves as a reminder of this.
The Cloth Hall has existed since the 1200s, and in the 1500s, it was rebuilt in the Renaissance-styled building you see today with a beautiful parapet decorated with carved masks.
Most of the goods sold here were spices, leather, wax and silk. Today, the hall is still a market and is the perfect place to come for authentic Polish souvenirs as a reminder of visiting Krakow. You’ll pass stalls of handmade lace, wooden handicrafts, Soviet trinkets, jewellery, metal tankards and much more.
The Cloth Hall is a gorgeous centrepiece of the Market Square, running from north to south and stretching almost the entire length. If you’re interested in art, head upstairs to the Sukiennice Museum dedicated to Polish 19th-century artists.
Ghetto Heroes Square
Opposite Kazimierz, over the Vistula River, is Podgórze, the ghetto where Jews were forcibly removed to in 1941.
At the centre of this ghetto was Zgody Square which was a place of humiliation and suffering, yet also an escape from their cramped living conditions. Here, the ghetto’s residents could meet and trade goods and pass information. At least some form of a community could be formed.
This was to be overshadowed by the selection process where most of the residents would soon meet their end in one of the concentration camps. Those selected to leave were boarded onto trains from the square, families were split up, furniture discarded, people were executed in the streets and soon after, an order to empty the ghetto completely was given.
Today, this square is home to one of the most sobering memorials in the city. You’ll find thirty-three chairs scattering the square with each chair representing a thousand lives. At first glance, the installation seems like there’s nothing to see, just empty chairs. This is precisely the point, however. After the war, all that was left was absence.
St Mary's Basilica
This beautiful Gothic church is located in the Main Market Square and is one of the best places to visit in Krakow Old Town.
The church’s interior is decorated with bright blues and golds and houses one of the most famous Medieval masterpieces. Completed in 1484 and carved over seven years by the German sculptor Viet Stoss, is the world’s largest Gothic altarpiece!
The two gothic twin spires loom high over the Main Market Square. In the taller of the two, every hour on the hour, a trumpeter still performs the famous bugle call that echoes around the square. This is in memory of the 13th-century city trumpeter sounding the alarm for the Mongol attack. He was shot in the throat mid-way through the call which is why the tune abruptly breaks off.
The church is open for worship without having to pay an entrance fee. However, tourists are asked to use a side entrance and visit outside of worship hours. The two towers, with magnificent views across the square, are also open seasonally and at different times. You’ll need to purchase a ticket in the building across from the tourist entrance.
Oskar Schindler's Factory
One of the top things to do in Krakow, especially for you history buffs is to visit the museum inside Oskar Schindler’s factory.
Historically, the factory was a place of work for many Jews during the Nazi occupation. Oskar Schindler is credited with saving approximately 1,200 Jews by employing them in his factories so they weren’t sent off to the concentration camps.
Today, Schindler’s factory houses two museums. MOCAK, which is a museum of contemporary art, and Schindler’s Factory Museum which is committed to telling the story of Krakow under Nazi occupation.
The exhibition showcases the history of Krakow during World War II, including the citizens who were fed Nazi propaganda, the Jews who were forced to live in a ghetto and the victims of the war terror. It tells of both private and everyday life in Krakow.
Each room in the museum is built to resemble a specific place; underground tunnels, a railway station, a hairdresser’s, a street and many more. There are also genuine artefacts from the 1940s on display.
The Barbican
The Barbican was built in the 15th century and was an extraordinary medieval defence on the outer edge of Krakow Old Town.
It was built to further increase security on St. Florian’s Gate which led to the Royal Road running the length of the Old Town to the entrance of the Wawel Complex. A drawbridge from the Barbican over the moat was connected to Florian’s Gate, the main entry point to Krakow Old Town.
With walls 3 metres thick and a diameter of almost 25 metres, the Barbican proved impenetrable and today remains one of the only surviving structures of its kind in Europe and is incredibly well-preserved.
Visiting the Barbican is one of the best things to do in Krakow Old Town.
That ends our list of the best things to do in Krakow. Continue on for everything you need to know before visiting Krakow.
Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting Krakow
How long do I need for a Krakow itinerary?
We’d recommend a 3-day Krakow itinerary to really appreciate the city and what it has to offer. One day to visit Auschwitz, half a day for the Wieliczka Salt Mine and a day and a half for the best things to do in Krakow itself.
To visit Zakopane, allow for at least one day or two to three days to stay there and really experience the beauty of this area.
Where to stay in Krakow
Except for day trips out of the city, the best things to do in Krakow are all within walking distance of each other so it’s easy to explore wherever you stay.
The most popular area to stay in is the quaint and historical Krakow Old Town, however, it’s also the most expensive, especially closer to the Main Market Square.
Alternatively, one of the best areas to stay in Krakow is the vibrant area of Kazimierz with the best bars and restaurants right on your doorstep. You can walk between the two areas in approximately 20 minutes.
Best time to Visit Krakow
The best time to visit Krakow is actually year-round.
In winter, enjoy snowy winter activities in Zakopane and magical Christmas markets in Krakow. Summer brings the crowds so the city is blooming and there are endless things to do in Krakow. Autumn brings gorgeous golden foliage and spring’s milder temperatures make it an excellent time to explore.
How to get around Krakow
Krakow is a very walkable city, we didn’t use public transport at all to get around. There is, however, a very reliable and affordable network of buses and trams. Tickets are purchased at the newsstands or from machines at the stations.
If you’re heading to Zakopane, you can rent a car which gives you more freedom once you’re there. Alternatively, you can take the bus, which is far more efficient than the train. Buses are fairly frequent, depart from Krakow Central Bus Station and tickets can be booked online.
Currency in Krakow
The currency used is the Polish złoty. At the time of writing USD 1 is roughly PLN 3.86 We didn’t take any cash with us. As always we took our Monzo and Revolut cards and took cash out at an ATM when we arrived.
What plug do I need?
Poland uses plug types E and C. Both of these have two round pins.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our guide on the best things to do in Krakow. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below or get in contact. Make sure you’re following us on Instagram to stay up to date with us in real time.
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2 thoughts on “11 Best Things to do in Krakow and Ultimate Guide”
I couldn’t recommend Krakow enough! Some of my favorite experiences were hiking up to the Krakus Mound for panoramic views of the city, visiting the quirky Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow (MOCAK), and taking a stroll through the beautiful Planty Park.
Krakow is such a beautiful city! We didn’t make it to Krakus Mound but it looks gorgeous, will have to add it to our list for next time, thanks for the recommendation 🙂