Your guide to Krakow
Krakow highlights
Hit the square
The best city breaks in Krakow spend a fair amount of time at the Main Market Square, one of Europe’s largest medieval squares. Start by climbing up the Town Hall Tower for panoramic views. Then check out the 14th-century St Mary’s Basilica, and listen for the hourly bugle call. In the square’s centre, the Renaissance Cloth Hall has stalls selling crafts, such as lacework and amber jewellery — perfect for souvenirs.
Go museum-hopping
Visiting Krakow on a budget is a little easier with free entry to many museums once a week. Just be sure to check individual venues for details. Take advantage of the deals on Tuesdays at the Rynek Underground Museum to see the chambers beneath Main Market Square that once hosted medieval merchant stalls. For a free look at avant-garde creations, visit the Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow (MOCAK) on Thursdays.
Street food scenes
Pretzel-like dough rings called ‘obwarzanek’ are one of the most popular street food snacks you’ll see at vendor stalls throughout the city. In the Jewish district, look for ‘zapiekanka’, a popular open-faced sandwich made with cheese, meat and vegetable toppings. At farmers markets, such as Hala Targowa, you’ll find sausages and potato pancakes for sale among the fresh produce stalls.
Krakow: Know before you go
| Language | Polish |
|---|---|
| Currency | Polish zloty (zł) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) and UTC+2 (CEST) |
| High season | July - August |
| Low season | January - February |
Find the best time to go to Krakow
Weather in Krakow
March – May: Spring weather is unpredictable, with warm sunshine often interrupted by rain showers. Pack an umbrella to admire the magnolias and cherry blossoms.
June – August: Summer temperatures hover around a comfortable 21°C. Heatwaves are possible but short-lived, with occasional thunderstorms offering relief.
September – November: Autumn can be chilly and wet, so pack accordingly. Focus on indoor attractions like Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory, where hundreds of Jews were saved from the Holocaust.
December – February: Winter temperatures plummet below freezing. But the Old Town is beautiful under a dusting of snow. Pack thermals for the Christmas markets, and try ‘oscypek’, a smoked cheese from the Tatra Mountains.
Events in Krakow
Shanties Festival (February): Poland has a fascinating maritime history. Join sailors from all over the world as they gather to belt out ‘shanties’ — maritime songs that honour the sea while pining for life on land.
Jewish Culture Festival (June or July): Everyone is welcome at one of the world’s largest celebrations of Jewish art, music and film. Take workshops in kosher cooking, Hasidic dance and traditional klezmer music.
Krakow Pierogi Festival (August): A breathtaking variety of these tasty dumplings await you at the country’s biggest pierogi festival. Sample as many as you can before voting for your favourite.
The best neighbourhoods in Krakow
Old Town
The Old Town is the best neighbourhood to stay in Krakow to be within walking distance of historical landmarks such as St Mary’s Basilica and the City Defence Walls. Enjoy year-round party vibes with tourist crowds at lively restaurants and bars in Main Market Square. But make sure you also explore the side streets to mingle with locals in more casual venues that are just as fun.
Good for: Historical landmarks, nightlife, restaurants
Kazimierz
Home to one of Europe’s biggest Jewish communities, Kazimierz hosts many of the city’s synagogues, as well as Remah Cemetery, a 16th-century Jewish necropolis. These days, the neighbourhood is also where to stay in Krakow for vintage boutiques and art galleries, such as Galerie d’Art Naif. At night, check out the local bars for craft beer and cocktails.
Good for: Jewish history, vintage shops, bars
Podgorze
With its grassy lawns and riverfront walkways, Podgorze is a breath of fresh air within the city. Take a brisk morning walk before hitting the sights in this former Jewish ghetto. The sculptures in Ghetto Heroes Square commemorate the Jewish people who were imprisoned here during World War II. Visit the small Pharmacy Under the Eagle museum to learn about the only pharmacy that remained open in Podgorze under Nazi rule.
Good for: Riverfront walk, museums, history
Things to do in Krakow
Family friendly things to do
You won’t run out of fun things to do with family in Krakow. The Wawel Royal Castle introduces you to a fire-breathing dragon sculpture and the cave where, legend has it, the creature once lived. Kids can burn off energy on the climbing walls of Krakow Rope Park. And if the weather turns wet, a visit to the Chocozeum at the Chocolate Manufactury is good for mood-boosting treats.
Shopping
Time goes quickly when shopping in Krakow at lively markets such as Plac Nowy and Nowy Kleparz. You can’t turn a corner without running into souvenir shops selling amber jewellery and wooden crafts in the Old Town, especially on Florianska, Kanonicza and Grodzka Streets. Stop at Ciuciu Cukier Artist for traditional sweets, and browse trendy fashion and gifts in Galeria Kazimierz and Galeria Krakowska.
Take in the culture
It’s worth buying a KrakowCard for discounts and access to many museums in Krakow. One of Poland’s oldest, the Czartoryski Museum is home to the painting ‘Lady with an Ermine’ by Leonardo da Vinci. See the mummified cats of ancient Egypt exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Krakow. Kids and adults alike love the vintage tramcars at the Museum of Municipal Engineering, which has free entry on Tuesdays.
Nightlife
Hop between basement clubs and cocktail lounges in the Old Town, where fun nightlife in Krakow centres around Stolarska street. Kazimierz is dotted with casual vodka bars and live music pubs, such as New Day Blues Club. Plac Nowy’s bars are popular late-night stops. Book tickets in advance for shows at Krakow Opera and the grand Juliusz Slowacki Theatre.
Places to eat
If you’re travelling in the summer, it’s a must to reserve tables at the most popular restaurants in Krakow. Try gourmet tasting menus in the Gothic dining room at Szara Ges w Kuchni Restaurant or sample classic Polish cuisine with a twist at Michelin-recommended Pod Nosem. Remember that cheap eats at casual ‘bar mleczny’ (milk bars) often taste just as good as dishes at fine dining places.
Free things to do
One of the best free things to do in Krakow is to follow the Royal Route, the historical coronation path for Polish royalty. Start from St. Florian’s Gate to Wawel Castle with the Old Town’s main attractions in between. To get back to nature, take a detour to Planty Park to wander through the gardens and see the Barbican fortress.
Get ready for Krakow
Budget
The historic Old Town, buzzy riverbank and lush parks make it easy to explore Krakow on a budget. Start your day with a cappuccino for as little as ten Polish złotych (zł). You can usually find a meal at an inexpensive restaurant for as little as zł40. Wash it down with a beer at zł15. Need a lift? Take a taxi trip starting at zł4.
Day trips from Krakow
An hour and a half away, visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum to see one of the most significant concentration camps of World War II. On the way back, stop by the Wieliczka Salt Mine, with its vast chapel carved out of salt. Or head to colourful Zalipie, where villagers have decorated their homes with artistic designs since the early 20th century.
Getting around Krakow
Exploring the Old Town on foot is a breeze, but consider getting a KrakowCard to go further afield. You can also buy timed tickets on board, at vending machines and at kiosks. The tram has hundreds of stops throughout the city and large windows for sightseeing. Hire bikes to make the most of dedicated trails, and take a scenic trip on the Krakow River Tram.
