Things to do in Krakow
The complete guide to Krakow
Krakow is an impressive city, but somehow, it let me down. As I often say about Santorini, the place seems to be sold exclusively to mass tourism. That said, there’s no local color in the Old Town and especially the Market Square. Still, Krakow is an architectural masterpiece, featuring the most impressive Main Market Square in Europe. So, in this travel guide, I included the best things to do in Krakow, as well as tips about accommodation, food, and budgeting.
As it’s often the case with my travel guides, I didn’t include that many photos here. If you’d like to see more pictures from Warsaw plus my travel impressions, please read the travel letter from Krakow.
Beneath the main sections, you will also find a list of selected tours in and around Krakow. So, let’s start with the best things to do in Krakow.
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[tab title="How to go" icon="icon-entypo-info"]Krakow has an international airport, and Ryanair flies from several European destinations directly to Krakow. Apart from that, you can also reach Krakow by train or bus. If you are touring around Poland, try to avoid taking an airplane to Krakow and use the train instead. The landscape of Poland is beautiful, and you won’t regret it.
I started my tour in Warsaw; therefore, it was evident that I had to use the train. The fast train from Warsaw to Krakow (and vice versa) takes slightly more than 2 hours. The cost is reasonable, and I paid approx. 25 euros. It’s a new generation train, and it’s fast. I traveled in the 2nd class, but the price difference to the 1st class is small. If you want to have some extra comfort go for the 1st class.
If you prefer to fly, though, check the best prices for flights to Krakow here.[/tab]
[tab title="Where to stay in Krakow" icon="icon-entypo-info"]Krakow is a really compact city. Therefore, you won’t be away from the city center no matter where you stay. I was really pleased with my choice in Krakow: I stayed at Hotel 32. This is a brand new hotel (est. 2018), and as you can imagine, it is super clean. The front desk is truly helpful, and the breakfast delicious. I always like to make a short comment about the wi-fi, and yes, it was totally reliable. The Hotel 32 is located just off the Old Town of Krakow, and you’re actually there in less than 10 minutes.
Although the Old Town is stunning (but unfortunately super touristic), I found that the most charming neighborhood to stay in Krakow is Kazimierz. If I ever return to Krakow, I will stay somewhere in Kazimierz. Hotel 32 is not that far away (nothing is far away in Krakow), but if you want to be in the local life’s epicenter, you should search for a hotel in Kazimierz.
For all other options for accommodation in Krakow, please follow this link.[/tab]
[tab title="Where to eat and drink" icon="icon-entypo-info"]The food in Krakow is delicious. If you are a fan of Eastern European cuisine, then Krakow won’t disappoint you. I tried the following places:
- Restauracja Miód Malina. A slightly more upscale choice, but still not expensive. In the heart of the Old Town, serving delicious pierogis. A plate of pierogis plus a small glass of wine will cost you approx. 11 euros.
- Nova Resto Bar. Located in Kazimierz’s district, this place got my attention because it was advertised as an “IQOS” Bar. For the ones not familiar with the term, this is a place where you can smoke (or, to be more precise, heat) IQOS cigarettes. In the Nova Resto Bar, I had the best service, although I just ordered a coffee, a chocolate cake, and some cognac (it was -11 C that day!).
- Moment Resto Bar. Also, in Kazimierz, this is a lovely breakfast place. Of course, there are main dishes and good quality coffee.
- Tandoori Flame. Decent Indian food just off the Old Town. I had Butter Chicken and a glass of wine for almost 10 euros. Nothing to remember forever, but you won’t regret it either.
- Someplace Else. Part American diner, part sports bar, is an option if you would like to watch TV and have a burger. The cocktails are decent, the food slightly expensive. An alternative if you are staying somewhere nearby.
- Klub Stolarnia. A café/bar on a side street of the Old Town. It stays open until late (2 am), and there you can enjoy a coffee or a drink in a pleasant atmosphere. Keep in mind that this is a smoking bar.
- Real Greek. A Greek taverna/joint. I ate there the first night because I was dead tired and promised myself to enter the first eatery I’d find. Moderate prices, average food. If you are on a tight budget, consider eating there.
I decided not to include in the above section the Milk Bars of Krakow (Polish: Bar Mleczny). Instead, I will make a shortlist of them here. If you read my travel letter from Krakow, you already know what the Milk Bars are. Briefly, these are small establishments from the communist era that offer decent food at really low prices. I wanted to visit more of them, but I finally ate at 3. I can recommend all three of them. They are:
- Pod Temidą. The menu is in both Polish and English. The food is tasty, and the interior will remind you of the ’80s. The naleśniki (something like Polish pancakes) is really delicious. Big portions and original feeling.
- Milkbar Tomasza. The Milk Bar Tomasza is a renovated Milk Bar. While the style is more contemporary, the food is also tasty. Its location is a plus; you will find it just off the Main Square.
- Bar mleczny Flisak. This was close to my hotel, and I tried it the last day. I found it to be the most original of the three. Cheap, decent, and -believe it or not- somehow cozy.
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[tab title="Sightseeing" icon="icon-entypo-info"]There are several things to do in Krakow. The city is an architectural gem, therefore walking around should be your top priority. The Old Town of Krakow is a Unesco World Heritage site and one of the first added to this list. Please note, though, that the Old Town is extremely touristic. In my opinion, this is sad. It means you won’t find lots of local color in the Main Market Square or while exploring the side streets.
The so-called Stare Miasto dates back to the 13th-century hosts Europe’s largest market square. Unfortunately, while walking there, you will be asked to visit strip clubs or restaurants by a bunch of irritating locals that advertise such establishments -the Krakow stag is really famous… Even under such conditions, walking around the Old Town is a must, and you should spend some time at the Main Market Square. I was impressed by the Cloth Hall building, but honestly, every building is an architectural gem there.
Apart from the Old Town of Krakow, you should also visit the Wawel Royal Castle. It is technically part of the Old Town, but it lies slightly off of it. The Wawel Castle and the Wawel Hill have a long history, and they are among the most famous landmarks of the city. And, of course, don’t miss the impressive Wawel Cathedral.
I really loved the neighborhood of Kazimierz. This is the laid back district of Krakow, and visiting Kazimierz is definitely one of the best things to do in Krakow. The atmosphere in the bars and cafes is really cozy, and Kazimierz is also the place where the artistic heart of Krakow beats.
If you, like me, have time to visit only one museum while you are in Krakow, this should be Schindler’s Factory. Of course, if you’ve seen Spielberg’s movie, then you know what it is about. If not, I encourage you to visit their website and learn more.
As I mentioned in the “Where to eat and drink” section, one of the best things to do in Krakow is to eat in a milk bar. These are establishments of the communist era that once upon a time served only dairy products. Today that’s not the case anymore, you can also find meat in most of them, but they are still traditional and also cheap. There are several Milk Bars in Krakow; therefore, finding one won’t be hard. Check the previous section for my shortlist of milk bars.
On the last day in Krakow, I planned to visit the Wieliczka Salt Mines, but I woke up with a terrible cold, and I canceled the plan. I hear that it is awe-inspiring; therefore, if you have the time, give it a try.
Last but not least, if you visit Krakow, don’t miss the chance to visit Auschwitz (check the links below for organized tours). Most people combine their journey to Krakow with a visit to Auschwitz, and you should do the same, especially if you haven’t seen a concentration camp before. This cruel place serves as a history lesson.
*It was freezing when I visited Krakow (-13 C), but this didn’t prevent me from walking all day long. If you are traveling during the winter, make sure to pack the warmest of your warm clothes!
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[tab title="How to budget" icon="icon-entypo-info"]While Krakow is still relatively cheap, I was impressed by the difference in pricing compared to Warsaw. I found Krakow to be approx. 15% more expensive than Warsaw. Although you can’t call it an expensive city, be prepared to spend some extra cash on food and accommodation. In Warsaw, one could survive with less than 20 euros per day; I think that here you must calculate approx. 25-30 euros. If you are not on a tight budget but you’d still like to keep an eye on it, make it 35-40 euros per day. This includes one proper meal per day, a coffee-stop, water, and some snack.
The public transport tickets in Krakow are cheap, and therefore after adding a hotel room to your budget, I would say that you won’t exceed the 70 euros limit per day, all included.[/tab]
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Selected tours and activities in Krakow and beyond
Several local operators offer a variety of guided tours in Krakow. Since the city’s tourist infrastructure is really solid, you can find literally any kind of tour: from Auswietz to the Salt Mines, and from walks around the historical Jewish quarter to Oskar Schindler’s factory. I’m choosing here the most interesting tours, the ones that will give you a better overview of the city.
- Auschwitz & Birkenau guided tour with transportation and hotel pickup. I think that this is one of the strongest experiences that a person can have. Therefore, visiting the concentration camp of Auschwitz is a must. If you only can afford one tour, then you should take this one. Check the prices for the Auschwitz tour here.
- Wieliczka Salt Mine Tour from Krakow. The tour I lost because I was sick. It should be awe-inspiring, though, because you will descend in one of the oldest salt mines in the world. Book your salt mine tour here.
- Kazimierz food tour. Kazimierz is Krakow’s liveliest hood, and on this tour, you will have the opportunity to try up to 15 local dishes. The Kazimierz food tour takes place both in the afternoon and in the evening. Book your food tour here.
- Jewish Quarter, Ghetto & Schindler’s Factory Tour. In this tour, you will discover the Jewish side of Krakow, and you’ll learn more about its history. You will then visit Oskar Schindler’s factory and see what Krakow was like under Nazi occupation during World War II. Check the prices here.
So, this was my travel guide to Krakow. Let me know in the comments if you already visited Krakow.
More about Krakow: A travelogue from Krakow & Extra photos from Krakow
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Last Updated on November 13, 2020 by George Pavlopoulos