Things to do and see in Kraków Poland

Kraków is a beautiful city in southern Poland. In recent years, it has become fashionable among travellers due to the arrival of low-cost airlines, allowing thousands of tourists to enjoy a beautiful and welcoming city. Read on to find out what things to do in Kraków, Poland.

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Things to do in Kraków

Market Square

Rynek Glówny, or Market Square, is the most emblematic place in Kraków, the one that appears on postcards and in every traveller’s photo. It’s a beautiful square that’s home to some of Kraków’s most iconic sights, including St Mary’s Basilica and the Old Town Hall Tower, which we’ll detail soon.

Besides being the location of these must-see sights in Kraków, it’s a lively place, full of terraces, bars and restaurants where you can eat or have a drink and enjoy the Kraków atmosphere.

Basilica of St. Mary, a must-see in Kraków

One of Kraków’s major sights to see on the Market Square is St Mary’s Basilica. This religious building dates back to the 14th century and until 1970 was considered a church, when it was declared a basilica. Its style is Gothic, although it has undergone some additions over the years and has Baroque elements. Its impressive brick-coloured façade features two enormous towers, one 69 metres high and the other 80 metres high.

Hours: M-S, 11:30am-6:00pm; Sunday and public holidays, 2:00pm-6:00pm

Ticket price: 10 PLN (€2.22), reduced, 5 PLN (€1.11). Tower climb: 15 PLN (€3.33), reduced 10 PLN.

Tower of the Old Town Hall

Matching the basilica and also on Market Square, the Old Town Hall Tower is another must-see on your Kraków travel itinerary. Built in the 14th century, also in the Gothic style and made of brick and stone, this 75-metre-high tower is all that remains of Kraków’s old town hall.

Opening hours: April-October: daily from 10:30 to 18:00. November-December: every day from 12:00 to 18:00. The rest of the year closed.

Price of admission: Adults: 14 PLN (€3.10). Students: 10 PLN (€2.20). Mondays: free admission.

Lonja de los Paños

The Lonja de los Paños, also located in the Market Square, is a Renaissance building with neo-Gothic elements and one of the icons of the city. For centuries, it was one of the most important business centres in Poland, and today it is one of the must-see places in Kraków. The ground floor is the only floor that is still dedicated to commerce. Here you will find a large number of shops selling handicrafts and typical products of Kraków and Poland, the ideal place to get a souvenir of your trip. In addition, the other two floors, the first floor and the basement, house exhibitions.

Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 18:00.

Price: free of charge.

Wawel Cathedral

The Wawel Cathedral is probably the most important cathedral in Poland. It is named after the hill on which it stands, the 228-metre Wawel Hill on the banks of the Vistula River. The reason why it is one of the most important ecclesiastical buildings in the whole country is because it is the coronation place of Polish monarchs. It is a mixture of Gothic and Romanesque styles and has several highlights to visit. An example of this is the Chapel of Sigismund, in Renaissance style and decorated with stuccoes and paintings. Others are the Crypt, the burial place of Polish kings, and the mausoleum of St. Stanislaus, patron saint of Cologne.

Hours:April-October:M-S: 9:00-17:00 Sun: 12:30-17:00 November-March: M-S: 9:00-16:00 Sun: 12:30-16:00

Price: Adults: 12 PLN (€2.70)Students and pensioners: 8 PLN (€1.80)

Royal Wawel Palace

Next to the cathedral is another of the most representative and valuable symbols of Kraków and Poland. This is Wawel Castle, an iconic Gothic and Renaissance building built in the 11th century and the first residence of Polish monarchs, as well as a symbol of the state. In the palace you can visit several of its rooms, such as the State Apartments and the Crown Treasury and Armoury, with weapons and precious stones among other valuable objects. There are also exhibition halls and plenty of things to see in Kraków’s most iconic landmark.

Prices vary depending on which room you want to enter, but each costs around €5, except for The Lost Wawel, an exhibition, for €1.8. Mondays from 9:30am to 1pm and Sundays from December to March from 10am to 4pm are free of charge.

Hours: each part of the castle has different opening hours, but generally every day from 9:30am to 4:00pm or 5:00pm.

Kazimierz, the Jewish Quarter

Kazimierz is one of the most beautiful and lively quarters in Kraków, with a long and interesting history. It did not belong to Kraków until 1800, before that time it was a neighbouring town, but in that year the Old Synagogue was annexed to the city and became its Jewish quarter, which was abandoned more than a century later during the Nazi occupation.

Nowadays, it is one of Kraków’s liveliest neighbourhoods, with a wide variety of bars and restaurants, as well as urban artworks. On the other hand, some religious buildings stand out, several synagogues are worth a visit. Examples are the Old Synagogue and the Remuh Synagogue.

Kraków Barbican

The Barbican is a medieval fortification of the city of Kraków in Gothic style, notable for its striking circular shape. It was once used to defend the city against the Ottoman invasion. Although it is now temporarily closed, it is generally possible to visit the interior, although its beauty really lies in its façade.

Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.

What to see around Kraków?

Wieliczka Salt Mines

Wieliczka is a Polish town 15 kilometres from Kraków, about 25 minutes by car. It is home to one of the most impressive sites in the country: the Wieliczka salt mines. These mines have been in operation since the 13th century, one of the oldest in the world, and still today, as well as being a great place to visit near Kraków, they still bring table salt to people’s homes. The mines receive about 800,000 visitors every year, and it is not surprising, as the visit is as beautiful as it is interesting. It’s a 3.5-kilometre walk that takes you 100 metres underground.

The only way to visit is on a guided tour that shows you the different chambers, underground lakes, corridors and even salt statues of famous people. Sightseeing price: 93 PLN (20.69€), and 84 PLN (18.69€) reduced rate for students up to 26, seniors+65 and disabled persons and their companions.

Auschwitz-Birkenau, an impactful place to see near Krakow

This is probably the most striking thing to see in Poland. In fact, the Nazi complex is made up of two concentration camps, Auschwitz I and Auschwitz Birkenau. While the former has been remodelled and prepared for tourists, Auschwitz Birkenau does not offer such a friendly visit as it has been preserved in its essence. Guided tours are available for both camps from Krakow, but can also be booked at the complex itself if you’re on your own. The entrance fee without a guided tour is €23. Tours including the concentration camp and salt mines can also be booked for €100.

How to get to Kraków?

From Spain

As we mentioned earlier, the arrival of Ryanair and other low-cost airlines in Kraków has multiplied the number of travellers who come to spend a few days in this Polish city. As a result, it is becoming increasingly common to travel directly to Kraków by plane without first passing through Warsaw. The company Ryanair connects the Polish city with many Spanish cities, including: Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante, Seville, Tenerife and more. The price of flights always depends on the time of year you travel and how far in advance you plan your trip, but can often be found from as little as €20.

From Warsaw

Although at other times it is also common to make an itinerary through Poland and wish to travel from Warsaw to Kraków. In this case, the cheapest way to travel is by bus, thanks to another low-cost transport company. This is Flixbus, which covers the Warsaw-Cracow route in around 4 hours and 30 minutes for a price starting from €5.

And if you have a little more money and want to save time. The most convenient option is the train. The fastest journey takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes and costs around €13.

Where to eat in Kraków?

• Restauracja Starka: One of the best restaurants in Kraków and with the best ratings, in its menu you will see typical Polish dishes such as pierogi (a type of stuffed pasta) or tatar (known by us as tartar). Price range:  €6-14
• Smakolyki: a very popular and inexpensive restaurant serving traditional Polish food. Located within walking distance of the city’s main sights, it offers hearty and delicious portions at an ideal price. Price range: €2- 9
• Coffee Garden: the most pleasant place to have a coffee and warm up after a day’s sightseeing in Kraków.

Where to sleep in Kraków?

The best area of Kraków to stay in is the Old Town, Stare Miasto in Polish. This is where most of the sights to see on your trip to Kraków, Poland are located, so if you stay here, as well as being able to enjoy wonderful walks to your hotel, you’ll have all the points on your itinerary within walking distance of your accommodation.

• Hotel Logos Kraków: Located in the heart of Kraków, the rooms at the 3-star Hotel Logos are spacious, clean, bright and tastefully decorated. The ideal place to stay for a few days’ holiday in Kraków. Average price per night: €76
• Flamingo Premium Hostel: Also located in the heart of Kraków 50 metres from the main market, the Flamingo Premium Hostel tricks its guests into thinking it is a hostel, with large private rooms for two people, and others with bunk beds. It’s nice and clean and is housed in a beautiful 17th century building. Average price per night: €30

What to see in Kraków in 3 days?

First day of travel in Kraków:

• Arrival in Kraków
• Market Square
• St. Mary’s Basilica
• Old Town Hall Tower
• Evening by Kazimiers

Second day in Kraków:

• Morning at the Wieliczka Salt Mines
• Return to Kraków
• Cracow Cloth Monastery
• Walk through the Old Town
• The Barbican

Third day in Kraków:

• Walk along the river
• Wawel Cathedral
• Wawel Castle
• Airport

Tips for your trip to Kraków

• The currency in Krakow is the Polish Sloti (1€ = 4.50 PLN).
• If you are travelling from a country with a different currency, we recommend that you exchange currency in advance.
• The best time to visit Krakow is from May to September, when temperatures are milder.
• There is no Rooming in Poland, you can use the internet on your mobile phone without any problems.
• The city is safe, but as with any tourist destination, it’s best to be careful with your belongings.
• Be prepared for medical emergencies: travel insured.
• It’s frowned upon not to tip in restaurants.
• Cracow fines for crossing the street when the traffic lights are closed or where there is no zebra crossing.
• You can’t drink in the street.

How to organize what to see in Kraków?

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• Get inspired by the experiences of other travellers.
• Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
• Add the stops that interest you most, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
• Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can take inspiration from the routes we present in the post)
• Check the travel budget that the app calculates according to your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
• Make the modifications you need, and you’ll be all set for your trip.
• Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend to other travellers what to see in Kraków, Poland.

If you have any doubts about how to do it, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.

Frequently Asked Questions About Kraków