Travel guide · Poland
Kraków travel guide
A royal old town, Wawel Castle and the cafés and memory of Kazimierz
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Andrzej Otrębski, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Poland's former royal capital came through the Second World War largely intact, so its UNESCO-listed Old Town still centres on one of Europe's largest medieval squares, the Rynek Główny, with the Cloth Hall and St. Mary's Basilica. Wawel Hill's castle and cathedral rise above the Vistula a short walk south, and beyond them Kazimierz, the historic Jewish quarter, is now the city's liveliest district for cafés and bars. Kraków is also the base for visiting the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial and the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Plan 4 days for a first visit; the best months are May–June and September.
Key facts
- Country
- Poland
- Best time to visit
- May–June and September
- Ideal stay
- 4 days
- Main airports
- KRK, KTW
- Mid-range daily budget
- $90–$170 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Main Market Square, Wawel Castle, Kazimierz and Auschwitz day trips
Why visit Kraków
- The Main Square, Wawel Castle and Kazimierz are all within a 20-minute walk along the Royal Road.
- Veit Stoss's carved altarpiece in St. Mary's Basilica and Leonardo da Vinci's Lady with an Ermine at the Czartoryski Museum are two of central Europe's great artworks.
- Kazimierz and Podgórze tell the story of Jewish Kraków and the wartime ghetto, including at Oskar Schindler's former factory.
- Food and drink are inexpensive by western European standards, from milk-bar pierogi to zapiekanki on Plac Nowy.
- The Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial, the Wieliczka Salt Mine and the Tatra Mountains at Zakopane are all day trips.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 19 things to do.
Landmark · Old Town
Main Market Square
Laid out in 1257, the Rynek Główny is one of the largest medieval town squares in Europe, ringed by townhouses, café terraces and the Town Hall Tower, with the Cloth Hall in the middle and the small St Adalbert's Church in one corner.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- After dark
- Photo spot
Market · Old Town
Cloth Hall
The Sukiennice, a Renaissance market hall with an arcaded loggia and carved parapet, still has stalls inside selling amber, wood carvings, lace and leather.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes to 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Shopping
- Architecture
Religious site · Old Town
St. Mary's Basilica
The brick Gothic basilica on the Main Square has a deep-blue, star-painted vault and the great altarpiece carved by Veit Stoss between 1477 and 1489, the largest Gothic altarpiece in Europe, with life-size limewood figures.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Art
- Architecture
- History
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Castle · Wawel
Wawel Castle
The seat of Polish kings for five centuries, the castle on Wawel Hill has a Renaissance arcaded courtyard and several separate exhibitions: the State Rooms with King Sigismund Augustus's Flemish tapestries, the Private Royal Apartments, the Crown Treasury and Armoury, and the archaeological Lost Wawel.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Views
Religious site · Wawel
Wawel Cathedral
Polish kings were crowned and buried in this cathedral, whose chapels range from Gothic to Baroque.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Iconic
Neighbourhood · Kazimierz
Kazimierz Jewish quarter
Szeroka Street is lined with the Old Synagogue, the oldest surviving synagogue building in Poland and now a museum, and the Remah Synagogue with its old cemetery, still used for worship.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- History
- Free
- Food
- After dark
- Iconic
Where to stay
Old Town is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 6 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, culture and nightlife
Old Town
The Main Square, cellar bars and townhouse hotels inside the green Planty ring
$$ · Best for food lovers, nightlife, solo travellers and culture
Kazimierz
Historic Jewish quarter of synagogues, cafés, bars and the Plac Nowy food stalls
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families and couples
Stradom
Quieter streets between the Old Town, Wawel and Kazimierz
$$ · Best for budget, culture and quiet stays
Podgórze
Across the river: wartime ghetto history, museums, a prehistoric mound and new cafés
What to eat
- Pierogi — Half-moon dumplings boiled or fried, filled with potato and twaróg cheese (ruskie), meat, sauerkraut and mushroom, or sweet fruit in summer, and topped with fried onion or soured cream.
- Obwarzanek krakowski — Kraków's braided ring bread, boiled before baking and topped with poppy seeds, sesame or salt.
- Zapiekanka — A long open-faced baguette topped with mushrooms and melted cheese, then ketchup or other toppings; a cheap late-night favourite since communist times.
- Żurek — Sour rye soup made from fermented flour, with white sausage, potatoes and a boiled egg, often served inside a hollowed bread loaf.
- Oscypek — A smoked sheep's-milk cheese from the Tatra highlands, pressed in decorated wooden moulds and often grilled and served with cranberry jam.
- Grilled kiełbasa — Thick Polish sausage grilled over charcoal and served with mustard and bread, a classic evening snack.
When to go
The best times to visit Kraków are May to June and September, when days are mild, café gardens are open and crowds are lighter than in July and August. December is popular for the Christmas market and nativity cribs. January and February are cold, often below freezing, but quiet and low priced.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Cold March gives way to blossom and terraces by May, with Easter fairs and student festivals. |
| Summer | June–August | Warm days, thunderstorms, festivals including the Jewish Culture Festival, and the biggest crowds. |
| Autumn | September–November | Mild September, golden October colour and candlelit cemeteries on All Saints' Day. |
| Winter | December–February | Cold and sometimes snowy, with a Christmas market in December and the lowest prices after New Year. |
Getting there and around
Kraków John Paul II International Airport (KRK) is in Balice, about 11 km west of the centre. Trains run from the terminal station to Kraków Główny in about 20 minutes; buses and taxis take about 25–40 minutes depending on traffic. Katowice Airport (KTW), about 100 km away, is linked by shuttle buses taking about 1.5–2 hours.
Kraków's Old Town and Kazimierz are best on foot, and an extensive tram network run by MPK covers the rest of the city. Trains link the main station with the airport and Wieliczka, and ride-hailing apps are inexpensive.
Plan your days
Two days covers the Old Town, Wawel and Kazimierz. Allow four days to add a full day at the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial and a half day at the Wieliczka Salt Mine; a fifth day fits Zakopane or Nowa Huta.
Practical information
- Currency
- PLN
- Language
- Polish
- Plugs
- Type C and E sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is treated and safe to drink, though many locals prefer bottled or filtered water.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Tipping
- About 10% is usual in sit-down restaurants for good service; check whether a service charge has already been added.
Kraków is generally safe, but pickpockets work the Main Square, trams and the station area. Use ride-hailing apps or official taxis rather than unmarked cars, and ignore street promoters for bars and clubs. On still winter days, air quality can be poor; check local smog alerts if you have respiratory conditions.
Flights to Kraków
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Kraków?
Two days covers the Old Town, Wawel and Kazimierz. Allow four days to add a full day at the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial and a half day at the Wieliczka Salt Mine; a fifth day fits Zakopane or Nowa Huta. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Kraków?
The best times to visit Kraków are May to June and September, when days are mild, café gardens are open and crowds are lighter than in July and August. December is popular for the Christmas market and nativity cribs. January and February are cold, often below freezing, but quiet and low priced.
+What is Kraków known for?
Main Market Square, Wawel Castle, Kazimierz, Auschwitz day trips, Wieliczka Salt Mine, Pierogi and Cellar bars. The Main Square, Wawel Castle and Kazimierz are all within a 20-minute walk along the Royal Road.
+Is Kraków expensive?
Kraków is affordable for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $90–$170 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Kraków?
No. The centre is walkable and served by trams, and day trips to Auschwitz, Wieliczka and Zakopane are easy by bus, train or tour. A car only helps for exploring rural Lesser Poland.