Shopping · Kraków · Poland
Shopping in Kraków
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Piotr Pawelczyk, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Kraków is good for amber, folk crafts, pottery, vodka and vintage finds, with souvenir stalls in the Cloth Hall and independent shops in Kazimierz. Best souvenirs: Baltic amber, Bolesławiec pottery and Polish vodka.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 3
- Top souvenir
- Baltic amber
Where to shop
Cloth Hall
Stalls selling amber jewellery, wooden boxes, chess sets, lace and leather in the Renaissance hall.
Floriańska and Grodzka streets
The Royal Road through the Old Town with shops, chocolatiers and international brands.
Kazimierz
Vintage shops, galleries, bookshops and design stores around Józefa and Meiselsa streets.
Galeria Krakowska
A large modern mall beside Kraków Główny station.
Markets
Stary Kleparz
A historic fresh-food market north of the Old Town with local produce, cheese and pickles.
Hala Targowa flea market
A Sunday-morning flea market of antiques, militaria and old books by the Hala Targowa market hall.
Plac Nowy markets
Weekend flea and clothes markets on the Kazimierz square, with daily food stalls.
What to buy
Baltic amber
Amber jewellery is sold everywhere; buy from established shops that provide a certificate of authenticity.
Bolesławiec pottery
Hand-stamped blue-and-white stoneware from south-western Poland, sold in specialist shops.
Polish vodka
A bottle of Żubrówka bison-grass vodka or a fruit nalewka from a specialist shop.
Wawel chocolates
Sweets from the Wawel confectionery, founded in Kraków in the 19th century, sold in supermarkets and branded shops.
Kraków szopka
Small versions of the city's glittering nativity cribs, a UNESCO-recognised tradition, sold in craft shops.
Folk crafts
Painted wooden boxes, embroidered textiles and highland-style carvings from the Cloth Hall and craft shops.
Streets and markets worth a wander
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
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Obwarzanek krakowski, Oscypek, Kremówka and Pączki. Street carts on almost every Old Town corner, especially in the morning when they are freshest. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Kazimierz | $$ | Historic Jewish quarter of synagogues, cafés, bars and the Plac Nowy food stalls |
| Podgórze | $$ | Across the river: wartime ghetto history, museums, a prehistoric mound and new cafés |
| Kleparz | $$ | Market district north of the Old Town near the main station |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in PLN. About 10% is usual in sit-down restaurants for good service; check whether a service charge has already been added. Rounding up in cafés and taxis is common.
- Greet with 'Dzień dobry' when entering shops and small restaurants.
- Decline dynamic currency conversion at ATMs and card terminals and pay in złoty; avoid exchange kiosks with poor rates near the Main Square.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January–March and November; the busiest months are July–August.
- March: Easter fair on the Main Square (around Easter, March or April)
- April: Emaus — folk fair in Zwierzyniec (Easter Monday)
- April: Misteria Paschalia — early-music festival (around Easter)
- May: Juwenalia — student festival (usually May)
- May: Kraków Film Festival (usually late May or early June)
- June: Wianki — midsummer festival with concerts by the Vistula (around the summer solstice)
Staying near the shops
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Kraków?
Baltic amber, Bolesławiec pottery, Polish vodka and Wawel chocolates.
+Where is the best shopping in Kraków?
Cloth Hall: Stalls selling amber jewellery, wooden boxes, chess sets, lace and leather in the Renaissance hall.
+What are the best markets in Kraków?
Stary Kleparz, Hala Targowa flea market and Plac Nowy markets.