14 of the Best Things to See in Kraków

Cobbled streets, beautiful architecture, large medieval market square, towering Basilica, hilltop Royal Castle, riverside location and long history – it is no wonder Poland’s southern city of Kraków is a popular destination throughout the year!

I spent 3 days in Krakow during December and was so impressed with just how much there is to see and do in this historic city.

In this post I’ll share my list of 14 of the best things to see in Kraków. I’ll give you some further options to add to your Krakow itinerary and provide a general Krakow travel guide and some travel tips so you too can have a wonderful time visiting Krakow.

Getting to Kraków

There are direct flights to John Paul II Airport Kraków-Balice (KRK) from most major airports in the U.K. I flew from London Heathrow and travel time was about 2.5 hours. Flights from destinations outside of Europe may need to connect through Warsaw.

You can check all available flight options and book here:

Currency

Poland is a member of the European Union but has not adopted the Euro. Instead, it retains its own currency, the Polish Złoty, referred to in this post as PLN.

Getting to/from the Airport

There are various options available for getting from the airport and into Krakow city center:

1. Taxi

Krakow Airport Taxi is the only official taxi service at the airport. Check the airport website for up to date information as to pricing.

2. Train

I caught the train from the airport and would highly recommend it. It’s reasonably priced and an efficient way to get to Kraków’s main station (Kraków Główny).

To access the train, follow the signs in the arrivals hall to the train platform (you’ll be taken up an escalator from arrivals and through a covered walkway to the station) where you will find machines to purchase tickets. You can also buy tickets on the train. A single trip into the main station will cost PLN 20 and the trip will take about 20 minutes.

On arrival at Kraków Główny follow the signs for the Old Town (Stare Miasto). Although it may feel as though you have taken a wrong turn, you haven’t…you will be led through a large shopping centre, Galeria Krakowska! My advice at this point is to resist, try not to stop and spend all your money here but factor in some time to shop on the way back!

3. Bus

The bus is also an option and tickets can be bought from the machine in the arrivals hall. Single fares start at around PLN 4 which is much cheaper than the train but the trip is longer at upwards of 45 minutes.

Unfortunately, I have read that the bus now stops at less convenient parts of the city. However, if you still prefer to use the bus, then check the airport website for up to date route information.  

4. Transfer

If you prefer to arrive knowing transport is already arranged, then you should pre-book a transfer to your accommodation.

Where to Stay in Kraków

As you would expect, there are plenty accommodation options available in Kraków. I stayed at the Maksymilian Hotel which is located about a 10 minute walk outside of the Old Town. I had a great stay there and am happy to recommend it.

You can review all available accommodation options and book here:

Is Kraków worth Visiting?

Absolutely! I was genuinely surprised at just how much there was to see and do in Kraków. The city has a long and interesting history, beautiful architecture and it was very easy to get around making it a perfect city break destination.

How Many Days do you need in Kraków?

I spent 3 days in Kraków and during that time I managed to see and do quite a lot. To be honest though, I could have stayed longer, therefore I would suggest that a 3 or 4 day visit would be about the right amount of time.

Krakow Christmas Markets

As I mentioned above, I visited Kraków in December with the intention of not only seeing the city, but spending time at the Christmas markets too. They did not disappoint!

Krakow’s Christmas markets are some of the best in Poland which means it’s definitely worthwhile visiting Krakow in December. If this is something that appeals to you, then do read my post Kraków Christmas Market – All You Need To Know.

Best Things to See in Krakow

I was blown away by just how much there is to see and do in Krakow so….make sure you pack your comfortable shoes!

Here is my list of 14 of the best things to see in Kraków:

1. The Old Town (Stare Miasto)

The Old Town is the historic centre of Kraków and was the centre of Polish political life from 1038 until King Sigismund III moved the court to Warsaw in 1596. However, Kraków was believed to have been founded in about 950 by merchants who used it as a staging post.

Wander the streets, admire the architecture and soak up the atmosphere – it’s one of the best things to see in Krakow! There are plenty of restaurants, cafes and bars to keep you refreshed!

The greenbelt area known as Planty Park surrounds the Old Town where the Medieval city walls used to stand. It’s a nice area to walk through and a respite from the crowds!

Many of Kraków’s most popular attractions are located in the Old Town.

2. Main Market Square

At the heart of Kraków’s Old Town is the Main Market Square (in Polish Rynek Główny). At almost 10 acres, it is the largest Medieval town square in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Main Market Square dates from the 13th century and is surrounded by historic townhouses, including the House under the Painting which features a fresco of the Virgin Mary ascending into Heaven. Many of these houses are now home to restaurants and shops.

It is from the Main Square that you can take a carriage ride and it is here where the annual Christmas market takes place.

3. Cloth Hall (Sukiennice)

Dominating the Market Square is the Cloth Hall. A centre of commerce since the 1300’s, the current building dates from the 1500’s. Markets still operate from the ground floor with rooms on the upper floor housing art galleries. There is an entrance fee of PLN 35 (concessions available) to the galleries. An audio guide can be purchased for PLN 7. Guided tours are also available for PLN 270 plus the costs of the entrance ticket.

Apparently, the copper globes on the roof contained historical documents dating from the late 18th to early 19th centuries.

4. Town Hall Tower

The Town Hall Tower is all that remains following the demolition of the main town hall in 1820. Located on the Main Market Square, the Tower stands 70m tall and dates from the 14th century, although there are some 16th century additions.

Tickets to the Tower cost PLN 22 (concessions available) although note that entry is free on Mondays. The Town Hall Tower is part of the Museum of Kraków – check the website for up to date visitor information.

A large sculpture of a head known as Eros Bendato lies in front of the Tower. It is a popular meeting place and a great climbing frame for kids!

5. St. Mary’s Basilica

St. Mary’s Basilica is another dominant presence on the Main Market Square. Construction of the Basilica began in the late 1200’s and if you think the outside is impressive, wait until you see inside!

There are two entrances to the Basilica, one for regular worshippers (the main entrance) and one for tourists (at the rear). A ticket office is located opposite the tourist entrance and the entrance fee is PLN 20 (concessions are available). Check the Basilica’s official website for current opening times and visitor information.

The Viet Stoss Altar dominates the interior. Carved from oak wood (construction) and linden wood (sculptures), the Altar is the largest of its kind in Europe. It was created between 1477 and 1489 and is definitely one of the best things to see in Krakow!

The Basilica has two towers – the shorter tower is a bell tower and the taller one has a crown on the spire dedicated to the Virgin Mary. A trumpeter plays a short tune every hour on the hour from the taller tower and stops abruptly. This is in memory of the time the town was attacked by Tatars and the watchman, blowing his trumpet to warn the town, was hit in the throat with an arrow.

6. Rynek Underground Museum

The Rynek Underground Museum is located between the Cloth Hall and St. Mary’s Basilica. It houses 800 years of archaeology discovered in 2005 when the Main Market Square was undergoing renovations. A model of Medieval Kraków lies beneath the glass pyramid seen in the photo of St. Mary’s Basilica above.

Tickets cost PLN 45 (concessions are available). Note that the ticket office and the museum entry are not in the same place! The ticket office is on the opposite side of the Cloth Hall from the museum entrance which is through the doorway into the Cloth Hall opposite St. Mary’s Basilica. The number of people who can enter the museum is limited and entry is timed. You should therefore consider booking ahead. Check the museum website for current opening times and visitor information.

The museum traces the centuries of life in Kraków using many artefacts and displays, including graves. It is also uses technology effectively with 37 touch screens and numerous projectors, plasma & LCD screens, speakers, holograms and audio guides all in use. It’s definitely one of the best things to see in Krakow.

7. St. Adalbert’s Church

Located in the southeastern corner of the Main Market Square is the small Church of St. Adalbert. It dates from the early 12th century and is one of the oldest stone churches in Poland.

8. Florian’s Gate and Barbican

Built in the 14th century, this is the only remaining gateway in the walls of the Old Town which once included 8 gates and 47 watchtowers. In the passageway is a small altar dating from the mid-19th century containing a gothic painting.

Close to Florian’s Gate is the Barbican. It was constructed in the 15th century to strengthen security at Florian’s Gate.

9. Jagiellonian University

This university is the oldest in Poland. There are numerous beautiful buildings and gardens to see including Collegium Novum. In 1939 the Nazis arrested 183 academics accused of plotting against the occupiers. Many of them subsequently died in Sachsenhausen concentration camp.

10. Wawel Cathedral

The Royal Archcathedral of Saints Stanislaus and Wenceslaus (aka Wawel Cathedral) is a Roman Catholic cathedral located at the top of Wawel Hill.

The cathedral was consecrated in 1364, although earlier cathedrals have been on this site – the first was built after the year 1000 and the second was consecrated in 1142. The High Altar of Wawel Cathedral was the coronation altar of Polish Kings for 400 years.

The cathedral is also the place where Rev. Karol Wojtyła celebrated his first Holy Mass….he was later to become Pope John Paul II.

An ornate interior with various chapels, altars and crypts, the cathedral is a fascinating place to visit. Tickets are available from the ticket office opposite the entrance and cost PLN 26 (concessions available). I would recommend spending an additional PLN 15 (concessions available) and getting the audio guide (note: a refundable deposit is payable – this was PLN 100 when I visited).

Check the official Cathedral website for current opening times and visitor information.

A visit inside the cathedral will give you the chance to climb up to the Sigmund Bell within the Sigmund Tower. The walk up (and down!) is via very narrow, steep wooden steps but the views from the top are worth it.

11. Wawel Royal Castle

The castle is also located on Wawel Hill and therefore you should allow several hours to enable a visit to both the castle and the cathedral.

Tickets are available from the ticket office opposite the castle entrance and online. Rather unusually (in my experience) it is necessary to buy a ticket to each of the exhibits you wish to visit – there is no one ticket covering it all. Entry is timed so consider booking in advance if there are several exhibits you wish to visit. There is a lot to see!

Ticket prices vary depending on what you want to visit – check the official Castle site for current prices, opening times and visitor information. I visited the State Rooms and the Royal Private Apartments and recommend both.

The views of the Vistula River and a visit to the nearby Dragon Statue are free! A famous dragon in Polish legend, the Wawel Dragon is said to have terrorised Kraków until it was killed after being fed sulphur filled animal carcasses!

If you would prefer to pre-book a combined ticket for both Wawel Cathedral and Wawel Castle, check these options and book here:

Wawel Cathedral and Wawel Castle are undoubtedly 2 of the best things to see in Krakow so be sure to set aside enough time to see both.

12. Kazimierz

The Jewish Quarter of Kazimierz (once a city in its own right) is located outside the Old Town but getting there is easy, either on foot or using Kraków’s tram.

In Kazimierz, you can visit amongst other things:

• a number of synagogues, including Poland’s oldest, the Old Synagogue. Ransacked during World War II, the synagogue was renovated in the 1950s and now houses a museum. Check the museum site for current opening times and visitor information.
• the new Jewish cemetery
• the Jewish Community Centre
• Plac Nowy where you can buy traditional Polish food such as traditional pizza, Zapiekanka

13. Podgórze

Podgórze is the site of the former Jewish Ghetto where 20,000 Jews from Kazimierz who had not already been deported to concentration camps were sent in 1941. From here, they were sent to Auschwitz or Plaszów. It is estimated that only 2,000 of the original Jewish population of 70,000 survived.

In Podgórze you can visit, amongst other things:

• remnants of the ghetto walls – note the tombstone shape
• Heroes of the Ghetto Square. Randomly scattered bronze chairs are a memorial to the liquidation of the ghetto in 1943 when only furniture remained. Some of the chairs face toward side streets in order to remember the children murdered there and one faces in the direction of Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory as a sign of hope
• Oskar Schindler’s Factory Museum – a fascinating museum telling the story of Kraków under Nazi occupation. Check the museum site for current opening times and visitor information. Advance booking is recommended

14. Day Trip to Auschwitz Birkenau

I would highly recommend setting aside one day in Kraków for visiting Auschwitz concentration camp. Not a fun day out by any means, but one that will remain with you for a long time.

If you are interested in visiting Auschwitz, then do read my Auschwitz post to learn more about getting there and what you can expect to see.  I booked this Auschwitz tour:

Extra Time in Krakow?

If you are planning to spend longer in Krakow or you’re looking for something more to do, then you may want to consider:

• taking a group day trip to the Wieliczka Salt Mines
• enjoying a cruise along the Vistula River
• soaking in hot springs on a day trip to Zakopane
• joining a walking tour
• indulge in a vodka and food tasting experience

You can review all options from individual activities to day trips here:

Final Thoughts

Kraków is a fascinating city to visit and with so many things to do and places to see, I could easily have added extra nights to my 3 night stay! That said, my list of 14 of the best things to see in Kraków was more than achievable in that time…just don’t forget to pack comfortable walking shoes!

If you need any further help in planning your visit to Kraków, do check out my Resources page.

Disclaimer – Prices were correct at the time of writing but do check before visiting.