The Best Things to Do in Krakow on a City Break

Krakow attractions at a glance

Top things to do in Krakow's Old Town

Krakow's Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and almost everything worth seeing on a first visit is within a short walk of the central square.

Main Market Square

The Rynek Główny is one of the largest medieval market squares in Europe and the natural starting point for any visit. It's lined with grand townhouses, cafés and restaurants, and it's busy from morning until late at night. Come early to see it quiet, then return in the evening when it's lit up.

Beneath the square, the Rynek Underground museum shows the medieval trading town that once stood here, with excavated streets and interactive displays.

Look out for the statue of the poet Adam Mickiewicz, a popular meeting point, and the Town Hall Tower, the last surviving part of the old town hall. In summer you can climb it for views over the square's rooftops.

Cloth Hall

The long Renaissance building in the middle of the square is the Cloth Hall, or Sukiennice. Its arcade has been a marketplace for centuries and is still full of stalls selling amber, wooden toys, lace and souvenirs. Upstairs, a gallery of the National Museum displays 19th-century Polish art.

Baltic amber is the classic souvenir. Prices vary a lot between stalls, so take your time and buy from shops that offer a certificate if you're spending more than a few pounds.

St Mary's Basilica

St Mary's Basilica, with its two mismatched towers, is Krakow's best-known church. Inside, the carved wooden altarpiece by Veit Stoss is a masterpiece of Gothic art. Every hour, a trumpeter plays the hejnał from the taller tower, stopping abruptly mid-tune in memory of a watchman said to have been shot while sounding the alarm.

The interior is just as striking, with a deep blue ceiling scattered with gold stars and walls covered in painted decoration. Visitors enter through a side door, and there's a small charge to see the altarpiece and climb the tower, which is open in the warmer months.

Planty Park

The Planty is a ring of gardens around the Old Town, laid out where the medieval walls once stood. It's a pleasant way to walk between sights, and a short section of the old defences survives at St Florian's Gate and the round Barbican.

Just off the Planty, the Collegium Maius is the oldest building of the Jagiellonian University, where Copernicus studied. Its arcaded courtyard has a clock with carved figures that parade at set times each day, and the university museum inside is open for guided tours.

Wawel Castle

On a hill above the river, Wawel was the seat of Polish kings for centuries. The cathedral, where many of Poland's monarchs are buried, is the heart of the complex, and the castle's state rooms and royal apartments are open on separate tickets. Below the hill, the Dragon's Den cave and a fire-breathing dragon statue are a hit with children.

The cathedral's bell tower holds the huge Sigismund Bell, rung only on special occasions, and the crypts hold the tombs of kings, national heroes and poets. The castle's courtyard, with its Renaissance arcades, is free to walk around.

Wawel gets busy in summer and at weekends, so it's worth booking timed tickets for the parts you most want to see.

The castle and cathedral are sold as separate tickets, and some exhibitions have limited daily numbers. If you only have time for one, the cathedral and its royal tombs give the best sense of Wawel's importance to Poland.

Explore Kazimierz and Podgórze

Kazimierz

Kazimierz was for centuries the centre of Jewish life in Krakow. Today it's one of the city's most atmospheric districts, with historic synagogues, including the Old Synagogue and the Remuh Synagogue and cemetery, alongside cafés, galleries and some of the city's best bars.

Plac Nowy, a small square with a round market hall, is famous for zapiekanki, the open baguettes topped with mushrooms and cheese that make a cheap late-night snack. Kazimierz is a good place to spend an evening, when it's livelier than the Old Town.

To understand the district's history, visit the Galicia Jewish Museum, which tells the story of Jewish life in the region before and after the Holocaust. Each summer, Kazimierz hosts the Jewish Culture Festival, with concerts, talks and workshops.

Oskar Schindler's Factory

Across the river in Podgórze, Oskar Schindler's former enamel factory now houses a museum about Krakow under Nazi occupation. It tells the story of the city and its people between 1939 and 1945, with Schindler's own story as one part of a much bigger picture. It's thoughtfully done and very popular, so book a timed ticket in advance.

Nearby, Ghetto Heroes Square has a memorial of large empty chairs, recalling the deportation of the people of the Krakow Ghetto. Next door to the factory, MOCAK, the city's museum of contemporary art, is worth a visit if you have time.

The riverside

The banks of the Vistula are a good place to slow down. Paths run along both sides of the river below Wawel, and the Father Bernatek footbridge links Kazimierz with Podgórze. In summer, boats and riverside bars make this a popular spot at the end of the day.

Wherever you are, try the local food. Pierogi (filled dumplings), żurek (a sour rye soup) and obwarzanki, ring-shaped breads sold from street carts, are all Krakow staples. For a cheap, filling lunch, look for a bar mleczny, or milk bar, a traditional canteen serving simple Polish dishes.

Best day trips from Krakow

Wieliczka Salt Mine

Just outside the city, the Wieliczka Salt Mine is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Poland's most visited attractions. Guided tours lead you down through chambers, lakes and chapels carved by miners over centuries, including the vast Chapel of St Kinga, where even the chandeliers are made from salt.

Allow half a day including travel. There are a lot of stairs on the tour route, and it's cool underground all year, so bring a layer.

You can reach Wieliczka by local train or bus from the city centre in around half an hour, or book a tour that includes transport. Tours run in several languages, including English, throughout the day.

Auschwitz-Birkenau

The Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, in the town of Oświęcim about an hour and a half from Krakow by road, preserves the site of the largest Nazi German concentration and extermination camp, where more than a million people were murdered. A visit is deeply moving and needs a full day.

Entry must be reserved in advance through the memorial's official website, and guided visits are strongly recommended to understand what you're seeing. The memorial does not recommend visits for children under 14. Many people choose to visit on a separate day from lighter sightseeing.

Most visitors travel there on an organised tour from Krakow, which includes transport and a guided visit, though you can also take a bus or train and join a guided group on site. Allow at least three and a half hours at the memorial itself.

Zakopane

Zakopane, around two hours south, is Poland's main mountain resort, in the foothills of the Tatras. It's known for its wooden architecture, hiking, a funicular up Gubałówka hill and, in winter, skiing. It makes a refreshing contrast to the city, though it's a long day there and back.

For a shorter outing, Ojców National Park, about 30 minutes north of the city, has limestone valleys, caves and a ruined castle, and makes an easy half day in the countryside.

How to spend 2 days in Krakow

1. Day 1 morning: start in the Main Market Square, visit St Mary's Basilica and browse the Cloth Hall.
2. Day 1 afternoon: walk through the Planty to Wawel Hill for the cathedral and castle.
3. Day 1 evening: dinner and drinks in Kazimierz.
4. Day 2 morning: cross the river to Podgórze for Oskar Schindler's Factory.
5. Day 2 afternoon: take a guided trip to the Wieliczka Salt Mine.
6. Day 2 evening: an evening walk along the Vistula, or back to the Old Town for a final meal on the square.

This plan keeps the walking manageable, as the Old Town, Wawel and Kazimierz are all close together. If you're visiting in winter, swap the riverside walk for a warm café or one of the city's cellar bars.

With a third day, add Auschwitz-Birkenau or Zakopane. If you're planning around flights and a hotel, you can check current Krakow city break deals for packages that include both.

Krakow city break planning tips

• How long to stay: two or three days covers the city; four or five lets you add day trips without rushing.
• Getting there: flights from London take around two and a half hours, and many regional UK airports also fly to Krakow. A train links the airport with the main station in around 20 minutes.
• Getting around: the Old Town and Kazimierz are walkable, and trams cover the rest of the city. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are widely used.
• Currency: Poland uses the złoty, not the euro. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but small market stalls may prefer cash.
• When to visit: late spring and early autumn are mild and less crowded. Summer is warm and busy, while December brings a Christmas market to the Main Market Square and cold, often frosty weather. Pack for the season: summer days can reach the mid-twenties, while winter temperatures often sit around freezing.

Krakow is one of several cities in our European city break deals, which are updated every morning. Early flights are common on this route, so it's worth booking parking at your UK airport before you go.