Top things to do in Kraków
Attractions, tours and activities in Kraków
Recommended museums in Kraków
Where to discover culture and the arts in Kraków
Kraków: the city's best neighbourhoods
Find a great area to stay in Kraków
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Old Town
In the city centre
There’s a sense that things are constantly in flux in Krakow’s historic heart. Each of the colourful multi-level buildings that flank Stare Miasto Square are disproportionately sized, like gears that were stopped mid-locomotion. Join the rush of folks that pour into restaurants and bars for an evening of merriment.
Places to stay from € 5.16 per night
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Grzegórzki
0.9 miles from city centre
Grzegórzki has the holy trinity of malls with Galeria Kazimierz, M1 and CH Plaza. All offer the expected – clothes, books and bric-a-brac. But it’s a pint-sized sausage stand known as "kiełbaski z niebieskiej nyski" that attracts folks by the dozen for a nibble of its famous fare. It’s right next to Hala Targowa, filled with flea-market finds from a bygone era. Join the queue.
Places to stay from € 7.03 per night
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Zwierzyniec
1.4 miles from city centre
Everything good comes in threes. Zwierzyniec's Zoo holds half-an-Ark's worth of screeching, squawking animals that will delight children. Cracovia is a major football stadium, and wild and unkempt Blonia is Europe's largest urban meadow, filled with walking trails. Yes, you're spoiled for choice!
Places to stay from € 5.86 per night
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Debniki
1.5 miles from city centre
Krakow is enveloped by natural beauty. However, if you don’t fancy the 100km-hike to the breathtaking Jurassic Highlands, Debniki delivers in droves. Zakrzówek Nature Park has kiwi-green and crimson meadows, moderate walking trails and brims with places to picnic. Alternately, try Lasy Tynieckie Park – the gorgeous Benedictine Monastery dovetails the forest and the Vistula River.
Places to stay from € 17.93 per night
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Lagiewniki
2.9 miles from city centre
Walk Lagiewniki’s modest suburban streets and you’ll most likely see busloads of tourists bound for one destination. The black-and-white, modernist Sanctuary of Divine Mercy is a major pilgrimage site for Catholics. For the rest, it’s a sleepy suburb set to a backdrop of pines and linden trees, with a road leading far off into the Zakopane Mountains.
Places to stay from € 22.78 per night
About Kraków
Including tips for the best time to visit Kraków
Legend has it that Kraków was built on top of a dragon's cave, and there is somewhat of a fairytale aura that surrounds the city, with its sprinkling of charming squares, palaces and cathedrals. Enclosed by forested parkland, the mesmerising old town is home to the Wawel castle hill which overlooks the River Vistula.
Take a deep dive into Kraków's history by visiting one of its National Museum branches (free on Sundays) or the Kraków Historical Museum, including an underground walkway below the current Market Square. The city is also home to Collegium Maius, which aside from being a stellar example of 15th-century Gothic architecture, is also the oldest surviving university building in Poland. You can visit by guided tour and observe age-old astronomic instruments used by former pupil Copernicus.
As Poland's second-largest city, Kraków also has a vibrant nightlife scene, with hundreds of bars hidden down cellars and courtyards from the old town to Kazimierz and beyond. If you're travelling between the end of November and December, you'll also have the opportunity to experience the oldest Christmas market in Poland in the market square.
Located around 14 km of the city is the Wieliczka Salt Mine, an incredible ensemble of pits, chambers and tunnels reaching up to 327 metres underground. You can explore this enticing labyrinth via a tour route covering two kilometres of meandering corridors. There's also the chance to visit the on-site Saltworks Museum, which provides information on the mine's history and its therapeutic properties.
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| Most popular time to visit | October–December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January–March |
| Local currency | 10 zł = € 2.35 |
| Language | Polish |
| Average weekend price | € 79.79 per night |
| Average weekday price | € 85.89 per night |
| Typical stay | 2 nights |
Points of interest in Kraków
Stay near the top sightseeing spots in Kraków
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Main Market Square
0.1 miles from city centre
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Galeria Krakowska
0.5 miles from city centre
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Wawel Royal Castle
0.6 miles from city centre
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Divine Mercy Sanctuary in Krakow-Lagiewniki
3 miles from city centre
Kraków reviews
What other travellers say about Kraków
Auschwitz - Birkenau tour is a must.
20 May 2025
Auschwitz - Birkenau tour is a must. I wouldn’t pay for the Oscar Schindler tour but would visit independently. I think would have got more out of that. It is about the history of Krakòw rather the Oscar Schindler himself. Salt mines worth visiting we did the tourist route and do the museum tour as well an extra hour but we found much smaller group. So definitely worth it. Graduation tower I think on a hot day would get a lot more from it than a cold damp day that we visited. Transport very easy and reliable. We used google maps to help us get around walking / buses / trams & trains Places to eat soup culture for yummy soups in edible cones. Yellow Monkey for coffee & cakes Moja for great brunch. Od jajuka do Jabtka also excellent breakfast.
Everything!
18 May 2025
Everything! There is so much history here. The people were very welcoming and helpful. The food was great. The streets were spotless and the trains ran on time. We went on 2 trips. One to Austwitz/Birkenau and the other to the saltmine. Both trips were very worthwhile and easily arranged.
Krakow is not a well known major city, but has so much...
16 May 2025
Krakow is not a well known major city, but has so much history. We would consider going there again. Easy to get around and we always felt safe throughout our three days there. The free walking tour (blue umbrellas) that leaves from the market square was extremely informative and the guide was excellent - sharing the history of the city.
Krakow is a revelation, such a beautiful city packed with a...
16 May 2025
Krakow is a revelation, such a beautiful city packed with a thousand years of history and culture. Packed with museums,churches and places of interest to visit a week will not be long enough to see everything the city has to offer. Most people in shops and restaurants speak good English and are both helpful and courteous. Night life is prolific, bars, jazz clubs, music venues abound. Restaurants serve everything from famous Polish dishes like pierogi to the most sophisticated epicurean delights….Krakow offers it all. Must visits are Wieliczka salt mine and a visit to Auschwitz…..be aware Auschwitz can be a deeply moving and unsettling experience, it is a place of death and respectful behaviour is expected.
Krakow is a really beautiful city that is easily walkable...
16 May 2025
Krakow is a really beautiful city that is easily walkable with good choice of restaurants (go local wherever possible). Obviously weighed down with the history which is pervasive but helps round out visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau and Schindler museum. Trip to the salt mines also a must. Check the museums before you go as websites are not up to date with location of featured artworks. People very friendly. A really good base for the historical visits. Look at taking train to Auschwitz as an alternative to car
The main square was our favourite place to be with a glass...
13 May 2025
The main square was our favourite place to be with a glass of wine in the evening and wonderful restaurants. We took a city tour early in an electric golf buggy which was so valuable as we knew where to go after. We visited Auschwitz-Birkenau which was incredibly moving but a must visit to remember what happened. We visited the Ghetto and the Jewish Quarter. We will be back to explore further. Krakow is a beautiful city so clean and with lively people!
Popular places to stay in Kraków
Stay in some of the best accommodation Kraków has to offer
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Main Square Apartments Old Town, Kraków
From € 146 per night
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K4 APARTHOTEL KRAKÓW Old Town, Kraków
From € 136 per night
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AGA Tenis Apartments by Radwańska Old Town, Kraków
From € 161 per night
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Relaks Apartamenty Old Town, Kraków
From € 107 per night
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NOOK NOOK Apartments Kazimierza Wielkiego 104 Krowodrza, Kraków
From € 68 per night
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Other accommodation in Kraków
Choose from a wide variety of places to stay in Kraków
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Apartments
From € 7.03 per night
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Villas
From € 37.49 per night
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Cottages
From € 37.49 per night
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Serviced apartments
From € 15.94 per night
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Holiday homes
From € 72.18 per night
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Guest houses
From € 10.63 per night
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Hostels
From € 5.16 per night
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B&Bs
From € 5.86 per night
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Homestays
From € 9.49 per night
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Self catering accommodation
From € 6.33 per night
