Crowned with an impressive royal castle and dotted with church spires and world-class museums, Kraków combines the historic with the cosmopolitan.
The streets of the former Jewish quarter Kazimierz and nearby Auschwitz are sobering reminders of 20th-century tragedy, while the crowds thronging Kraków’s main square and the restaurants lining photogenic Old Town lanes buzz with 21st-century joie de vivre. Alongside heavy-hitting attractions exist simpler local pleasures: strolling alongside the Vistula River; dining on hearty home-style cooking in a retro bar mleczny (cafeteria); catching a local band at a legendary dive bar; enjoying a coffee in the hipster enclave Tytano; and gawping at the art nouveau architecture.
Here are the best things to do in Kraków.
1. Wawel Royal Castle and Wawel Cathedral
Overlooking Old Town from its Wawel Hill perch, what was once the seat of Polish royalty for centuries is the city’s most impressive sight, not to mention the symbol of Poland and a source of local pride. Red-roofed, turreted, and ringed by a red-brick wall, this 16th-century Renaissance palace is merely the latest incarnation: royal residences on this very spot have come and gone since the 11th century.
Highlights include the 16th-century tapestries and carved wooden heads in the grand state rooms, the royal private apartments that provide an intimate glimpse into the monarchs’ private lives, and the crown jewels in the treasury.
Give yourself plenty of time to visit the adjoining Wawel Cathedral, where many of Poland’s kings and queens are laid to rest in elaborate tombs, alongside the bones allegedly belonging to the legendary Wawel dragon.
2. Główny Rynek (Main Market Square)
Surrounded by restaurants and overlooked by handsome centuries-old buildings, Główny Rynek (Main Market Square) is the focal point of Old Town and Europe’s largest medieval town square. After you’re done browsing the wares inside the market building, go back to the Middle Ages by descending to the medieval-meets-the-21st-century museum beneath the square.
Clever multimedia displays, holograms, and animated puppets show you medieval market stalls and teach you about vampire prevention burials. Ensure you check the schedule for free entry days and plan your visit accordingly.
3. Auschwitz-Birkenau
You don’t know what will touch you particularly deeply until you get there. For some, it’s the “Death Block” with its torture cells and crematorium. For others, it’s the gas chambers and the endless rows of crematoria chimneys at Birkenau.
In any case, Auschwitz is unlikely to leave you unmoved. More than a million Jews, as well as numerous Poles and Roma, were systematically killed here between 1940 and 1945, and the death camps have been preserved as a brutal, essential history lesson.
Auschwitz is reachable by bus, train, and organized day tours from Kraków. While solo travelers can visit the site without a guide, it’s well worth joining a tour to get the most out of it.
4. Explore Kazimierz
Southeast of Old Town, the Kazimierz neighborhood had been Poland’s most important center of Jewish culture for 500 years. A stroll through its streets is a wonderful way to get to know its historic sights, from the restored Old Synagogue to the Moorish-style Temple Synagogue.
Attend a film screening or concert during the Jewish Culture Festival or browse the flea markets on weekends.
5. Wieliczka Salt Mine
This UNESCO-certified subterranean labyrinth of passages and chambers has been drawing visitors since the 1720s. As part of a “tourist” tour, first-timers descend at least 125m (410ft) below ground and spend two hours in the depths of the former mine.
Highlights include an underground lake, chapels adorned with statues, and a salt cathedral with chandeliers. Remember to dress warmly as temperatures underground can be low.
6. Schindler’s Factory Museum
During WWII, Oscar Schindler saved more than a thousand Jewish inhabitants of the Podgórze ghetto. Schindler’s Factory museum, which was given a major facelift in 2010, became one of Kraków’s must-visit museums. Don’t miss the superb permanent exhibition that tells the story of life during Nazi Occupation.
7. Eat Street Food
Kraków’s street food scene is vibrant and diverse. The city is famous for its obwarzanek (bagels), commonly found at stalls in Old Town. For the best kiełbasa (signature Polish sausage) in town, head to local favorites.
Zapiekanka – half a baguette topped with cheese, mushrooms, and ketchup – is also a must-try. For numerous zapiekanka sellers under one roof, explore food courts at Plac Nowy in Kazimierz.
8. Nowa Huta
To experience the 1950s steelworkers’ lifestyle, catch tram 4 or 10 to this masterpiece of socialist-realist urban planning. Take a guided tour of Nowa Huta in a vintage Trabant for an immersive experience.
9. Klub Awaria
Klub Awaria offers a unique dive bar experience with live local bands and a lively atmosphere. The venue is perfect for a night out filled with music and camaraderie.
10. Cruise along the Vistula
The Vistula River bisects the city and offers beautiful views. Join locals for a morning run along the riverbanks or enjoy an hour-long sightseeing cruise that showcases the city’s landmarks.
11. Swim in Zakrzowek
This lagoon, surrounded by limestone cliffs, became a popular swimming and picnicking spot. Although renovations are ongoing, it remains a lovely destination for a scenic picnic and hiking.
12. Dine at a bar mleczny
Bar mleczny are budget-friendly cafeterias loaded with local flavors. Enjoy traditional dishes such as pierogi and placki ziemniaczane in a nostalgic setting.
13. Summit Kopiec Kościuszki
Catch bus 100 to Kopiec Kościuszki for fantastic views of Wawel Castle and the city. This mound commemorates a fallen Polish general and offers a glimpse into the area’s historical significance.
14. Spend your night out exploring a “lost bar”
Experience Kraków’s hidden drinking dens known as “lost bars,” which provide a unique and charming night out, complete with cocktails and a vintage atmosphere.
15. Hang out in Tytano
This transformed tobacco factory features art studios, exhibition spaces, beer gardens, and cafes, making it a vibrant space for Kraków’s youth to gather and enjoy culture.
