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 £4 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 £6 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 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 £15 per night
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Lagiewniki
3 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 £19 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.
Tonight
From £30 per night
This weekend
From £116 per night
Next weekend
From £113 per night
| Most popular time to visit | October–December |
| Cheapest time to visit | January–March |
| Local currency | 10 zł = £1.98 |
| Language | Polish |
| Average weekend price | £59 per night |
| Average weekday price | £63 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
Lovely city with lots to do.
4 May 2024
Lovely city with lots to do. Very flat and easy to get around. Really great restaurants (highly recommend Starka restaurant jozefa 14 and Czarna kaczka poselska 22) with plenty of choice in both the old Town and Jewish quarter. Everyone spoke English so also very easy to communicate. The cost of food etc was very reasonable as compared with the UK, so can have a good value break here. We went on two 'free' walking tours - one in the old city and one in the Jewish quarter (with walkative tours) - both lasted 2.5hrs and were very good. We also went on a day long tour to Auschwitz and the salt mine (with Mr Shuttle) - obviously going to Auschwitz was very sobering, but we were glad we went. We had a great time - hope you do too!
Beautiful clean city.
3 May 2024
Beautiful clean city. Very safe. Good public transport. Easy to communicate with the local people. I particularly liked the Jewish quarter. There's a very nice restaurant there called Ariel, it used to be a Rabbi's home. I recommend eating indoors for the best experience. I have uploaded photos.The day trips we went on were to Auschwitz Birkenau and the Salt Mine, I highly recommend them.
Had 3 full days in this beautiful city.
3 May 2024
Had 3 full days in this beautiful city. Did Auschwitz, Salt Mines and Zakopane which included funicular and thermal baths. Plenty of walking was undertaken from the Jewish District down to Podgorze to see Oskar Schindlers factory and the remains of the Ghetto Wall by way of Lover's Bridge and acrobat sculptures and a lovely walk along the river. Heading in the other direction took you to Wawel Castle and via Planty Park to the Old Town Square. A fabulous city and I would highly recommend it to friends
A very pleasant traditional city, full of beauty accessable...
1 May 2024
A very pleasant traditional city, full of beauty accessable at walking distances: excellent architecture, amazing main square, and nice, vivid parks around the whole old town.. Cleanness, restaurants and pubs, public life, public transportation, shopping options at the top level. A lot of young people everywhere.
There are several aspects of the city that we loved, so I...
29 April 2024
There are several aspects of the city that we loved, so I will break it down: - The cultural scene is amazing, with our recommendations are visiting the Wawel Castle, Schindler's factory and the Underground museum - The city is great for walks and leisure as there is a lot of green parks. A walk along the river is a must. - Restaurant/bar scene - probably one of the best cities in Europe for that. Some must visits - any Milk bar, the Witcher's tavern(Wolf den), the Forum if you are into everything in one place - eating, dancing and bar. And just about any bar at the center, but there are some gems like Szklanki, Mash Room, Kochanka
Krakow is a lovely samll city, very easy to find your way...
29 April 2024
Krakow is a lovely samll city, very easy to find your way around. Its clean, safe and welcoming. I did the walking tours of the old town and jewish quarter. I find the free walking tours by locals of any city are a brilliant way to get your bearings and learn things about the city you might not with a tour guide. I found the local guides super interesting and enthusiastic about the city. Don't forget to bring cash with you to tip at the end. Schlinders Factory and Pharmasists Shop are worth a look in the jewish quarter. Wawel Castle is also a must, a lot to do there but its broken down into different tours so you can choose what you'd like to do. The main market square Rynek Glowny is a great place to wander around, listen out for the Trumpeter on the hour from the tower, sit and have lunch and people watch. I also did the River Cruise, it was a bit slow and boring for me but not expensive and it was nice and chill! Food in Krakow has a strong Italian influence but there is plenty to choose from for all tastes. I'm vegetarian and found it great.
Popular places to stay in Kraków
Stay in some of the best accommodation Kraków has to offer
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K4 APARTHOTEL KRAKÓW Old Town, Kraków
From £112 per night
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Topolowa Residence LoftAffair Collection Grzegórzki, Kraków
From £87 per night
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EXCLUSIVE Aparthotel Kraków Lubicz 40 Grzegórzki, Kraków
From £75 per night
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H11 Aparthotel Old Town, Kraków
From £99 per night
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New Port - Hotel na Wiśle Debniki, Kraków
From £134 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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From £6 per night
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From £32 per night
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Cottages
From £32 per night
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Serviced Apartments
From £13 per night
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Holiday Homes
From £61 per night
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Guest Houses
From £9 per night
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Hostels
From £4 per night
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From £5 per night
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From £8 per night
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From £5 per night
