If you are looking for the best things to do in Kraków for a three-day itinerary, or longer, then read on. I originally wrote this post based on a trip Vicky and I took back in 2021, but in November 2023, I re-visited with my brother Liam and brother-in-law Alex. So I have added yet more amazing photographs and even more things to do during your time in sensational Kraków, Poland.
EXPLORE WAWEL CASTLE & THE CATHEDRAL
No visit to Kraków is complete without visiting the iconic Wawel Hill. The Castle once served as the official residence of Polish kings for centuries, and it showcases beautiful Renaissance architecture, royal interiors, tombs belonging to the Cathedral, and stunning museums packed with artifacts. There is so much to do here it will occupy you for a good couple of hours or more. There are also great views out over the Vistula River and the city itself.
THE MUSEUMS OF WAWEL
We visited on a Monday which is a free-entry day, we didn’t know this at the time though. The grounds themselves are always free, tickets are for the exhibitions and museums only. Our free ticket gave us admission to The Armoury, The Lost Wawel exhibition, Art of the Orient, and Wawel Recovered. We were both fascinated by the items on display and loved our time here. Adult tickets for the museum start from around 40zł, depending on how many of the exhibitions you would like to see.
THE ROYAL ARMOURY
A selection of photos from the fantastic Royal Armouries. They had some great exhibits here, including weapons, armour, cannons, and all kinds of other military goodies from hundreds of years ago. It was a fantastic collection.
WAWEL CATHEDRAL
This beautiful cathedral is part of the castle complex, and you can access it through the main courtyard. It is the official seat of the Archbishop of Kraków. You can buy tickets to enter the cathedral from a small kiosk just opposite. These cost 26zł for an adult ticket, which is around £5.50.
VISIT THE ROYAL TOMBS
The crypts at Wawel Cathedral hold the tombs of many Polish kings and their families from the past few hundred years, including the tomb of former President Lech Kaczyński and his wife. There are many other ornate metal and marble caskets on display too.
THE ROYAL SIGISMUND BELL
There are five large bells hanging in the Sigismund tower of Wawel Cathedral, and the Royal Sigismund Bell is the largest of them all and hangs proudly at the top. They made the bell in 1520 and named it after King Sigismund I of Poland.
It weighs 15 tonnes and needs twelve bell-ringers to get it swinging. They still ring the bell on special occasions and national holidays, and it is a national symbol of Poland. Once you climb the tiny staircase up to the bell, the view out over the city is incredible.
SMOK WAWELSKI, THE DRAGON OF WAWEL HILL
Smok Wawelski is a dragon in Polish folklore who lived in a cave under Wawel Hill. His story takes place during the reign of King Krakus, the founder of the city of Kraków. Smok would wander the land, killing villagers, destroying homes, and eating livestock. There are many versions of this story about King Krakus’ plan to kill him with his sons Lech and Krakus II.
The monument to the dragon is at the foot of the hill, opposite the Vistula River. Smok breathes real fire every few minutes and is a great stop for a photograph when you visit the castle.
SAINT MARY’S BASILICA
They built Saint Mary’s Basilica during the 14th century, and it is a fine example of Gothic architecture. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. Every hour on the hour, a trumpeter sounds a tune called the Hejnał mariacki from the tallest tower. They play it four times, facing each of the cardinal-directions. It is a tradition that dates back hundreds of years. The interior of the basilica is beautiful.
In 2010, the funeral for President Lech Kaczyński and his wife took place here after the plane they were travelling in crashed in Smolensk, Russia, killing them both and several members of their political party. They were then laid to rest in the crypt of Wawel Cathedral.
The basilica looks incredible from the outside, day and night. Tickets to visit are available from a small shop to the right of the building at 7 Mariacki Square. You will find this incredible masterpiece in the centre of the city at Rynek Główny.
THE CLOTH HALL
The Cloth Hall stands in the centre of the market square, Rynek Główny. Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, this impressive building is full of shops selling all kinds of gifts and jewellery, and also houses a museum. It dates back to the 13th century. Fire destroyed it during the 16th century, and therefore builders subsequently rebuilt it.
In the market square, you will also see the impressive Town Hall tower and the dismembered head of Eros, the Greek god of love, lying next to it.
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A DAY TRIP TO AUSCHWITZ AND THE SALT MINIES OF WIELICZKA
When we booked our trip to Kraków, we were unsure about visiting the Auschwitz camps. We toyed with the idea for several days. We wanted to go, we obviously knew about the history and everything that happened there. Would it be disrespectful? We didn’t want to be ‘tourists’ in a place like this.
We did eventually decide to visit, and we are so glad we did. It was a moving experience, and one we feel everyone should do at some stage while visiting Kraków.
We booked this trip as part of a full-day experience that included the salt mines through GetYourGuide. It was a fantastic day out with a small group, and we never felt rushed. Our guides were incredible, and we couldn’t rate this trip highly enough.
Read our post about this moving experience How to visit Auschwitz from Kraków, Poland. Book a trip with Get Your Guide: Full-Day Auschwitz-Birkenau & Salt Mine Guide Tour.
MINES OF WIELICZKA
After our trip to Auschwitz, we would go to the Salt Mines. We arrived at the mines a short drive later. The tour organiser gave the group an hour for lunch. We were all led to a restaurant just over the road from the mine, and we were told a time to regroup for our tickets. The entire group then disappeared into the restaurant. Not me and Vicky though, we like to do our own thing, and eating with the group wasn’t really our cup of tea.
Instead, we walked down into the town of Wieliczka and found a great little cafe selling coffee and cake. After our snack, we visited a couple of shops, bought some gifts, we then made our way back to the mine.
We had two hours to look around the mine. They handed us over to one of the mine’s own tour guides for this next part. As we explored, we were all given a full history, and we were told all about the people who worked there and how the mine was dug and constructed. Parts of the mine date back hundreds of years, and other parts date back to the Neolithic period. At one time, salt was worth more than gold.
ADMIRE THE SALT CARVINGS
There are underground brine lakes, cart tracks, chapels and, of course, what everyone comes to see, its famous statues and carvings all made of salt. Carved by miners over the years. Miners carved some directly into the walls and floors and created others from huge salt blocks.
The mine was in operation until 1996 and is another one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. The mine reaches down to 327 meters and has hundreds of kilometers of chambers and passageways.
CHURCH OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI IN KRAKÓW
We found this little church purely by accident when doing some morning research. It is only small, but it is so beautiful inside. You can find it at the end of Grodzka. The Church of Saint Francis of Assisi has incredible stained glass windows and even a copy of the Shroud of Turin.
CHURCH OF SAINT JOSEPH
Over the Vistula River, you will find the incredible Church of Saint Joseph. Built in a Gothic-style in the early 1900s.
CHURCH OF SAINTS PETER & PAUL
During my first to over to Kraków with Vicky, this church was closed. However, on the second trip it was open for visitors, and I am so glad it was because underneath and open for exploration was a crypt! One of our favourite things to see. Admission was free, and you can find this stunning little church on Grodzka, the main street from the square that leads to Wawel Castle.
VISIT THE JEWISH QUARTER
The Jewish Quarter, Kazimierz, is a popular, vibrant part of the city filled with synagogues, street art, cafes, and nightlife. Visit the Remuh cemetery and synagogue. It’s a powerful reminder of Kraków’s Jewish heritage.
OSKAR SCHINDLER’S FACTORY MUSEUM
During our first visit to Kraków, this was closed because of a public holiday. However, when Liam, Alex, and I visited, it was open. It is such a great museum, and tells the story of Oskar Schindler, who saved local Jews during the Nazi occupation of the city. If you have ever seen the motion picture, then this is a must.
The exhibits here are really interactive and informative and serve as another reminder of terrible events during the time of World War II. The building of the museum was Oskar’s administrative office, and you can find it at Lipowa 4, a nice 35-minute walk from the town centre. Admission is free on Mondays, and adult tickets are 60zł.
Schindler’s Factory Tour with Entrance Ticket. Get to know the story of Oskar Schindler on a guided tour. Learn about Nazi-occupied Krakow with a professional English-speaking guide.
THE EMPTY CHAIRS OF KRAKÓW
This memorial symbolises the departure of the Jews who once lived in the ghetto that once stood here. Most of the people were sent to the Nazi death camps. There are 70 chairs, each representing 1000 people, all spaced out across the square with an old German guardhouse on the north end.
I didn’t realise this, but at the time of writing this blog and doing some more research. Apparently, the chairs face the direction of the crematoriums that they sent the Jews from Kraków to. Many of the chairs had candles and small floral tributes placed on or around them, all tying in with the fact it was independence and remembrance day.
REMUH CEMETERY & SYNAGOGUE
We had to head back over the river into the Kazimierz district, the Jewish Quarter. Here you will find many museums, art galleries, bars and restaurants, some of the best in Kraków.
This cemetery is the last resting place of many notable Polish-Jews and rabbis. During the Second World War, Nazis who were active in the area destroyed many parts of the cemetery. They tore down walls, and many of the stones they moved, destroyed and used as paving slabs in some concentration camps.
The Remuh Synagogue, the smallest temple in the Kazimierz district, and dates back to the 16th century. It has changed over many years, and the Nazis even used it as a storage facility during the occupation. Before entering the temple, they asked me to wear a small kippah, a Jewish skullcap, and these were available outside from a man selling tickets to enter the grounds. Both the synagogue and cemetery sit on the main road Szeroka.
If you are looking to explore more Jewish history, read our post: How to spend three days in Prague, Czech Republic, where we visit another beautiful cemetery within the Jewish part of Prague.
WANDER AROUND THE CITY
There are dozens more churches, museums, and other curiosities around the city that we just didn’t have time to see. We visited several churches and walked miles through the streets, admiring the architecture, taking in the sights, and soaking up the atmosphere.
During our walk around, we passed the Kraków Barbican, Saint Florian’s Gate, and the Grundwald Monument, an enormous statue dedicated to King Władysław Jagiełło and the Battle of Grunwald in 1410. We also found the parish church, Bazylika św. Floriana w Krakowie, in which John Paul II practiced as a priest before becoming Pope.
RELAX IN THE PUBLIC PARKS
There are several public parks and gardens that surround the city of Krakow. These looked amazing during our time here. It was late autumn, so the trees and leaves were all in golden-brown hues. I can only imagine what they look like in spring and summer when everything is green and flowers are in full bloom.
IDEAS FOR FOOD & DRINK IN KRAKOW
Visit the Wodka Cafe Bar. This bar had an incredible range of flavoured vodkas, served on ‘flight’ boards. Each with a place for six separate shots. The bar itself is small and gets very busy. There are many flavours of vodka here, including toffee, blackcurrant, lemon, pear, walnut, hazelnut, coffee and cherry, to name but a few.
We ordered a board of six flavours each and two local beers. You can order individual glasses, but why would you! If you would like to learn more about Polish vodka, you can take part in a private tour and visit more bars throughout the city, like this one: Private Vodka Tasting Tour. Address: Mikołajska 5.
EAT PIEROGI AT PIEROGARNIA KRAKOWIACY
We found this great little place, just on the edge of the city, called Pierogarnia Krakowiacy. They label it as ‘self-service’, but this doesn’t mean you help yourself to food. It just means you have to order your food at the counter.
The pierogi were incredible. Seriously good, and amazing value for money. We both chose a plate of 9 dumplings and shared each flavour. I ordered Chłopskie dumplings, which were filled with potato, bacon and onion, and Vicky the Z mięsem i kapustą, which were stuffed with pork, cabbage and onion. Address: Szewska 23, 31-009.
RESTAURACJA SUKIENNICE
This restaurant is within the Cloth Hall in the Market Square. It serves good old-fashioned hearty food. Prices are reasonable considering its location. It was warm, welcoming, and the staff were really friendly. They serve seasonal dishes and traditional favourites like dumplings, schnitzel, sausages and soups.
ZAPIEKANKI PIECYK
Zapiekanki (pronounced “zah-pyeh-KAHN-kee”) are a popular Polish street food, basically an open-faced toasted sandwich, often compared to a mini pizza on bread. Half a baguette topped with sauteed mushrooms, melted cheese, and various toppings, then usually smothered in ketchup or garlic mayo. Delicious!
If you are looking for a good Zapiekanki, then look no further than Zapiekanki Piecyk. You will find them at Plac Nowy in the heart of the Jewish Quarter. Plac Nowy is a market square with a large round building in the middle. It has several units that sell Zapiekanki and other food, but this seemed the busiest and had many locals ordering. It was so good that we ate here twice.
This was a place we found during my second visit to the city. I have already promised Vicky a return trip so she can try them too.
PACZKI, POLISH ‘DONUTS’
Whenever we travel around Europe, we always grab coffee and a sweet bite to eat for breakfast. We found this amazing place called Dobra Pączkarnia. A small bakery, selling freshly made pączki (pronounced “pohnch-kee”) a type of donut, from a small window. We had to find coffee elsewhere as they didn’t sell it, but these were absolutely delicious.
They had a selection of flavours, including traditional Rose Jam, Nutella, Plum, Kinder Bueno, Marzipan, and many more. You can find this store at Grodzka 3.
KARMELLO CHOCOLATE
It was freezing at the time of our trip, and we were looking for something to warm us up. Vicky had a craving for hot chocolate. So we ventured inside. Handmade chocolates, hot chocolate, coffee, and the most amazing chocolate cakes were on display. The company is Polish and based in Bielsko-Biała.
There are several stores and cafes throughout Poland and several franchises across the world. We both chose a takeout, hot milk-chocolate drink, had a short walk up Grodzka where we bought pączki, and then sat on a wall in the market square to enjoy our sweet bounty.
EAT A TRADITIONAL BAGEL
If you would like to try something different for breakfast, you could try one of Kraków’s traditional bagels, Obwarzanek Krakowski. Sold from small blue carts on most streets, they flavour these tasty breads with poppy seeds, sea salt, or just plain. Get them early morning when they are at their freshest.
MORE THINGS TO DO IN KRAKÓW
Zakopane and Thermal Springs Tour with Hotel Pickup. Visit Zakopane and relax in the Chocholow Thermal Hot Springs on a tour from Krakow. Admire the Tatra Mountains by cable car, walk the quaint streets of Zakopane, and taste local cheese and alcohol.
Sightseeing Cruise on the Vistula River. This boat tour offers you a completely new way of getting to know Krakow. Relax as you float down the Vistula River on a modern vessel and take in many of Krakow’s most beautiful highlights along the way.
Creepy Krakow: 2-Hour City Walking Tour. Are you into ghost stories? Have you heard about the serial killers of Krakow? Uncover the dark secrets of Krakow on a 2–hour walking tour after sunset.
MORE IDEAS FOR A TRIP TO POLAND
Poland is one of our favourite places. So, if you are looking for more inspiration for a trip to this incredible country, look no further! I am sure we will add many more Polish destinations to our list in the months to come.
Visit Gdańsk – The best things to do on a city break in beautiful Gdańsk, Poland or take a trip to Warsaw – 25 amazing things to do in Warsaw, Poland.
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