If you’re planning a trip to Poland, spending a few days in and around Krakow should absolutely be at the top of your list! Here's a list of tips and tricks for planning the ideal vacation in this one-of-a-kind city.
Kraków is absolutely captivating. It has all of the quintessential European charm, but mixed in with the colorful buildings and endearing folklore is a fascinating yet sobering history. Krakow is a trendy city that connects the old with the new and is perfect for the history learners, beauty seekers, and foodie lovers.
ILP Volunteers Get To Travel All Over Europe During Their Semesters Abroad
Check out our guide to European destinations
If you have the time, I'd recommend spending weeks here, but if you're like most travelers packing in as much of Europe as they can, you likely have only a few days to spare. You can easily see the highlights of Krakow in a weekend. Just a fair warning, though, you'll likely leave already wanting to plan your next trip back! This city is a favorite for so many of the ILP volunteers we work with.
Here's a collection of our best insider tips that will make your time in Krakow more than memorable.
- Top Things To See + Do
- My Favorite Foods + Restaurants
- Where I'd Stay In Krakow
- Easy Ways To Get To Krakow
- Getting Around Krakow With This App
Top Things To See + Do
Start In Old Town
Krakow's Old Town is as historic as it is beautiful. It's the highlight and because so many of the sites you want to see are here, we suggesting starting in this area.
It's also really convenient for travelers—it sits just a block from the train station, is surrounded by hotels and hostels, and is pedestrian-only (aside from the horse and carriage rides available for hire). You might want to consider staying in or on the outskirts of Old Town just for the ease of it.
Everything in Old Town is within walking distance along cobblestone streets, but there's so much to see that you'll be getting quite a few steps in. Bring good walking shoes becuase there is SO much to see and do in Krakow! This city is packed with culture and beautiful architecture, so a lot of your itinerary could really be just walking around to soak in all of the sites.
Like I mentioned, the best part of Kraków’s Old Town is that almost everything is walkable, so you can spend the day castle-hopping and café-sitting without ever needing public transportation. Here are a few of the main spots to see within Old Town:
Main Market Square
The heart of the city and one of the largest medieval squares in Europe. This is where you’ll find street performers, cafés, horse carriages, and people hanging out at all hours. It's a great spot to grab a bite for lunch when you need a break mid-day.
The Cloth Hall
Located in the heart of Kraków’s Old Town, the Cloth Hall has been a center of trade and shopping since the 1300s. Today, it’s one of the best places in the city to pick up souvenirs and locally made gifts. Inside, you’ll find rows of small vendor stalls selling everything from leather bags and amber jewelry to wooden toys, chess sets, lace goods, mugs, and traditional Polish crafts.
One tip before you buy: do a full lap around the hall first. Many vendors sell similar items, but prices can vary widely from stall to stall. And if nothing catches your eye inside, check out the small shops lining the outside of the building too — you’ll usually find even more unique souvenirs and hidden gems there.
Find it here
St. Mary's Basilica
This church is famous for its two uneven towers, colorful Gothic details, and the trumpet call that blasts from the taller tower every hour on the hour. (Yes, every single hour.) According to local legend, the melody cuts off mid-note because a medieval trumpeter was interrupted during a warning signal when the city was under attack. Dramatic? Absolutely. And honestly, hearing it echo across the square while people stop to look up is one of those little travel moments that makes Kraków feel unforgettable.
Even if you’re not usually a “tour churches on vacation” person, St. Mary’s is worth the stop. The outside is already impressive, but the real surprise is inside — bright blue ceilings covered in gold stars, insanely detailed wood carvings, and huge stained glass windows that somehow make the whole place feel both massive and cozy at the same time. It’s also right in the middle of the action, so it’s easy to pop into between grabbing pierogi, people-watching in the square, or heading out for nightlife in the Old Town. Basically: low effort, high reward sightseeing.
Good to know: there is a small ticket fee for entry.
Tour Wawel Castle
Sitting on a hill above the Vistula River, Wawel Royal Castle is basically Kraków’s ultimate main-character landmark. For centuries, it was home to Polish kings and queens, and today it’s one of the most famous historic sites in the country. The castle complex mixes medieval, Renaissance, and Gothic architecture, so every courtyard, tower, and hallway feels a little different — and extremely photogenic. Even if you don’t go inside every exhibit, just walking around the grounds gives you amazing views over the city and serious “European fairytale” energy.
One of the coolest parts about Wawel is that it doesn’t feel like a stuffy museum. You can explore royal chambers, hidden courtyards, cathedral towers, and even a legendary dragon cave beneath the hill. (Yes, Kraków fully embraces the dragon lore.) It’s also super easy to pair with a walk through Old Town or along the river, making it one of those places that feels essential without requiring an entire day of planning.
It is definitely one of the most important sites in Krakow, and you can come here to see various sculptures, tapestries, paintings, armor, furniture, or simply enjoy the beautiful gardens outside. Plan on spending a couple of hours exploring the expansive grounds and interior.
Visit the official website for all the information about exhibitions and ticket sales.
Church of Saints Peter and Paul
This church is located along the historic Grodzka Street between the Main Market Square and Wawel Castle. It’s an easy stop while walking through the center of the city.
It stands out because it looks different from a lot of the Gothic buildings nearby — it has a huge Baroque façade with dramatic statues of the apostles lining the front gates. Inside, the church is massive and bright, with giant columns and ornate details that feel almost theatrical. It’s also known for its hanging Foucault pendulum, which demonstrates the Earth’s rotation and gives the place a slightly nerdy science-meets-history bonus point for students and travelers alike.
The crypt of this Jesuit church now serves as the final resting place for some of the Poles who have made distinguished contributions to the arts and sciences. Lining the gates to the entrance are statues of the twelve apostles. The baroque interior of this church is much less colorful than some of its neighbors, but is still worth a visit.
Historical Sites
Kraków isn’t just one of the prettiest cities in Europe — it’s also one of the most historically important. Beyond the castles and cafés, the city has deep connections to World War II and Jewish history, and visiting some of these sites gives you a much fuller understanding of Poland’s past. Many of them are emotional experiences, but they’re also some of the most meaningful and memorable places you can visit during your trip.
Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory
One of the most impactful museums in Kraków, this former factory tells the story of Nazi occupation in the city during World War II. The exhibits are immersive and well-designed, walking visitors through daily life in occupied Kraków while also highlighting how Oskar Schindler helped save more than 1,000 Jewish people during the Holocaust. Even if you’ve seen Schindler’s List, the museum adds a much deeper layer to the story.
We've written an entire post about visiting Schindler's Factory to help you plan your trip, so make sure to check that out.
Kazimierz
Kraków’s historic Jewish Quarter is one of the coolest neighborhoods in the city, blending history with modern cafés, bars, street art, and local restaurants. Before World War II, Kazimierz was the center of Jewish life in Kraków, and today you can still visit historic synagogues, cemeteries, and memorial sites throughout the area. It’s a great place to wander for an afternoon, especially because it feels both deeply historic and very alive at the same time.
Make sure you check out our guide to the Jewish Quarter before you head over there.
Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum
About an hour outside Kraków, Auschwitz is one of the most important historical sites in Europe. The former Nazi concentration and extermination camp serves as a memorial to the victims of the Holocaust and is an incredibly sobering but meaningful place to visit. Most travelers take a guided tour from Kraków, and while it’s not an “easy” sightseeing stop, it’s often described as one of the most powerful experiences of their trip.
Touring Auschwitz can easily take up a full day. We've got all our tips on how to plan a visit to Auschwitz and what to expect here.
Favorite Foods + Restaurants
Good Lood Ice Cream
It’s not just our volunteers who call this place the "best ice cream in Krakow”. Even when it’s not hot outside, you’ll want to come here for a sweet treat. Plus, they have new flavors that rotate daily, so you'll need to visit at least 20 times, right? Fresh raspberry, salted caramel and banana, roasted almond, honey and sunflower, creamy peanut butter, white chocolate and hazelnut, cashew, strawberry waffle, caramel with pink Himalayan salt, and more are some of the tempting flavors at the ice cream place. Unreal.
Still wondering how good this place is? I accidentally missed my bus from Krakow to Kosice and wasn't even mad because I could go back to Good Lood.
They have multiple locations, including one conveniently close to Old Town. Visit their website for more info.
Restauracja The Piano Rouge
A more“special occasion” pick, this restaurant has prices similar to what you’d find at a nicer restaurant in America, but the place has a fun atmosphere and has a menu that covers everything from pastas to goat cheese salads, to Polish classics like dumplings. Oh, and fun desserts like creme brûlée, tiramisu, and cheesecake.
Find them on Instagram
Address: Rynek Główny 46, 30-001 Kraków, Poland
Bagels
Fun fact: bagels are widely believed to have originated in the Jewish communities of Poland, and Kraków has a strong claim in that history. Historians trace early bagel references back to Kraków in the 1600s, and the city’s famous obwarzanek krakowski (a chewy ring-shaped bread sold from blue street carts) is considered a close cousin — and possibly even a predecessor — to the modern bagel.
In Old Town, you’ve got a few great options depending on whether you want a traditional Kraków-style snack or more of a classic café bagel situation, so keep your eyes peeled for options as you wander.
Some Fun Street Food
These aren’t really established restaurants, but we still love grabbing these for a quick snack or meal when you’re out and about. There are food trucks that meet in Judah Square pretty much every day from 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM (or 1:00 AM on Saturdays and 11:00 PM on Sundays), which is a fun place to eat.
Order the crepes and the baked potatoes from these trucks. These baked potatoes are so bomb, you won't regret eating one for lunch and going back for dinner (may or may not be a true story).
Where I'd Stay In Krakow
There are no shortages of places to stay in Krakow! We've had groups stay at popular hostels and some have opted for an Airbnb. I'd just recommend picking somewhere that is close to the main square or Old Town (since that's likely where you'll be spending most of your time). Again, we have transportation info below to help you make your bus connections when traveling to and from the airport or other places in the city, but I'd recommend staying somewhere that's within walking distance to most of your destinations.
There are plenty of options when staying in Krakow, but here are a few places ILP groups have recommended in the past:
Dizzy Daisy Hostel
About a 10-minute walk to the main highlights of Krakow, Dizzy Daisy Hostel is bright, and pretty spacious. There's a free city map available to help you get around (breakfast is not included which means you'll need to head out to a local bakery for that).
Greg & Tom’s Hostel
Free breakfast and free dinner at this hostel, located right on the main square. It’s a popular spot for backpackers who want to make friends and have fun, but ILP volunteers especially loved the good deals for Auschwitz tours and the free dinner. There are a few different locations of this hostel (some focus more on the party atmosphere) so make sure you're booking the one you think you are. Book here.
Atlantis Hostel
Just 10 or so minutes away from the center of the Old Town, Atlantis Hostel boasts very helpful staff and a convenient location. The staff will set you up with a city map when checking in and can help you book popular city tours if you’d like. Book here.
Go For An Airbnb
As I'm sure you know, Airbnbs can be an awesome choice for your European getaway, especially since you can have your own private kitchen (many hostels will have a shared kitchen).
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Easy Ways To Get To Krakow
There are a handful of beautiful cities and even countries that are just hours away from Krakow. Whether it’s easiest to get here via plane, train, or bus you won’t have much trouble finding a route to get you to Krakow.
By Plane
The Krakow Airport is about 7 miles outside of the city. Domestic and international flights are frequent here (airport code KRK). Airlines like RyanAir, KLM, EasyJet and several others fly into this airport regularly. You can check out these discount airlines in Europe to see which countries you can fly from to get pretty good deals.
Once you land, you can take a taxi into town. The official Krakow Airport Taxis have a set price (about 90 zloty for the 15 kilometer distance). It should take about 25 minutes. There are other taxis and rideshare services, most of which have a rate of 7 zloty then 3 zloty per kilometer. This may be less expensive.
Or, you can take the train from the airport, which is affordable and very straightforward (a single ticket is 17 zloty). You can buy tickets at the Arrivals Hall, on the station platform, or from the guard on the train itself (though they only accept cash, and may be hard to find — best to avoid the crowds and snag your ticket at the Arrivals Hall before you board). The kiosks sell tickets with English menu options (you'll likely need to head to the city center, which is the Kraków Główny stop. The train runs every half-hour from 4:25 AM to 12:20 AM.
By Train
Dworzec Glówny PKP is the central train station (just located outside of Old Town). Inside the train station, you’ll find 24 hour ticket booths, an expansive mall (seriously this mall is huge and cool to check out), cafes and eateries, currency exchange, etc.
From the train station, it’s a short walk to Krakow’s Old Town. If you’d rather not walk, you can take a bus or tram (get information about that below in the section, “Getting Around Krakow).
By Bus
Several European countries are close enough to reach Krakow by bus. If you're coming from Lithuania, Lux Express buses have routes here, and we also love FlixBus — You can pretty much get a bus from any larger city to Krakow (with a few connections if you're traveling far).
Once you arrive, it’s a similar situation to arriving via train (the bus station is semi-separate from the train station) but you can walk to Old Town quite comfortably from the bus station side.
You can find taxis on the upper and lower floors if you’d rather not walk, or can take public transportation (get info about that below in the sub-section, “Getting Around Krakow”).
The most direct way to Market Square is underground, through the train station. Follow signs for “Stare Miasto (Old Town)” or ul. Lubicz.
Getting Around Krakow With This App
Most of Krakow’s Old Town and surrounding areas are walkable, but you will most likely want to use a bus or tram to help you visit the farther away districts. Downloading the Jakdojade app is going to be a life saver. You just type in your starting location and where you want to go and it gives you the direct route, time, and which bus and tram to take. You can find Jakdojade online, but the app is really convenient when you're on the go.
To buy tickets, visit the kiosk or ticket machine by the tram or bus stop (you’ll see them in multiple languages). If you don’t see a kiosk but see a tram or bus with a large “A” on the front, that means you can buy your ticket on board. You'll want to have exact change (the driver will not give you change).
Once you board, you’ll validate your ticket by punching it in the validation machine. Make sure you do this, or you'll get a hefty fine from the ticket inspectors who randomly board buses and trams. You can use a single ticket for multiple rides as long as it’s still in the time period you purchased it in — there are 20-minute tickets, 40-minute tickets, and 1-hour tickets. There are also day tickets (24 hours) or multi-day tickets (48 or 72 hours). Prices range from a couple of zloty to more like 30 or 40 depending on your time range.
Want to live in Europe as more than a tourist?
It makes the experience so much more meaningful when you stay and live here for a few months, rather than quickly visiting for a day or two. We have a programs where you can live with other college-age volunteers in different parts of Europe and teach English to kids. Learn more here or leave your info below to talk more about it.
