Krakow City Guide

Stare Miasto (The Old Town)

The UNESCO listed Old Town is undoubtedly one of the highlights of a visit to Krakow. The famous quarter was the centre of Poland’s political life from 1038 right up until the capital was relocated to Warsaw in 1596. The medieval centre was surrounded by a 3km defensive wall complete with towers and several entrances. Today, you can see part of the medieval fortification at the northern end of the Old Town where St Florian’s Gate still proudly stands. The area of the Old Town is now encompassed by Planty Krakowskie, a public park, making it easy to distinguish where the walls once stood. A maze of cobbled alleyways extend from the square, bursting with souvenir shops, bars and restaurants.

Main Square and Cloth Hall

In the centre of the Old Town you’ll find the expansive main square with a number of interesting attractions, mainly the lengthy cloth hall that stands centre of attention in the midst of the crowds. The square is the largest in Europe and is encircled by bars, restaurants and colourful buildings, making it a wonderfully picturesque place to sit and watch the world go by. Musicians and street performers regularly grasp the attention of passing tourists and there is often a live event happening in one corner or another. Walk through the cloth hall and browse the dozens of quirky souvenir stands, or go up to the terrace bar and enjoy a coffee while overlooking the hustle and bustle of the square. Here you’ll also see St Mary’s Basilica, a beautiful Gothic church which was built in the 17th century.

Kazimierz

Kazimierz is the Jewish Quarter of Krakow and known for its wonderful restaurants, unique street art and trendy atmosphere. It’s located a short walk from the Old Town and past Wawel Castle, in the southern area of the city, near the river. This is an excellent place to base yourself for a few days in Krakow since it's close to the main sights and has a huge selection of local restaurants which are often cheaper than those found in the main square. You’ll find various small food markets here, as well as plenty of bars and a few nightclubs.

Wawel Royal Castle

The impressive structure of Wavel Castle is one of the most important historical sites in Krakow. It was built throughout the 13th and 14th centuries by King Casimir III the Great, who ruled Poland between 1333 and 1370. Wawel Hill, where the castle is perched, has been a bustling settlement for some 50,000 years according to historians and has always been a central point of the city. The castle represents various styles of European architecture, including renaissance, baroque and medieval.

Something Local

With such a variety of delicious food on offer, it’s no wonder that locals in Krakow want to enjoy the fantastic restaurants as much as the tourists do. Pop into Morskie Oki, which not only has a lovely cosy ambience with its wooden interior and medieval style decorations, but also serves hearty, delicious cuisine at reasonable prices. Another popular spot on the outskirts of the Old Town is Babci Malini, another tavern-style restaurant with a warm and welcoming atmosphere along with hearty dishes and plenty of beer! We highly recommend spending a night out in the Kazimierz neighbourhood, which has plenty of bars as well as delicious restaurants. Some of our favourites are Restaurant Polska, Restaurant Bombonierka or for something a little fancier, check out Trezo.

Treat Yourself

To no surprise, Krakow has a wonderful selection of bars and restaurants that offer something a little special. On a sunny day, head to the rooftop bar of the cloth hall, located through the same entrance as the Art Gallery, and relax on the open terrace while overlooking the activity of the main square. If you want to experience some Polish fine-dining, book a table at Szara and enjoy some of the finest meals in the city. Restaurant Wentzl, which dates back to 1792, is one of the most popular in the main square, so ensure you book a table in advance. And if you want to sit down for a breather and strong cup of coffee? Head to Camelot Cafe, an unassuming establishment tucked away on a cobbled street with a rustic exterior.

Vegan and Vegetarian

Considering traditional Polish food is very much centred around hearty meat dishes, the choice of food for vegetarians and vegans in Krakow is rather outstanding. This is largely due to a rise in younger generations around the world increasing the demand for plant-based food, as well as the demand that international travellers bring. Krakow has a wonderful selection of both local dishes and international meals that are created using vegetarian or vegan ingredients, you just have to look in the right place! If you find yourself in the Kazimierz neighbourhood, head to the corner of Jakuba and Ciemna street, where you’ll find a small street food market with great vegan options. If you are craving some vegan junk food, Krowarzywa in the old town normally has people spilling out the door. For vegetarians, it’s much easier, as almost every restaurant offers cheese and potato pierogies in amongst various meat-free options. For the best hummus in Krakow, head to Hamsa.

Coffee or Vodka?

The drinking culture in Krakow can be divided into two distinct entities: Coffee by day - Vodka by night. If neither take your fancy, don't panic, you’ll also find a huge range of drinks available in bars and restaurants across the city. Krakow has a fantastic party scene and you’ll find locals and travellers spilling out of bars into the early hours, especially at the weekends. Beer is also hugely popular and Poland has brewed its own for hundreds of years, so expect to find plenty of choice available. One of the most popular places to sample some of the best vodka in Krakow is Wodka Bar, a small establishment that has over 30 flavours on offer, including apple, apricot and hazelnut.

Krakow is a simple city to navigate, especially if you are sticking to the main tourist areas. The Old Town is small and compact and very easy to walk around on foot, in fact part of the fun is exploring the little side alleys and seeing where you end up! If you are staying in the Kazimierz neighbourhood, you can reach the Old Town in a lovely 10/15 minute walk past the castle. The tram system is the most popular way to get around the city outside the Old Town (note that the tram doesn't run through the old quarter since its protected from modernisation). You can purchase tickets at the ticket machines at tram stops, just remember to validate the ticket in the yellow box once you are on-board. Taxis are also readily available and low in cost should you require one.

You will notice horses and carriages lined up along the main square. Tucan Travel does not recommend nor support this activity because we cannot monitor the horses' welfare.

Wieliczka Salt Mine

The Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of the main attractions in Krakow and with good reason. The expansive underground mine has a history dating back 700 years and only ceased working in 1996 after a series of flooding and falling salt prices. It was placed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites back in 1978. The visitors experience consists of walking a series of corridors, lined with the beautiful patterns of salt, before reaching underground saline lakes and finally the impressive Chapel of St Kinga. Overall there are 20 chambers in the mine and you’ll see various statues, all impressively made by hand using the rock-salt.

Auschwitz Concentration Camp

Auschwitz Concentration Camp shows a darker side to the history of Poland. Located only an hour out of the city it’s a popular day trip for those who want to learn more about the atrocities of World War II and pay their respects to those who lost their lives. Auschwitz is one of the most infamous camps in the world and its sheer size and darkness cannot be felt until you walk through it yourself. We recommend hiring a local museum guide who will provide you with invaluable information that you simply would not get walking around the museum yourself.

A day trip to Auschwitz Concentration Camp with a local guide is included on all Tucan Travel tours that visit Krakow.

Oskar Schindler's Factory

Oskar Schindler was a member of the Nazi party who saved around 1200 Jews during the Holocaust. Prior to the war, he collected information on international army movement for the German government, basing himself in Poland before and during the invasion. He acquired an enamelware factory in Krakow and hired Jewish workers from the nearby Krakow ghetto, protecting many of them from deportation to the concentration camps through bribery of the officials and various other connections. Today, the building is split into the Modern Art Gallery and Schindler’s Factory Museum, which is dedicated to telling the story of Krakow under Nazi occupation.

If you’re interested in visiting make sure to do some research and pre-book tickets. With a guided tour, you usually get to skip the queue too.

Rynek Underground Museum

When you first set your eyes on the impressive expanse of the Krakow main square, it’s hard to believe that right below your feet lays thousands of years of history, ingrained in the cobbled streets below. The Rynek Museum is one of the best spots in Krakow to fully appreciate the ancient history of the marketplace and immerse yourself in the medieval atmosphere that trickles through the corridors. The museum can be challenging to find however and must be booked in advance, even on the day, since they only allow a certain number of people underground at one time for health and safety reasons. If you walk towards the northern corner of the cloth hall, facing St Mary’s Basilica, you will see electronic boards outside showing how many tickets are left for that day and the times available. This is also the entrance to the museum. If you wish to purchase a ticket, walk round the other side of the hall and you’ll find the ticket shop.

Walk around the Botanical Gardens

If you would like to escape the chaos of the city for half a day then Krakow has some lovely botanical gardens which are worth a walk around. Located a short tram ride from the centre, the gardens encompass 10 hectares of beautiful flora, fountains, ponds and even a 250-year old oak tree. The collection of greenery is the oldest botanical garden in Poland and dates back to 1783. The tranquil ponds are dotted with lily-pads and ducks, and the greenhouse exhibits an abundance of exotic and carnivorous plants. Note that the gardens are only open from mid-April to mid-October.