Visiting Kraków should be a must-do on every travel list. Poland all in all completely took me by surprise! Poland is a surprisingly affordable travel destination with history, beauty, and delicious food. Our first stop on our trip around Poland was incredible Kraków. Here is my quick and easy travel guide to visiting Kraków, Poland.

I am incredibly grateful that my dear friend at TravelontheReg organized my 1st trip to Poland. Check out her site for witty, honest, and fun travel posts.

Travel On The Reg

I also enjoyed visiting Gdańsk, Poland! In like fashion, you can read all about that adventure in the blog post here:

The Best Things to See in Gdańsk, Poland

A Quick Guide to Visiting Kraków, Poland

Kraków is fun, historic, and exciting. There is A LOT to take in during your visit to this beautiful city. I divided the information by neighborhood to maximize your time. I hope this helps!

Wawel Hill

Straightaway, you cannot visit Kraków and not see historic Wawel Hill. It is centrally located and the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Poland. Not only is it the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Poland, but it is also the first in the world. That’s a fun fact I learned while reading one of the signs in the neighborhood.

Sites Around Wawel Hill

• Wawel Castle/Zamek Krolewski
  • In short, the castle is beautiful! I think it is partially due to the variety of European architectural styles.
  • There are several permanent and temporary exhibitions. The permanent exhibits we visited included the Crown Treasury and Armory and the handsome State Rooms. In sum, thought it was worth the price and time. The interior is just as impressive as the exterior. 
  • You can find all the overall information you would want on their website: 
    • Wawel Castle website
• Royal Cathedral
  • Tickets for the majestic cathedral are sold separately from the castle. You indeed do not want to miss the Memorial to Chopin, the Sigismund Bell Tower, and the Royal Crypts.
  • Check their website for updated times and ticket availability. 
    • Royal Cathedral website
• Dragon’s Den/Smok Wawelski
  • Legend claims the Wawel Dragon lived here. The cave eventually became a famous tavern and brothel during medieval times.
  • Equally important, the current dragon emits fire every few minutes, which I somehow failed to capture… over and over again… It was pretty embarrassing, but no worries! I got it- in due time. It is not hard to do. Those who know me will agree I lack attention and coordination. I also think I was too excited about it. 

Where to Eat in Wawel Hill

• Bar Mleczny Pod Temida
  • Our taxi driver recommended this enticing milk bar! Bar Mleczny Pod Temida is a must-stop for a reasonably priced and delicious meal. 

What is a Milk Bar?

It is important to realize these are not the famous dessert stores in the States. A milk bar (bar mleczny) is a Polish cafeteria that came to be during the communist era in Poland. Milk bars were set up as cafeterias to provide government-subsidized meals. In brief, they serve traditional Polish foods at low prices. The term bar mleczny comes from the sales of cheese cuts when meat was hard to get.

Nonetheless, you definitely want to check out milk bars. The food is delicious, and that value leaves you feeling like a winner.

Old Town

A visit to Kraków must include time well spent in Old Town. You moreover do not want to miss this remarkable neighborhood and historic monument. The Old Town is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This area is indeed charming- take some time to walk around and enjoy it all.

Sites Around Old Town

• Main Market Square/ Rynek Główny
  • Spend some time at this bustling medieval square with old-world architecture.
  • There are plenty of cafes and shops to explore. There are also a plethora of spots to buy souvenirs. Rynek Główny is the best spot for people-watching with coffee or a glass of beer. 
• Cloth Hall/ Sukiennice
  • Once the center of trade in Kraków, Cloth Hall is now a busy market with plenty of souvenirs. As you can guess, this is one of the oldest places in Kraków.
  • Tip: We took some time to walk around and compare prices. A lot of the souvenirs at the stalls are repetitive. My husband loves magnets and ornaments. The prices were generally the same for these items.  
• Rynek Underground
  • This museum is underneath the Cloth Hall Market Square. It allows you to explore the medieval merchant stalls that pre-date the above market.
  • I thought this museum was really cool! First, I thought it was fascinating how much the main square has evolved over hundreds of years. Secondly, I cannot believe how much the city has built up over time! 
  • Rynek Underground
• St Mary’s Basilica/ Bazylika Mariacka
  • Per tradition, a bugle calls every hour on the hour in honor of a mythical trumpeter who was shot while warning the city of invaders.
  • It is a quick stop if you want to see the inside. The Basilica is generally open daily from 11:30am to 6:00pm. You can check their website for more information and specific closing dates. 
    • St. Mary’s
• Town Hall Tower/ Wieża Ratuszowa
  • The tower you see is what is left after it was dismantled in the 1820s. You can walk to the top for fantastic views of the square.
  • Entry is free on Mondays! 
  • You can find more details on their website.
    • Town Hall Tower

Where to Grab a Drink in Old Town

• Wodka Café Bar
  • When in Poland, you have to drink vodka. This casual bar offers a wide variety of vodka flavors. Perhaps you would like a flight with samples of their chocolate, pear, berry, hazelnut, cucumber, lemon, or fig flavors?
  • I am not a big vodka fan, but I enjoyed trying the different flavors on the flight. It was a great way to unwind after a long day of sightseeing. 

Podgórze

Podgórze is markedly one of the greenest neighborhoods in Kraków. It is also the site of the infamous Schindler’s Factory and the Kraków Ghetto set up by the Nazis.

Sites Around Podgórze

• Oskar Schindler’s Factory/ Fabryka ‘Emalia’ Oskara Schindlera
  • Popularized by the film Schindler’s List, this museum covers the factory’s history during the Nazi Occupation from 1939 to 1945.
  • This museum was a heavy one. I am grateful for the opportunity and was humbled by the experience. Take your time and go at your own pace. 
  • Truth Time- I did not see the movie before this trip. However, this visit inspired me to watch it when I got home. 
    • I do not know why I did not see this movie long before I visited Kraków. Who doesn’t like a classic Liam Neeson film or a score composed by John Williams? If you have not watched it, do so ASAP. Also, have a box of tissues handy. 
  • Check their website for more up-to-date information and tickets. 
    • Schindler’s Factory
• Ghetto Wall Remains 
  • You must stop by to see the Ghetto Wall Fragment during your visit to Kraków. It is a 12-meter (39 feet) stretch of the original ghetto wall.
  • Most important- Be respectful of everybody coming to visit. Remember, many visitors are here to grieve. 
• Plaszow Concentration Camp
  • This is a memorial park that was once a Nazi Labor and Concentration Camp. Inmates here were forced to quarry limestone deposits.
  • Some points of interest include: 
    • The Grey House
      • A house that was used as a prison and torture chamber.
      • It looks eerily residential now… complete with window flowers. 
    • Residential Street- SS-Strasse
      • SS-Strasse is the neighborhood where Nazi officers lived during their occupation. The neighborhood includes the Red House, where Amon Göth lived.
        • Amon Göth was the administrator of the Plaszow Concentration Camp. 
      • You may recognize the house from the Balcony Scene in Schindler’s List. 
    • Hujowa Gorka
      • This was a mass execution site that now houses a monument in remembrance of the many lives lost.

Kazimierz (Jewish Quarter)

A visit to Kraków should undoubtedly include a stop in Kazimierz. This neighborhood was one of the centers for Jewish Life until World War II. With help from the film Schindler’s List, the neighborhood has experienced many changes in recent years. Kazimierz has thus transformed into the home of fun shops, food trucks, and great restaurants. 

Sites Around Kazimierz

• Szeroka
  • In general, take some time to stroll down this beautiful and historic street. Some points of interest include:
    • Old Synagogue
      • This 1860’s synagogue is still open for services. You can find their opening hours and tickets on their website. 
        • Old Synagogue website
    • Remuh Synagogue
      • Remuh is one of the oldest synagogues in Kraków. Check their website for updated entry prices and visiting times.
        • Remuh Synagogue website
• Meiselsa
  • In short, a very picturesque passageway. Meiselsa is a good spot if you want to take pictures. 
• Plac Nowy/ Plac Zydowski
  • This square has lots of bars, restaurants, and cafes to enjoy. Plac Nowy is an ideal place to sit and relax, especially when the weather is nice enough to sit outside. 

Where to Eat & Drink in Kazimierz

• Stara Zajezdnia
  • In like fashion for Kazimierz, this microbrewery has lots of outdoor lounge seating in the summer. They have food options, concerts, a great beer hall, and large screens for live sports.
• Endzior in Plac Nowy
  • You straightaway have to try some zapiekanki, the baguette pizza. Yum!! You order at the kiosk and find a great spot in the square to enjoy your French bread pizza. Perhaps it is a snack for some, and by some, I mean my husband. I highly recommend this quick and inexpensive meal. It was definitely one of our favorite eats. I have tried recreating it at home. I cannot figure out how to get it right. 
  • Sausages from Blue Nysa / Kiełbaski z Niebieskiej Nyski
    • This well-known sausage stand is simply delicious. Blue Nysa has late-night hours (Monday-Saturday from 7pm to 3am). It is safe to anticipate a queue, regardless of the time. The prices are a bargain, and you will support the first food truck in Kraków. 
    • You can find the stand on Grzegorzecka 4. 

More Yummies When Visiting Kraków

• Wedel
  • Wedel is markedly a famous Polish confectionery. Wedel has been making chocolates and treats since 1851. We dived right in when we heard about the chocolates and ice cream. 
  • There are many locations found around Poland. We have also been to a Wedels in Warsaw! 
  • I am a big fan of ice cream with hot fudge and their wide variety of hot chocolates! 
  • Wedel’s website
• Pierogi Mr. Vincent
  • We enjoyed this inexpensive eatery. Correspondingly, there are 2 locations in Kraków. We ate at the one in Kazimierz. There were concurrently a few tables and around 40 plus different kinds of pierogis. These are seriously delightful pierogis. We ordered a mix to try more variety. I am a big fan of sharing! 

Nearby Sites When Visiting Kraków

Auschwitz-Birkenau

Auschwitz-Birkenau is, as can be seen, the largest of the Nazi concentration camps and extermination centers. A day trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau is a must when you are visiting Kraków. With their heartbreaking history, it was humbling to visit the site and pay our respects to the over 1 million lives lost. Take your time, there’s a lot of information and emotion to soak in.

• You need to take your time during this visit. There is a lot of information and emotion to soak in. 
• Be respectful 
  • There are a lot of visitors here. Most of whom are grieving. Refrain from shouting and running around.
  • Here is a tip- Laying on the train tracks for a glamour shot is not ok.
    • In case you are wondering, yes… we did see this happen… It was not cool. 
•  Auschwitz-Birkenau is about a 1 hour 20 minutes drive or a 2 hour and 10 minutes trip using public transit from Kraków.
  • We had a group of 4. At that time, it was cheaper to split a cab 4-ways. Our hotel helped secure us a taxi. We asked them for help the night before our day trip. 
• All of their information and tickets can be found on their website:
  • Auschwitz-Birkenau website

Have Fun Visiting Kraków!

Kraków was all in all a fantastic first city to visit in Poland. Our visit to Kraków had a perfect combination of historic, fun, and emotional sites. I also loved all the food! As shown above, visiting Kraków is very high on my recommendation list for anybody asking about a trip to Poland. Use this to help guide your travels and maximize your time!