Things to do in Krakow – 18 tips from our travels

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: September 2026 | Krakow is a city we love to return to. We first came here by camper van during a month-long road trip in Poland, and eight years later we were back again. Here are our best tips for a city that really stuck with us.

Things to do in Krakow – our best tips

Krakow is a city for both major sights and pleasant walks. Here you will find the mighty Rynek Główny, Wawel Castle and the Jewish quarter of Kazimierz, but also parks, Polish food and excursions to some of Poland's most fascinating places. Here we have collected 18 experiences that we think are worth discovering.

1. Experience the Rynek Główny square

Rynek Główny is the place you always seem to return to in Krakow. We did that too – to watch the people go by, sit down for a while and just feel like we were actually in the middle of the city.

The square was built in the 13th century and is considered the largest medieval market square in Europe. It is home to several of Krakow's most famous attractions, including the Cloth Hall, St. Mary's Basilica, and the Town Hall Tower. Rynek Główny is also part of Krakow's historic center, which became one of the very first World Heritage Sites on the UNESCO list in 1978. 

FREEDOM tips: Don't rush ahead. Rynek Główny is just as much a place to stop as it is an attraction to check off.

2. Experience Wawel Castle

Wawel rises high above the Vistula River and is a place where you'll want to stay longer than you originally planned. We walked around the buildings and courtyards, peeked into the cathedral and enjoyed the view of Krakow and the river.

For hundreds of years, Wawel was the residence of Polish kings and a symbol of the Polish state. Today, you can visit several parts of the castle and its exhibitions, but you don't have to see everything - just the walk up and the environment on Wawel Hill is an experience in itself.

3. Stroll through the Jewish Quarter of Kazimierz

Kazimierz was founded as a separate town in 1335 and later developed into an important center of Jewish life and culture. The Jewish population characterized the area for several hundred years, until World War II when the Nazis forced Kraków's Jews from Kazimierz to the ghetto in Podgórze. Today, the historic parts of Kazimierz are part of Kraków's UNESCO-protected historic center. 

Kazimierz is one of the parts of Krakow that we think you should spend a lot of time in. Synagogues and traces of Jewish history are mixed with worn facades, narrow streets, cafes, restaurants and a lively atmosphere that gives the district a completely different feel than the Old Town.

But Kazimierz is not just history. Around Szeroka and Plac Nowy, among other places, there are restaurants, bars and cafés, and the area has once again become one of Krakow's most vibrant districts. 

4. Admire St. Mary's Church and listen for the trumpeter

St. Mary's Church, with its two towers of different heights, is one of the buildings that make a mark on Rynek Główny. Feel free to go inside and see the colorful interior and the mighty altar – but don't forget to also stop outside and listen.

Every hour, around the clock, the trumpet melody is played Marian bell from the highest tower. The melody suddenly breaks in the middle of a note, and according to popular legend, a trumpeter was shot in the throat by an arrow while trying to warn the inhabitants of Kraków of an attack. The tradition still lives on, and the melody is played to the four cardinal points of the city.

Peter's tip: When you hear the trumpet – look up towards the tower. After the fanfare is over, the trumpeter usually appears in one of the windows and waves to the people down in the square. Wave back! It's a small thing, but that's often what you remember from a city.

5. Visit Oskar Schindler's Factory

Oskar Schindler's old enamel factory in the Zabłocie district is now a museum and one of Kraków's most important places for those who want to understand the city's history during World War II. Here, the story is not just about Schindler, but about life in occupied Kraków and about the city's Polish and Jewish inhabitants. 

Oskar Schindler took over the factory after the German invasion and eventually saved the lives of over a thousand people. His story became world famous through Steven Spielberg's film Schindler's List, but here you are in the real place where part of the story took place. 

The museum is also a good continuation for those who have first visited Kazimierz. It will make it easier to understand what happened to Kraków's Jewish population - a story that continues on the other side of the river in Podgórze.

6. Visit the Sukiennice Cloth Hall

In the middle of the Main Market Square is the Sukiennice, the large Cloth Hall that has been a place of trade for centuries. It once sold fabrics and other goods from near and far, and to this day the ground floor is filled with small shops and stalls where you can buy crafts, jewelry and souvenirs.

The building has changed many times since the first trading hall was built in the Middle Ages, and gained much of its Renaissance appearance in the 16th century. But the great thing is that the Sukiennice is still in use – it’s not just an old building to stand and look at. 

And please take a look one floor up. There is the National Museum's gallery with Polish art from the 19th century, with some of the country's most important painters. It was also here that the foundations of the National Museum in Kraków were laid in the 19th century.

7. Discover Rynek underground under the square

Beneath the Rynek Główny lies a completely different side of Krakow. A few meters below today's square, you can follow the traces of medieval Krakow, with archaeological finds, old trade routes and remains that tell the story of life in the area long before today's square looked like it does.

Rynek Underground was created after extensive archaeological excavations between 2005 and 2010 and opened in the fall of 2010. The exhibition combines the real finds under the square with modern technology and tells about trade, crafts and Kraków's contacts with the rest of medieval Europe, among other things. 

Our miss: När vi besökte Krakow första gången 2009 höll utgrävningarna fortfarande på och museet fanns ännu inte. När vi kom tillbaka 2017 lyckades vi av någon anledning missa det igen. Vi har besökt flera liknande underjordiska miljöer i andra europeiska städer och tycker att de kan ge ett fantastiskt perspektiv på historien. Rynek Underground ger oss alltså ytterligare en anledning att återvända till Krakow.

8. Stroll through the old town

The Old Town of Krakow is an attraction in itself. Here we think you should stop chasing the next item on your list for a while and just stroll along the cobblestone streets, peek into the small streets and let the path between the sights become part of the experience.

The medieval street network has largely been preserved since the city was planned in the 13th century. From the Rynek Główny, you can follow the streets through the historic center towards Wawel, or go the other way towards Floriańska, Florian Gate and the Barbican – remains of the fortifications that once protected the city. 

FREEDOM tips: Put Google Maps away sometimes. Taking a slight wrong turn in an old city can be a much better travel memory than always taking the quickest route between A and B.

9. Stroll in Planty Park

Planty is a green belt around Kraków's Old Town and is perfect for when you want to get away from the cobblestone streets for a while. Here, tree-lined walkways pass by benches, statues and small green spaces, while still being right next to the historic city center.

The most exciting thing is actually why the park is here. Planty was built in the 19th century on the site of Kraków's old city walls and moats. Large parts of the fortifications were demolished, while Florian's Gate, the Barbican and a short section of the wall remained.

10. Meet the Wawel Dragon on the Vistula River

No trip to Krakow is complete without the city's most famous resident – Wawel Dragon, Smok Wawelski. The legend has been told in various versions since the Middle Ages, and the oldest known written record dates from the early 13th century. At that time, the story was considerably darker than the tale most children in Poland hear today. 

In the most popular version, a fearsome dragon lived in a cave under Wawel Hill and terrorized Krakow. Weapons did not bite the beast, but the cunning shoemaker Skuba came up with another solution. He filled a sheep with sulfur and left it for the dragon, who devoured the sheep, became insanely thirsty, and drank so much water from the Vistula that he finally exploded. This can also solve a tourism problem.  However, the shoemaker was only added in a later version of the legend; in the oldest story from the 13th century, he is not present at all. 

Och historien följer faktiskt med hela vägen från slottet ner till floden. Ovanför den västra ingången till Wawelkatedralen hänger enorma gamla ben som länge förknippats med draken. Enligt sägnen kommer världen att gå under om benen någon gång faller ner. Verkligheten är nästan lika märklig: undersökningar har visat att det handlar om delar från mammut, noshörning och val. 

Then you can go down yourself Smocza Jama – Dragon's Cave. The natural limestone cave is about 270 meters long, of which 81 meters are open to visitors. Via a steep spiral staircase with 135 steps you descend through the mountain and exit down on the banks of the Vistula. 

Och där väntar finalen: den stora drakskulpturen från 1972. Den sprutar eld. Från en medeltida legend, förbi mystiska ben över en katedralport och ner genom drakens egen grotta till en eldsprutande drake vid Wisła – Krakow har verkligen förstått hur man håller en saga levande

11. Stroll along the Vistula River

After the alleys of the Old Town and all the major sights, it's nice to come down to the Wisła. The river flows just below Wawel Hill and along the promenade you can walk or cycle with views of the water, the castle and the city.

There are no monuments to tick off and no history to memorize. Take a walk along the water, sit down for a while, or continue away from the most popular areas around Wawel. It's a different and much quieter side of Krakow.

If you have more time, you can also see the city from the water. There are boat tours on the Vistula from the area below Wawel, which can be a nice way to rest your legs and get a different perspective on Krakow.

12. Try Polish food in Krakow

Polish food is hearty, rustic and often very filling – and for us, food has become an important part of our travels through Poland. Our absolute favorite is żurek, the sour rye soup often served with sausage and eggs. In fact, we don't think we've ever traveled through Poland without eating żurek at least once. In the end, we brought the taste home with us and made our own version.

In Krakow, we also have a restaurant memory that has stuck with us since our first trip in 2009. After a long day in the salt mine in Wieliczka, we came back ravenously hungry and ended up at the restaurant. Pod Wawelem.

Billie beställde en schnitzel som var ungefär lika stor som en pizza och pommes fritesen kom in på en vagn. När vi återvände till Krakow åtta år senare gick vi tillbaka till samma restaurang – något vi nästan aldrig gör eftersom vi alltid är nyfikna på att prova nya ställen. Det säger nog mer om vad vi tyckte än vilken restaurangrecension som helst.

But don't miss either Krakow obwarzanek, the braided bread rings sold around the city. They have been documented in Krakow since at least 1394 and the dough is boiled before baking – an old Krakow tradition that can still be purchased as a simple street food. 

Och här finns en rolig historisk kusin: den första kända skriftliga referensen till det jiddischbaserade ordet för bagel brukar kopplas till Krakóws judiska församling år 1610. Sambandet mellan bageln och äldre ringformade bröd är däremot inte så enkelt att vi ska kalla obwarzanek för ”den första bageln”. 

Peter's advice: Don't go to Poland and start dieting. Order żurek, pierogi or a hearty schnitzel and take a walk along the Vistula River afterwards instead.

13. See the Lady with the Ermine at the Muzeum Czartoryskich

At the Muzeum Czartoryskich you can find one of Kraków's real art cards: Leonardo da Vinci's The Lady with the Ermine. The painting was created around 1490 and is the only work by Leonardo da Vinci in a Polish collection. The woman in the portrait is Cecilia Gallerani, who was around 16–17 years old when she was depicted. 

And the ermine isn't there just because Leonardo thought the painting needed an animal. Cecilia was the mistress of the Duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza, who had been given Order of the Ermine and was called White Ermine – the white ermine. The animal is therefore believed to be a symbolic reference to him and their relationship. There is also a linguistic pun as Cecilia's surname Gallerani is reminiscent of the Greek word crazy for ermine. 

The museum contains much more than a single painting, with art and historical objects from antiquity to the 19th century and another big name: Rembrandt. Landscape with the Good Samaritan. But Leonardo is of course the big star. 

FREEDOM tips: The ermine has been in Cecilia's arms since around 1490 and seems to still be there. Take advantage before it escapes.

14. Discover Podgorze and the traces of the Krakow Ghetto

Across the Vistula from Kazimierz is Podgórze. Today it is a vibrant district, but in several places traces of one of the darkest periods in Kraków's history can still be seen. It was here that the German occupation forces established the Kraków Ghetto in March 1941, forcing more than 16,000 Jewish Kraków residents behind the walls. 

One of the strongest stops is Heroes' Square Getta – Ghetto Heroes Square. Deportations were carried out from here and today empty chairs are scattered across the square as a memorial to the people who disappeared. Nearby, fragments of the ghetto wall also remain and Pharmacy under the Eagle – The pharmacy under the eagle, where the Polish pharmacist Tadeusz Pankiewicz chose to stay and, together with his staff, helped people inside the ghetto with, among other things, medicines, food, contacts with the outside world and hiding places. 

On March 13 and 14, 1943, the final liquidation of the ghetto took place. People were killed on the spot, while others were taken to the Płaszów or Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps. Many had already been deported to the Bełżec extermination camp. 

Stop for a moment. This is not a place you need to rush past to get to the next attraction. Behind the numbers were people who had homes, families, jobs, and a normal life in Krakow – until someone decided they no longer had the right to do so.

15. Discover Nowa Huta – go underground

Vill du uppleva en sida av Krakow som inte liknar Gamla stan över huvud taget ska du ta dig ut till Nowa Huta. De breda avenyerna och monumentala husen byggdes från slutet av 1940-talet som en del av det nya socialistiska idealsamhället – men det riktigt spännande gömmer sig under marken.

During the Cold War, more than 250 bomb shelters were built under residential buildings, schools, hospitals and other buildings in Nowa Huta. Today, you can go down into some of them through Underground Nowa Huta, where authentic 1950s bomb shelters have been turned into museums. Here, the Cold War comes much closer than just reading about it – thick doors, cramped spaces and the idea of what people were actually preparing for. 

When you emerge into the daylight again, you can look for Smok Nowohucki – Nowa Huta dragon. It was given a new home behind the Nowohuckie Centrum Kultury in 2026. Krakow seems to have simply decided that one dragon is not enough.

Don't go to Nowa Huta just to look at communist apartment buildings. Combine the district with the underground shelters and the dragon – then the excursion will be an experience and not a history lesson.

16. Climb Mount Kosciuszko

If you want to see Krakow from above, you should go up to Kościuszko Hill – Kopiec Kościuszki. From the top, 326 meters above sea level, you get a panoramic view of Krakow and the surrounding area, and on clear days you can see all the way to Tatra Mountains.

But why is there a huge mound of earth here at all? It was built by the inhabitants of Kraków between 1820 and 1823 in memory of the national hero Tadeusz Kościuszko. People themselves participated in the work and earth was brought here from places where he had fought. The result is a monument that you don’t just look at – you climb on it.

The walk spirals around the mound all the way to the top. There, the view awaits, and below are the remains of the Austrian fortification that was later built around the monument.

FREEDOM tips: Choose a day with clear weather. Struggling up a 200-year-old mound of earth to photograph fog feels like a poor return on investment.

17. Take a trip to the Wieliczka Salt Mine

About 15 kilometers outside Krakow, a world awaits you that is much larger than you might imagine from above. In the Wieliczka Salt Mine, you descend through long corridors to enormous halls, underground lakes and chapels where statues, altars and decorations have been carved directly from the salt. The mine began mining in the 13th century and in 1978 became one of the first World Heritage Sites on the UNESCO list. 

Vi besökte Wieliczka under vår första husbilsresa genom Polen 2009. Efter 380 trappsteg ner i underjorden öppnade sig plötsligt salar som var betydligt större och mäktigare än vi hade föreställt oss.

Most spectacular is the Chapel of Saint Kinga, where even the chandeliers are made of salt. The strange thing is that all this is only a fraction of the mine – underground there are hundreds of kilometers of passages and shafts on several levels. 

Besöket tog omkring tre timmar för oss och blev betydligt mer omfattande än vi hade räknat med. När vi till slut kom upp i dagsljuset igen och återvände till Krakow var vi sjukt hungriga. Det var den kvällen vi hamnade på Pod Wawelem och Billie fick in schnitzeln stor som en pizza som vi berättade om tidigare.

Our experience: Avsätt ordentligt med tid för Wieliczka. Det här är inte en liten grotta man tittar in i på väg till något annat – du går ner i en hel underjordisk värld.

READ MORE: Visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine

18. Visit Auschwitz-Birkenau from Krakow

Cirka 60 kilometer väster om Krakow ligger Auschwitz-Birkenau, det största av Nazitysklands koncentrations- och förintelseläger. Minst 1,1 miljoner människor mördades här, omkring en miljon av dem judar. Polacker, romer, sovjetiska krigsfångar och människor från många andra länder fanns också bland offren. I dag är Auschwitz I och Auschwitz II-Birkenau bevarade som minnesplats och museum. 

A visit normally includes both parts. Auschwitz I includes the barracks, barbed wire, Block 11 and the gate with the words Work makes you free. In the much larger Birkenau, the railway track, barracks and ruins of the gas chambers and crematoria remain. The museum recommends seeing both sites to understand the scale and history. 

För oss är platser som berättar om Förintelsen svåra att besöka. Peter har känt samma sak efter besök vid Radegast i Łódź och koncentrationslägret Theresienstadt – sorg, ilska och en känsla som kan stanna kvar långt efteråt. Men kanske är det också en del av varför dessa platser måste finnas kvar. Vi besöker dem inte för att må bra. Vi gör det för att minnas människorna som drabbades, förstå vad som hände och föra historien vidare.

Auschwitz-Birkenau is not an ordinary attraction to check off on a weekend trip. Stop, listen and give the place the time it requires. The fact that it is preserved makes it harder to turn a blind eye to what people can do to each other – and why it must never happen again.

Practical: Expect the visit to take up a good part of the day from Krakow. A standard guided tour of the memorial itself takes around 3.5 hours. In addition, from March 2026, all personal entrance passes must be booked online in advance, even for self-guided visits.

Best areas to stay in Krakow

Krakow is a relatively compact city and if you live centrally you can reach many of the main attractions on foot. Which area is best depends mainly on whether you want the classic sights on your doorstep, the nightlife in Kazimierz or a quieter neighborhood.

Old Town – best for a first visit

Vill du bo mitt bland Krakóws klassiska sevärdheter är Stare Miasto, Gamla stan, det enklaste valet. Här har du Rynek Główny, Mariakyrkan, Klädeshallen och Planty på promenadavstånd och kan gå vidare till Wawel utan att behöva tänka särskilt mycket på transporter.

The downside is that this is also the most touristy area of Krakow. Accommodation can be more expensive and around the busiest streets you can expect more people to be around even in the evening.

Kazimierz – best for restaurants and nightlife

Kazimierz is perfect for those who want to have restaurants, cafes and bars just around the corner when the day's sightseeing is over. At the same time, you'll be living in the middle of one of Krakow's most interesting historical districts and still within easy walking distance of the Old Town.

För en andra Krakówresa hade vi gärna valt Kazimierz. Första gången vill många vakna mitt i vykortet. Nästa gång kan det vara roligare att vakna mleitt i livet.

Podgórze – quieter on the other side of the Vistula

On the other side of the river is Podgórze, which is suitable for those who want to stay a little outside the most intense tourist center but still close to much of what we have told you about in the guide. From here you are close to, among other things, Schindler's factory and Kazimierz is located on the other side of the Vistula.

This is an interesting option for those who already know Krakow a little or simply prefer to leave the main tourist routes when the day is over.

Kleparz – central without living in the middle of the Rynek

North of the Old Town lies Kleparz, a good compromise location for those who want to be able to walk into the Rynek but not necessarily live in the middle of the tourist area. From here it is also easy to reach Kraków Główny, the main train station, which is convenient if you are coming by train or intending to do excursions.

Our advice: För en första weekend i Krakow hade vi valt Gamla stan eller Kazimierz. Då kan bilen, taxin och kollektivtrafiken till stor del få vila medan benen gör jobbet.

Krakow by campervan

Krakow is a good place to visit with a camper van, but our recommendation is to leave the camper van parked once you have arrived. We have stayed at Camping Clepardia on both of our visits to Krakow – first during our month-long camper trip through Poland in 2009 and then when we returned in 2017.

The fact that we chose the same campsite again eight years later really says something. We usually like to try new places, but Clepardia worked well as a base for Krakow and made it easy to leave the camper and take public transport into the city centre.

Since our last visit, the connections have improved even more. Today, the Górnickiego tram stop is about 40 meters from the campsite entrance and line 18 takes about 14-15 minutes to Stary Kleparz. From there, it is just a few minutes' walk to the Old Town and the Main Market Square. The campsite has pitches for motorhomes and caravans, electricity, showers, a kitchen, laundry facilities and a service for motorhomes. 

Our experience: Krakow är en sådan stad där husbilen gör mest nytta genom att stå still. Parkera den på campingen, ta spårvagnen in och använd benen resten av dagen. Det är betydligt trevligare än att försöka göra sightseeing genom Krakóws centrum med hela hemmet bakom ratten.

Video from Krakow

Check out Peter's film for some more inspiration about Krakow in Poland!

See more in Poland

If you are travelling around the country by car or motorhome, or if you have time for longer trips, we have some suggestions below.

• Zakopane
• Baranow Sandomierski Castle
• Slotett Kozlowka
• Warsaw