World · 23 Places · Best May-June and September
Krakow is southern Poland's historic and cultural capital, home to one of Europe's largest medieval market squares, the Wawel Royal Castle and the atmospheric Jewish quarter of Kazimierz. The city of roughly 800,000 inhabitants sits on the Vistula River and is a UNESCO World Heritage city.
Krakow was the royal capital of Poland until the late 16th century and escaped major wartime destruction, so its Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque Old Town remains intact. The Main Market Square (Rynek Glowny), St. Mary's Basilica, the Cloth Hall and Wawel Hill form the historic core, ringed by the green Planty park. Kazimierz, the former Jewish district, now hosts galleries, bars and synagogues, while the Podgorze district holds Oskar Schindler's Factory and the Ghetto memorials. Nearby, the Wieliczka Salt Mine and the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial are the most visited day trips, and Krakow's student population keeps its cafes, cellar bars and live-music venues busy year round.
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The 23 destinations our editors recommend — from iconic landmarks to under-the-radar finds.
Wawel Hill has been the seat of Polish kings for centuries and the castle holds Renaissance state rooms, royal tapestries and the Crown Treasury. Each exhibition (State Rooms, Crown Treasury and Armoury, Lost Wawel, Dragon's Den) is ticketed separately with timed entry. The arcaded Renaissance courtyard can be entered without a ticket.
Poland's coronation church and royal necropolis, where kings and national figures are buried. The ticket includes the Royal Tombs, the Cathedral Museum and the climb up to the 1520 Sigismund Bell. Cathedral tickets are sold separately from the castle.
At roughly 40,000 square metres, this is one of the largest medieval town squares in Europe, ringed by townhouses, churches and cafes. The Cloth Hall, St. Mary's Basilica and the Town Hall Tower stand on it. It is the hub of Old Town life with horse carriages, flower sellers and street musicians.
This Renaissance trading hall holds a long arcade of stalls selling amber, wood carvings, linen and souvenirs. Upstairs is a branch of the National Museum with major Polish paintings of the 1800s, including large historical canvases. The building anchors the middle of the Main Market Square.
The Gothic basilica is known for its two mismatched towers and the blue star-spangled vault interior. The main altarpiece by Veit Stoss (Wit Stwosz), carved in the late 1400s, is the largest Gothic altarpiece in Europe. Visitors enter by a side tourist entrance, not the main doors.
An underground route beneath the square shows the excavated medieval market stalls, trade routes and streets of old Krakow with multimedia displays. Entry is by timed slot and numbers are limited. It is a branch of the Museum of Krakow.
Pick a length, follow the route. Each itinerary balances headline sights with breathing room.
Three tiers, every traveller covered — from cost-conscious to flagship hotels.
Hostels, budget hotels, and guesthouses offer affordable stays without sacrificing experience.
Boutique hotels and well-located accommodations provide comfort and convenience at reasonable prices.
World-class resorts and premium hotels deliver unforgettable experiences.
Hotel Stary is a five-star hotel at Szczepańska 5, a short walk from the Main Market Square. It has a rooftop terrace, a spa in vaulted cellars and the Trzy Rybki restaurant.
Check rates on Booking.comHotel Copernicus is a Relais & Châteaux property in a restored medieval townhouse on Kanonicza, one of Kraków's oldest streets, with about 29 rooms. It sits a few minutes' walk from Wawel Castle and has no restaurant of its own.
Check rates on Booking.comHotel Pod Różą at Floriańska 14 describes itself as the oldest hotel in Kraków, with a history going back to the 14th century. It is on the main street between the Main Market Square and St. Florian's Gate.
Check rates on Booking.comThe Bonerowski Palace is a restored 13th-century townhouse on the corner of the Main Market Square and Świętego Jana street. Reception can be reached on +48 12 37 41 300 or recepcja@palacbonerowski.pl.
Check rates on Booking.comCafés, neighbourhood gems, and tasting menus worth the table reservation.
Pod Aniołami (Under the Angels) serves traditional Polish dishes in medieval cellars on ul. Grodzka, on the Royal Road between the Main Market Square and Wawel.
Restauracja Wierzynek occupies a townhouse on the Main Market Square and is Krakow's most historic formal restaurant, serving refined Polish cuisine in period dining rooms.
Szara Gęś (Grey Goose) is a Polish restaurant on the Main Market Square known for roast goose and an extensive menu of traditional dishes, with seating in a vaulted interior and on the square.
Restauracja Wesele is a folk-themed Polish restaurant on the Main Market Square serving pierogi, żurek in a bread bowl and breaded pork cutlet.
Chłopskie Jadło (Peasant's Food) serves hearty regional dishes in a rustic wooden interior; bread with lard spread and pickles arrive at the table.
Bar Mleczny Pod Temidą is a cafeteria-style milk bar (bar mleczny) on ul. Grodzka where visitors queue at the counter for pierogi, soups and cutlets at budget prices.
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Krakow is compact: the Old Town, Wawel and Kazimierz are walkable, and trams and buses cover the rest. A car is unnecessary, and parking in the centre is limited and paid; the Old Town core is pedestrian or restricted.
Daily spend by tier in PLN, broken out by category.
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | 60-120 PLN / USD 16-32 (hostel dorm bed) | 300-600 PLN / USD 79-158 (3-4 star hotel) | 900-2000 PLN / USD 237-526 (5-star hotel) |
| Food (per day) | 60-100 PLN / USD 16-26 (milk bars, zapiekanki, supermarkets) | 150-250 PLN / USD 39-66 (sit-down restaurants) | 350-700 PLN / USD 92-184 (fine dining) |
| Transportation | 15-20 PLN / USD 4-5 (24-hour public transport ticket) | 20-50 PLN / USD 5-13 (tram passes, occasional ride-hailing) | 80-200 PLN / USD 21-53 (private driver, taxis) |
| Activities | 40-80 PLN / USD 11-21 (discounted museum entry, free-admission days) | 80-160 PLN / USD 21-42 (major attractions and day trips) | 200-500 PLN / USD 53-132 (private tours) |
| Daily total | 175-320 PLN / USD 46-84 | 550-1060 PLN / USD 145-279 | 1530-3400 PLN / USD 403-895 |
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C. Figures are for Lesser Poland.
May-June and September (warm days of 18-25°C / 64-77°F, long daylight, outdoor cafes open) and Christmas market season for a winter visit
The shoulder months of April-May and September-October combine mild weather with lower hotel prices. Easter and the 1-3 May long weekend are busy domestic holidays. All Saints Day (1 November) is a public holiday when many shops close and tens of thousands visit Rakowicki Cemetery (ul. Rakowicka 26) to light candles.
Dial 112 for any emergency; operators speak English
Keep wallets and phones in zipped front pockets on trams and on Rynek Główny
Carry a photo of your passport on your phone and keep the original in the hotel safe, but carry some photo ID when out
Use Bolt, Uber or the official airport taxi rank rather than street hailing
Check the Airly app for air quality on winter days and carry an FFP2 mask in the smog season
Take travel insurance with medical cover; EU visitors should bring an EHIC card
Pay in PLN rather than accepting dynamic currency conversion at ATMs and card terminals
Krakow is safe for visitors day and night in the Old Town, Kazimierz and Podgórze. The main risks are pickpocketing on crowded trams and on Rynek Główny, overcharging by unlicensed taxis, rowdy weekend nights around Floriańska and Plac Szczepański, and air pollution in winter. Solo travelers, women
The best time to visit Krakow is May-June and September. Krakow has a humid continental climate with warm summers, cold winters and rain in every month; the wettest period is May to August, when short heavy thunderstorms are common. Summer highs average 23-
Entry requirements follow Poland/EU Schengen rules. EU/EEA citizens need only a valid passport or national ID. Citizens of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and many other countries can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa; the passport should be valid for at least 3 months beyond departure. ETIAS travel authorisation is due to apply to visa-exempt visitors; check the official EU ETIAS site before travel. Requirements vary by nationality, so check with your nearest embassy or the official immigration website before traveling.
The currency in Krakow is the Polish zloty (PLN) (PLN). ATMs are widely available in cities and tourist areas. Credit cards are accepted at most hotels and restaurants, but carry cash for markets and smaller establishments.
The main language(s) spoken in Krakow: Polish (official); English widely spoken in tourist areas. In tourist areas, English is generally understood. Learning a few basic phrases in the local language is appreciated by locals.
The top attractions in Krakow include Wawel Royal Castle, Wawel Cathedral and Sigismund Bell, Main Market Square (Rynek Glowny), Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) and Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Art, and St. Mary's Basilica. Each offers a unique experience, from historic landmarks to natural wonders.
