Krakow - guide 
Sights and attractions - What should you visit in Krakow? The Main Market Square, the Wawel Royal Castle, the Kazimierz district or the Barbican...
Accommodation - Where to stay in Krakow? In the historic center or in the countryside outside the center? In a luxury hotel, apartment or guesthouse?
Typical food and drinks - What you should try in Krakow - the ubiquitous obwarzanek, zapiekanka or maybe poppy seed.
Practical tips - Learn more about local transport, customs and the best time to visit the city here.
Weather - What temperatures and precipitation will greet you in the four seasons in Krakow?
Celebrities - What famous personalities lived and worked in Krakow.
Poet AI - What did artificial intelligence invent about Krakow and its history?
Krakow, one of the oldest and most important cities in Poland, is famous for its rich history, cultural monuments and lively atmosphere.
Krakow, the second largest city in Poland, has a population of approximately 770,000.
Krakow is located in the south of Poland, on the Vistula River. It represents the capital of the Lesser Poland Voivodeship.
Krakow was the capital of Poland from 1038 to 1596. Its history dates back to the 7th century, making it one of the oldest cities in the country.
The historic center of the city, including the Wawel Royal Castle, the Main Square (Rynek Główny) and the Kazimierz Jewish Quarter, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Krakow is an important economic center, known for its developed tourism industry, IT sector and educational institutions.
The city attracts a lot of international investment and is home to many multinational companies.
John Paul II International Airport (Kraków-Balice) provides connections with many European cities.
Public transport works well. It includes buses, trams and commuter trains.
The main railway station (Kraków Główny) is an important transport hub.
Krakow is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Poland. It attracts millions of visitors annually thanks to its historical monuments, cultural events and rich gastronomy.
The proximity of the Wieliczka Salt Mines and the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial makes Krakow a convenient starting point for visiting these important sites.
Krakow hosts many cultural festivals and events, including the Etiuda&Anima International Film Festival, the Jazz Festival and the Jewish Culture Festival, which takes place at the turn of June and July.
Sights and attractions
Wawel Royal Castle (Zamek Królewski na Wawel) - Historical seat of Polish kings and a symbol of Polish statehood. Here you can see the royal chambers, the coronation cathedral and the treasury with the crown jewels.
Main Square (Rynek Główny) – One of the largest medieval squares in Europe. You will find many important buildings here, including the Marian Church, the Town Hall Tower and the Sukiennice Market.
Marian Church (Kościół Mariacki) - Gothic church known for its magnificent altarpiece by Veit Stoss. Every hour here, a trumpeter plays the traditional tune of hejnał Mariacki from the church tower.
Sukiennice Market - Historic market on the Main Square. Today it serves as a shopping arcade with souvenirs and as a gallery of Polish art on the upper floor.
Kazimierz – Jewish quarter. A historic district with a rich Jewish history. You can see many synagogues here, including the Old Synagogue and the Remuh Synagogue, the Jewish Museum and the cemetery.
Barbican - Gothic defense structure that was part of the city walls. Today it serves as a museum and occasionally hosts various cultural events.
Jagiellonian University (Uniwersytet Jagielloński) - The second oldest university in Central Europe, founded in 1364. Collegium Maius, the oldest building of the university, contains a museum and historical rooms.
Florian's Gate - The main entrance gate to the old town and part of the medieval walls. Next to it is the famous Floriánská Street leading to the Main Square.
Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum – Holocaust memorial and museum located near Krakow. It offers visitors a deep and moving insight into the history of World War II.
Wieliczka Salt Mines (Kopalnia Soli Wieliczka) - A unique underground world with a lake, a chapel and sculptures carved from salt. They are located about 15 km from Krakow.
Accommodations
In Krakow, you can choose from more than 4,300 different accommodation capacities, from luxury accommodation to cheapest ones. The largest part of the offer consists of apartments, followed by hotels, hostels, guesthouses and villas.
You can indulge in real luxury at the 5* Bachleda Luxury Hotel Krakow MGallery Hotel Collection in the center of the Old Town. Guests can relax in the hotel spa with an indoor pool with hydromassage and water jets, dry sauna, caldarium or in the fitness center. It's not missing here either restaurant, bar, garden or terrace.
Lovers of boutique accommodation will definitely like the 3* Merci Boutique Hotel. The hotel offers accommodation with a garden, free private parking, a shared lounge and a restaurant, as well as concierge services, a 24-hour front desk, airport transfers, a kids' club and free Wi-Fi in all areas. You will find it 4 km from the city center.
If you prefer to stay in an apartment with your own kitchen, check out WillaWawel - LoftAffair Collection in the historic Old Town district. The 24-hour reception can arrange airport transfers upon request.
If you prefer cheaper apartments outside the city center, you might like the Apartament A2D Kraków apartments, which are located about 5 km from the center. What do apartments for 2-4 guests offer? Accommodation with garden, terrace, free private parking, shared lounge and kitchen.
The classic guesthouse about 5 km from the center of Pensjonat Pola offers a garden with barbecue facilities, a shared lounge or luggage storage. You can stay in a double room or in a studio or in a wheelchair-accessible room.
Pleasant accommodation in a beautiful villa with a large garden in the city center is offered by the 3* guesthouse U Pana Cogito. In the local restaurant you can taste specialties of Polish cuisine, in the morning they prepare breakfast here. The accommodation is located a short distance from the Wawel Royal Castle. You can park directly on the premises for an additional fee.
For a complete offer of accommodation in Krakow, we recommend using A-HOTEL.com or Booking.com.
Typical food and drink
Krakow is known for its rich gastronomic tradition, which combines elements of Polish cuisine with regional specialties. In addition to typical Polish dishes such as pirogi, bigos or žurek, which we wrote about in the article about Warsaw, you should not miss:
Obwarzanek krakowski - A traditional Kraków baked ring similar to a pretzel, sprinkled with salt, sesame or poppy seeds. You can find this popular street food on practically every corner in Krakow.
Zapiekanka - A baked baguette with various ingredients is one of the popular local street foods.
Kiełbasa - Polish sausages, grilled or smoked. There are many varieties, each with its own unique flavor.
Placki ziemniaczane - Potato pancakes, often served with various sauces or sour cream.
Makowiec - Poppy strudel, a traditional Polish dessert made from yeast dough filled with a sweet poppy filling.
Sernik - Polish cheesecake, popular throughout the country and often containing raisins or fruit.
Krupnik – In addition to the popular beer and traditional vodka, you can also try krupnik, a honey liqueur, often served as a digestive. It has a sweet and spicy taste.
Tea - Tea is very popular in Poland, often served with lemon or honey. Especially in the winter months, hot tea with added fruit or spices is drunk a lot.
Practical advice for the trip
In spring (May and June) and autumn (September and October) you can avoid the tourist crowds and enjoy the pleasant weather here. The city also has its charm before Christmas – you can enjoy the Christmas markets on the Main Square.
Use trams and buses for easy movement around the city. Buy tickets in advance from machines at stops or in cars. We recommend purchasing one-day or multi-day tickets. If you have enough time, you can walk through the city center with the main sights. You can also rent bikes and ride some of the well-maintained bike paths. Or you can take a boat ride on the Vistula River.
Try traditional Polish dishes in local restaurants such as pierogi, bigos and żurek. From the street snacks, we recommend the ubiquitous obwarzanek or zapiekanka. Coffee is best enjoyed in one of the cafes in Kazimierz. They offer a great atmosphere and excellent coffee.
Krakow is one of the safe cities, but as in any big city, be careful and keep an eye on your personal belongings, especially in crowded places or on public transport.
Most shops and restaurants accept cards, but it's good to have cash for smaller purchases. You can find ATMs all over the city.
Polish is the official language, but many people, especially the younger generation, speak English. Learn a few basic Polish phrases that the locals will appreciate.
Be polite and respect local customs. Poles value polite behavior and decency.
Weather
Krakow has a mild continental climate characterized by four distinct seasons.
It rains most often in spring and summer.
Spring is characterized by changeable weather with temperatures ranging from 5°C in March to 20°C in May.
In summer, temperatures sometimes rise to 30°C. The sun often shines, but storms can also appear.
Autumn changes from a warm and dry September to a cold and wet November. Temperatures during autumn drop from 20°C to zero. The beautiful autumn atmosphere of the city is enhanced by colorful leaves.
Winter temperatures range from -5°C to 5°C. Frosty days are not an exception, especially in January. Sometimes it snows here. Prepare for short days and long nights.
Famous people
Jan Paweł II (Karol Wojtyła) (1920-2005) - First Polish Pope, formerly Archbishop of Krakow. He came from the town of Wadowice near Krakow, studied and worked in Krakow. He was canonized in 2014.
Queen Jadwiga (1373/4-1399) - Polish queen and saint. They crowned her in 1384. She became famous for her charitable work and support of the Jagiellonian University.
Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) - A famous astronomer who studied at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. He invented the theory of heliocentrism, which changed the view of the universe.
Jan III Sobieski (1629-1696) - King of Poland, who became famous for his military prowess and victory over the Turks in the Battle of Vienna in 1683. He studied at the university in Krakow and was also buried here in the Wawel Cathedral.
Adam Mickiewicz (1798-1855) - One of the most important Polish poets, whose statue stands on the Main Square in Krakow. Poles consider him a national poet.
Stanisław Wyspiański (1869-1907) - Renaissance artist and playwright whose works include paintings, plays and designs for stained glass windows for St. Mary's Church. He was born and lived in Krakow, in his house today you can visit a museum.
Wisława Szymborska (1923-2012) - Polish poet and essayist who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1996. She lived and worked in Krakow.
Krzysztof Penderecki (1933-2020) - One of the most important composers of contemporary music who lived and worked in Krakow. His works are known all over the world.
A poem about Krakow created by artificial intelligence
In Krakow, the city of the kings of old,
where Wawel shines from time immemorial,
stories of ancient history
they intertwine in the streets.
On the ever-pulsating Market Square,
where the tower trumpeter plays
Marian Church supervises
at Sukiennice colorful stalls.
Where Copernicus once studied
he counted the stars in the sky
Queen Jadwiga walked along Wawel,
she kept her humanity in her heart.
Kazimierz Jewish, full of traditions,
remembers the old days
synagogues and cafes quiet
they tell the stories of the famous.
John Paul II here he led his steps,
brought peace and love to the world,
Penderecki lit up Krakow with music,
every note struck his heart.
Wieliczka hides treasures underground,
salt and chapel in the deep,
every corner of the city breathes soul
history, which still gives a sign.
Krakow, the city of dreams and history,
every stone has a story
in its shadow the past breathes
and the future welcomes us.