I finally went on my very first trip to Poland!
Kraków is a super walkable city with gorgeous buildings around each corner, amazing restaurants and bars. Honestly I’ve really been missing out on Polish food all my life, it’s so cosy and delicious. And of course, there’s plenty to explore. We did so much and barely scratched the surface of Kraków. I can’t wait to go back and visit again.
Below is my ultimate Kraków city guide and itinerary – don’t forget to pin these images to Pinterest to save the post!
15 incredible things to do in Krakow
Rynek Główny
Wander the Rynek Główny aka the main square of the Old Town. It dates back to the 13th century, and is one of the largest medieval town squares in Europe. And, of course, you have to stroll through the Cloth Hall to do a bit of shopping.
St Mary’s Basilica
Step into the wonderland that is St. Mary’s Basilica to peep the ornate decor and THOSE CEILINGS! You’ll find the gothic style church located next to Kraków’s Main Market Square. It’s also what I am fondly referring to as a dark academia Ravenclaw DREAM. You have to visit the Basilica, if only to see the ceilings alone. This is an absolute inspiration for future home decor plans FYI.
The church itself is also known as one of the best examples of Polish Gothic architecture. It’s open every day between 11.30 AM and 6.00 PM. The church is available to enter for worship without paying an entry fee via the main entrance. However, as tourists visiting, it’s unlikely that’s the cause of your visit (same here!) so you are asked to use a side entrance and not visit during services. We did this! Tickets are purchased in a separate building across from the tourist entrance (currently there are no online sales). Tickets are £2 to enter.
You can also visit the Bugle Tower at the top but make sure to have another separate ticket (an additional £3) to do so.
Wawel Castle
Located atop Wawel Hill, Wawel Castle is a gorgeous focal point along the river in the city of Kraków. It’s also surprisingly free to enter the grounds. If you want to go inside to visit some of the exhibits though, you can purchase tickets on the door.
Don’t forget after you stop by to visit the fire breathing dragon sculpture by the water. Yes, seriously. The dragon breathes fire every five minutes!
Tour of Kazimierz District
Be sure to stop into the former Jewish Quarter of the city, which after WWII was transformed into a centre for Krakow’s bars and cool cafe culture. You’ll find plenty of incredible food in the area. Also did you know that bagels were actually invented in this neighbourhood?! Wild!
I’d also recommend popping into a few of the bookstores while you’re at it. There are plenty to wander into for browsing.
Auschwitz and the Salt Mines
If you have time on your travels, I also recommend booking a half day to visit both Auschwitz and the Salt Mines. They are located outside of the city centre and therefore I would designate them as more half-day timing wise plans. I would really like to go back and visit both with Joe someday.
Eat & Drink
Cafe Camelot
It’s not just sightseeing things to do in Krakow, this includes where is best to eat and drink too! A cosy pink dream, this Cafe Camelot doubles as a place to get warming coffees or sweet treats and at night is the ideal spot for cocktails. It absolutely reminds me of what Madam Puddifoot’s would look like in real life! I can highly recommend ordering the hot chocolate, it was rich, creamy and delicious.
Hevre
A cool alternative spot to grab coffee is at Hevre. It’s an old synagogue converted in a bohemian café. It’s definitely one of the trendier places to visit in Kraków, there was even a fashion photoshoot taking place while we stopped in.
Charlotte
Looking for a great breakfast spot? Charlotte feels like a Parisian bakery with a Polish twist. Their speciality is the Bread Basket which includes pastries and a coffee. Or you can go rogue like me and order an omelette. It’s such a cute spot, definitely pop in one morning to sit here with a coffee and watch the world go by.
Hamsa
Located in the Kazimierz District, the historic Jewish quarter, you’ll find Hamsa. It’s a hummus lover’s absolute dream come true. I recommend trying the platter where you can add on a little bit of everywhere. Because yes, my favourite thing is tasting as much as humanly possible.
Pod Aniolami
When visiting Krakow booking dinner at Pod Aniolami is a MUST on your list. It’s unassuming from the outside but once you step through the entryway and down the corridor you’re welcomed in a huge underground cave. It has beautiful interiors and a traditional Polish menu awaits. Order the selection of dumplings (this way you can try one of each!) and the żurek, a sour rye soup, it’s so good! Starters are £3-6, Mains between £5-£13. Highest priced dinner item on the menu is £13.
Filipa 18
A little different to the interiors at Pod Aniolami, Filipa 18 is a super aesthetic modern Polish restaurant. For mains we tried the Prawns in a white wine & butter sauce, pork cheeks on a brioche bun with honey & beer sauce and the sun-dried tomato & pesto pasta. Prices are roughly £6-£8 per dish or less for starters.
Szara Gęś (The Grey Goose)
Looking for something in the main square? Szara Gęś (The Grey Goose) is exactly what you’re looking for. Their menu is a mix of modern and traditional, but what you really want to visit for is the dessert called the Grey Goose. It’s quite possibly one of the coolest desserts I’ve ever seen. It’s like a chocolate mousse meets creamy egg. Just trust me. Go and order it. I’d even recommend going in JUST for that dessert. It’s £8 also so not even a super splurge – you need it in your life.
Wodka Bar
You absolutely have to stop into Wodka Bar to do a vodka tasting. Even if you aren’t the biggest vodka or spirits drinker, I think it’s a really fun and unique thing to do. You can try a whole range of flavours. We got two sampling boards so we could take little sips of everything. I seriously recommend the chocolate and the raspberry. Oh! Or the lemon. There’s really a flavour for everyone.
Hotel Copernicus
Pop into the Hotel Copernicus to grab drinks at sunset from their Rooftop Terrace. It has amazing views of Wawel Castle and it really is the perfect place to watch the sunset. Ask when you walk into reception about the rooftop bar because it is a little bit hard to find if you don’t know exactly where you’re going.
Stay at Puro Hotels
In Krakow we stayed in the best spot, Puro Hotels – Old Town. Totally Instagrammable, affordable and extremely close to the centre. It’s also located right next to the train station (don’t worry, you won’t hear a thing). So it’s very convenient if you’re hopping on a train to visit another city – just like we were on our way to Wroclaw next. Stay tuned!
Have you ever visited Kraków before? Don’t forget to save this thing to do in Krakow list for your future trip!
Kelly xox