Krakow holidays

It’s almost impossible to put your camera down on holidays to Krakow, with Baroque churches and Gothic spires competing for your attention. Cycle along the Vistula River for summer picnics, or join in the winter festivities at markets and ice skating rinks. When the sun sets, nightlife revolves around students in bohemian bars and classical music fans at historical theatres.

Krakow holiday highlights

Rynek Glowny

Hit the square

The best city breaks in Krakow spend a fair amount of time at the Main Market Square, one of Europe’s largest medieval squares. Start by climbing up the Town Hall Tower for panoramic views. Then check out the 14th-century St Mary’s Basilica, and listen for the hourly bugle call. In the square’s centre, the Renaissance Cloth Hall has stalls selling crafts, such as lacework and amber jewellery — perfect for souvenirs.

Go museum-hopping

If you’re on a budget, cheap holidays to Krakow are a little easier with free entry to many museums once a week. Just be sure to check individual venues for details. Take advantage of the deals on Tuesdays at the Rynek Underground Museum to see the chambers beneath Main Market Square that once hosted medieval merchant stalls. For a free look at avant-garde creations, visit the Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow (MOCAK) on Thursdays.

Street food scenes

Pretzel-like dough rings called ‘obwarzanek’ are one of the most popular street food snacks you’ll see at vendor stalls throughout the city. In the Jewish district, look for ‘zapiekanka’, a popular open-faced sandwich made with cheese, meat and vegetable toppings. At farmers markets, such as Hala Targowa, you’ll find sausages and potato pancakes for sale among the fresh produce stalls.

Krakow: Know before you go

Language

Polish

Currency

Polish zloty (zł)

Time zone

UTC+1 (CET) and UTC+2 (CEST)

High season

July – August

Low season

January – February

Find the best time to go to Krakow

Weather in Krakow

March – May: Spring weather is unpredictable, with warm sunshine often interrupted by rain showers. Pack an umbrella to admire the magnolias and cherry blossoms.

June – August: Summer temperatures hover around a comfortable 21°C. Heatwaves are possible but short-lived, with occasional thunderstorms offering relief.

September – November: Autumn can be chilly and wet, so pack accordingly. Focus on indoor attractions like Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory, where hundreds of Jews were saved from the Holocaust.

December – February: Winter temperatures plummet below freezing. But the Old Town is beautiful under a dusting of snow. Pack thermals for the Christmas markets, and try ‘oscypek’, a smoked cheese from the Tatra Mountains.

Events in Krakow

Shanties Festival (February): Poland has a fascinating maritime history. Join sailors from all over the world as they gather to belt out ‘shanties’ — maritime songs that honour the sea while pining for life on land.

Jewish Culture Festival (June or July): Everyone is welcome at one of the world’s largest celebrations of Jewish art, music and film. Take workshops in kosher cooking, Hasidic dance and traditional klezmer music.

Krakow Pierogi Festival (August): A breathtaking variety of these tasty dumplings await you at the country’s biggest pierogi festival. Sample as many as you can before voting for your favourite.

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The best neighbourhoods in Krakow

Old Town

The Old Town is the best neighbourhood to stay in Krakow to be within walking distance of historical landmarks such as St Mary’s Basilica and the City Defence Walls. Enjoy year-round party vibes with tourist crowds at lively restaurants and bars in Main Market Square. But make sure you also explore the side streets to mingle with locals in more casual venues that are just as fun.

Good for: Historical landmarks, nightlife, restaurants

Kazimierz

Home to one of Europe’s biggest Jewish communities, Kazimierz hosts many of the city’s synagogues, as well as Remah Cemetery, a 16th-century Jewish necropolis. These days, the neighbourhood is also where to stay in Krakow for vintage boutiques and art galleries, such as Galerie d’Art Naif. At night, check out the local bars for craft beer and cocktails.

Good for: Jewish history, vintage shops, bars

Podgorze

With its grassy lawns and riverfront walkways, Podgorze is a breath of fresh air within the city. Take a brisk morning walk before hitting the sights in this former Jewish ghetto. The sculptures in Ghetto Heroes Square commemorate the Jewish people who were imprisoned here during World War II. Visit the small Pharmacy Under the Eagle museum to learn about the only pharmacy that remained open in Podgorze under Nazi rule.Good for: Riverfront walk, museums, history

Things to do in Krakow

Monument of the Wawel Dragon

Family friendly things to do

You won’t run out of fun things to do with family in Krakow. The Wawel Royal Castle introduces you to a fire-breathing dragon sculpture and the cave where, legend has it, the creature once lived. Kids can burn off energy on the climbing walls of Krakow Rope Park. And if the weather turns wet, a visit to the Chocozeum at the Chocolate Manufactury is good for mood-boosting treats.

Shopping

Time goes quickly when shopping in Krakow at lively markets such as Plac Nowy and Nowy Kleparz. You can’t turn a corner without running into souvenir shops selling amber jewellery and wooden crafts in the Old Town, especially on Florianska, Kanonicza and Grodzka Streets. Stop at Ciuciu Cukier Artist for traditional sweets, and browse trendy fashion and gifts in Galeria Kazimierz and Galeria Krakowska.

Take in the culture

It’s worth buying a KrakowCard for discounts and access to many museums in Krakow. One of Poland’s oldest, the Czartoryski Museum is home to the painting ‘Lady with an Ermine’ by Leonardo da Vinci. See the mummified cats of ancient Egypt exhibited at the Archaeological Museum of Krakow. Kids and adults alike love the vintage tramcars at the Museum of Municipal Engineering, which has free entry on Tuesdays.

Nightlife

Hop between basement clubs and cocktail lounges in the Old Town, where fun nightlife in Krakow centres around Stolarska street. Kazimierz is dotted with casual vodka bars and live music pubs, such as New Day Blues Club. Plac Nowy’s bars are popular late-night stops. Book tickets in advance for shows at Krakow Opera and the grand Juliusz Slowacki Theatre.

Places to eat

If you’re travelling in the summer, it’s a must to reserve tables at the most popular restaurants in Krakow. Try gourmet tasting menus in the Gothic dining room at Szara Ges w Kuchni Restaurant or sample classic Polish cuisine with a twist at Michelin-recommended Pod Nosem. Remember that cheap eats at casual ‘bar mleczny’ (milk bars) often taste just as good as dishes at fine dining places.

Free things to do

One of the best free things to do in Krakow is to follow the Royal Route, the historical coronation path for Polish royalty. Start from St. Florian’s Gate to Wawel Castle with the Old Town’s main attractions in between. To get back to nature, take a detour to Planty Park to wander through the gardens and see the Barbican fortress.

Plan your holiday to Krakow

Budget

The historic Old Town, buzzy riverbank and lush parks make it easy to plan a cheap holiday to Krakow. Start your day with a cappuccino for as little as ten Polish złotych (zł). You can usually find a meal at an inexpensive restaurant for as little as zł40. Wash it down with a beer at zł15. Need a lift? Take a taxi trip starting at zł4.

Day trips from Krakow

An hour and a half away, visit the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum to see one of the most significant concentration camps of World War II. On the way back, stop by the Wieliczka Salt Mine, with its vast chapel carved out of salt. Or head to colourful Zalipie, where villagers have decorated their homes with artistic designs since the early 20th century.

Getting around Krakow

Exploring the Old Town on foot is a breeze, but consider getting a KrakowCard to go further afield. You can also buy timed tickets on board, at vending machines and at kiosks. The tram has hundreds of stops throughout the city and large windows for sightseeing. Hire bikes to make the most of dedicated trails, and take a scenic trip on the Krakow River Tram.

FAQs about Krakow holidays

A weekend break to Krakow is enough to see the top attractions. But to make the most of the museums and fantastic dining scenes, along with day trips to Auschwitz and Wieliczka Salt Mine, you’ll want a week.
With tons of things to do in Krakow, this popular city will have you hooked from the start. Begin your exploration at must-see attractions like St. Mary's Basilica and Planty Park.
The Polish złoty (PLN) is what you'll be using for general expenses and excursions during your trip to Krakow.
Polish is the language you'll encounter most often while on a city break in Krakow.
You’ll likely find budget-friendly prices for holidays in Krakow during the low season from November to February. With a snow-dusted Old Town, ice rinks and museums free of crowds, it’s a spectacular time to visit, as long as you don’t mind the cold — the average high is 2°C.
January brings the coolest weather. Plan your Krakow holiday then and you can anticipate lows of -9ºC (16ºF).
Your city break in Krakow can differ in price based on anything from your travel dates to trip length. To score the best deals on Krakow flights and hotels, try to have flexible departure dates and look out for discounts and sales.
August is the hottest month in Krakow, with temperatures peaking at 29ºC (84ºF).
With around 11 cm of rainfall, July is the wettest month. If you're going on your Krakow holiday then, you'll want to plan a few indoor activities. Enjoy a meal at one of the city's top dining spots, visit a museum, or hit the shops for some retail therapy.
The Old Town is designed for tourists on big nights out, so it’s safe to stroll between venues after dark during city breaks to Krakow. Just stay aware of your surroundings in crowds, and keep an eye on your belongings.