10 Best Outdoor Activities in Krakow

Krakow is a must-see destination in Poland where you can enjoy many outdoor experiences. Things to see and do in Kraków in the great outdoors include touring the city by golf cart or bicycle, cruising along the Vistula River, exploring the Jewish Quarter on a Segway, climbing the Kościuszko Mound and tasting Polish vodka at the distilleries. You can also visit the zoo, take a guided tour of Wavel Castle or join a ghost tour. I'll tell you more about each of these plans.

As one of Krakow' s most important rivers, given its location and length, the Vistula River should be your first stop when exploring Krakow in the great outdoors. On this approximately one-hour tour, you will board a boat for a cruise on the Vistula River, where you will see the city from a unique perspective.

You will see the richness of Krakow's landscapes captured through its green areas, monuments and other spaces. You can do this activity almost any time of the year, but if you go to Krakow in summer, you will enjoy the splendour of the spaces with more vivid colours combined with the sunlight.

During this sailing experience you will see places like the Bernatka Bridge, which holds dozens of padlocks left by tourists and locals. You will also see the Wawel Castle and its imposing structure, the Manggha museum with its wave-shaped roof and you will see the streets of the Kazimierz quarter, where scenes from the film Schindler's List were filmed.

Useful information

• Price: approximately 20 ¤ per person.
• Duration: usually 1 hour.

Summer is one of the best times to travel to Kraków because it allows you to take advantage of the good weather to do outdoor activities such as cycling through the streets of Kraków and discover the sights.

This tour offers you an active and ecological way of getting to know the city. You will pass through the most interesting corners and spaces of Krakow, such as the Main Market Square, which is the largest medieval square in Europe. You will also visit the Planty Park, a huge park surrounding the Old Town, and you will see the old city walls while enjoying the views of the Vistula River.

And you will do all this in the company of a guide. He or she will be a great help in learning about the history and culture of Plonia, especially when you visit the Jewish quarter of Kazimierz, where hundreds of Jews lived and which was one of the worst affected during the Nazi occupation. Also, keep in mind that you can choose to take the tour with a group of maximum 25 people, a smaller group or a privategroup .

Useful information

• Price: from 30€ per person.
• Duration: about 4 hours.

Another open-air activity you can do when visiting Krakow in August or on any sunny day is to tour the Kazimierz Jewish Quarter on a Segway. This means of transport will help you move faster to optimise your time and save energy for further exploration.

Under the guidance of a professional, you'll wander through the narrow streets of the area that was home to hundreds of Jews and witnessed the Nazi occupation of the city. You will pass by places such as:

• Wolnica Square, where the central market functioned for many years. This space is surrounded by examples of medieval architecture, with Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance style buildings.
• The Jewish Cemetery, one of the oldest in Europe. It houses the tombs of important figures of the Jewish community such as Rabbi Moses Isserles and historical monuments.
• The Remuh Synagogue, a well-known place of worship for the Jewish community.

Useful information

• Price: around €48 per person.
• Duration: at least 2 hours.

Clear days in Kraków are an excellent opportunity to enjoy the panoramic views from the Kościuszko Mound. This viewpoint is one of the most popular in the city because of its historical significance, having been erected in homage to Tadeusz Kościuszko, one of **Poland'**s heroes.

Moreover, the design of this artificial hill that reaches over 30 metres allows you to see the city in 360 degrees, offering full views and ideal for taking unique photographs of your trip.

Before going up to the viewpoint, you can visit the museum of the same name, where you will learn about the life of this hero of Polish independence. You can reach the top by tourist train or on foot. In either case, you will be delighted by the nature trails full of native vegetation along the way. At the end of this experience, you will have time for other activities, such as joining some of the guided tours of Kraków's Jewish Quarter.

Useful information

• Price: from €6 per person.
• Duration: The length of your visit may vary depending on whether you tour the entire facility or not. A quick tour can last for 30 minutes and a more detailed tour will take between 1 and 2 hours.

One of the ways you can make the most of your visit to Kraków is to tour the city in a golf cart. For approximately two hours you can explore several of the most important destinations together with a local guide in a comfortable way and in a short time. It is ideal, therefore, if you are spending only 1 day in Krakow.

This tour is private, meaning that you will be alone with your family and friends in the cart, allowing for a more personalised and closer experience. You will learn about the history and culture of Krakow through the Old Town, the Market Square, Wawel Castle, the Jewish quarter Kazimierz and much more.

As you walk through the streets, you will see how the medieval, Renaissance, Romanesque and Baroque styles are present in the various buildings. You will also learn about the history of the Jewish community and the case for salvation that Schindler's Factory represented. You will also be enchanted by the Jagiellonian University, which stands out for its architecture and antiquity, dating back to 1364.

Useful information

• Price: a group of four persons will have to pay approximately €192.
• Duration: about two hours.

In case you are visiting Krakow with children and need to add outdoor activities to your itinerary, an unmissable option is to visit the Krakow Zoo and its surroundings. This is a convenient activity that can include private transfer from your hotel to the zoo and skip-the-line entry.

When you buy tickets for the Krakow Zoo you will be able to observe some 1400 animals from all over the world at your own pace. You will get up close and personal with some 250 species, including tigers, lions, giraffes, bears, elephants and many others.

You will also learn about the importance of wildlife preservation and the breeding and conservation programmes at Krakow Zoo. Take advantage of the fact that there are no fixed hours to explore the space (beyond operating hours) and have fun with your family and friends.

Useful information

• Price: The average price of the experience with transfer is €83 per person.
• Duration: In general, completing the tour at a moderate pace will take approximately three hours.

If you want to combine nature appreciation with outdoor walking, then another outdoor activity to consider is exploring the Ojców National Park from Kraków. This tour takes you to one of the hidden treasures around the city to discover its attractions, with a comfortable and exclusive transfer.

After the organisers pick you up from your hotel, you will set off on the Eagle's Nest trail and discover a number of natural wonders of the Kraków region. You will see caves, forests, grottoes and trails on an open-air walk on the Kraków-Częstochow Plateau.

Be amazed by the Pieskowa Skała Castle with its Renaissance architecture, rock formations such as the Hercules' mallet or the glove-shaped stone, as well as the Wierzchowska Górna and Lokietka caves. You can also go hiking, cycling and kayaking (if you go in summer). If these types of activities interest you, then I invite you to check out other adventure and nature options in Krakow.

Useful information

• Price: about 250€ per person (only the excursion and no additional experiences).
• Duration: about 4 hours.

Another outdoor activity, but this time under the moonlight, is a ghost tour of Kraków. This city has witnessed a series of terrifying events that have left their silent and invisible traces in every corner of the city. You can immerse yourself in this adventure for the brave through the streets of the Old Town with the help of a local guide.

This tour is one of the best ghost tours in Krakow, as it includes a suspenseful walk through the Royal Wawel Castle, where the spectres of former kings are believed to roam in the dark of night . You'll also see St. Florian's Gate, the 1300s tower that witnessed countless battles and, consequently, deaths. It is said that the souls of fallen soldiers haunt it.

You will also pass through the main square, where hundreds of executions took place. In turn, beneath its ground are catacombs where some lost spirits and ghosts live. In fact, many believe that every time you ring Sigismund's bell to mark the hours, some evil spirits are also chased away.

Useful information

• Price: from 20€ per person.
• Duration: about two and a half hours.

The waters of Krakow, specifically the Vistula River, welcome tourists at the end of the day who are looking for fun in a different way: a boat party. This activity is a kind of night cruise where you can breathe in the fresh air while enjoying the sights of the city at dusk and at night.

You will depart on the boat together with a local guide. You'll have access to an open bar, so you'll be able to sample your favourites during the tour. As you take in the beauty of the city at night, you can dance and listen to music for fun. In addition, you will witness a magic show while you sail.

During this experience, a professional photographer will take pictures to capture the most exciting and fun moments with your family and friends. Also, to complement the tour, you will go into the old city area to visit three nightclubs (entrance is included). For the level of fun it provides, this activity could well be mentioned among the best boat trips in Krakow.

Useful information

• Price: from €53 per person.
• Duration: the cruise lasts approximately 2 hours.

A visit to the extensive trails in Kraków's largest wooded park - the Wolski Forest - is a must for outdoor activities. With over 400 hectares of land, this natural lung stretches across the western part of the city, encompassing the districts of Bielany and Wola Justowska.

As well as being home to Kraków Zoo, this area is also home to a number of hiking and cycling trails You can walk or cycle along some of them, depending on your interests. In total, you can find about 8 routes totalling approximately 35 km, so there is plenty of space to escape the hustle and bustle and get some exercise if you wish.

The forest also has some viewpoints, such as the one at Piłsudski Mound, from where you can get unique views of the Tatra Mountains (on clear days), the historic centre of the city, the Vistula River, and so on. To combine with this tour, you could book a tour of Wawel Castle, a place of interest which you can also see from the top of the mound.

Useful information

• Price: free of charge.
• Duration: about two and a half hours.