12 Best Things To Do in Krakow

Discovering the secrets of Krakow and exploring its streets and monuments is the ideal plan for a long weekend. The city and its surroundings offer plans that will stay in the traveller's mind forever. Here's what not to miss on your trip to Kraków.

Located about an hour and a half's drive from the centre of Kraków, the Auschwitz concentration camps are one of the most visited sites in Europe. What was once the capital of horror is now a museum dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Nazi regime.

The Auschwitz camps can be visited individually and on your own (see here for more information on how to get to Auschwitz from Krakow) or by booking an Auschwitz tour My recommendation is clearly the latter option. Here you will find information about excursions to Auschwitz and prices of tickets and guided tours to Auschwitz and you will see that it pays off.

However, bear in mind the Auschwitz timetable when booking your visit. I would suggest you book it first thing in the morning, as the duration of the visits and tours of the Auschwitz concentration camps is usually around two hours and you will have more time to see other things afterwards. Here are some suggestions:

• Excursion to Auschwitz from £34
• Excursion to Auschwitz and the Wieliczka salt mines from £80
• Excursion to Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and museum from £13
• Excursion to Wieliczka Salt Mines and Auschwitz-Birkenau from £88
• Excursion to Auschwitz-Birkenau camp from £3

Interesting facts about organised tours

Many packages include, in addition to the entrance to the Auschwitz complex, transfer from Krakow and are available in several languages. What you will see in the Auschwitz concentration camps are the remains of a historical period that it is essential to make known and not to forget.

This tour is not recommended for children under nine years old and, personally, I would not recommend it to very sensitive travellers because, although enriching, it can be quite hard even though the guides do not go into lurid details at any time. Here are a few tips if you're visiting the Auschwitz concentration camps from Krakow.

After Auschwitz, a trip to the Wieliczka salt mines is the most popular visit around Kraków among travellers passing through the Polish city. It's also a World Heritage Site, so if you're wondering whether it's worth visiting the salt mines from Kraków, the answer is yes.

The most important thing to know is that you should book your tickets well in advance. Even if you choose to visit the Wieliczka Salt Mines on your own, they are always visited with a guided tour available in several languages and are often in high demand. There are several options:

• Half day tour to the Wieliczka Salt Mines from £55
• Wieliczka Salt Mines Tour with hotel accommodation from £45
• Excursion to Wieliczka Salt Mines from £53

Here is more information on how to get to Wieliczka from Krakow and tickets for the Wieliczka Salt Mines: how to buy, prices and discounts with guided tour or combine both options.

Interesting facts about visiting the Wieliczka Salt Mines

If you're wondering what to see at the Wieliczka Salt Mines, you can expect to see a salt-carved chapel, a lake, chambers connected by a network of underground tunnels and salt sculptures of famous people (where you can take some of the best photos of the Wieliczka Salt Mines).

The salt mines are located about half an hour's drive from Kraków and the visit to the salt mines takes about two and a half hours. Here are some recommendations for your visit:

• You can make a joint trip to Auschwitz and the Wieliczka Salt Mines from Krakow so that the ticket price for the Wieliczka Salt Mines will be lower.
• The best advice for visiting the Wieliczka Salt Mines is to bring warm clothing regardless of the time of day you choose to visit the salt mines.
• Inside the mines the temperature drops and, especially if you visit the Wieliczka salt mines with children, the cold can play tricks on you.

Kraków's Old Town and Jewish Quarter are the most identifiable places in the city because of the history behind them. Although a solitary stroll through both places is visually enjoyable, booking a guided tour of Kraków to get to know them is infinitely more enriching. Here are the best guided tours of the Jewish Quarter.

A local, knowledgeable guide will show you the city through their eyes and help you learn about its history and anecdotes. They will also show you monuments and places of great cultural interest that might otherwise go unnoticed. You have different options for guided tours of Krakow:

• Book a bike tour.
• Book an electric car tour.
• Book a tour of Krakow's Jewish Quarter.
• Book a gastronomic tour.
• Book a tour of the Old Town of Cracow.
• Book a ghost tour of Krakow.
• Book a tour of the Nowa Huta district.

For those who have seen Steve Spielberg's masterpiece, the relevance of this place will be clear. For those who haven't: Oskar Schindler was a German businessman who dedicated himself to saving large numbers of Jews from concentration camps by employing them as workers in his factories.

After the war, Schindler was executed, but the descendants of his employees still honour him.

Booking a guided tour of Schindler's factory in the centre of Krakow is a lesson in history and a lesson in hope, because in the midst of all the horror of the Nazi occupation of the city, there were people who resisted being part of it.

Close to the historic centre stands Wawel Hill and the imposing castle of the same name. From there you will have a perfect view of the city from the top and you will also be able to see this 14th century Renaissance castle.

It can be visited every day from 9.30am to 4pm (in summer until 5pm) and inside you will find the crown treasury, the royal armoury, the royal apartments, the crypts of famous people and my favourite place, the dragon cave.

It is a highly recommended visit to make alone or in a group when booking a guided tour of Wawel Castle as Wawel Castle is one of the emblems of the city of Krakow.

In every city there is a place to wander around, browse shops, watch the locals, have a leisurely lunch or just sit and relax. In Kraków that place is Kraków's Market Square, a medieval-style square surrounded by colourful palaces.

You'll pass by it many times during your visit, so enjoy it and explore it leisurely, because it's worth it.

And, of course, it's included in the itinerary when you book a Krakow Old Town tour and other city tours.

Zapokane and the Tatra Mountains with their hot springs are two of the must-see destinations on your trip to Kraków. On the one hand, in Zapokane you can stroll through the streets and admire the wooden chalets from the beginning of the 20th century. On the other hand, you can climb Gubalowka Hill and admire the breathtaking views of the Tatra Mountains. A unique way to enjoy nature and breathtaking views.

Are you up for a visit to both places? If so, I recommend you book an excursion to Zakopane and Tatra which lasts about 10 hours and you can forget about how to get there.

And if you want to continue travelling around Krakow you can also add another destination to your list, Wadowice.

Krakow Cathedral is located on Wawel Hill, is dedicated to St. Stanislaus and is over 1,000 years old. It is one of the most important buildings in Poland and is therefore included in the Krakow Old Town tour and admission is free.

Inside you can't take photos and if you want to climb the tower to see the aerial views of the city you will have to pay about four euros. If you find this visit interesting, don't hesitate to add other of Krakow's best churches to your route. You won't regret it.

The list of things to see and do in Kraków could not be complete without a mention of Polish cuisine. The most popular drink in the country is known to be vodka, but what about the traditional dishes?

In Kraków' s restaurants you'll find delicacies such as Pierogi, Paprykarz or Zurek, all of which consist mainly of meat, pasta and spices. And if you're looking for a safe bet, check out the best gastronomic tours of Kraków.

Polish cuisine takes elements from other cuisines such as Armenian, Slavic, Turkish, German, Jewish and French. The result is exquisite and the best way to experience it first hand is to visit some of the city's traditional restaurants or book a culinary tour of Krakow.

This sturdy fortification is located in the centre of Kraków and is about 25 metres high. It was built in the 15th century to protect the city from the advance of the Ottoman Empire and, although a visit to its interior is not necessary, you should go around it as you pass by to appreciate its Gothic style.

You'll find it just past the Florian Gate and, like other sites we've already mentioned, it is of great historical interest and is often included when booking a tour of Kraków's Old Town.

Another tip for planning your trip to Krakow that I can give you is not to limit yourself to the city itself. Many people wonder before their trip whether it is better to visit Krakow or Warsaw, but the truth is that you don't have to choose.

If you have enough time on your trip, you can travel from Kraków to Warsaw on your own or on one of the organised excursions around Kraków- don't miss out on either city! And if you're still hungry for more, check out this post on how to get from Krakow to Wroclaw

I recommend you book a tour to Warsaw from Krakow in advance so you don't get caught out - Poland is waiting for you!

Located in Kraków's Old Town, the building in which Copernicus studied is notable for its beautiful inner courtyard.

If you are interested in astronomy, you must visit the university museum, but if not, you can also come in the evening, when the organised tours have finished, to relax in the garden and admire the architecture. To get there you can check all the information about the Krakow sightseeing bus.

As you can see, Krakow has a lot to offer tourists. In addition, there are several tours and excursions from Krakow that you have to include in your list. Of course, being a large capital city, it also has seasonal events that you can't miss.

Choose the date of your visit to Krakow (my recommendation is to travel to Krakow at Christmas, especially if you are visiting Krakow with children) and then check out this list to find out what to do in the Polish city:

• What to do in Krakow in January.
• What to do in Krakow in February.
• What to do in Krakow in August.
• What to do in Krakow in October.
• Things to do in Krakow in November.
• What to do in Krakow in December.

Every time of the year has its advantages. Whether you visit Krakow in winter, visit Krakow in summer, visit Krakow in autumn or visit Krakow in spring, you will find things to do, so reserve a minimum of 3 days for your visit.

If you are less and want to save time, I recommend that you book your airport transfers to Krakow in advance. However, there are several itineraries available here for you to check out, even if you're staying more or less days:

• What to see and do in Krakow in 1 day.
• What to see and do in Krakow in 2 days.
• What to see and do in Krakow in 3 days.
• What to see and do in Krakow in 4 days.
• What to see and do in Krakow in 5 days.
• What to see and do in Krakow in 7 days.