Kraków Travel Guide: Things to Do & Best Time to Visit

Top things to do in Kraków

Kraków’s historic centre is compact and largely pedestrianised, with most major sights within walking distance of the Main Market Square.

• Main Market Square — One of the largest medieval squares in Europe, centred on the Renaissance Cloth Hall and lined with cafés and grand townhouses.
• St Mary’s Basilica — A Gothic church famous for its carved wooden altarpiece and the trumpet call played every hour from its tower.
• Wawel Royal Castle and Cathedral — The hilltop seat of Polish kings for centuries, with royal chambers, a treasury and the coronation cathedral.
• Kazimierz — The historic Jewish quarter, home to old synagogues, lively squares, galleries and some of the city’s best cafés and bars.
• Schindler’s Factory — A museum in Podgórze telling the story of Kraków under Nazi occupation during the Second World War.
• Wieliczka Salt Mine — A UNESCO-listed mine just outside the city, with underground chapels and sculptures carved entirely from salt.
• Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial — The former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp, a sombre and essential visit around 70 kilometres west of the city.

Best time to visit Kraków

May to September brings warm weather and long evenings, when café terraces spill onto the Main Market Square and the banks of the Vistula fill with walkers. July and August are the warmest and busiest months, and a Jewish Culture Festival brings music and events to Kazimierz each summer.

Spring and autumn are pleasant and less crowded, making April, May, September and October good choices for sightseeing and day trips.

Winter is cold, with frost and occasional snow, but the Christmas market on the Main Square and the city’s colourful nativity scene tradition create a festive mood in December. January and February are the quietest months.

Getting from the airport

Kraków Airport is located in Balice, around 11 kilometres west of the city centre, and is easy to reach by rail and road.

• Train — Trains run regularly from the airport station, a short walk from the terminal, to Kraków Główny, the main railway station beside the Old Town, in around 20 minutes.
• City bus — Public buses link the airport with the city centre and main station in around 35 to 45 minutes.
• Taxi — Use the official taxi ranks outside the terminal or a ride-hailing app. The drive to the centre usually takes 20 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic.

Train tickets can be bought from machines at the airport station or on board, and bus tickets from machines at the stops or on the bus.

Where to stay

Kraków is compact, and trams connect the Old Town with surrounding districts, so most areas are well placed for sightseeing.

• Old Town (Stare Miasto) — Ideal for first-time visitors who want to step straight out onto the Main Market Square and historic streets.
• Kazimierz — Characterful and lively, with cafés, restaurants and bars, suited to travellers who enjoy evenings out and local atmosphere.
• Podgórze — Across the river from Kazimierz, a quieter area with museums, parks and good-value accommodation.
• Near the main station — Convenient for airport trains and day trips by rail or bus, and just a few minutes’ walk from the Old Town.

Travel tips

• Getting around — The centre is best explored on foot, while trams and buses serve the wider city. Validate paper tickets when you board.
• Currency — Poland uses the złoty, not the euro. Cards are widely accepted; when paying by card, choosing to pay in złoty usually avoids poor conversion rates.
• Tipping — Around 10 percent is customary in restaurants with table service.
• Local food — Try pierogi dumplings and the ring-shaped obwarzanek bread sold from street carts, a Kraków speciality.
• Memorial visits — Entry to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial should be reserved well in advance. Dress and behave respectfully, and allow a full day for the trip.
• Entry requirements — Poland is part of the Schengen area. Visa and entry rules depend on your nationality, so check official sources before you travel.