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Last updated on July 1st, 2025 at 05:38 pm
Poland’s most visited city is a popular weekend destination, but spending anything less than 4 days in Krakow wouldn’t be enough to appreciate and enjoy everything this marvellous city has to offer.
From spectacular architecture and rich history to unique culinary delights and vodka tastings, Krakow is a city to explore with all your senses.
Here’s how to spend 4 days in Krakow, a well-planned itinerary that combines some of the most popular tourist attractions and lesser-known gems and experiences.
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Where Is Krakow?
Krakow is in Southern Poland, a three-hour drive from the country’s capital, Warsaw.
Built on the Vistula River, the country’s longest river, it’s the second-largest city in Poland. Dating back to the 10th century, Krakow is also one of the oldest cities in Poland.
How To Get To Krakow
By Air
There are direct flights to Krakow from several popular cities across Europe. Krakow International Airport is a 20-minute drive from the city centre.
Buses and trains operate frequently if you want to use public transport to get from the airport to the city centre. Alternatively, you can book an airport transfer if you prefer a lift directly to your hotel.
Check out our beginners’ guide to book a flight and find the best deals for your trip to Krakow.
By Train
If Krakow is part of a longer trip across Poland or Central Europe, the most comfortable way to get there is by train.
During our trip to Poland, after visiting Lodz, we took the train to Krakow. The train was in good condition and the second class seats were comfortable, offering unhindered views of the Polish countryside.
In case you travel light, Krakow’s Old Town is a 20-minute walk from the main train station (Krakow Glowny). Otherwise, it’s easy to grab a taxi and get directly to your hotel.
By Bus
Yet another easy way to get to Krakow is by bus. Flixbus operates numerous routes across Poland. Krakow is well-connected to Warsaw, other Polish cities, as well as neighbouring countries.
Check out all FlixBus routes going to Krakow.
Where To Stay in Krakow
Krakow is a compact city, easy to wander around and reach most of the main attractions on foot. Therefore, the obvious choice for your accommodation in Krakow is the Old Town.
However, from our experience, the Old Town feels a bit overwhelming, as it’s crowded most of the time.
We’ve been to Krakow twice. The first time, we stayed in Kleparz, near the train station. Yet, on our second time in Krakow, we were determined to stay in Kazimierz. And we would do it again.
A short walk from the Old Town, Kazimierz still oozes authenticity and good vibe with many great options for food and drinks.
The 4-star 1891 Garni Hotel boasts an excellent location in Kazimierz, very close to the Old Town, with spacious rooms for a comfortable stay in Krakow.
Travel Resources To Help You Plan Your Trip To Krakow
4 Days in Krakow – The Perfect Itinerary
Day 1: Krakow Basics
Wawel Castle
Start your first of 4 days in Krakow at the iconic medieval castle in the historic centre. Set atop a hill with stunning views of the Vistula River, Wawel Castle has been the residence of Polish kings for centuries.
After a gentle climb up Wawel Hill, you can wander around the Castle’s gorgeous courtyard. The UNESCO World Heritage castle complex is home to Wawel Cathedral and several buildings of different periods and architectural styles.
You don’t need a ticket to stroll through the Castle’s outdoor areas. However, entrance to the Royal Wawel Castle is only possible on a guided tour.
The latter includes entrance to Wawel Cathedral, the Royal Chambers and the Royal Gardens.
There are also other sections of the historic site to visit with a separate ticket.
Main Market Square
After visiting Wawel Castle, walk along the busy Grodzka Street that leads to the heart of Krakow, the UNESCO-listed Main Market Square.
The 13th-century Main Market Square, or Rynek Glowny in Polish, is one of the largest medieval squares in Europe.
It’s also considered one of the most beautiful squares in Poland, if not the prettiest of them all. However, after visiting Poznan, allow us to disagree.
Krakow’s Main Square was the trade centre of the city. It was also reserved for celebrations, ceremonies as well as public executions.
The most important buildings to see in the Main Market Square are the Cloth Hall, the Town Hall Tower and St. Mary’s Basilica.
Cloth Hall
Located right in the middle of the Main Market Square, the Renaissance Cloth Hall dominates the famous square.
Back in the day, the corridor on the ground floor was flanked by merchant stalls selling cotton, silk, salt and other products making Cloth Hall a prestigious international commercial hub over the centuries.
Nowdays, the stalls are replaced by souvenir shops where you can buy local products to bring back home, such as beautiful amber jewellery.
On the upper floor, there is a café where you can sip your coffee with stunning views of St. Mary’s Basilica and the entire square.
St. Mary’s Basilica
The imposing 14th-century Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary stands out for its Brick Gothic style. Every hour, a trumpeter appears at the church’s tallest tower to play a traditional Polish bugle call.
You can step inside via the main entrance and admire the stunning interior for free or buy a ticket to see the main altar and chancel from up close.
In the summer months, one of the towers is open to the public, offering panoramic views of the Main Market Square.
Town Hall Tower
Another landmark of the Main Market Square is the Gothic Town Hall Tower, which is all that’s left from the old Town Hall.
The Tower houses a small museum and offers splendid views from its terrace if you feel like climbing to the top.
St. Florian’s Gate & The Barbican
From the Main Market Square, walk along Florianska Street, one of the Old Town’s main streets. Florianska Street leads to St. Florian’s Gate, which is crowned by a Gothic tower.
The gate is one of the eight original gates that led to medieval Krakow. It’s the only that survived after Krakow started expanding outside the city walls as a modern town in the 19th century.
Once you’re outside the city walls, you’ll see the Barbican, a moated gateway next to St. Florian’s Gate.
In the Middle Ages, this circular fortress served as the checkpoint for anyone entering Krakow through the main gate of St. Florian.
Obwarzanka Museum
A few minutes’ walk from the Barbican is Obwarzanka Museum. Obwarzanka is the Polish Bagel, a PGI product popular in Krakow since the 14th century.
While strolling around Krakow, you’ll see blue carts selling original bagels. Don’t hesitate to buy bagels from these authorised sellers.
However, our recommendation is to visit the Bagel Museum for a fun cooking class, during which you’ll learn everything about these delicious bagels and even get to bake your own.
During our trip to Krakow, this was definitely one of the most fun experiences we enjoyed with our friends, as this was one of those happy -and quite rare – occasions that we weren’t travelling alone.
Just make sure you book your spots in advance as they are limited.
Stary Kleparz Farmers’ Market
Right across the street from Obwarzanka Museum is the city’s oldest marketplace. Stary Kleparz Farmers’ Market operates since the 14th century when Kleparz was a separate city.
At the covered market’s stalls, you’ll find fresh fruit, vegetables, cheese, herbs, flowers and other locals products from the area.
There are also a few cafés and bistros where you can enjoy coffee, drinks and snacks. Keep in mind that the market is closed on Sundays.
Vistula Cruise
End your first day in Krakow with a splendid evening cruise on the Vistula River. River cruises start from the bank of the river near Wawel Royal Castle, so make sure you are there on time.
During the one-hour cruise, you’ll get to see some of Krakow’s most beautiful bridges and take in gorgeous views of Wawel Castle.
Day 2: Krakow’s Jewish Past
Oskar Schindler’s Factory
Start your second of 4 days in Krakow at one of the best World War II attractions in the city.
Set near Krakow’s Jewish Ghetto, south of the Vistula River, the enamel factory of industrialist Oskar Schindler was the place where hope shined during the dark times of the Second World War.
Although a member of the Nazi party, Oskar Schindler managed to save 1200 Jews by offering them work at his factory.
Schindler’s story is masterfully portrayed in Steven Spielberg’s film, Schindler’s List. If you haven’t watched it yet, we recommend doing so before going to Krakow.
Oskar Schindler’s Factory still exists and now houses an interactive museum with lots of documentation and exhibits of that time.
The museum is immensely popular, therefore plan your visit way ahead, as online tickets sell out very quickly. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait in long queues at the ticket office.
Milk Bar Krakus
After this insightful museum visit, head to the nearby Jewish Ghetto and take a lunch break at a milk bar.
If you’re not familiar with Polish milk bars, these are no-frills eateries where you can enjoy delicious traditional dishes in a rustic setting at very low prices.
Keep in mind, English is not usually spoken at milk bars but don’t get discouraged. The menu is usually displayed on the wall and you can use Google Translate to navigate the various dishes.
When dining at a milk bar, do it like the locals by combining your meal with a glass of refreshing Kompot.
A great option for vegetarians is a dish of Pierogi Ruskie, our favourite vegetarian food in Poland. These mouthwatering Polish dumplings are filled with cottage cheese and mashed potatoes, topped with butter and sprinkled with fried onions.
For delicious simple food in Krakow, head to Krakus Milk Bar. Contrary to other milk bars in Krakow, this one retains its authentic vibe.
Sadly, not many milk bars preserve their authenticity in Krakow. However, we came across some of the most authentic ones during our winter trip to Warsaw.
Krakow Jewish Ghetto
Krakus Milk Bar is within the boundaries of the Krakow Jewish Ghetto. Its main gate was at the beginning of Limanowskiego Street, where this milk bar is.
Krakow’s Jewish Ghetto was one of the five biggest ghettos where German Nazis squeezed the Polish Jews during the Second World War.
Before the end of the war, between 1942-1943, the Nazis emptied the ghettos. Around 2000 Jews were killed in the Krakow Ghetto by the Nazis and 8000 Jews were tranferred to death camps.
Krakow’s Ghetto was enclosed by barbed-wire fences and walls. Today, only a part of the ghetto wall has survived on Lwowska Street.
At the Ghetto Heroes Square, you’ll see an artistic installation of big chairs scattered around the once marketplace square. The monument is a reminder to the appalling absence of life after the ghetto’s liquidation.
Right across the Jewish Heroes Square is the former pharmacy of Tadeusz Pankiewicz who saved many lives during the ghetto years. It now houses an interesting small museum.
Kazimierz
Leave the Krakow Ghetto behind, cross the gorgeous pedestrian Father Bernatek’s Bridge and head to Kazimierz to spend the rest of the day.
Named after the Polish King Casimir III, Kazimierz was a separate city south of Krakow from the 14th to the 19th century.
A branch of the Vistula River, today filled-in, was the boundary of the two cities making Kazimierz a proper island on the Vistula River.
Later, Kazimierz became the Jewish quarter where Jewish people and Poles lived peacefully together for centuries.
With many cultural events, museums, food courts, restaurants and bars, Kazimierz is probably the most vibrant neighbourhood in Krakow.
Start your sightseeing at Plac Walnica, the marketplace and heart of Kazimierz until it became part of Krakow.
On your way to Plac Nowy or New Square, cross a passage from Josefa Street that was one of the filming locations of Schindler’s List movie. It hosts an exhibition about the dark history of Krakow’s Jewish Ghetto.
Right at the corner of Bozego Ciala and Beera Meisesla streets is the Wodka Café Bar, the best place to enjoy a Polish vodka tasting.
Order a flight of different flavours, such as strawberry, hazelnut, caramel and many more. Our favourite was the Wedel Chocolate one.
Once you arrive at Plac Nowy, you’ll see the 19th-century round-shaped building that used to be a Jewish slaughterhouse and then a market hall.
Today, it’s a great place to try zapiekanka, the Polish take on pizza. On weekdays, there’s also a market with fruit, vegetables and souvenirs there, while on Sundays, a flea market is set up.
As this was the Jewish part of Kazimierz historically, while walking around you’ll stumble upon a few Jewish synagogues and a Jewish cemetery.
Day 3: A Journey Into The Darkest Moments of World History
Auschwitz-Birkenau
We don’t know about you, but visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau was the reason we planned our first trip to Krakow a few years ago. This is why we think it’s an unmissable part of any trip to Krakow.
The infamous death camp is about an hour and a half by car from Krakow, so plan to spend almost the entire day there.
Auschwitz-Birkenau was a massive complex of three main camps and more smaller subcamps. Almost over one million people were murdered in Auschwitz-Birkenau. The vast majority were Jews.
As the Auschwitz concentration camp doesn’t need any more introduction, just keep in mind that it’s one of the most emotional places in the world. Children under 14 years old are not allowed.
The best way to get there is on a guided tour that includes early pick-up from your hotel, transfer, visit of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial & Museum and licensed guide in Auschwitz and Birkenau.
There are also tours that include Auschwitz-Birkenau and the popular Wieliczka Salt Mine on the same day trip, but we don’t recommend it.
After visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau, you might feel kind of empty and not in the mood of exploring the stunning salt mines.
Our advice is to keep this day dedicated to the memory of all thousands people that suffered from the Nazis.
Day 4: Delving Into Krakow’s Depths
Wieliczka Salt Mine
On your last day of 4 days in Krakow, visit Wieliczka Salt Mine, one of the most popular places to visit in Krakow.
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the salt mine dates back to the 13th century. It was in continuous operation until 1996.
Unlike Auschwitz-Birkenau, Wieliczka Salt Mine is near Krakow with easy access from the city centre.
You can either get the 304 bus from the city centre or a taxi, especially if you’re a larger group. The salt mine is a 30-minute drive from Krakow Main Train Station depending on traffic.
You can visit Wieliczka Salt Mine on specific time-slots only with a tour guide. There are two different routes to choose from, the Tourist Route, which is what we did, and the Miner’s Route if you feel more adventurous.
If you’re wondering if there are steps to climb, we have good news. The Tourist Route starts from the Danilowicz entrance where a shaft leads you to the depths of the salt mines after going down many flights of stairs.
However, on your way back, a lift takes you to the surface quickly and effortlessly.
Once you’ve descended the shaft, the rest of the route is easy without any strenuous parts. You’ll cross several salt chambers, a lake, chapels and stunning sculptures.
The actual tour lasts around two hours including a break for toilet and coffee or snacks. Yes, there are toilets and a restaurant down there.
At the end of the tour, you can visit the salt mine museum if you want, unless you need to breath fresh air and see the sky as soon as possible, like us.
Even if you buy skip-the-line tickets, expect queues. but they actually go quickly as there are time slots. If you’re visiting Krakow in the peak season book your tickets way in advance.
Krakow Arcade Museum
Finish your trip to Krakow with fun. The Krakow Arcade Museum is the perfect place for kids and grown-ups to spend a few hours playing video games of the last century.
Krakow Arcade Museum features a big collection of arcade games of the 80’s and 90’s such as Pac-Man, Mortal Kombat, Tekken and Pinball machines.
The museum is easily accessible either by a 20-minute tram ride from the main train station or a 10-minute taxi ride. There are different kinds of tickets to choose from: 1-hour, 2-hours or day pass with unlimited play.
FAQs About Visiting Krakow
Was Krakow the capital of Poland?
Yes, Krakow was the capital of Poland until 1596.
Is Krakow a walkable city?
Yes, Krakow is a flat city without steep inclinations. It’s accessible for people with mobility issues. The only uphill part of the historic centre is the Wawel Castle.
Is Krakow vegetarian-friendly?
Yes, absolutely. Zapiekanka, the Polish pizza, and Pierogi, the iconic Polish dumplings, are two of the local must-try staples that come in various vegetarian versions.
Other than that, Krakow is home to many ethnic restaurants with vegetarian options and several exclusively vegan restaurants.
Now that you finished reading this article, we hope you agree with us that 4 days in Krakow is the absolute minimum if you want to enjoy this beautiful city to the fullest.
Another word of advice is to try and visit Krakow outside the high season, aka the summer months.
This way, not only will you be able to make the most of your trip without jostling through crowds, but you’ll also help combat the negative effects of mass tourism and travel more sustainably.
WORDS & IMAGES: Katerina
EDITING: Maria