12 Best Things To Do in Krakow

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

Located about an hour and a half from the center of Krakow by road, the Auschwitz concentration camps are one of the most visited places in Europe. What years ago was the capital of horror, today is a museum dedicated to the memory of the victims of the Nazi regime.

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

Of course, keep in mind the Auschwitz schedules when booking your visit. I would suggest you to book it first thing in the morning, since the duration of the visits and tours of the Auschwitz concentration camps is usually about two hours and you will have more time to see other things later. Here are some suggestions:

• Excursion to Auschwitz from $42.
• Excursion to Auschwitz and Wieliczka salt mines from $101.
• Excursion to Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and museum from $45
• Excursion to Wieliczka salt mines and Auschwitz-Birkenau from $110.
• Excursion to Auschwitz-Birkenau camp from $3.

Interesting facts about organized excursions

Many packages include, in addition to the entrance to the Auschwitz complex, the 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 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 travelers because, although enriching, it can be quite hard even though at no time the guides recreate in lurid details. Here are some tips if you are going to visit the Auschwitz concentration camps from Krakow.

After Auschwitz, the excursion to the salt mines of Wieliczka is the most demanded visit around Krakow among travelers passing through the Polish city. It is also a World Heritage Site, so if you are wondering if it is worth visiting the salt mines from Krakow, 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 usually in high demand. Here are several options:

• Half day excursion to the Wieliczka salt mines from $78
• Excursion to Wieliczka salt mines with hotel accommodation from $57
• Excursion to Wieliczka salt mines from $66

Here is more information about 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 are wondering what to see in the Wieliczka Salt Mines, I anticipate that the list will be headed by a chapel carved in salt, a lake, chambers connected to each other by a network of subway tunnels and sculptures of famous people made with salt (in this last point you can make some of the best photos of the salt mines of Wieliczka).

They are located about half an hour away from Krakow and the duration of the visit to the salt mines is about two and a half hours. Here are some recommendations for your visit:

• You can make a joint excursion to Auschwitz and the Wieliczka salt mines from Krakow so that the price of tickets to the Wieliczka salt mines will be lower.
• The best advice for visiting the Wieliczka salt mines is to wear warm clothes 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.

Krakow's Old Town or the Jewish Quarter are the most identifiable places in the city because of the history behind them. Although a walk alone in both places is visually enjoyable, book a guided tour of Krakow to know them is infinitely more enriching. Here are the best guided tours of the Jewish Quarter.

A local and specialized guide will show you the city through his eyes and help you learn about its history and anecdotes. Also, he will show you monuments and corners of great cultural interest that otherwise might go unnoticed. You have different options of guided tours in Krakow:

• Book a bike tour.
• Book an electric car tour.
• Book a tour of the Jewish quarter of Krakow.
• Book a gastronomic tour.
• Book a tour of the Old Town of Krakow.
• Book a ghost tour of Krakow.
• Book a tour of 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 a large number of Jews from concentration camps by employing them as workers in his factories.

After the war ended, Schindler was executed, but the descendants of his employees still continue to honor him.

Booking a guided tour of Schindler's factory in the center of Krakow is a lesson in history from which emanates a certain hope because, in the midst of all the horror that was experienced in the city with the Nazi occupation, there were people who resisted being part of it.

Near the historic center stands the 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, in addition, you can see this Renaissance castle of the XIV century.

You can visit every day from 9:30 to 16 (in summer until 17) and inside you will find the crown treasury, the royal armory, the royal apartments, the crypts of famous people and my favorite place, the dragon's cave.

It is a highly recommended visit to do 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 stores, watch the locals, have a leisurely bite to eat or sit and relax. In Krakow that place is the Krakow Market Square, a medieval-style square surrounded by colorful palaces.

You will pass by it many times during your visit, so enjoy it and leisurely explore every nook and cranny because it is worth it.

And, of course, it is included in the itinerary when booking 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 Krakow. On the one hand, in Zapokane you can stroll through its streets and contemplate the wooden chalets of the early twentieth century. And on the other hand, you can climb the Gubalowka hill and admire the breathtaking views of the Tatra Mountains. A unique way to enjoy nature and breathtaking views.

Do you dare to visit both places? If so, I recommend you to book an excursion to Zakopane and Tatra that lasts about 10 hours and you can forget about how to get there.

And if you want to continue traveling around Krakow you can also add to your list another destination, 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, therefore, is included in the tour of the old town of Krakow, in addition, the entrance is free.

Inside you can not take pictures 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, do not hesitate to add to your route other of the best churches in Krakow. You won't regret it.

The list of things to see and do in Krakow could not miss an allusion to Polish cuisine. The most popular drink in the country is known to be vodka, but what about the traditional dishes?

In Krakow' s restaurants you will find delicacies such as Pierogi, Paprykarz or Zurek, all of them composed mainly of meat, pasta and spices. Also, if you are looking for a safe bet you can check the best gastronomic tours in Krakow.

Polish cuisine takes elements from other cuisines such as Armenian, Slavic, Turkish, German, Jewish or French. The result is exquisite and the best way to get to know it first hand is to go to some of the traditional restaurants in the city or book a gastronomic tour of Krakow.

This sturdy fortification is located in the center of Krakow and measures about 25 meters. It was built in the 15th century to protect the city from the advance of the Ottoman Empire and, although the visit to its interior is dispensable, you have to go around it when passing by to appreciate its Gothic style.

You will find it passing the Florian Gate and, like other sites we have already mentioned, it is of great historical interest and is usually included when booking a tour of the old town of Krakow.

Another tip for planning your trip to Krakow that I can give you is not to limit yourself to the city itself. There are many people who, before their trip, wonder whether it is better to visit Krakow or Warsaw, but the truth is that there is no reason to choose.

If you have enough days during your trip you can go from Krakow to Warsaw on your own or on one of the organized excursions around Krakow- don't give up on either city! And if you want to know more I leave you this post about how to get from Krakow to Wroclaw.

I recommend you to book an excursion to Warsaw from Krakow in advance so you don't get caught by the bull - Poland is waiting for you!

Located in the old town of Krakow, the building where Copernicus studied stands out for its beautiful inner courtyard.

If you are interested in astronomy you have to visit the museum of the University, but if not you can also come at sunset, when the organized tours are over, to relax in the garden while admiring 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 to tourists. In addition, there are several tours and excursions from Krakow that you have to include in your list. Of course, being a big capital 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 visit Krakow with children) and then check this list to know 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.
• What 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 you to book transfers between the airport and Krakow in advance. However, here you have several itineraries at your disposal that you can consult, even if you go 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.