Things to Do in Krakow in 7 Days

Although it is not the capital of Poland, Kraków is one of the country’s most visited cities due to its significance during the 20th century and its rich historical legacy from the Second World War. What’s more, its architecture and charm have made it one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

If you’ve always wanted to visit Kraków and its iconic sites such as Auschwitz or the Salt Mines, here’s a 7-day itinerary for Kraków so you don’t miss a thing in this incredible city.

You have a week ahead of you to explore Kraków. That’s why, on this first day, one of the best things to do is to get to know the city by exploring its Old Town and starting to soak up the atmosphere.

Krakow’s Old Town is not only undeniably beautiful, but also home to some of the city’s oldest buildings, as it was one of the few areas to survive the Second World War. I suggest a tour of its main attractions followed by a delicious lunch to sample Polish cuisine.

Visit the Barbican

Built in 1498, this ancient medieval fortress is one of the most important sights in Kraków’s Old Town. To get there, head to the tram stop called Teatr Słowackiego, just a short walk from the entrance. From there, you’ll also have access to the whole of the Old Town to continue the rest of the day on foot.

At the Barbican Fortress, for less than €2, you can explore its network of passageways and nooks and crannies and also enjoy some of the temporary exhibitions on display. Without a doubt, a journey back in time through the city’s history.

St Mary’s Basilica

Just two streets south, you’ll find another of the highlights of Kraków’s city centre: St Mary’s Basilica. This impressive site is one of the city’s most important monuments and features two tall towers, one of which is the taller Hejnalica tower, which currently chimes every hour.

Entry costs between €3 and €5, but seeing its spectacular wooden altarpiece up close is an unmissable experience. Make the most of the location to book a tour of Kraków’s Old Town.

Lunch in the Market Square

At this point, it’s time to stop and recharge your batteries whilst sampling the local cuisine. One of the most popular spots, just a few steps away from where you are, is the Market Square, where you’ll find various stalls and restaurants.

One of them is Hawelka, a restaurant serving traditional Polish food which, for a very reasonable price, offers the city’s finest dishes in a prime location from which to continue your visit.

Afternoon at Wawel Castle

To continue the day, I suggest booking a guided tour of Wawel Castle. This site is situated at a strategic point in the city and, over the centuries, has passed from owner to owner, eventually becoming the primary residence of the kings of Poland.

Today, the castle is full of attractions to explore and has become one of the most popular destinations for tourists. Inside, you can spend the whole afternoon visiting its various sections, including:

• Wawel Cathedral.
• The John Paul I Cathedral Museum.
• The Dragon’s Cave.
• The Royal Palace.

Round off your day with a Chopin concert

If you’re a music lover, don’t hesitate to book your ticket for a Chopin piano concert and put a magnificent finishing touch to your first day in Kraków.

A concert lasting approximately one hour, featuring young and renowned pianists. You’ll also be treated to a complimentary glass of wine.

The concert will take place at the Chopin Gallery, located in the Bonerowski Palace, a 15th-century building.

Much of Kraków’s appeal lies in the rich history associated with its Jewish community in the late 20th century. However, it was centuries ago that Kraków’s Jewish Quarter was established, in what was once known as a separate town within the city.

On this second day, I suggest we spend the time getting to know Kraków’s Jewish Quarter in depth, a place steeped in history and home to key sites for its culture and spirituality.

Walnica Square

This square is one of the most central spots in Kraków’s Jewish Quarter and, although it may not seem like it now, centuries ago it was the main square of the town of Kazimierz. To get there, you can take tram lines 1, 2, 3, 4 or 6 to the Plac Walnica stop.

Today it is one of the most popular starting points in the quarter and is notable for its large white building in the centre, which has been converted into an Ethnographic Museum.

Visit to the synagogues

Within the Kazimierz district, you’ll quickly realise the significant influence of Jewish religion and culture. One of the most appealing things to do during your tour of the Jewish quarter is to visit its two large synagogues, both of which are easily reached on foot in the morning. These are:

• Isaac’s Synagogue.
• Remuh Synagogue.

Lunch in the Jewish Quarter

To recharge your batteries after a morning spent on your feet, there’s nothing better than stopping at one of the restaurants in the Jewish Quarter to refuel and try a traditional dish.

I recommend you try the Starka restaurant, one of the most famous spots in the whole quarter, serving traditional Polish food with a gourmet twist that makes it very popular. You may need to book the day before, so I recommend you plan ahead. Another great option is to book a food tour of Kraków’s Jewish Quarter.

Visit the Remuh Cemetery

After lunch, I suggest a visit to the Remuh Cemetery, which is almost a must-see in the Jewish Quarter due to its historical significance. This site is one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Poland, with graves dating back to the 16th century.

During the Second World War, many of them were destroyed and, following their reconstruction, the entire site was reorganised; using the remains of the gravestones, they recreated a ‘Wailing Wall’, which is one of the cemetery’s highlights.

Explore the Mural of Illustrious People

To round off the day, you can explore another of the most photographed spots in Kraków’s Jewish Quarter. It is a mural featuring the faces of the city’s most illustrious figures, presented as street art in the heart of the neighbourhood. It is located at Jozefa 17, on the outside of the Wrega Pub.

Immerse yourself in Polish culture with a concert of Jewish music

Did you know that Yiddish is the language spoken by Jews of German origin? If you’d like to get a feel for this language, don’t hesitate to attend a concert of Jewish music, performed by a band of professional musicians with over 20 years’ experience, in a traditional 15th-century Polish house.

The pieces to be performed by these musicians, who have over two decades of experience, are rooted in the folklore of Reform Judaism, which dates back to the 19th century.

What’s more, it’s a double treat because the venue is the Dębinskim or Under Barrel, a stunning classical single-storey building dating from the 15th century, whose structure was completely renovated in the mid-16th century.

You’ve now got a better understanding of Kraków’s history, and it’s time to delve fully into the immense significance this city held for Europe with the onset of the Second World War. At that time, the Jews were herded into a ghetto where the tragedy of the Holocaust would begin to unfold.

Despite the harshness of history, Kraków still has much to tell, which is why, for this third day, I’ve set aside Podgórze for you – the Jewish ghetto that, even today, holds memories of those tragic days. To explore it in depth, book a private tour of the Jewish quarter.

Start at Plac Bohaterów Getta

Bohaterów Square is one of the most iconic starting points in this part of the city, where all Jews were sent following the Nazi occupation. It was here that the fate of millions of citizens was decided and their distribution to concentration camps determined.

Now, in its place, 60 empty chairs are scattered across the square in memory of all the victims. To get there, take the tram to Limanowskiego station.

Visit Oskar Schindler’s Factory

Within the Kraków Jewish ghetto, there is a must-see stop that you simply cannot miss, and which has an incredible story behind it. Oskar Schindler’s pot factory was founded in Kraków and run using cheap Jewish labour. However, during the Second World War, its owner, Mr Schindler, used it to save the lives of a total of 1,200 people by giving them work.

Today, the factory is an essential memorial museum that you can visit for around €15, and I promise you it will be well worth it for its immense historical significance.

Explore the MOCAK

Very close to the factory is the city’s most important contemporary art museum, the MOCAK. I suggest you visit it after lunch and spend as much time there as it deserves, as it is full of all kinds of artworks; and if you like art and culture, for less than 5 euros you’ll feel right at home.

Go and see the remains of the ghetto wall

For many years, the Kraków ghetto was separated from the rest of the city by a wall that enclosed the Jewish community. Today, only a few remains are left, located at 62 Limanowskiego Street, but it’s worth visiting them to gain a better understanding of what the ghetto was like at the time and to get a sense of the city’s recent history.

Be dazzled by a cruise on the Vistula

Enjoying a cruise on the Vistula River in Kraków is another activity you simply mustn’t miss on your trip to Kraków.

On this route, which lasts approximately one hour, you’ll enjoy the best views of Wawel Castle, the Bernatka Bridge, the Manggha and Cricoteka Museums, the Jewish quarter of Kazimierz and the Church on the Rock. What’s more, you won’t miss a single detail thanks to the audio guide provided.

A tip: don’t forget your camera.

Auschwitz is one of the most important and most visited concentration camps still standing in the world. Within its walls, some of the most brutal crimes in modern history were committed. Today it is a place of remembrance visited by millions of people, and a trip to Auschwitz is a must.

Visiting this place is one of the essential things to do during your stay in Kraków, which is why you’ll spend a whole day visiting Auschwitz and its neighbouring camp on a solemn tour that will leave a lasting impression.

Morning visit to Auschwitz

Auschwitz is located 70 kilometres west of Kraków, so you’ll need to set aside the whole day to visit it, including the journey there and back. To get there, you can choose to book one of the organised tours that pick you up from the centre of Kraków, or go on your own by bus, which takes around an hour.

Once at the camp, you’ll need to buy a ticket for around €25 to gain entry and explore the various sites that will send shivers down your spine; from the barracks to the gas chambers.

Rest and lunch in the area

You may not have much of an appetite when you leave Auschwitz, but to recharge your batteries, I recommend heading to one of the nearby restaurants, such as Portobello, to unwind a little and continue with the afternoon visit to what is known as Auschwitz II.

Finish at Auschwitz II-Birkenau

To round off the day, you should visit Auschwitz II-Birkenau, one of the largest concentration camps still standing and home to the most chilling rooms bearing witness to the Jewish Holocaust.

These kinds of tours are not generally recommended for children under 14 due to the harshness of the history. I also recommend booking a guided tour so you don’t miss a thing.

By now you’ve seen most of Kraków’s must-see sights and learned about its history, but there’s still more to come. You can’t leave this city without visiting one of the most famous attractions in the whole country: the Wieliczka Salt Mines.

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, these mines consist of a multitude of chambers and even feature an underground chapel that will leave you speechless. Due to their location and sheer size, you’ll need a whole day to explore them.

Explore the salt mines

This spectacular site is just 15 kilometres from Kraków and can be reached either by bus (line 304), by car, or via an organised tour to the Salt Mines from Kraków. Upon arrival, you’ll find yourself in vast underground galleries stretching over 300 kilometres, featuring all manner of sculptures and passageways carved from salt. It is certainly a marvel to visit.

Entry to the salt mines usually costs around 50 euros, and I recommend you go on an organised tour so you can be guided through the different chambers and learn a little more about the history of these impressive mines.

St. Kinga’s Chapel

One of the most incredible highlights of your visit to the Wieliczka Salt Mines is reaching the underground Chapel of St. Kinga, built entirely of salt and so vast that you’ll forget you’re underground.

You’re now nearing the end of your week in Kraków, and today I’ve planned a day dedicated to two fascinating sights which, interestingly, are very close to one another.

Firstly, you’ll visit one of the five mounds or ‘kopiec’ scattered throughout the city, which have been places of worship for centuries. On the other hand, you’ll venture into the Nowa Huta district, the Soviet-era neighbourhood. Let’s get started!

Discover Wanda’s Mound

To reach this curious structure, head to Kopiec Wandy station on tram lines 21 or 22, which will drop you off right next to the entrance. This mound, along with its four other counterparts scattered across the city, are burial sites of worship that have stood for centuries and are shaped like hills.

It is believed that the daughter of Kraków’s founder was buried at Wanda’s Mound between the 7th and 8th centuries. Entry is completely free and it is ideal for visiting with children as it is a natural setting like no other.

Lunch in Nowa Huta

I recommend that you then take a tour of the Nowa Huta district, the Soviet-era neighbourhood. But before you explore it in depth, I suggest you recharge your batteries at a local restaurant such as Stylowa, where you can get a better taste of Polish cuisine.

Explore Kraków’s Communist District

After the tour of the Nowa Huta district, created by the Soviets in the second half of the 20th century, where you’ll visit iconic sites such as Plac Centralny, the Nowa Huta Museum, the Soviet tank and the Ark of the Lord Church, I recommend booking a tour of Kraków’s communist heritage.

Visiting Kraków is a truly wonderful experience, as you’ll soon discover, and after seeing all of Kraków’s most important sights for yourself, I suggest you round off your trip to this incredible place. To do so, I’ve organised a farewell excursion for you to spend the day just two hours away, in mountains that will capture your heart: the trip to Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains.

The day will begin in Zakopane and take you through some of the country’s most idyllic mountain landscapes, culminating in the Tatra Mountains and the surrounding villages.

Gubałówka and Butorowy Wierch mountains by funicular

The Tatra Mountains are a nature reserve you simply mustn’t miss as you bid farewell to your trip to Kraków. You can get there by car, but the best option is to book a guided tour that picks you up in the centre of Kraków and takes you around all day so you don’t miss a thing.

One of the highlights upon arriving in Zakopane is taking one of the funiculars up to the main mountains in the reserve, where you can enjoy a beautiful mountain landscape.

Zakopane town centre and the Tatra Museum

On returning to the centre of the small town of Zakopane, you’ll have the chance to see its picturesque houses and stroll through its colourful streets. You can also grab a bite to eat at one of the local eateries and visit the Tatra Museum, which showcases the area’s history.

Stop in Chochołów

Back in the city and to round off this incredible trip around Kraków, you’ll have the chance to stop at a picturesque village halfway called Chocholów, with wooden houses typical of the southern part of the country, where you can buy some handmade souvenirs.