Poland has always been a country that interested us at 2 Cups of Travel, and Krakow is one of the cities are always comes up when researching where to go. Ky decided to visit in summer, and arrived not quite sure what to expect. What he discovered was a bustling city full of atmosphere. Krakow was packed with things to do, overflowing with great food and coffee, and in a wonderful summer vibe. Read on for our detailed guide to Krakow, including the best places to visit, great cafes, places to eat and so much more.
Krakow has a few great areas to explore, in particular, the Old Town, the Jewish Quarter, the Riverside Promenade, the Krakow Castle, and the Kleparz. The city is very walkable – 15 mins to cross whole old town, another 15 to reach Jewish quarter, train station is 10 from old town, castle is 5-10 from old town and on the river. The city of Krakow also feels very safe, both during the day and at night. We also found Krakow to be overall budget friendly, but not quite as cheap as you’d think. Accommodation was very affordable, where it was easy to get good places under 100aud/80euro per night. Coffee was similar to Australian prices at 3rd wave shops/roasters (this has been a theme around Europe with consistent coffee prices). Food was a little cheaper (30%) than other big European cities. However, there were definitely ‘cheaper’ and more expensive areas. Additionally, compared to big tourist heavy cities, it was easier to find budget friendly options.
Some of the best things to do in Krakow
Check out the Krakow main square
Every good European city needs a top main square.. and Krakow doesn’t disappoint here. The main square is colourful, lined with restaurants, and home to summer markets in the middle. There is also the famous Sukiennice – market hall in the heart of the square worth checking out. You can’t miss the main square in Krakow, as all of the streets lead here.
Try Perogi (Polish dumplings)
Ky was lucky enough to visit Krakow during their yearly Perogi festival, so you know he tried a lot! These dumplings are one of the Poland’s ‘national dishes’, and a must try when visiting any Polish city. Most restaurants will serve them, and there are also cheaper ‘street food’ style perogi restaurants.
Walk the Krakow castle grounds for great views
Located on the edge of the Krakow old town is the castle. Don’t expect a central European medieval castle, however it’s definitely still worth checking out. The fringes of the castle and castle gardens have wildflowers blooming in summer. The walls of the castle have excellent views of the city and the river below. Overall, it’s a great activity to do in Krakow.
Enjoy the vibe around the Vistula River
The river runs alongside Krakow and is one of the areas we definitely recommend checking out. In summer the river is a vibe, with live music, food trucks, and people relaxing everywhere. It’s the perfect place for a walk, ride or even a run along. The river promenade opposite the Krakow castle has the best view, and it makes the perfect spot for a picnic or drinks on the river.
Explore the Krakow Jewish quarter
This part of town has the best coffee, excellent food including Israeli Street Food, and lots of good boutiques. We would have to say this was our favourite part of Krakow, having the most ‘substance’. The do-not-miss café would be Karma Coffee Roastery, with a cute outdoor garden and excellent coffee. There are also excellent food markets in the Jewish quarter, including Plac Nowy and Judah Food Market
- Plac Nowy – food market/street food in Jewish quarter
- Judah food market – Jewish quarter
Visit Stary Kleparz for a farmers market, wine bars & cafes
Located in the Kleparz near the old town, the Stary Kleparz is one part famers market filled with locals shopping. It’s also another part great little eateries, cafes and bars. You definitely need to visit, and we have lists 3 of the top places to eat/drink at below:
- Fokarnia Focacceria – This reminded us of Sicily of Florence. An excellent Foccacia for between 26-29 PLN.
- Aura | Kawiarnia – one of the best café’s in Krakow.
- FORNA tutto pasta: Made to order past
Enjoy the gallery in the street – Galeria obrazów pod Bramą Floriańska
This was a unique experience, and something that was ‘stumbled upon’ when exploring Krakow. There are 100s of paintings which are displaying on the Krakow city walls, creating a colourful and interesting place to explore.
A few museums & day trips:
While not the focus of this guide, here’s some excellent options to consider below:
- Museum of the market square near the Cloth Hall
- Schindler’s Factory museum
- MOZAK museum of modern art
- Wieliczka Salt Mine
- Auschwitz
- Zakopane
A few food and drink recommendations for Krakow..
This isn’t an exhaustive list, mostly because many of the food markets have excellent cuisine so we didn’t try all that many restaurants. However, it’s a good start to help your planning.
Coffee: there’s so many good options in Krakow, especially the Jewish Quarter. We have listed our two favourites below
- Aura | Kawiarnia
- Karma Coffee Roastery
Food and Drinks:
- Fokarnia
- Hevere
- Vino metal
- Food markets like Old Forum hotel food market, Plac Nowy and Judah Food Market
- Local Polish cuisine restaurants like Wesele, Kogel mogel, Jadłodajnia u STASI, nowa prowincja
How many days do you need in Krakow:
Excluding any day trips, we would recommend spending 2-3 days in Krakow. This should be enough to explore the different areas of the city and enjoy the vibe. If you want to do day trips to nearby areas or museums, you may need more time.
Where should you stay in Krakow?
We would recommend either staying in the Krakow Old Town, the Jewish Quarter, or Kleparz. See a few good accommodation options below:
- Angelus Apartments
- Rainbow Apartments Old Town
- Habitat Apartments
- Novum House
- H11 Aparthotel
- See more Krakow accommodation options here.
Enjoying our free guides & travel advice? Subscribe to our blog!
Jump your email into the list below. We won’t spam you! It’ll just keep you updated whenever we post another travel-related adventure, memory or tid-bid!
WANT TO SEE MORE FREE TRAVEL GUIDES AND TOP TIPS?
Note: this post contains affiliate links. This means that if you purchase or book anything using these links, we get a small percentage of the sale, at not extra expense to you. This helps us to run the site.
