What to See in Cracow? Discover Attractions and Interesting Places

Cracow is one of the most beautiful cities in Poland. Undeniably, in Cracow, you will find many delightful monuments and places of interest, such as the Wawel Castle and St. Mary’s Church. Besides, visiting Krakow is a great opportunity to learn about its rich history. 

In addition to sightseeing, Krakow also offers many other attractions, such as excellent museums, theaters, cinemas, and art galleries. You can also find many restaurants and cafes in the city, where you can taste traditional Polish cuisine. In the evening, take a stroll through Krakow’s streets, which resound with music and laughter: tourists and locals. 

What to see in Cracow? What attractions are worth visiting in this city? 

Attractions in Krakow are plentiful, it is one of those cities that you can visit endlessly. It is here that you will find St. Mary’s Church, Wawel Castle, the National Museum, the Barbican, and Kosciuszko Mound. I will try to describe some of the attractions so that you can learn some history and interesting facts about Krakow’s tourist attractions. First up: the Old Town of Krakow.

Old Town in Cracow

In Cracow, you will find many historical monuments. Particularly noteworthy is the Old Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is full of charming townhouses. Interestingly, the Old Town in Cracow was included in the UNESCO list as one of the first 12 sites in the world, in 1978!

The Old Town of Krakow is a place full of history, and a visit to this part of the city is a must if you are visiting Krakow. It is, of course, a real treat for lovers of monuments and architecture. In the Old Town, you can admire many beautiful townhouses, streets, and squares. You can visit numerous museums and churches, such as St. Anne’s Church (collegiate church) and St. Peter and Paul Church. 

The Old Town is also where you can feel the true atmosphere of Cracow, and its charming cafes and restaurants are the perfect place to relax and sample traditional Polish cuisine. I write about the cuisine in Krakow at the very end ?.

Market Square in Krakow

My first association with Krakow? Pigeons! My childhood photos that were taken in Krakow include this pigeon element. Of course, the Rynek in Krakow is more than just a great number of birds. 

The Market Square in Krakow is the heart of the city and one of the largest and most beautiful medieval markets in Europe. It has a square shape of 200 × 200 meters. There are many monuments there, including St. Mary’s Church, and St. Adalbert’s Church. The market and the mentioned places are among the most recognizable symbols of Cracow. 

During the day, you can meet vendors and street artists in Krakow Market Square. On the other hand, in the evening, the Market Square in Krakow becomes a meeting place. Besides, the Market Square is surrounded by colorful tenement houses, which are now rented as stores, restaurants, and cafes.

Kazimierz – jewish district in Krakow

Kazimierz in Krakow is one of the most fascinating districts in the city. A place full of history and, above all, Jewish culture. It is here that you will find many synagogues and charming tenement houses, which create a unique atmosphere in this part of the city. This district of Krakow was once one of the most important Jewish communities in Europe and still retains its unique character today. Visitors can explore the cobblestone streets with tenement houses, visit historic synagogues and taste traditional Jewish cuisine while learning about this fascinating part of Krakow’s history.

Kazimierz is also a place where you can feel the artistic atmosphere of Krakow, and its streets invite you to stroll and discover the local history.

Wawel Royal Castle

The Wawel Royal Castle in Krakow is a castle that was built at the turn of the 11th and 12th centuries. For many centuries it served as the residence of Polish kings and was a symbol of power and authority. Whether you’re interested in history or just looking for a great view, a place like Wawel is sure to impress. 

Today, Wawel remains a popular tourist attraction because of its history, visitors can tour the castle grounds, admire its architecture and learn more about the kings who lived there… Wawel Castle is undoubtedly one of the most important monuments in the country.

The Royal Castle is located on a hill, so you can enjoy great views of the city and its surroundings. The hill on which the castle is located is called Wawel Hill. Of course, it was here before the castle was built. 

One thing is certain: when you are in Cracow, it is worth visiting Wawel Castle.

Wawel Dragon

The Wawel Dragon is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Cracow and is one of the most important symbols of Cracow. Currently, the statue of the Wawel Dragon breathes real fire every 3 minutes (depending on the time, sometimes it is 5 minutes). In my opinion, it is worth seeing it with your own eyes to feel the magic of this fascinating Cracow legend.

The dragon comes from the well-known legend of the Wawel Dragon. This dragon was dangerous and threatened the safety of the city. The residents of Krakow decided to confront the Dragon and find a way to defeat it. In the end, one of the residents, named Krak, went to a cave and greatly defeated the dragon, ensuring the safety of his city. 

I’m not good at retelling legends, so if you want to tell it to your children, you’d better find another version. ?

Kosciuszko Mound in Krakow

Kosciuszko Mound in Krakow was erected in 1820-1823 as a memorial to Tadeusz Kosciuszko. The erection of the mound was an expression of national pride and a desire to commemorate the hero. It is also a special symbol, a reminder of the struggle for freedom and independence.

Kosciuszko Mound is also one of the interesting vantage points in Krakow, it has been reconstructed and modernized, but for 200 years it has been an unchanging part of the city’s landscape.

Barbican – a tourist attraction of Krakow

The Barbican is often considered a symbol of Krakow. What is this place? A Barbican is a Gothic defensive building, usually circular. The one in Krakow was built in the 14th century, as part of the city walls, and is one of the city’s more famous tourist attractions. 

What to see in Krakow? St. Mary’s Church 

St. Mary’s Church is one of the most important and well-known churches in Krakow. Located in Market Square, it is an attraction that is hard to miss when visiting. This church is often considered one of the most beautiful places to see in Krakow. Its impressive architecture is worth seeing. You can go inside and see the remarkable decorations that document many events known from history. 

Of course, besides that, St. Mary’s Church makes a great backdrop for taking photos.

Cloth Hall in Cracow

The Cloth Hall (sukiennice) is one of the most important tourist attractions in Cracow and one of the best preserved Renaissance buildings in Europe. Krakow’s cloth halls were once the commercial center of the city. It was where textiles, leather, spices, and other products were traded. Today, the Cloth Hall is a place where you can admire Renaissance architecture, sit in a cafe, and buy traditional products and souvenirs.

Grunwald Monument

The Grunwald Monument is a monument commemorating the Battle of Grunwald, which took place in 1410. The battle was one of the most important events in Polish history. The Grunwald Monument was built in 1910 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the battle. The site is often visited and photographed by tourists.

Museums in Krakow

Museums and monuments in Krakow are extremely interesting and a weekend is not enough to visit them all. If you are going to Krakow, it is worth checking if you can order seats online. In some cases, it will be necessary, as entrance fees are spreading like fresh buns. 

What museums can you visit in Krakow? For example:

– Matejko House

– Mehoffer House

– Europeum

– Main Building

– Czapski Museum

– Museum of the Czartoryski Princes

– Erazm Ciołek Palace

– Cloth Hall

Museums in Krakow have their free days, which you can find here: Free Museums In Cracow (Krakow) – List And Free Days

Planty Parks in Krakow

You know that I love nature, so I left for the very end some places perfect for a walk in Krakow.

If you are looking for a place to go for a walk, and you haven’t been to Krakow yet, you must know that Krakow is a city with lots of greenery and trees. Krakow’s Planty is one of the most popular parks in the city, and is the perfect place for a quiet stroll or relaxing on a bench after a day full of sightseeing. Krakow’s Planty is also home to many birds, squirrels, and other animals, and what adds to its charm is its location. This park is located in the very center of Krakow! In my opinion, Planty is worth a visit!

Boulevards: a walk along the Vistula River in Krakow.

If you fancy a picturesque and at the same time peaceful walk in Krakow, be sure to go to Krakow’s boulevards. Walking along them, right by the Vistula River is a really good idea, you can take a break from the crowds of weekend tourists and enjoy the scenery of the city. 

Zakrzówek – a beautiful place in Cracow

What is this place? Admittedly, it’s not located in the center of the city, but it’s worth a visit. Zakrzówek is a well-known reservoir of extremely turquoise water. That’s why this unusual crackpot attracts tourists. I will point out that it is not possible to swim in Zakrzówek, but there are many walking paths around the lake. Here you will also find a place for climbing – Twardowski’s Rocks.

How to visit Krakow?

Krakow is also very tourist-friendly and is easily accessible both for those who want to get around the city on foot and for those who prefer to use public transportation. Parking spaces in Krakow are often scarce, plus, Krakow is small enough that walking around the city is not tiring. 

In addition, Uber, Bolt, and other apps operate here, so if you want to hop somewhere further afield, it’s worth installing an app instead of circling your own car.

What to do in Krakow?

If you are spending the weekend in Krakow, remember that Krakow for the weekend is alive. Countless events are going on here, events in which people from all over the world participate. Besides, who hasn’t heard of a bachelor/bachelorette party in Krakow? 

What else besides parties can you do here? For example, go to a concert! We went to a great show at the ICE Congress Center, more specifically, the Philharmonic of Wit. It was an excellent evening, so if you have the opportunity to go to such an event, I highly recommend it. 

In addition to parties and concerts, there are a lot of events, so it’s worth looking up in a search engine what’s happening in Krakow on the date you’re going. There are also famous antique fairs taking place there. We managed to drop in on one, in Krakow’s Kazimierz district, on a Sunday morning.

Where to eat in Cracow

There are plenty of restaurants and pubs to visit in Cracow, in search of tasty cuisine. The choice is really large, we have Polish, Jewish, but also international cuisine. Below you will find my recommendations for dinner, breakfast, and snacks in Krakow.

– Let me start by saying that in Krakow you will see vendors with bagels ( Polish: obwarzanki) at every turn. If you haven’t eaten this baked product yet, give it a try. I like them very much, most with poppy seeds. 

– Morskie oko – a restaurant on Szczepanski Square. A nice place for lunch, I recommend the delicious sour soup in bread there. 

– Cheder – a cafe where you will also eat. Located on Józefa Street, the place is really tasty. I recommend the pita and hummus. They say it’s the best in town. 

– Quote cafe – a place perfect for breakfast. Large selection, filling and tasty, plus coffee (as the name suggests) with a quote. 

If you’re a Harry Potter fan, be sure to check out the themed pubs: the Ministry of Mysteries (Ministerstwo Tajemnic) and the Leaky Cauldron (Dziórawy Kocioł in Polish). There are bigger queues at the latter, but if you’re lucky you’ll manage to get in without waiting. ?

Accommodation in Cracow

Cracow is a city open to tourists. The choices are countless, from inexpensive hostels to luxury hotels. There are also many guesthouses in the city, offering different standards and prices, allowing everyone to find a place to stay that suits their needs and budget. In Cracow, you will find everything, while it is worth remembering that in high season the choice is limited: because there are a lot of tourists. That’s why sometimes it’s worth booking in advance to save money and have more accommodations to choose from.

Where to sleep. A lot depends on your budget. We recently slept in Kazimierz. We booked the day before and a lot of places were already booked. There was still a good price and location. It was a hotel without luxuries, but comfortable. You can find it here.

See also:

Where to Stay in Krakow? Best Hotels, Apartments & Budget Guesthouses

What to visit around Krakow

Yes, there is plenty to do in Krakow, but there are quite a few places visited by tourists around. Among the most popular are: 

• Wieliczka, and more specifically the Wieliczka Salt Mine. This mine is considered one of the most important works of mankind and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Auschwitz – the city where the Germans created the largest concentration camp during World War II, known as Auschwitz. Auschwitz now serves as a museum and memorial for Holocaust victims.

What is worth seeing in Cracow?

The places I have mentioned above allow you to feel the authentic atmosphere of this wonderful city. The tourist attractions are mandatory for anyone who visits Krakow and wants to get to know its true face.

My guide to Krakow is just the beginning of discovering this amazing city. Krakow is a wonderful city full of history, culture, and attractions worth visiting. You will undoubtedly be delighted by its beauty and atmosphere, and the memories of your stay will stay in your memory for a long time.

You can find more places from the area here: 

Krakow’s Stunning Nearby Attractions You Simply Can’t Miss

Free Museums In Cracow (Krakow) – List And Free Days

TOP 20 Best Cities to Visit in Poland

Things To Do in Warsaw – TOP Attractions & Activities

The Most Beautiful Castles in Poland You Have to Visit