Why Krakow?
Krakow is the perfect place for a quick break. With its fairy tale cobbled streets and historic buildings, it’s Poland’s most visited city for good reason. It’s safe, mostly flat and compact, so walkable and easy to get around. Circling the city is Planty Park, with benches and fountains, and the tram is cheap for covering longer distances. Just use your Google map and make sure you are going in the correct direction.
Rynek Glówny
Europe’s largest square is in the centre, with numerous restaurants and bars set along the further margins, all with outside seating. There’s an inside market at Cloth Hall, and beneath it an underground museum with excavations of the medieval city.
Food and drink
Worth checking out is the café E Wedel, with snacks, ice cream and hot chocolate and Chimera, a gorgeous rustic independent café, perfect for lunch, with a salad bar and freshly squeezed juices. I also liked the Italian Mamma Mia and for a local experience, try the downstairs bar C K Browar. Here you will find groups of Polish people enjoying themselves and drinking lots of beer. All these places are walking distance from each other.
Where to stay
Accommodation-wise, I’d suggest the Old Town as then everything is to hand. But further out is cheaper, and if it’s on a tram route, makes a lot of sense. We stayed in apartments in the Old Town, but there was no sofa or easy chair in the room, and the packed breakfast was disappointing. However, near here was a fabulous ice cream shop – White Bear Café – open until late, so there was an upside.
Typical prices
Krakow is inexpensive. Lunch in the café I mentioned is around £15, including a drink. Dinner for two is around £40 with a beer each. Ice cream was around £3 a cup, and tea £1.50.
A short boat trip
We had perfect weather (early August), so a short stroll down to the River Vistula was in order. There’s a floating berthed barge with bar on board. Near here we went on a small boat with guide for a short trip up and down the river. Wavel Castle is just up the bank if you wish to explore (we didn’t), preferring to lap up the sun and buy yet another lody (ice cream).
Things to do
I’d recommend two trips: one to the Jewish District to see the inspiration for the Shindler’s List film. Also here are numerous indie shops, which I really liked. Mainly art, fashion and jewellery by up-and-coming Polish designers.
Art galleries and more to see
Back near the centre, I visited a few art galleries to get my art fix. Entry is inexpensive and a perfect thing to do when you have an hour or two to spare.
Two other big trips are to Auschwitz and the Salt Mines. I decided to leave those for another day.
Getting there
I flew Jet2 from Manchester, but they also fly from Stansted.
Fact checked March 2025
I wrote about Krakow for the Irish Daily Mail. You can read it on my cuttings website Olivia Greenway here. https://www.oliviagreenway.com/wp-content/uploads/krakow.pdf