Krakow is the most popular tourist destination in Poland. No wonder why! The city itself is beautiful, plus there are many places worth visiting nearby, like Auschwitz Concentration Camp, Zakopane, or Wieliczka Salt Mine. In this post, you will find the best Krakow tips for first time visitors.
Be sure to read our other posts about Krakow including:
- best tours in Krakow
- things to do in Krakow
- best day trips from Krakow
- where to eat in Krakow
- best beaches in Kraków and around
- how to get the most of your winter trip to Kraków
- romantic places in Krakow
- best breakfast in Kraków
- 3 days in Kraków itinerary
- what to do in Kraków for free?
- are there any thermal baths in Kraków?
- best free museums in Kraków
Basic Facts About Krakow That You Need To Know
1. Kraków is safe.
The crime rate in the city is really low. As long as you stay in the city center, you will be perfectly safe both during the day and at night.
The only place that I wouldn’t recommend visiting after dark is Nowa Huta district. It’s far enough from Rynek anyway, so most tourists don’t even know the place like this exists. I am not saying that Nowa Huta is dangerous, it’s just it may be weird there sometimes, especially during football games.
There are 2 main football teams in Krakow- Wisla and Cracovia. The extreme fans of both teams sometimes fight with each other, and trust me- you don’t want to find yourself in the middle of this battle.
2. Kraków is polluted.
Actually, it’s one of the most polluted cities in the world. That’s one of the reasons we moved from Kraków (the second is traffic jams).
Don’t worry, though- you will be perfectly fine while visiting the city. I advise bringing a pollution mask if you are traveling to Krakow in the winter.
3. Krakow is a student city.
One of the oldest surviving colleges in the world- Jagiellonian University has been founded in Krakow in the 14th century. There are 23 colleges in the city, and more than 200,000 students from all over the world live there.
If you happen to visit Krakow in May, Google ‘Juwenalia Krakowskie’. It’s an annual event for students. The dates are different every year, that’s why I am directing you to Google to check it all by yourself.
One of the best Krakow tips is definitely to PARTY! There is no better place to have fun in Poland than in this city.
Where To Party Krakow?
The nightlife in Krakow is best experienced at the Rynek and Kazimierz areas.
In my opinion, the best clubs are:
- Klub Studio on AGH at Budryka 4
- Stalowe Magnolie on sw. Jana 15
- Coco on Szpitalna 38
Women usually have free entrance; men need to pay. Before this time, start partying after 11 p.m.; clubs are pretty empty.
The Most Instagrammable Places in Kraków
Krakow is Instagrammable in general. Most of the places mentioned above are great for photos but here are a few more worth mentioning.
Cafe Szał
Rynek Główny 3
This is a place where you can take arguably the best photo of Kosciol Mariacki and Rynek.
Cafe Szal is located on the roof of Sukiennice. It’s open all year round but when it’s warm enough you can sit outside in their beer garden. It’s worth going there to see Market Square from above.
Hotel Poleski
Sandomierska 6
Even though the food in the hotel’s restaurant is average and the hotel itself is outdated, it’s still worth to go there. Hotel Poleski has the best Krakow rooftop bar. You will get there an amazing view of Wawel Castle and the Vistula river.
If you are traveling by car, you can park your vehicle right next to the hotel which is a huge advantage, especially on a rainy day.
Przegorzały Castle
Jodłowa 13
Przegorzaly Castle is quite a long ride from the center of the city, but it’s still worth going there. It’s one of the best viewpoints in Krakow.
There is a pretty good restaurant (U Ziyada) in the castle, so you may combine this trip with a romantic dinner or simply make it a date.
Where To Go Shopping In Krakow?
The most popular shopping mall in Krakow is Galeria Krakowska, which is connected to the bus and trains stations.
It’s quite nice, but it’s always crowded. You’d better go to Bonarka City Center at Kamienskiego 11. It’s bigger and simply better.
Another shopping mall that we highly recommend is Galeria Kazimierz on Podgorska 34 and Galeria Bronowice on Stawowa 61.
Best Accommodation In Krakow
If you still don’t know where to stay in Kraków, don’t worry! There are thousands of hostels, hotels, and apartments in the city, so everyone can find something for themselves there.
For Luxury Travelers
An iconic place, Hotel Stary is one of the best hotels in Krakow. It’s located in the heart of Rynek, has a spa area, delicious food, and all the other facilities that you can find in the 5-star accommodation.
For Those Who Want to Feel Like Home
If you want to feel at home but still use hotel facilities like daily breakfast, choose Well Well Aparthotel.
It’s located in a quiet area of the city within walking distance to the Rynek. You will have a kitchenette in the room, which is great, especially if you are traveling to Krakow with kids. The breakfasts are basic but REALLY good.
For Budget Travelers
If you are looking for a good Krakow hostel, check out Bubble Hostel. It’s very close to Rynek and the main bus and train stations. They have dormitories and private rooms available, that’s why it’s one of the best places to stay in Krakow for budget travelers.
For Longer Stay
Even though there are many apartments and hotels in Krakow centre, it may be hard to choose the best one.
If you want to stay in the city for more than just a few nights, check out Airbnb Krakow. To be honest, we usually find the best places to stay in the city on this website. Our recent discovery is Studio Pomorska, one of the few places in the center of Krakow with free parking.
Krakow Tips And General Info
| Country | Poland, European Union |
|---|---|
| Krakow currency | Polish Zloty (PLN) |
| Krakow taxi | Krakow Uber (click to get the first ride for free) or Bolt (click for the first free ride) |
| Krakow taxi number | +48 12 653 55 55 (iCar) |
| Rent car Krakow | Find the best deals car hire Krakow here. |
| Krakow taxi fares | 7 PLN ($1.80) for a start + about 4 PLN ($1) for every kilometer. |
| Krakow rent a bike | See here. |
| Krakow public transport | Use jakdojade Krakow to plan your trip. |
| Krakow tourist map | Download here. |
| How many days in Krakow? | 2-5 days. |
| Best time to go to Krakow | All year round. April- October is the best. |
| Prices in Krakow | Average. |
How To Get To Krakow?
Check out the cheapest flights to Krakow!
If you are coming from other European countries, choose cheap flights to Krakow Balice Airport.
If you are coming from another city in Poland, take a bus (FlixBus) or train.
How to Get Around Krakow?
One of the best Kraków tips is to walk as much as you can! You can easily get from Rynek to Kazimierz, without using a public transport or a taxi.
In order to get to the Old Town, take a public bus or tram (remember, the only way to get to the market square is walking!).
It’s pretty easy to use Krakow public transport, especially if you are using jakdojade.pl to plan your trip. You can install the app on your phone. It will help you to get anywhere in Krakow. The app can locate where you currently are, so don’t be afraid of getting lost.
Buy Krakow City Pass if you want to use public transport for free and have access to 40+ museums.
Both Uber and Bolt operate in Krakow, so if you want to travel by taxi that’s the cheapest and the most convenient option.
The Most Famous Events in Krakow
My tip for visiting Krakow is to check the event calendar before you travel. There is always a lot going on in the city!
It’s not the full list of festivals in Krakow. I am writing only about the most famous ones. More about the events in the city here. As you can see from the list below, the best time to visit Krakow is the summer and spring.
Spring
Juwenalia- students’ event in May (I am writing about it earlier in this post).
Krakow Film Festival– one of the most important events like this in Europe. It happens annually in May or June.
Great Dragon Parade– a show of the beautiful and colorful dragons. A must-see if you are in Krakow. The parade usually takes place at the beginning of June.
Summer
Wianki– it happens annually, at night from 23th to 24th June. The tradition of throwing the wreaths to the water is hundreds of years long. Early Slavic maidens believed that if their wreath will be found by the man, they will get married soon. Wianki in Krakow is a colorful event, with firework and music shows.
Jewish Culture Festival – shows, exhibits, and workshops dedicated to Jewish culture. The event takes place annually, in June or July.
Fall
Independence Day– November 11th is a bank holiday in Poland. During that day, different parades and events are organized in Krakow.
Winter
Christmas Market and Szopka Krakowska Competition– Christmas is widely celebrated in Krakow. Apart from an amazing Christmas Market that opens up at the end of November, you can see the beautiful nativity scenes (szopka) that Krakow is famous for.
Read my post about Polish Christmas traditions.
That’s it! If you have any questions about Krakow, comment below or join our Poland Travel Planning Facebook group. We’ll be happy to help.
Did you enjoy reading these Krakow tips? Let us know in the comments below!
