Krakow is Poland’s former royal capital, a city where Gothic spires and Renaissance courtyards coexist with bold 20th-century history. Centered on Europe’s largest medieval market square, the Old Town flows down the Royal Route to Wawel Castle, while the Vistula River bends past leafy parks and café-lined boulevards.

Beyond postcard views, Krakow rewards the curious: synagogues in Kazimierz tell centuries of Jewish life, Schindler’s Factory confronts the Nazi occupation, and the Wieliczka Salt Mine gleams underground with chapels carved from “white gold.” Day trips reach solemn Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Tatra Mountains around Zakopane.

Expect hearty Polish cuisine—pierogi, żurek, oscypek cheese—and a lively coffee culture. Krakow is walkable, safe, and well-connected by rail and budget flights; English is widely spoken in tourism. Book timed entries for Wawel and Schindler’s Factory, and reserve Auschwitz tours early.

Krakow

Krakow charms with its intact Old Town (Stare Miasto), theater of bugle calls from St. Mary’s Basilica, and horse-drawn carriages circling Rynek Główny. The city’s layers unfold in side streets: collegiate courtyards at Jagiellonian University, artisan cellar bars, and bakeries perfuming the Planty with fresh obwarzanki (the local bagel).

South in Kazimierz, synagogues, vintage shops, and bohemian cafés hum from morning to late night. Across the river in Podgórze, Ghetto Heroes Square and Schindler’s Factory anchor a moving narrative of World War II. Westward, green mounds and abbeys promise panoramas and quiet escapes.

• Top sights: Wawel Castle and Cathedral, Main Market Square, Cloth Hall, St. Mary’s Basilica, Kazimierz synagogues, Schindler’s Factory, MOCAK, Rynek Underground Museum, Kosciuszko Mound, Vistula boulevards.
• Local flavors: Try pierogi at Przystanek Pierogarnia, highlander fare at Morskie Oko, modern Polish at Kogel Mogel, and Middle Eastern at Hamsa. For coffee, seek Wesola Cafe and Karma Roasters; for cocktails, the speakeasy Mercy Brown.
• Fun fact: Krakow’s bugle call (Hejnal) has been played from St. Mary’s tower every hour for centuries—ending abruptly to honor a legend of a trumpeter struck by a Tatar arrow.

How to get to Krakow:

• Flights (intercontinental): Search fares to KRK (John Paul II Kraków-Balice) via Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Typical 1-stop flights from North America run 12–16 hours; round trips often $650–$1100 outside peak summer.
• Flights (within Europe): Compare low-cost carriers and legacies on Omio (flights); many nonstop hops (e.g., London 2h30m, Paris 2h15m, Rome 2h) often from $40–$160 one way.
• Trains: Use Omio (trains): Warsaw–Krakow 2h20m (from ~$20–$45), Vienna–Krakow ~4h (from ~$35–$65), Prague–Krakow ~7–8h (from ~$25–$60).
• Buses: Budget options on Omio (buses); Prague ~7h, Budapest ~7h30m, often $15–$35.
• Airport to center: Train from KRK to Kraków Główny takes ~18 minutes (~17 PLN/$4–$5). Taxis/ride-hails take ~25–35 minutes depending on traffic.

Where to stay (Hotels.com / VRBO):

• Boutique: Hotel Stary (design, rooftop views over the square), Metropolis Design Hotel (stylish, walkable to Wawel).
• Upscale & reliable: Radisson Blu Hotel Krakow (between Old Town and Wawel), Novotel Krakow Centrum (riverfront pool & spa).
• Good value: Novotel Krakow City West (larger rooms, quick bus to center), Ibis Budget Krakow Stare Miasto (next to the main station).
• Social & budget: Greg & Tom Hostel (friendly, central, popular with solo travelers).
• Apartments: Browse central stays on VRBO Krakow or compare hotels on Hotels.com Krakow.

Day 1: Arrival, Planty Walk, and the Main Market Square

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Stretch your legs with a loop on the Planty Park, the green ring that replaced the city walls. Enter the Main Market Square (Rynek Główny) for your first view of St. Mary’s Basilica and the Cloth Hall; listen for the hourly bugle call.

Evening: Dinner at Kogel Mogel for elevated Polish classics (duck with apples, dumplings) or Morskie Oko for highlander specialties and live folk vibes. For a nightcap with golden-light ambiance, try Café Camelot (cheesecake, herbal tea) or cocktails at Mercy Brown, a speakeasy with live jazz on select nights.

Day 2: Royal Route, Wawel, and Kazimierz

Morning: Start at St. Mary’s Basilica (consider a tower climb for views), then stroll the Royal Route down Grodzka Street to Wawel Hill. Tour Wawel Cathedral and the state rooms; book specific exhibits (Cathedral, Royal Chambers, Lost Wawel) to pace crowds. Pop into the Dragon’s Den cave for a playful legend fix.

Afternoon: Cross to Kazimierz, the historic Jewish Quarter. Visit the Old Synagogue and Remuh Cemetery, then break at Hamsa for mezze and fresh-baked laffa. Wander Szeroka and Józefa streets for galleries, vintage shops, and murals.

Evening: Dinner at Starka (homestyle Polish and house-infused vodkas) or Zazie Bistro (casual French in a brick cellar). Finish with a candlelit drink at Alchemia or the boho Eszeweria.

Day 3: Schindler’s Factory, MOCAK, and the Ghetto Story

Morning: Visit Schindler’s Factory Museum for a powerful narrative of occupation-era Krakow. To secure timed entry and a guide, consider: Schindler's Factory Museum (typically 2–3 hours; book ahead).

Afternoon: Walk to Ghetto Heroes Square and the Apteka pod Orłem (Pharmacy Under the Eagle) site, then explore MOCAK (Museum of Contemporary Art) next door for thought-provoking exhibits that contrast the morning’s history.

Evening: Dine riverside. Try Hevre in a former prayer house (great for sharing plates and atmosphere) or the food-truck cluster at Forum Przestrzenie for burgers, bao, and sunset Vistula views.

Day 4: Auschwitz-Birkenau (Full-Day)

Today is devoted to remembrance. Join a guided visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, including transport from Krakow. A well-reviewed option with hotel pickup and a licensed guide is: Krakow to Auschwitz Birkenau Guided Tour with Transfer and Ticket (about 7 hours; typically from ~$40–$70 per person). Expect a sober, educational day—plan a quiet evening afterward.

Day 5: Wieliczka Salt Mine and Café Culture

Morning: Descend into the UNESCO-listed Wieliczka Salt Mine, famed for salt-hewn chapels and subterranean lakes. Book a streamlined experience with transport: Wieliczka Salt Mine Guided Tour: Ticket & Transfer from Krakow (allow ~4–5 hours; from ~$40–$60).

Afternoon: Back in town, linger over pour-overs at Karma Coffee Roasters or brunch plates at Wesola Cafe. Browse Polish design stores along Św. Tomasza and Floriańska streets for ceramics and amber.

Evening: Try Pod Baranem near Wawel for classic soups (żurek, barszcz) and gluten-free options, or the urbane tasting menu at two-Michelin-star Bottiglieria 1881 (reserve far in advance). For craft beer after, head to Nowy Kraftowy on Plac Wolnica.

Day 6: Mounds, Abbeys, and the Blue Water of Zakrzówek

Morning: Walk or taxi to Kosciuszko Mound for sweeping city-and-mountain views. The small on-site museum illuminates Krakow’s patriotic mounds tradition.

Afternoon: Continue to Tyniec Abbey, a Benedictine monastery overlooking the Vistula. Pick up monk-made preserves in the shop, then return to town for a stroll around Zakrzówek Lagoon, a turquoise former quarry turned nature area (seasonal access points and viewpoints).

Evening: Dinner at Ranny Ptaszek (vegetarian comfort food) or Szara Kazimierz for Polish-European plates. Night owls can sample inventive cocktails at Mercy Brown or laid-back pints at Alchemia.

Day 7: Ojców National Park and Pieskowa Skała

Morning: Day-trip north to Ojców National Park (about 45–60 minutes by car or local bus). Hike among limestone cliffs to Jaskinia Łokietka (King’s Łokietek Cave) and the iconic Hercules’ Club rock.

Afternoon: Visit Pieskowa Skała Castle, a Renaissance gem perched above the Prądnik Valley. For lunch, try fresh smoked trout at a local roadside grill in Ojców.

Evening: Back in Krakow, share plates at Hevre or grab a street-side zapiekanka (Polish-style loaded baguette) at Plac Nowy—classic late-night fuel.

Day 8: Zakopane, Gubałówka, and Thermal Baths (Full-Day)

Head to the mountains for wooden villas, Tatra views, and hot springs. A popular, well-organized option includes cheese-and-vodka tastings, funicular or cable car views, and time at Chochołowskie thermal pools: Krakow: Zakopane & Hot Springs Tour with Cable Car (Hotel Pickup) (8–10 hours; typically from ~$60–$90). Pack a swimsuit and sandals; winters may offer snow-dusted peaks, summers alpine meadows.

Day 9: Underground Krakow, Collegium Maius, and Shopping

Morning: Explore the Rynek Underground Museum beneath the Cloth Hall—medieval market archaeology brought to life with interactive displays. Then admire the renaissance courtyard at Collegium Maius, Jagiellonian University’s oldest building.

Afternoon: Coffee and cake at Massolit Bakery & Cafe (books + babka), then browse boutiques for Bolesławiec ceramics, amber jewelry, and contemporary Polish fashion along Bracka and Grodzka streets.

Evening: For dinner, choose Starka (if you missed it) or contemporary plates and Polish wines at Albertina. Catch live music on the square or a riverside stroll along the Vistula boulevards.

Day 10: Slow Morning & Departure

Morning: Brunch at Charlotte on Szczepański Square (fresh croissants, tartines) or Wesola Cafe near the main station for specialty coffee and shakshuka. Make a final loop through the Cloth Hall for souvenirs.

Afternoon: Airport transfer: the airport train to KRK takes ~18 minutes from Kraków Główny (~17 PLN). For rail or bus onward in Europe, check Omio (trains) or Omio (buses); for flights, compare Omio (flights), Trip.com, or Kiwi.com.

Optional extra: Combined day for limited time

If you ever need to combine key UNESCO sites into one intensive day, consider: Day Trip: Auschwitz-Birkenau and Wieliczka Salt Mine from Krakow (full-day; with transport and guide).

Eating & drinking highlights to weave in any day:

• Pierogi pilgrimage: Przystanek Pierogarnia (small, beloved; ruskie or wild mushroom), or Pierogarnia Krakowiacy for sampler platters.
• Sweet breaks: Good Lood for seasonal gelato; Café Szał upstairs in the Cloth Hall for terrace views.
• Nightlife notes: For vinyl and vintage, Singer bar in Kazimierz; for live jazz, check basement venues off the Rynek.

Practical tips: Krakow is walkable; trams cover most gaps (tap-in onboard validators; tickets roughly a few PLN per ride). Most museums close one day per week—check schedules and reserve time slots for Wawel, Schindler’s Factory, and Rynek Underground. Dress modestly for sacred sites; bring layers for the salt mine (about 17°C/63°F underground).

In ten days, you’ll have traced royal splendor, Jewish heritage, WWII memory, and mountain air—plus more pierogi and pastries than you thought possible. Krakow’s scale invites unhurried wandering; its stories linger long after you leave. Safe travels, and smacznego—may every meal be delicious.