Kraków is one of Europe’s great historic cities, a survivor of tumult and guardian of art. Its Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site, crowned by Wawel Castle and ringed by the green Planty park where city walls once stood. The hourly bugle call from St. Mary’s Basilica threads medieval ritual into modern street life, echoing over the largest medieval Market Square in Europe.

Beyond the fairytale façades lies deep history. In Kazimierz, synagogues and klezmer echoes speak to centuries of Jewish life, while across the river in Podgórze, Schindler’s Factory museum tells WWII stories with rare poignancy. Day trips to Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Wieliczka Salt Mine bring sobering reflection and underground wonder—two UNESCO-listed experiences that shape any Kraków itinerary.

Practically speaking, Kraków is walkable and tram-connected, with excellent coffee, hearty Polish comfort food, and a lively craft-beer and cocktail scene. Carry złoty (PLN), tip ~10% at restaurants, and book major sights with timed entries in advance. Spring and fall offer gentle weather; winters are atmospheric and less crowded.

Kraków

Kraków rewards slow wandering: Renaissance courtyards, café-lined alleys, and the Vistula River promenades. Neighborhoods feel distinct—Old Town for landmarks, Kazimierz for culture and dining, Podgórze for WWII history and creative spaces.

• Top sights: Wawel Castle and Cathedral, St. Mary’s Basilica, Cloth Hall (Sukiennice), the Barbican, Kazimierz synagogues, Schindler’s Factory, Vistula boulevards.
• Great bites: Pierogi, żurek (sourdough soup), oscypek (smoked sheep cheese), zapiekanki from Plac Nowy, and the city’s beloved Good Lood ice cream.
• Vibe: Student energy (Jagiellonian University dates to 1364), layered history, and an easy rhythm of café mornings and candlelit cellar dinners.

Where to stay: For landmark access, base in the Old Town. For character and dining, choose Kazimierz. For a quieter, creative feel, look to riverside Podgórze. Browse stays on VRBO or compare hotels on Hotels.com.

Getting there: Fly into Kraków John Paul II Airport (KRK) and ride the airport train (~20 minutes, ~PLN 17–18) to Kraków Główny, or take a taxi/ride-hail (~PLN 80–120). Compare flights to/from Europe on Omio, and check train or bus options from nearby hubs—e.g., Warsaw (2.5–3 h by train, ~$20–45), Vienna (~4–5 h train, ~$30–60), Prague (~6.5–7.5 h by train or bus, ~$25–55)—via Omio Trains and Omio Buses.

Day 1: Arrival, Old Town Orientation, and Market Square Nights

Afternoon: Arrive and check in. Shake off travel with a gentle loop of the Planty park to decompress, then enter Rynek Główny (Market Square), scanning the Cloth Hall arcades and St. Mary’s spires. Pop into St. Mary’s Basilica for the golden altarpiece and, on the hour, step outside to hear the Hejnał bugle call from the tower.

Evening: Dinner near Wawel at Pod Baranem for refined Polish classics (excellent gluten-free options) or at Pod Wawelem Kompania Kuflowa for a lively beer-hall vibe with pork knuckle, bigos, and generous portions. For a nightcap, try Mercy Brown, a speakeasy with period cocktails and live music, or House of Beer for an impressive Polish craft lineup.

Day 2: Wawel, Vistula Walks, and Kazimierz Culture

Morning: Fuel up at Charlotte (Plac Szczepański) with croissants and house jams, or Karma Coffee Roasters (Krupnicza) for single-origin pours and a plant-forward breakfast. Tour Wawel Cathedral (royal tombs, Sigismund Bell) and Wawel Castle’s State Rooms; book timed entries when possible. Stroll the Vistula boulevards afterward for river views.

Afternoon: Cross into Kazimierz. Visit the Remuh Synagogue and cemetery or the Old Synagogue museum to understand Jewish life here. For lunch, try Zazie Bistro (French bistro dishes with Polish flair) or Hamsa for modern Middle Eastern plates amid Kazimierz’s café buzz. Grab a hot, melty zapiekanka at Plac Nowy—Endzior is a local favorite.

Evening: Settle in at Alchemia, a candlelit bar that anchors Kazimierz’s nightlife. For dinner, choose Miodova for an elegant riff on Galician flavors or Szara Kazimierz for classic Polish dishes in a historic townhouse. Dessert? Good Lood ice cream—creative flavors, long lines that move fast.

Day 3: Auschwitz-Birkenau (Day Trip) and a Quiet Kraków Evening

Today is solemn and significant. Plan a respectful, paced day and avoid over-scheduling afterwards.

Day tour: Join this guided visit with transportation and tickets included (about 7 hours door-to-door; ~1 h 15 min each way). Bring your passport/ID, wear comfortable shoes, and note the museum’s bag-size limits.

Auschwitz-Birkenau Guided Tour from Krakow with Ticket & Transfer

Evening: Keep it simple: Przystanek Pierogarnia (several small locations) for tender pierogi ruskie or mushroom-cabbage, plus compote to drink. If you’d like a quiet walk, circle the Planty or sit beneath the Cloth Hall arcades to gently re-enter the city’s rhythm.

Day 4: Wieliczka Salt Mine and Schindler’s Factory

Morning: Coffee at Wesola Café (near the main station) for espresso and shakshuka or oats. Head to the Wieliczka Salt Mine on a half-day tour (about 4 hours total). You’ll descend into cathedral-like chambers carved from “white gold,” including a sparkling underground chapel.

Wieliczka Salt Mine Guided Tour from Krakow: Ticket & Transfer

Afternoon: Return to the city and cross to Podgórze for Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory. The immersive exhibits trace wartime Kraków through photos, film, and personal stories—book timed-entry to avoid queues.

Krakow Schindler's Factory Guided Tour with Admission Ticket

Evening: Dine riverside—Forum Przestrzenie is a casual cultural hub with pizzas, seasonal salads, and sunset views. For sit-down Polish with a modern edge, try Pod Nosem near Wawel (excellent seasonal tasting menu). Nightcap at Eszeweria in Kazimierz, a low-lit, vintage café-bar with patio tables under vines.

Day 5: Market Finds, Food Tour, and Departure

Morning: Breakfast at Café Camelot (raspberry tarts, omelets, and old-world charm) or Ranny Ptaszek (vegetarian breakfast plates). Browse the Cloth Hall for amber, Bolesławiec ceramics, and woodcrafts; step into the Rynek Underground Museum if you have 60–90 minutes for Kraków’s archaeological layer.

Midday: Savor a guided tasting through Kazimierz and Podgórze—expect pierogi, soups, local cheeses, and sweets, plus stories behind each bite. It’s a flavorful finale that doubles as lunch.

Eat Like a Local in Krakow - Food Tour with BeMyGuest

Afternoon: Depart for the airport. The KRK train is the quickest back to the terminal; allow ~30–40 minutes door-to-gate. If you’re extending, consider a spa-and-mountain day to Zakopane on another visit for hot springs, cheese tastings, and Tatra vistas.

Where to Book and How to Get Around

Stays: Compare top options and neighborhoods on VRBO and Hotels.com.

Getting to Kraków: Find flights on Omio, and trains/buses from Poland and neighboring countries via Omio Trains and Omio Buses. Airport–city travel by train takes ~20 minutes; taxis take ~25–35 minutes depending on traffic.

In-city transport: Kraków’s trams and buses are frequent; single tickets cost only a few PLN, and day passes are good value if you’ll be hopping around. Validate tickets on board, and consider walking between Old Town, Kazimierz, and the river—they’re delightfully close.

Optional Add-On (if you have an extra day)

For mountain scenery and thermal relaxation, plan a full-day outing to Zakopane: funicular to Gubałówka, cheese tasting (oscypek) in village stalls, and a soak at Chochołowskie Termy. Save it for a future return if your schedule is tight this trip.

Another notable tour you can swap in:

Practical Tips

• Reservations: Prebook St. Mary’s tower climbs, palace rooms at Wawel, Schindler’s Factory, and all day trips—prime slots sell out.
• Respect: Auschwitz-Birkenau is a memorial; dress modestly, keep voices low, and avoid photography where requested.
• Eating well: Look for seasonal soups ( żurek in bread bowl, barszcz), duck or goose in autumn, and poppyseed desserts near holidays.

Over five days, you’ll stand in Europe’s grandest medieval square, trace centuries of Jewish heritage, and witness history’s hardest lessons at Auschwitz. Kraków balances memory with everyday joy—café mornings, cellar dinners, river sunsets—leaving you full in every sense of the word.