Krakow
Krakow is the former capital of Poland (until 1596) and coronation city of the Polish kings. As the city was not destroyed in the war, it is now one of the best-preserved cities in the country.
Krakow, the second largest city in Poland, attracts numerous visitors every year. The former royal city offers a fascinating mix of history, architecture and culture that makes a city break worthwhile. The historic city center, the Old Town of Krakow, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and impresses with its well-preserved medieval architecture.
The Main Market Square, the largest medieval square in Europe, is an ideal starting point for exploring the city. Here you will find St. Mary’s Church with its famous altar by Veit Stoß and the Cloth Halls, which today house numerous stores and cafés. The Royal Castle on Wawel Hill and the cathedral are particularly beautiful.
Krakow is also an important place of remembrance. The former Jewish quarter of Kazimierz is now a lively district with numerous galleries, cafés and restaurants that pay tribute to the city’s Jewish culture and history. A trip to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp memorial, about an hour from Krakow, offers insights into the history of the Second World War.
In addition to history, the city offers a vibrant cultural scene. There are numerous museums, theaters and music events to round off the cultural offerings.
Krakow also has a lot to offer in terms of cuisine: From traditional Polish dishes to international cuisine, there is something for every taste.
Getting to the city is uncomplicated. There is an international airport and good connections by train or bus. The public transport network is efficient and makes it easy to get around the city.
City trip to Krakow
Here we present our tips for an unforgettable trip to Krakow.
The trip to the salt mine Wieliczka was the most exciting, informative and fascinating excursion that we had the pleasure to experience during our time in Krakow. A personal favourite of mine and worthwhile for sure.
There is that thing about visiting churches. We saw many over the years and if you’re not an expert in the history of art one could say many churches look similar. But the St. Mary’s Basilica in Krakow fascinated us.
Looking for a viewing point in Krakow? We went on a quest for one and climbed the Krak Hill. A fantastic spot in the middle of the city, and completely free! It was not exactly easy to find, the Krak Hill.
The Wawel Castle Grounds high above Krakow Those who visit Krakow are magically drawn towards it: The Wawel Hill and the castle grounds. It is here where the history of Krakow becomes tangible for those who come with some time.
Pure relaxation on a walk along the river Vistula We enjoyed some truly relaxing walks along the Vistula, the sun in our faces, and just unwound. The river Vistula The Vistula, in Polish the Wisla, is the longest river in Poland.
Krakow, City of Dragons – the legend is alive Once upon a time… many stories start with these famous words, the stories about dragons in Krakow do, too. Even today, dragons are very much present in Krakow and receive a great deal of honour every year.
Culinary through Krakow
What do you drink in Krakow? Talking to locals one is under the impression that Krakow is indeed a vodka city. But over time, Krakow developed a vibrant beer culture that cannot be ignored. So, is Krakow now a City of Beers?
We are on to Krakow’s sweet treats Poland is known for its hearty cuisine. So we followed the traces of the sweeter dishes of Krakow and found a few “sins” we would like to recommend.
As we prepared our trip we came across a video about a so-called food tour. We took this as inspiration to further google food tours in Krakow. “Free Walking Tours Krakow” offers a Food Tour Krakow – not free. Participation costs 50 Zloty (12 Euros).
Book a tour
Accommodation
We stayed at the Premier Kraków Hotel in Krakow for a programming conference.
We searched for our perfect apartment on AirBnB prior to our stay in Krakow. And we found a really lovely place.
Hotel Polski Pod Białym Orłem
Radisson Blu Hotel Krakow
Hotel Stary
PURO Kraków Kazimierz
Mercure Krakow Stare Miasto
Travel information for Krakow
We are going to Krakow! Actually, Krakow wasn’t even on our list of destinations but sometimes it’s rather an event that determines the next trip than our wish list. In this case, it was the international Joomla! Conference in Krakow.
Arrival
The city is one of the most important transportation hubs in the south of Poland.
By plane
About 11 kilometers outside the city is Krakow Airport. Besides the major Polish airline LOT, numerous other airlines also fly to the city regularly.
From the airport you can get to the city with the S-Bahn or several bus lines.
The airport taxis, which are located in front of the airport, are more expensive than the normal taxis, which have their station only a few meters away.
By train
From Germany you can travel by train directly from Hamburg or Berlin to Krakow. But also from other European cities there is a train connection to Krakow main station.
By bus
From Germany, some bus companies go all the way to Krakow. There are also regular bus connections to Krakow within Poland. Bus rides are usually cheaper than train rides.
By car
The A4 (E40,E462) leads directly to the city. In addition, there are several motorways leading to Krakow.
By boat
The city is located on the Vistula River. There are excursion boats on the river. In addition, there is a possibility to dock with kayaks at special stations.
By bike
The Vistula Cycle Route and Euro Velo 4 and 11 run through the city.
On the way in...
On foot / by bike
The old town within the former city walls is almost entirely a pedestrian zone. The distances are not particularly large and so it is quite possible to discover everything on foot. Alternatively, you can get around very well by bike or e-scooter.
By car
Driving around Krakow by car is not really a good idea. There is hardly any parking. There is a large parking garage at the main train station, with acceptable prices, and it only takes about 5 minutes to walk to the Old Town.
By bus and tram
The public transport system in the Polish city is quite well developed. Buses and trams run from the main train station throughout the city.
Best time to visit
Spring (March to May)
Spring is one of the best times to visit Krakow. Temperatures rise from an average of 5°C in March to around 15°C in May. Spring is relatively dry, with an average of 8 to 10 days of rain per month.
Summer (June to August)
Summer in Krakow is warm. Temperatures reach an average of 19.5°C in July and August, although it can occasionally get warmer. There is an average of 10 to 12 days of rain per month, with precipitation often occurring in the form of short showers.
Fall (September to November)
Temperatures drop from around 15°C in September to 5°C in November. October can be a little rainier, with an average of 10 to 12 rainy days.
Winter (December to February)
Winter in Krakow is cold and often snowy. Temperatures in January average -2.3°C. There is an average of 10 to 12 days of rain, with precipitation often falling as snow.