Top 25 Must-Do Activities in Kraków, Poland

As a UNESCO World Heritage site, Kraków served as the seat of Polish monarchs for five centuries until the 17th century. Following the devastation caused by the Mongol invasion in the 13th century, the Old Town was reconstructed, and its layout has remained largely intact.

Kraków reached the pinnacle of its power during the 1300s under the reign of Casimir III the Great, who established Kraków University, which later became attended by Copernicus, and the district of Kazimierz, previously an independent city known for its significant Jewish community.

The expansive Main Square in the Old Town serves as a testament to Kraków’s wealth and influence during the Medieval period, while the royal castle and cathedral atop Wawel Hill exemplify the full strength of the Polish monarchy.

Let us delve into the highlights of Kraków:

1. Stare Miasto (Old Town)

Kraków’s oldest district was meticulously planned in 1257 after the Mongol invasion devastated the area.

Originally surrounded by walls, which now form a green belt of parkland, this section of the city features the grand royal complex on Wawel Hill rising majestically at its southernmost tip.

Your visit to the Old Town can easily pass in a day as you transition from historic churches to charming squares, delightful specialty shops, and engaging museums.

Even enjoying a meal or drink can be an exploration of history as you descend into cellars adorned with Gothic vaults.

Noteworthy sites in the area include the tower of the former town hall, which now serves as an observation platform overlooking the Main Square.

Additionally, local bakeries offer the opportunity to taste a ring-shaped obwarzanek krakowski, a slightly sweet bun reminiscent of a bagel.

2. Rynek Główny (Main Square)

As one of the largest Medieval squares in Europe, Kraków’s Main Square has served as the commercial, social, and administrative hub of the city since the mid-13th century.

Measuring 200 meters by 200 meters, this grand plaza symbolizes traditional Medieval urban planning, established shortly after the devastation caused by the Mongol invasion.

Within this area, several prominent monuments can be found, including the Cloth Hall and St Mary’s Basilica.

The square is bordered by rows of elegant townhouses that, although adorned with Neoclassical facades from the early 20th century, contain much older internal structures.

A notable example is Wierzynek, a restaurant with Medieval roots where the Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV and Elizabeth of Pomerania celebrated their wedding in 1364.

3. Wawel Castle

A site of immense national significance, the UNESCO-listed Wawel Castle is complemented by the cathedral located atop the hill overlooking the Old Town.

Wawel Castle showcases an array of architectural styles, from Romanesque to Baroque, and served as the royal residence of the Polish monarchy from the 13th to the 17th century.

After a subsequent decline, marked by the relocation of the capital to Warsaw and damage incurred during the Swedish invasion in the 1650s, Wawel Castle has since the 1940s housed a national museum showcasing the opulence of the Polish monarchy.

Guests can admire sumptuous interiors, artwork by Veronese, Lucas Cranach the Elder, and Domenico Ghirlandaio, Gobelin tapestries, and an exquisite treasury and armory.

A highlight not to be missed is Szczerbiec, the coronation sword of nearly every monarch from 1320 to 1764.

4. St Mary’s Basilica

Constructed atop the remnants of an earlier structure also destroyed by the Mongols, this Gothic brick marvel dates back to the early 14th century and underwent further modifications over the following decades.

Notably, the St. Mary’s Trumpet Call is performed hourly from the taller of the two towers in memory of a 13th-century city trumpeter who sounded the alarm during the Mongol assault.

The abrupt end to the tune symbolizes the moment he was fatally struck in the throat.

Inside, the stained glass windows and the gilded stars against the blue vaults are breathtaking.

However, the centerpiece is the world’s largest Gothic altarpiece, completed in 1484 after seven years of work by German sculptor Veit Stoss, featuring figures carved from lime wood up to 2.7 meters high.

5. Wawel Cathedral

A structure of significant national relevance, Wawel Cathedral stands as the site of both coronations and burials of numerous Polish monarchs, national heroes, and notable cultural figures.

The existing edifice was completed in the 14th century, having replaced two previously destroyed or burnt structures.

The cathedral’s royal burial chapels also feature an impressive array of diverse architectural styles.

Sigismund’s Chapel, serving as the funerary chapel for the last members of the Jagiellonian line, exemplifies 16th-century Tuscan Renaissance architecture: Under its golden dome, richly carved ornamentation and tomb monuments exhibit the work of many prominent sculptors of the era.

Additionally, the cathedral houses the mausoleum of the Polish patron saint, St. Stanislaus, where his silver sarcophagus is set beneath an extravagant canopy supported by gilded columns.

6. Kazimierz

Situated south of the Old Town, Kazimierz was an independent city for 500 years until the 19th century.

It was founded by Casimir III the Great, taking his name and was granted royal city status.

After a devastating fire in Kraków in the late 15th century, King Jan I Olbracht relocated the Jewish population to Kazimierz, which subsequently swelled as it absorbed Jews expelled from various European cities.

Split by an internal wall, Kazimierz became home to both Jewish and ethnic Polish populations.

Despite the wall being removed over 200 years ago, the eastern streets of Kazimierz maintain a distinctive Jewish ambiance that has seen a revival since the late 1980s.

This district was prominently featured in the film Schindler’s List and now boasts synagogues, bookstores, restaurants, and bars catering to a vibrant Jewish community.

7. Franciscan Church

This monastery church emerged in the wake of the Mongol invasion and was consecrated around the mid-13th century.

It marked the initial example of Kraków’s hallmark brick and sandstone architecture, even though fragments of the original structure have persisted.

The church endured a nearly catastrophic fire in 1850, which provided an opportunity for artist Stanisław Wyspiański to apply his creative expertise.

A leading figure of the Young Poland movement, Wyspiański produced eight Art Nouveau stained glass windows for the apse and choir, along with stunning murals adorned with geometric and floral designs in the transept.

These features, complementing more traditional artwork in the nave and chancel by noted historical and landscape artists, create a captivating atmosphere.

8. Cloth Hall

One of Kraków’s most iconic landmarks, the Cloth Hall has taken on various forms since its inception in the 1200s, with its current Renaissance structure in the Main Square dating back to the 1500s.

It has served as a trading hall for eight centuries, underscoring Kraków’s pivotal role in Central Europe’s Medieval trading networks.

The majority of goods sold in the Cloth Hall were sourced from the East, including spices, silk, wax, and leather.

While it retains its market function, it has transformed into a venue for gift and souvenir shopping, with stalls offering handmade lace, amber jewelry, and wooden crafts, alongside the Sukiennice Museum upstairs.

The museum primarily features 19th-century Polish paintings, with dedicated rooms for Romantics, Academic artists, and Realists.

9. Royal Road

This thematic walk through Kraków’s Old Town allows visitors to trace the same route once taken by Polish monarchs during Medieval coronation processions.

The journey commences at the Church of St Florian, just beyond the Barbican, continues through this formidable defensive structure, and proceeds into the city along Floriańska Street, passing along the eastern side of the Main Square.

Along the way, you will encounter numerous cherished landmarks, such as St Adalbert’s Church, the Wielopolski Palace, and the Church of Saints Peter and Paul.

Your exploration culminates in a climb to Wawel Hill, where the coronation ceremonies were held in the cathedral.

10. Manggha

You may not anticipate delving into Japanese culture while in Kraków, but the Manggha Museum offers exactly that across the river from Wawel Castle.

Founded by filmmaker Andrzej Wajda, who became fascinated with Japanese art after encountering a collection assembled by art critic Feliks Jasieński in the 1940s, the museum opened its doors in 1994.

With a design from Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, the museum features 7,000 pieces in its collection, including woodcuts, paintings, ceramics, furniture, and samurai armor. Notably, Emperor Akihito visited the museum in 2002.

11. Polish Aviation Museum

Located east of the Old Town, the former Kraków-Rakowice-Czyżyny Airport, established in 1912 for the Austro-Hungarian Empire, now houses a distinguished aviation museum.

Opened shortly after the airport’s closure in 1963, the museum originally occupied the airport’s hangars, and has since expanded with a new exhibition hall inaugurated in 2010, featuring multimedia and interactive exhibits.

The Polish Aviation Museum is recognized as one of the finest in the world, showcasing over 200 aircraft, including both fighter jets and transport planes originating from various eras, particularly emphasizing MiGs, Yaks, and Sukhois.

Among its rarest exhibits is the PZL P.11, the last surviving Polish pre-war aircraft.

12. Stained Glass Workshop and Museum

This interactive museum allows visitors to observe stained glass artisans utilizing traditional techniques that have persisted through the centuries.

Founded by architect Stanisław Gabriel Żeleński in 1902, the workshop was relocated to its current site, a design by Żeleński himself, in 1906 to serve as a gathering space for Poland’s premier glass painters during the Art Nouveau era.

More than 200 windows produced by this workshop adorn prestigious buildings throughout Kraków, including Wawel Castle and the Franciscan Church.

Guided tours offered in English take place on the hour, exploring beautiful stained glass exhibitions and providing insight into the crafts being created.

13. Planty Park

In the 1820s, when Kraków was a partially autonomous Free City, the Medieval fortifications encircling the Old Town were dismantled under the orders of Franz I, Emperor of Austro-Hungary.

The moat was leveled, and the remaining structure was transformed into a four-kilometer green belt featuring English landscape gardens.

Planty Park serves as a pleasant green buffer between the Old Town and the newer districts beyond.

The northern section is optimal for sightseeing, featuring the last remnants of the old defenses.

The impressive Kraków Barbican, with its formidable ring of machicolations, and the Florian Gate can be discovered here, saved from demolition after intervention from a university professor.

14. Schindler’s Factory

You may be aware that significant portions of Steven Spielberg’s 1993 film Schindler’s List were shot in Kraków.

Since 2010, visitors can enter the administration building of the enamelware factory Schindler acquired after the invasion in 1939, which now houses a branch of the Kraków Historical Museum.

Here, one can review narratives surrounding Schindler’s accounting practices that aided in the rescue of over 1,000 Jewish lives, along with the original desk from Schindler’s office, his “list,” and photographs of survivors.

The museum also features a broader exhibition on the wartime occupation of Kraków, including reconstructions of ghetto dwellings, tunnels used by the resistance, and shelter basements, all enlivened by authentic artifacts from the 1940s.

15. Rynek Underground

Managed by the Historical Museum, Rynek Underground is an archaeological site located beneath the Main Square, offering a glimpse into life in Kraków’s Old Town 700 years ago.

The attraction spans 6,000 square meters, revealing the foundations of the earlier Cloth Hall.

Within the galleries, visitors traverse footbridges over archaeological digs, complemented by electronic displays, touchscreen computers, and holographic exhibits.

Numerous artifacts discovered four meters beneath the city, including Tatar arrowheads, clay figurines, leather footwear, dice, beads, medallions, and a 693 kg lump of commercial lead, provide depth to the experience.

The exhibit also highlights real graves from an 11th-century cemetery, reconstructed workshop models, and illustrates the complex flow of goods in and out of the city during its trade with the Hanseatic League.

16. Museum of the Jagiellonian University – Collegium Maius

Within the Old Town, visitors can partake in an intensive 30-minute tour of Collegium Maius, the oldest edifice of Jagiellonian University.

Dating back to the 1300s, this structure is the oldest university building in Poland and was reconstructed in the Late-Gothic style in the subsequent century.

This is where Copernicus studied during the late 1400s, and a room containing historical instruments and globes used during his time suggests that he likely interacted with them.

The brisk tour guides guests through lecture halls, ceremonial spaces, professors’ quarters, and a remarkable library, which houses the oldest globe in the world depicting the Americas.

17. Kościuszko Mound

Tadeusz Kościuszko is regarded as a Polish national hero, renowned for his resistance against Prussia and Russia during their partition of the former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth at the end of the 18th century.

He led a valiant but ultimately unsuccessful insurrection against Russia, initiated at Kraków’s Main Square in 1794.

After his passing, Kościuszko was interred beneath this 34-meter-high mound, modeled after the burial practices of Poland’s ancient rulers.

Completed in 1823, the mound sits atop Sikornik Hill, rising 326 meters above sea level.

Surrounding it are remnants of a military citadel commissioned by the Austrians in the mid-19th century, which includes the Neo-Gothic Blessed Bronisława chapel, allowing access to the mound for visitors.

18. Krakus Mound

While we discussed the 19th-century burial mound dedicated to Tadeusz Kościuszko, a visit to Krakus Mound, a genuine pagan tumulus, is also worthwhile, located conveniently to the south of the city near Kraków Krzemionki station.

The site, steeped in legend, has long been thought to be the 2,100-year-old burial location of the Celtic King Krakus, the fabled founder of the city.

Excavations have yet to uncover a grave, however, and more recent artifacts found in the mound date between the 8th and 10th centuries.

It is theorized that the mound may have held astronomical significance, aligning with the sun and another mound, Wanda, during the Celtic festival of Beltane.

19. Corpus Christi Church

Founded by Casimir III the Great in 1335, this Gothic basilica in the Kazimierz district retains its original pointed arches and vaults, though most decorations are from the Mannerist and Baroque periods.

Corpus Christi is celebrated for some of the most exquisite and harmonious Baroque ornamentation in Poland.

The stalls in the choir are exceptional, having been carved between 1624 and 1632 and embellished with sculptures and paintings of saints.

The altar, completed in 1637, dazzles with giltwood encasing paintings by Venetian court artist Tommaso Dolabella.

Don’t forget to allocate a few moments to admire the stunning chapels located in the northern and southern aisles.

20. Ghetto Heroes Square

The Podgórze district, located across the Vistula from Kazimierz, housed the Kraków ghetto from 1941 until its “liquidation” in 1943. This primary public space, previously known as Plac Zgody, was often filled with individuals seeking respite from the cramped living conditions in surrounding buildings.

Haunting images from the deportations depict furniture and belongings left behind on the square, marking the site as one of unspeakable tragedy, where families were separated or executions occurred.

The square was redesigned in 2005, introducing 70 large chairs as a poignant tribute to ghetto victims, serving to reinforce the feelings of emptiness and reminding visitors of the deportation events.

21. Vistulan Boulevards

The Vistula River has undergone multiple transformations due to human intervention over the past millennium.

The expansive man-made riverbanks today provide recreational spaces, including bicycle paths, quays for cruise boats, and stops for the city’s “water tram” services.

With the implementation of flood prevention measures, these grassy embankments slope down gently from a retaining wall.

The boulevards, initiated in the 19th century, are popular among both locals and visitors seeking a break from the bustling atmosphere of Wawel and the Old Town.

Your journey can commence at Salwator adjacent to Kościuszko’s burial mound in the west and continue along the riverside to the second bend at Kazimierz.

22. Saints Peter and Paul Church

Completed in just 20 years at the onset of the 17th century, this Mannerist and Baroque church was constructed primarily by Italian architects.

Giovanni Maria Bernardoni initiated the initial plans, later refined by Giovanni Battista Trevano, who was responsible for the dome, facade, and much of the church’s interior.

The facade, made from dolomite, showcases statues of saints in niches and on pedestals throughout.

Interior ornamental stuccowork and scenes depicting the lives of St. Peter and St. Paul in the apse were crafted by another Italian artist, Giovanni Battista Falconi.

Since 1949, the church has housed a Foucault Pendulum, suspended at a height of 46.5 meters, with demonstrations showcasing the Earth’s rotation occurring on Thursday mornings.

23. Dragon’s Den (Smocza Jama)

Burrowing through Wawel Hill is Poland’s most renowned cave, a karst formation celebrated for its legendary dragon.

A sculpture of this dragon, installed in 1972, greets visitors at the entrance, complete with fire-breathing displays.

According to local lore, the dragon was slain by King Krakus before he established the city.

The entrance to the cathedral features bones suspended from a chain, purportedly belonging to the dragon, dating back to the Ice Age.

While the cave should be approached with light-heartedness, it provides a fun diversion if you find yourself overwhelmed by the historical significance in the Old Town.

The entrance can be accessed from the castle courtyard, allowing passage through three chambers totaling 276 meters, before exiting by the Vistula River at the base of the hill.

24. Plac Nowy

In contrast to the grandeur of the Main Square in the Old Town, Kazimierz’s central square, Plac Nowy, offers a more authentic vibe.

This is the ideal location to experience Kraków’s bohemian culture.

Evenings are filled with lively cafe and bar-hopping, while the markets fluctuate significantly from day to day.

Antique markets on Saturdays and clothing markets on Sundays add to the unique atmosphere.

Previously a kosher butcher for Kazimierz’s Jewish community before 1939, the rotunda in the center of the square is currently encircled by food stalls, serving Zapiekanka, an open-faced French bread pizza topped with mushrooms, cheese, and hot ketchup.

25. Tyniec Abbey

Located ten kilometers southwest of the Old Town, Tyniec is a picturesque village perched on a limestone canyon along the Vistula River.

Visitors will be enchanted by the view of the Benedictine Abbey proudly standing on the cliff’s edge.

This functioning monastery offers guided tours, which include a small museum showcasing artifacts from recent excavations.

Tyniec Abbey dates back to the 11th century and has been remodeled in the Baroque style following invasions by Tatars and Czechs in the 1300s and Swedes in the 17th century.

In summer, the church hosts concerts and vespers, while a small café on the belvedere offers visitors a selection of specialty food and cosmetics crafted by the monks.