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Voykit pocket guide · Poland
Kraków
Kraków is a walkable old-town city: the market square and Wawel in one day each, Kazimierz in the evening, and Auschwitz-Birkenau and the salt mine only as booked day trips from the same bed.
Kraków's centre is small and flat: the Main Market Square, the Planty park ring, Wawel hill and the old Jewish quarter of Kazimierz are all within a 25-minute walk. The trips that go wrong pay too much for cars, arrive at Wawel without a timed ticket in summer, or try to fit Auschwitz-Birkenau into a free afternoon. Four clusters cover a first visit: the Old Town, Wawel, Kazimierz and Podgórze; keep one bed and book the memorial and the salt mine ahead.
- Country
- Poland
- Best months
- Apr · May · Jun · Sep · Oct · Dec
- Time zone
- Europe/Warsaw
- Stay
- 2 days: Old Town and Wawel, Kazimierz and Podgórze
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- PLN
- Money
- Cards and contactless work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for kiosks and market stalls.
- Daily spend
- Budget PLN 120–200 excl. bed · Mid PLN 200–400 excl. bed · High PLN 400+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Install an eSIM before you fly, or buy a SIM at a shop or in the airport (passport may be needed). EU roaming rules apply for EU SIMs.
- Emergency
- All emergencies 112 · Police 997 · Ambulance 999 · Fire 998
- Plugs
- 230 V; two-pin sockets (types C and E).
- Tipping
- About 10% in sit-down restaurants when service is not added; round up for taxis.
- Water
- Tap water is safe; bottled water is cheap.
- Toilets
- Cafés, shopping centres and museums; carry small coins.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Zapiekanka | PLN 15–25 |
| Milk-bar meal | PLN 20–35 |
| Coffee | PLN 12–20 |
| Pint of beer | PLN 12–20 |
| Tram single ticket | PLN 5–7 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- Kraków John Paul II International Airport (KRK)
- KRK to the Old Town: the airport train to Kraków Główny, about 20 minutes, then a short walk; a taxi or ride-hail covers the gap when the trains stop.
By rail and road
| Station | Serves | To the centre |
|---|---|---|
| Kraków Główny station (Dworzec Główny) | Airport train, Warsaw, Wrocław, Katowice, Prague and Vienna connections | Walk 10 min to the Main Market Square |
| Bus station (MDA) (Małopolski Dworzec Autobusowy) | Long-distance and regional coaches including Zakopane | Walk 10 min |
Typical fares
- Airport train to Kraków Główny
- About 20 min; PLN 17–25
- Ride-hailing across the centre
- PLN 15–35
- Tram or bus ticket
- PLN 5–7 for a time-limited ticket (check)
Show 8 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Eat, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk inside the centre and take a tram between clusters. Ride-hailing cars are cheap and good late at night.
| How | Fare | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | Free | Old Town, Wawel, Kazimierz |
| Tram and bus | PLN 5–7 (check) | Kazimierz, Podgórze, the station |
| Ride-hailing | PLN 15–35 across the centre | Late nights and bags |
| Horse carriage | PLN 200+ | A short tour |
Fares are estimates; check before you ride.
- Passes
- No pass for a short stay: single tram tickets in the jakdojade app are cheap; a 24-hour ticket pays off after four rides.
- Late at night
- Trams run late and night lines cover the small hours. Check the app for your line.
See and do
01Wawel hillZamek Królewski na Wawelu
The royal castle and cathedral, the heart of Polish history.
Hours: best Morning · Price: PLN 30–70 (check) · Time: 2–3 h
02St Mary's Basilica and the hejnałBazylika Mariacka
The Gothic altarpiece and the hourly trumpet call.
Hours: best Before noon · Price: About PLN 20 (check) · Time: 45–60 min
03Cloth Hall and Rynek UndergroundSukiennice i Rynek Podziemny
A museum under the square that shows medieval Kraków.
Hours: best Midday · Price: About PLN 30–40 (check) · Time: 1–1.5 h · 50.0617, 19.9373
04Remuh Synagogue and cemeterySynagoga Remuh
The living centre of Jewish heritage in Kazimierz.
Hours: best Morning · Price: About PLN 20 (check) · Time: 30–45 min · 50.0521, 19.9459
05Schindler's FactoryFabryka Schindlera
A large museum on the city under occupation.
Hours: best Morning, booked · Price: About PLN 40–50 (check) · Time: 2–3 h · 50.0473, 19.9615
06A zapiekanka on Plac NowyZapiekanki na Placu Nowym
The classic Kraków street snack.
Hours: best Evening · Price: PLN 15–25 · Time: 20–30 min
07Kościuszko MoundKopiec Kościuszki
A man-made hill with a wide view over the city.
Hours: Daylight (check) · Price: About PLN 20 (check)
08Barbican and Florian GateBarbakan
The surviving brick gate and the fortified round tower.
Hours: Seasonal (check) · Price: About PLN 15–20 (check)
09Old SynagogueStara Synagoga
The oldest surviving synagogue in Poland, now a museum.
Hours: Closed Tuesday (check) · Price: About PLN 20 (check)
10Nowa HutaNowa Huta
A planned socialist district; tours run from the centre.
Hours: Any time (check) · Price: Free (check)
Hours and prices are desk estimates (checked 2026-09); anything marked (check) is not confirmed. Coordinates open in any map app.
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial | Bus or tour about 1.5 h each way | Full day (about 6–7 h) |
| Wieliczka Salt Mine | Train or bus about 30 min | Half day |
| Zakopane and the Tatras | Bus about 2–2.5 h each way | Too long as a day trip |
Eat
| Where | What · area | Price | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plac Nowy zapiekanka stalls | Zapiekanka · Kazimierz | PLN 15–25 | Budget |
| Obwarzanek ring-bread stalls | Obwarzanek ring bread · Old Town | PLN 3–5 | Budget |
| Milk bar (bar mleczny) in the Old Town | Pierogi or soup · Old Town | PLN 20–35 | Budget |
| Pierogi restaurant in Kazimierz | Pierogi and żurek · Kazimierz | PLN 40–70 | Mid-range |
| Jama Michalika | Cake and coffee or a full dinner · Old Town | PLN 40–100 | Higher |
Per person, one dish or one meal, 2026 estimate. Names and hours change: check.
Sleep
| Band | Price a night | Where | What |
|---|---|---|---|
| budget | PLN 70–110 dorm bed · PLN 220–320 double | Kazimierz and the Old Town edge | Hostels and small guesthouses |
| mid | PLN 350–700 | Old Town | 3–4 star hotels |
Per room per night in złoty, 2026 estimate; summer and December add 20–60%.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Dzień dobryjen doh-bri |
| Thank you | Dziękujęjen-koo-yeh |
| Please / you're welcome | Proszępro-sheh |
| How much is this? | Ile to kosztuje?ee-leh toh kosh-too-yeh |
| Delicious! | Pyszne!pish-neh |
| The bill, please | Poproszę rachunekpo-pro-sheh rah-hoo-nek |
| Excuse me | Przepraszampsheh-prah-shahm |
| Yes / No | Tak / Nietahk / nyeh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greetings: Say Dzień dobry when entering a shop or café.
- Churches: Cover shoulders and knees; keep quiet during services.
- Memorials: Keep voices low and do not pose for photos at Auschwitz-Birkenau or the Ghetto Heroes Square.
- Tipping: About 10% in restaurants if service is not added; round up for taxis.
- Punctuality: Be on time for timed tickets and tours.
Red lines
- Auschwitz-Birkenau is a memorial: dress respectfully, keep quiet and do not pose for photos.
- Churches: cover shoulders and keep quiet during services.
- Do not photograph people at close range without asking.
Scams and watch-outs
- Unlicensed taxis at the station: use a ride-hailing app or the official rank.
- Restaurants near the square that add a service charge: check the menu before you order.
- ATMs that offer to convert to your home currency: decline and pay in złoty.
One and two days
1 day
A stopover. Skip: Kazimierz and Podgórze.
- 09:009:00 AMWawel hill
- 12:3012:30 PMLunch in the Old Town
- 15:003:00 PMMain Market Square and Cloth Hall
2 days
The usual Kraków stay. Skip: Nowa Huta.
Day 1 — Old Town and Wawel
- 09:009:00 AMSt Mary's and the Cloth Hall
- 12:0012:00 PMWawel hill
Day 2 — Kazimierz and Podgórze
- 09:309:30 AMRemuh Synagogue
- 12:0012:00 PMSchindler's Factory
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- UK FCDO travel advice: Poland: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/poland
- Visit Kraków (official city tourism site): www.krakow.travel/
- Kraków Airport: krakowairport.pl/en
- Wikivoyage: Kraków: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Krak%C3%B3w
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Kraków
Proszę na ten adres
Please take me to this address
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Take me to
- Zamek Królewski na WaweluWawel Royal Castle
- Bazylika MariackaSt Mary's Basilica
- Sukiennice i Rynek PodziemnyCloth Hall and Rynek Underground
- Synagoga RemuhRemuh Synagogue and cemetery
- Fabryka SchindleraSchindler's Factory museum
- Zapiekanki na Placu NowymPlac Nowy zapiekanka stalls
Embassies are in Warsaw; some countries have consulates in Kraków.
Show the address on your phone; your hotel can write the street and number on a card.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/krakow). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.