With regular flights and a relatively compact city centre, Kraków makes an excellent weekend escape. Here are some suggestions for a great two-day itinerary.
St. Florian’s Gate
There are many reasons why Kraków is a fantastic destination for a weekend break: it is easy to reach, thanks to regular budget airline routes and a joined-up transport system. The city centre is beautiful and packed with excellent things to do, as well as great places to eat and drink. It remains incredible value for money, all year round, and suits any kind of weather.
This itinerary is based around flights from London Gatwick, which land at Kraków Airport at 6pm on Friday evening, then departs the following Monday at 1.20pm, giving two full days and plenty of relaxed time for transit on either side. A similar timetable is possible from many European airports.
The idea is for a looser, more freewheeling framework, so you can follow your instincts and interests. Rather than rushing from place to place, this encourages a more leisurely pace, with browsing and coffee breaks. Most of central Kraków is extremely walkable and full of interesting side streets and courtyards. This itinerary also appreciates that visitors have different tastes and want a different focus for their weekend. As such, the itinerary is shaped around suggestions for specific areas, with a choice of options to draw from. Kraków is an endlessly beautiful place, so it’s hard to go wrong.
See our dedicated two-day and three-day itineraries if you’re looking for something more rigorously structured.
Kraków Old Town Hall Tower
Some Things to Keep in Mind About Exploring Kraków
The centre of Kraków is largely pedestrianised, so any trip is likely to include a lot of walking. Comfortable footwear will help keep your trip enjoyable and take advantage of the numerous places to get a coffee.
Also, be prepared for changes of weather. The city gets very hot in the summer but it also tends to rain more. Winters are crisp and snow is certainly possible.
Tourist season runs roughly from April to October, when it gets very busy, but Easter and Christmas also see a huge influx of visitors. Opening times and the popularity of attractions are affected by season and public holidays. This itinerary is flexible enough to accommodate this but it may be wise, for example, to book tickets to Schindler’s Factory in advance if you’re particularly keen.
It’s also worth considering which area of town you stay in, as this bears on how much time you have available for your preferred activities. Our Where To Stay In Kraków page links out to recommended accommodation for different budgets. This weekend itinerary works best with accommodation in or just to the north of the Old Town, or in Kazimierz, just outside the city centre.
If it’s a special occasion or you’re just looking to splash out a bit, we recommend the H15 Luxury Palace or the Hotel Stary. Both have top notch facilities and you’ll be in the thick of the action.
For a more modest budget, try somewhere like the Hotel Jan, right on one of Kraków’s most celebrated streets. You’ll find more recommendations on our Where To Stay In Kraków page.
It’s nowhere near possible to see everything in a couple of days, so focus on the things that interest you the most. The Old Town is beautiful enough to sit out on the main square and watch the world go by. I can guarantee you’ll want to return at a later date.
If you’d prefer to relax and have your time managed, there are some really excellent guided tours available. All are fluent in English – and other languages – and will help get you up to speed on Kraków’s history and layout, with entertaining stories and helpful recommendations. These can serve as a general introduction to the city or focus on specific aspects, such as food and drink, or around certain attractions. We’ve made some suggestions below.
Personally, I’ve found the service in Kraków to be excellent. Good English is spoken nearly everywhere. Credit, debit, and contactless payment is offered with few exceptions. Many restaurants cater to a range of dietary restrictions, including vegetarian and gluten-free. Vegan options are widely available.
Front entrance of Kraków Airport
Friday: Arrival
In our example, the Friday afternoon flight from London Gatwick arrives at Kraków Airport at 6pm. If you book a private transfer to meet your plane or make the 18km journey to the central train station, you can almost certainly expect to have checked into your accommodation by 8pm. See our guide for how to get from the airport to Kraków city centre for full details.
Once you’ve dropped off your bags, make your way directly to the Old Town and find somewhere for an evening meal. The main square itself has dozens of restaurants to choose from, often with outside dining, and every street in the area has something to offer. We have a list of recommendations, broken down by cuisine.
Kraków Holiday Essentials
- Where To Stay In Kraków: See our guide to the best areas and the best hotels to stay in Kraków.
- Things To Do In Kraków: Check this huge list of Krakow activities that you can book online.
- Flights to Kraków: Find the cheapest flights to Kraków and flight times from scores of airlines with 12go.
- Kraków Packing List: Don’t forget to take any of the essentials with our comprehensive Packing List For Poland.
- Travel Insurance: World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Claim online anywhere in the world.
Dating back to the 14th century, Wierzynek is one of Poland’s oldest restaurants. Szara is Michelin listed. If you’re on a more limited budget, try somewhere like Morskie Oko on nearby plac Szczepański or No Bones Vegan on Bracka.
See our Old Town guide for bars and clubs. Wódka Cafe Bar is the ideal introduction to the wonderful world of Polish vodka, while Klub RE is a great place for live music, with a summer beer garden outside.
Restaurants tend to close around 11pm or midnight at the weekends, but many bars will stay open until at least 2am and clubs like Prozak 2.0 keep going all night.
A food tour is an excellent crash course in both the culture of Kraków and the layout of the city itself. A 3-hour tour for example, takes in local landmarks, interspersed with street food, vodka tasting, and a range of regional dishes.
If you’re in a party mood, there are many kinds of drinking tours, from pub crawls to something more considered. Check with GetYourGuide to see what’s currently on offer.
St. Mary’s Cathedral and the Adam Mickiewicz monument
Saturday: Stare Miasto (Kraków Old Town) and Wawel Hill
Your first full day is all about getting to know Kraków’s magnificent Old Town. We’ve given a loose outline with pointers, rather than a strict point-to-point itinerary. Choose what appeals to you and don’t be afraid to follow your nose.
If you are more comfortable with a structured day, there are lots of comprehensive tours available. These will introduce you to the highlights and give all the necessary background in a concise and entertaining way. You can book in advance through GetYourGuide and read feedback from genuine participants, to make sure you know exactly what you’ll be getting.
This longer, more comprehensive tour takes in many of the attractions listed below, including St Mary’s Church, Wawel Hill, and the Rynek Underground museum.
Milkbar Tomasza
8.00am: Breakfast: Milkbar Tomasza
Get an early start (and a hearty foundation to the day) at the Milkbar Tomasza. This establishment is hugely popular, with queues out the door, and you’ll often find yourself sharing a table. The speciality is actually an Irish breakfast, with homemade sausages.
If the queue is moving too slowly, I really like the Cakester Cafe directly opposite. Though friendly, there can be a wait for the food, especially if it’s busy, but the menu has some options you won’t find in Tomasza. Otherwise, try the French bakery Charlotte on plac Szczepański.
Świętego Tomasza
9.30am: The Royal Route and Old Town Wandering
Once fully fortified, the morning is dedicated to the areas directly around Rynek Główny, Kraków’s fantastic main square. The current manifestation of this huge space dates back to the late 13th century and is now bracketed with splendid palaces and townhouses, most of which have restaurants on the ground floor.
Points of interest include St. Mary’s Cathedral, the original Town Hall tower, and the Cloth Hall in the centre, with an art museum on the upper floor and the fascinating Rynek Underground beneath. Built around recent excavations of the main square, this is an excellent introduction to the history of Kraków, especially when accompanied by a knowledgeable tour guide.
However, part of the fun in Kraków is exploring the numerous passageways, which contain more cafes, shops, and bars. For example, Pasaż 13 is an upmarket shopping mall built into a Rynek Główny townhouse. And, the streets branching off from the main square are also very handsome, particularly Floriańska, which leads to St. Florian’s Gate and the original city Barbican. You should also consider the Czartoryski Museum, home to a sublime da Vinci painting.
Ultimately, we recommend basing yourself on Rynek Główny, then seeing where your instincts take you. Break the morning up with a coffee and sit down, and pick one of the nearby museums if you fancy something a bit more in depth. See our Old Town guide for suggestions.
Balaton on Grodzka
12.30pm: Lunch: Grodzka
For lunch, we recommend one of the many restaurants along Grodzka. Stretching from the main square to the foot of Wawel Hill, this attractive street once formed the lower part of the Royal Route. Now, it is home to churches, shops, hotels, and places to eat.
Some of the highlights include Georgian-influenced Gruzinskie Chaczapuri, Hungarian Balaton, and the excellent Miód Malina. The Michelin Bib Gourmand recommended Fiorentina offers excellence at a reasonable price.
If you’re looking to go upmarket, try Copernicus or Pod Nosem. Both are Michelin recommended and are located in Kanonicza, located parallel to Grodzka.
Wawel Castle Thief Tower
2.00pm: Wawel Hill
Located on the banks of the river, at the very foot of Kraków’s Old Town, Wawel Hill is a fortified complex of buildings with royal apartments and a cathedral, as was home to the Polish monarchy for many centuries. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage site (as is the whole of the Old Town) and deserves a whole afternoon to itself.
Though you can visit independently, the Wawel Hill sites do particularly benefit from a guided tour, as this will help contextualise nearly 1000 years of Polish history for first timers.
Visit the cathedral first, as it closes at 4.30pm on Saturdays. Note, too, that the royal apartments close at 5.00pm. There are also gardens and grounds to look around, with excellent views, and the ‘dragon’s den’ tunnel that leads down through the rock from the castle complex to the fire-breathing statue on the riverside.
Vegan AF Ramen on Krupnicza
6.00pm: Dinner: Krupnicza
No doubt you’ll be looking forward to a rest by now. Consider an early evening river cruise along the Vistula. You’ll get a romantic view of the illuminated castle and other landmarks, and are usually able to buy a drink onboard.
If you’re getting hungry, there are a lot of places to eat in the west end of the Old Town. You could dine fine at Biała Róża, just outside the original city perimeter, or try Padre, in the old university quarter.
We like Krupnicza street in the pretty Piasek neighbourhood. There’s lots of choice on this bustling thoroughfare. Depending on the weather and your energy, you might prefer to walk through Planty, the pretty parkland that surrounds the Old Town. Or, you can catch the number 8 tram on św. Gertrudy, near the foot of Wawel Hill. Then travel the 4 stops to Teatr Bagatela. Krupnicza is just a street away.
Round off the night at the speakeasy-style cocktail bar Mercy Brown – getting in is part of the fun – or a tasting rack of delicious craft beers at C.K. Browar. Both are open until 1.00am on Saturday night.
Kazimierz Historical Mural
Sunday: Kazimierz and Podgórze
Your second full day provides a complete change of scene. You could take a day trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau or Wieliczka Saltmines, but I wouldn’t advise this on a weekend visit. Instead, we recommend hopping over to lively Kazimierz, just to the south east of the Old Town, then crossing the river to the Oskar Schindler Factory.
Cheder
10.00am: Breakfast: Cheder
Eat at your accommodation if you need a late start. Otherwise, Kazimierz is full of places to get a hearty breakfast to kickstart the day.
Cheder, on Józefa, serves from 10.00am until 3.00pm. The menu includes shakshuka, labneh sandwichs (on challah with caramelized peach, mint, cardamom and hazelnuts), and various other mezze-style plates. The in-house lemonades are a speciality, including rose, grapefruit-ginger, and flower-fig.
Bagelmama, on Dajwór, opens at 9.00am and serves a few variations on bagel breakfasts. Urban Coffee, at the top of plac Wolnica does Pancakes Benedict and a full-cooked breakfast, Polish-style. It opens at 8.00am on Sundays.
Because public transport goes around it, rather than straight through the heart of it, Kazimierz can be a bit hard to find. An easy route is to get a tram to the plac Wolnica stop, then cross that square towards the Corpus Christi Basilica on Bożego Ciała. Trams serving this stop include the 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 14, 17, 20, and 24.
Then you can continue up Bożego Ciała and turn right into Józefa, where a number of restaurants and independent shops can be found. Many of the key Kazimierz landmarks are on the streets branching off, including Estery, Kupa, Jakuba, and Szeroka. It’s a fascinating, slightly tumbledown, area for exploring.
Ariel restaurant
11.00am: Kazimierz
Once an independent city, Kazimierz had a strong Jewish community from the early 13th century, before being absorbed into wider Kraków in the late 18th century. You can see something of the old town square on Szeroka and around, which are now lined with Jewish restaurants, synagogues, and shops. See our section on Jewish Kraków for other recommendations of things to see.
The best way to truly understand this long and complicated history is to take part in a tour with a knowledgeable guide. They’ll show you around and give full context to what you see.
Another key attraction of Kazimierz is the range of independent shops. Clustered mainly around Józefa, you’ll find quality handmade jewellery shops, clothes boutiques, record and book shops, art galleries, and retro bric-a-brac.
Kazimierz is a lively and unique district. Many buildings are a little rough and ramshackle, with an atmosphere and energy very different from the Old Town. There are legendary bars, like Alchemia, that retain a bohemian feel, with good food and live music, as well as restaurants on every street. You’ll find something new, no matter how many times you return.
Judah Food Market
1.00pm: Lunch: Polish Street Food
As with the Old Town, there are probably hundreds of different places to eat in Kazimierz. including Bottiglieria 1881 Restaurant, considered by Michelin as the best restaurant in the city. You’ll also find a number of Jewish-themed places to eat on and around Szeroka.
A couple of favourites are the Judah food market that opens at midday and sells an enticing range of street food, including Polish specialities, or the zapiekanki stands around plac Nowy. This is an open sandwich on a large baguette, that comes with a dizzying range of ingredients.
If you are enjoying Kazimierz, feel free to spend the afternoon here. There’s plenty to see and do, right into the evening. Otherwise, it’s time to move over the river.
Schindler Museum tour guide
3.00pm: Oskar Schindler Factory
At this moment, Podgórze should be considered an area to keep an eye on. While there are other things to do, the main reasons for visiting are the Museum of Contemporary Art in Kraków (MOCAK) and the excellent museum in the former Oskar Schindler Factory. Luckily, these are both on the same site, so it is possible to see them both given the time.
Once you’re done with lunch, walk down through Kazimierz to the river, via plac Wolnica. Cross the Vistula over Father Bernatek’s Footbridge to avoid the traffic. Turn left on the other side and make your way to the Schindler Factory via Nadwiślańska, on the river bank, then cross the main road Na Zjeździe and continue along Kącik. You’ll pass through an underpass beneath Kraków Zabłocie train station and both MOCAK and the Schindler Museum are on Lipowa, shortly after. The walk from plac Wolnica takes 20 minutes.
The incredible oblong structure you pass on Nadwiślańska is Cricoteka, the arts venue and archive of Tadeusz Kantor. There are two small exhibition spaces and a good cafe upstairs. There are also a few points of interest around the site of the former Kraków ghetto on plac Bohaterów Getta, including the small Pharmacy Under The Eagle museum. So you may consider stopping off here on your way to the Schindler Factory.
Most people will probably know the name Oskar Schindler from the Spielberg film Schindler’s List, which dramatised the story of the German industrialist who employed local Jews in an attempt to protect them from the Nazis. Although the museum is within the original site, the exhibition is more about the brutal German occupation of Kraków from 1939. It’s an excellent and memorable experience, which really benefits from a guide. And, as the museum is hugely popular, taking part in a tour is also a good way to skip the line and ensure you get in.
MOCAK is a relatively new space with changing and semi-permanent displays of contemporary Polish art, spread across a handful of different buildings, also adapted from the original Schindler factory. While the work may not be to all tastes, the building is impressive and there’s a good cafe, if you want to stop off for coffee and cake.
St. Joseph’s Church in Podgórze
6.00pm: Dinner: Podgórze
Podgórze very much retains the feel of a busy residential area. Recently, however, a number of new restaurants have sprung up, including a few interesting Michelin-listed establishments – Mazi, ZaKładka, and Kropka. All are very reasonably priced. You’ll also find some friendly bars around here, making it a good area to spend the evening, away from the crowds.
Alternatively, you could wander along the Vistula, back in the direction of Wawel castle, and try Forum Przestrzenie. Once a monolithic concrete Soviet-era hotel, this now has a food court on the ground floor and large outside area with beach loungers for warm evenings. You’ll find it by the river on the bank opposite Kazimierz.
Galeria Krakowska entrance to Kraków Główny train station
Monday: Departure
With our hypothetical example, the flights back to Gatwick leave Kraków Airport at 1.20pm, enough for a leisurely breakfast, and perhaps even a bit of a lie-in. You’ll probably want to checkout about 10.00am, to leave plenty of time for getting to the airport and passing through security.
If you want to pick up supplies and some last-minute souvenirs, you can do this at the Galeria Krakowska shopping mall, attached to the main train station.
The easiest option, however, is to book a private transfer directly from your accommodation to departures, without any of the bustle and stress of catching the train.
There are a few options of places to eat once you get there, so you can board the plane without a rumbling stomach. See our guide to Kraków Airport for details of what to expect.
The ease of transport, value for money, and the wealth of things to see, do, eat, and drink make Kraków a brilliant destination for a weekend trip at any time of year.
Where Are These Places Located?
Find these locations on the Visit Kraków Google map:- Open the Visit Kraków map
- Click on a marker and it will give you the name of the landmark, with a brief description and links for more information and directions. You can pan, scroll, and zoom around the map, or use the + or – buttons in the bottom left of the map to zoom in and out
- You will see the list of places on the left hand side, sorted by category. Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want
- Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
- Each category is on a different layer, which can be switched on and off. So you can just see the Hotel or Restaurant pins, for example
- If you are using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location
Map pins are color coded:
- YELLOW: Kraków Sightseeing
- GREEN: Kraków Transportation
- DARK RED: Restaurants in Kraków
- ORANGE: Michelin Restaurants in Kraków
- LIGHT RED: Kraków Bars / Clubs / Music Venues
- BLUE: Kraków Hotels
- PURPLE: Shopping In Kraków
More Kraków Itineraries
See our range of itineraries to suit your stay in Kraków:
- Kraków Weekend Itinerary
With regular flights and a relatively compact city centre, Kraków makes an excellent weekend escape. Here are some suggestions for a great two-day itinerary. - Kraków Two Day Itinerary
Kraków is packed with things to do, but you can still see a lot in two days. This itinerary is perfect for getting the most out of two full days, such as a long weekend. - Kraków Three Day Itinerary
Three days in Kraków lets you explore the key sightseeing districts in the centre of the city and to head out of town for at least one day trip. This is the ideal way to make the most of three days in Kraków. - Kraków Four Day Itinerary
There is a lot to see and do in Kraków. This four-day schedule includes many key attractions, focusing on the Old Town, a day trip to either Auschwitz or the Wieliczka Saltmines, the ‘socialist realist’ area of Nowa Huta, as well as the Kazimierz and Podgórze districts. - Things To Do In Kraków
This page is full of suggestions for some essential things to see and do in Kraków. Here, we offer an overview of different activities and link out to where you can find out more information. - Auschwitz-Birkenau – Kraków Day Trip
Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp is hardly your usual tourist attraction. Never-the-less its historical importance cannot be overstated; visiting will leave an impression on you. - Wieliczka Saltmines – Kraków Day Trip
The Wieliczka Saltmines comprise of 20 chambers connected by around 3km of tunnels which lie 135m underground. It’s one of the most popular attractions in the area and is an easy daytrip from Kraków.
Things To Do In Krakow
Start Planning Your Kraków Trip Now!
:: Find available Kraków hotels on Booking.com - usually you can reserve a room with no upfront payment. Pay when you check out. Free cancellations too.
:: Wondering where to stay in Krakow before you book your hotel? See our comprehensive guide to the city's most convenient areas for visitors.
:: Find the cheapest flight to Kraków with 12go - one search will show you the prices and times from scores of airlines for your trip. A real timesaver.
:: Book an airport transfer to take you hassle-free direct from the airport to your hotel with the driver meeting you in Arrivals.
:: Find out how to get your phone set up with a SIM card in Kraków.
:: Make sure you don't forget to bring any of the essentials with our comprehensive Packing List For Kraków.
:: World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world.
:: Get a KrakowCard 1-, 2- or 3-day pass that gives entry to almost 40 of the Kraków's fantastic attractions and unlimited use of the city's bus and tram network.
:: Need inspiration? Check our Kraków Itineraries for two-day, three-day, and four-day trips, as well as our Things To Do In Kraków guide for ideas of where to do and what to do.
