Visit Krakow

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Kraków’s Market Square

Kraków’s Rynek Główny (Central Square) is the nerve centre of the city’s medieval Old Town. Forever a hive of activity, this 40,000 square foot medley of café’s, museums, clubs, pubs, music bars, souvenir shops, historical landmarks, hotels and hostels, is punctuated with some of the most magnificent middle age architecture the city has to offer.

Aerial View of the largest Medieval Town Square in Europe

In the summer, crowds sip cool Polish beers from the umbrella shaded cafés that litter its sides, shaded from the sun by the looming gothic spires of St. Mary’s Basilica on the square’s northeast, while during the winter, invariably dusted with snow, the square ebbs and flows with the energy of Christmas markets, and the slow slumber of Kraków’s colder nights.

At its centre the elongated medieval Sukiennice Cloth Hall is a reminder of Kraków’s historical place as a hub of trade and commerce in Eastern Europe. Today, the hall houses the stalls of local tradesmen selling handicrafts and cloth products that echo the oriental imports that were once toted under its roof. The Sukiennice runs neatly through the entire length of the square from north to south, having the effect of dividing the Rynek into two equally sized sections, one on the east, and the other on the west.

On the square’s eastern side, the restaurants and cafés tend to be more popular among tourists, and have a front row view of the Cloth Hall’s broadside and Town Hall Tower, the only remaining section of Kraków’s 13th century town hall, and the city’s answer to Pisa’s leaning tower. Leaning nearly half a metre to the east, the tower is open to visitors as a viewing platform that offers a magnificent panoramic over the Main Square, and also as a permanent photography exhibition that details the modern history of the Rynek Główny itself. At the tower’s base, the seemingly anachronistic sculpture known to locals colloquially as, simply, ‘The Head’, is a controversial 2004 addition to the Main Square that has become a favourite photo spot among visitors.

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.

The eastern side of the square is cluttered with points of interest, from the myriad of street entertainers that crowd at the foot of the Basilica’s red towers, to the small, quaint Church of St. Adalbert near the exit on Grodzka Street, to the south. The latter is among the oldest stone structures in the entire of Poland, and one of the few well preserved remaining examples of early Christian, Romanesque construction in the country. More centrally, in line with the middle gothic arches of the Cloth Hall on its east side, the huge bronze statue of Adam Mickiewicz pays homage to one of Poland’s much-loved bard poets, and is a well-established meeting place in the Main Square, and the starting point of city tours and pub crawls.

Today, many of the building façades that line the edges of the Main Square retain their Polish baroque architectural style, despite their medieval beginnings. A prime example is the Krzysztofory Palace on the north east corner, which is now home to the central division of the Historical Museum of Kraków, a great place to acquaint oneself with the history of the town as a whole.

Kraków’s medieval market square exudes an irresistible charm and character all year round. There’s a real joy in simply sitting within its confines and watching the world go by. What’s more, there are few places in the city that can chronicle Kraków’s history as tersely; from its medieval origins, through its dark 20th century conflicts, to its place as one of the most vibrant and edgy modern cities in Europe.

Where Is This Place Located?

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See our Kraków Sightseeing page for more suggestions, and check out our Two-Day Kraków Itinerary, Three-Day Kraków Itinerary and our Four-Day Kraków Itinerary pages along with our recommendations of Things To Do In Kraków. You also probably want to invest in a KrakowCard to give you cheap access to lots of Kraków attractions.

 

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.

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Kraków Itineraries

  • First Time In Kraków
  • Things To Do In Kraków
  • Kraków Two Day Itinerary
  • Kraków Three Day Itinerary
  • Kraków Four Day Itinerary
  • Kraków Food Tours
  • Kraków Drink Tours
  • Kraków Walking Tours
  • Kraków River Cruises
  • Kraków Events Calendar

Kraków Museums

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  • Czartoryski Princes Museum

Kraków Day Trips

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  • Wieliczka Saltmines – Kraków Day Trip
  • How To Get To Wieliczka Saltmines From Kraków
  • Zakopane – Kraków Day Trip
  • How To Get To Zakopane From Kraków
  • Bukovina Thermal Baths – Kraków Day Trip
  • UNESCO World Heritage Sites In Kraków

Kraków Hotels

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  • Best Boutique Hotels In Kraków
  • Family Hotels In Kraków
  • Business Hotels In Kraków
  • Chain Hotels In Kraków

Kraków Airport

  • Kraków Airport Guide
  • Getting From Kraków City Centre To Kraków Airport
  • Getting From Kraków Airport To Kraków City Centre

Kraków Essentials

  • Kraków Basics
  • Packing List For Kraków 2023
  • How Much Money Do I Need For Kraków?
  • Where To Get A SIM Card In Kraków
  • KrakowCard Museum and Travel Pass
  • Shopping In Kraków
  • Why You Need Travel Insurance For Poland
  • Guide To Staying Safe In Kraków
  • How To Deal With An Emergency In Kraków

Explore Kraków

  • How To Get To Kraków
  • How To Travel From The UK To Kraków
  • Getting Around in Kraków
  • Kraków Food and Drink
  • Michelin Restaurants In Kraków
  • Jewish Kraków
  • Galeria Krakowska
  • Kraków Climate – The Best Time To Go To Kraków
  • Polish Currency – a practical guide for your trip to Kraków
  • Kraków Piano Recitals
  • Kraków Public Holidays
  • Christmas In Kraków
  • New Year’s In Kraków
  • Kraków Sports

Kraków Districts

  • Kraków Old Town Area Guide
  • Kazimierz Area Guide
  • Piasek Area Guide

Kraków Maps

  • Kraków Map
  • Map Of Recommended Hotels In Kraków
  • Map Of Museums Included With the KrakowCard
  • Kraków Shopping Map
  • Kraków Nightlife Map
  • Zakopane Map

Beyond Kraków

  • Visit Zakopane – Poland’s Outdoor Activity Capital
  • Guide To Mt. Gubałówka – Zakopane
  • How To Travel From Kraków To Other Polish Cities
  • How To Travel From Kraków To Neighbouring Countries

Visit Warsaw

  • Visit Warsaw
  • Things To Do In Warsaw
  • How To Travel From Kraków To Warsaw

Visit Gdańsk

  • Visit Gdańsk
  • How To Travel From Kraków To Gdańsk

Visit Łódź

  • Visit Łódź
  • How To Travel From Kraków To Łódź

Krakow Essentials

  • Kraków Basics
  • Packing List For Kraków 2023
  • How Much Money Do I Need For Kraków?
  • Where To Get A SIM Card In Kraków
  • KrakowCard Museum and Travel Pass
  • Shopping In Kraków
  • Why You Need Travel Insurance For Poland
  • Guide To Staying Safe In Kraków
  • How To Deal With An Emergency In Kraków

Krakow Trip Planning

  • First Time In Kraków
  • Things To Do In Kraków
  • Kraków Two Day Itinerary
  • Kraków Three Day Itinerary
  • Kraków Four Day Itinerary
  • Kraków Food Tours
  • Kraków Drink Tours
  • Kraków Walking Tours
  • Kraków River Cruises
  • Kraków Events Calendar

Krakow Airport Guide

  • Kraków Airport Guide
  • Getting From Kraków City Centre To Kraków Airport
  • Getting From Kraków Airport To Kraków City Centre

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