Nowa Huta Area Guide

Designed as an ‘ideal city’ and intended to showcase Socialist industry, Nowa Huta took shape around the Vladimir Lenin Steelworks and huge tobacco and cement factories in the area. The avenues of large apartment blocks are a prime example of the Soviet socialist realist style.

Arka Pana

Nowa Huta Area Overview

Some 8km away from Kraków’s main train station, and reached in 30 minutes on the tram, Nowa Huta is principally famous for the grand scheme of its socialist realist architecture. Although unfinished, it was intended as the ideal Socialist city and a monument to industrial prowess. In addition to these grand avenues, Nowa Huta has a handful of interesting museums, galleries, and other historical points of interest, and (in my opinion) one of Kraków’s most amazing churches, as well as some odds and ends of unusual architecture. The district also has some of the city’s loveliest green spaces.

Although Nowa Huta is gradually changing, the accommodation, eating, and nightlife options remain somewhat limited, and the area can be largely explored as a day trip from the city centre. Best of all, take part in a tour and you will get to see most of the key highlights. Some even offer transport from close to where you are staying. We also include Nowa Huta as one of the options in our Kraków Four Day Itinerary.

At the opposite end of history from Kraków’s Old Town, Nowa Huta offers a window into key shifts in 20th-century Europe. For example, a road named in tribute to the Cuban Revolution is now dedicated to Pope John Paul II and the central square has a plaque to Ronald Reagan. One end of the square pays tribute to the Solidarność movement of the early 1980s.

See below for a summary of things to do in Nowa Huta, as well as what’s available to eat and drink, how to get there, and accommodation options, if you do decide to stay over.

Nowa Huta Museum

Things To Do And See In Nowa Huta

Nowa Huta won’t be interesting to everybody and the points of interest require a fair bit of legwork. You’ll also get a very different experience of the area depending on which time of year you visit. Spring and Summer are best, preferably on a summer day. It has some good spots to sit outside and have an ice cream.

We suggest you pick a handful from the list below, taking note of how close they are to one another. We have included some of the highlights in our Four-Day Kraków Itinerary. A KrakowCard can also be a good investment, giving you access to lots of Kraków attractions.

All locations can be found on the map below.

• plac Centralny
  Plac Centralny, as the name suggests, is the huge main square of Nowa Huta. Crowned with grand residential avenues and centred with a large green space, it was renamed in honour of American president Ronald Reagan. This is where most visitors arrive by tram.
• Solidarność Monument
  The southern end of plac Centralny has a ‘V for Victory’ monument dedicated to the strikers of the Polish Solidarity movement.
• Nowa Huta Cultural Centre
  Also to the south of plac Centralna is the Nowa Huta Cultural Centre (Nowohuckie Centrum Kultury or NCK). This complex has some great period interior design and a number of arts spaces, including galleries of work by Zdzisław Beksiński and Jerzy Duda-Gracz Gallery. Surrounded by rolling greenery, it also makes a great place for a drink or something to eat (see below). The complex also has an ice rink.
• Nowa Huta Museum
  In the former Kino Światowid cinema building, the Nowa Huta Museum tells the story of the district but is mainly of interest to Polish visitors. Interestingly, Nowa Huta was built with hundreds of underground nuclear bunkers and this is one of the locations that allows you to visit. You can also find out where the other public bunkers can be found at the museum.
• Avenue of Roses
  Aleja Róż is one of the planned five grand avenues from a central square, where the 7-tonne monument to Lenin stood and was torn down in 1989. This pedestrianised thoroughfare is lined by large apartment blocks on either side, as well as shop units on the ground floor.
• Blok Francuski and Blok Szwedzki
  Despite the grand plan for Nowa Huta, the district has a number of different housing styles. In the late 50s, architects Janusz and Marta Ingarden designed the Swedish Bloc, whilst Kazimierz Chodorowski was responsible for the French Bloc. The former was based on public housing seen on a visit to Sweden and is more in line with modern European style of Le Corbusier than soviet realism. The French Bloc has some interesting technical innovations as well, such as the curved glass walls on the ground floor.
• Kościół MB Częstochowskiej
  Just next to the Swedish Park, this extraordinary Catholic church from the 1990s looks a bit like a crazy leisure centre from the outside, but reveals itself inside as a high and bright canopy of branches and windows, as if you are sitting under a broad tree.
• Kościół Najświętszego Serca Pana Jezusa
  If you’re walking out to Arka Pana, look out for this small but interesting Catholic church on the corner of Ludźmierska and Obrońców Krzyża, particularly the deconstructed spire.
• Teatr Ludowy
  The ‘People’s Theatre’ is the striking 1950s home of avant-garde theatre, with an important history that includes innovator Tadeusz Kantor. Although performances are in Polish, the building itself is worth a visit and there is a small restaurant serving pizzas and cakes.
• IS-2 Tank Monument
  Somewhat close to the Teatr Ludowy is a restored IS-2 tank on a shallow plinth by the side of the road. These were Soviet tanks from the 1940s and early 50s.
• Arka Pana
  For me, the highlight of Nowa Huta, and worth the walk to get there. This joyous wonder of a building, Arka Pana (The Lord’s Ark aka Church of our Lady the Queen of Poland) was built by locals between 1967 and 1977, despite great obstacles by the authorities. A deconstructed retro-futurist delight on the outside and a flood of energising light within.
• Zalew Nowohucki Park
  If you visit Nowa Huta on a sunny day, this beautiful park with lake views is a fantastic place to stop for a picnic lunch. You also find a restaurant there and play areas for the kids. In fact, Nowa Huta is one of Kraków’s greenest areas with open spaces on every side.
• Nowa Huta Steelworks
  The reason for Nowa Huta’s existence – the name means “new steelworks” – the Tadeusz Sendzimir Steelworks opened in the mid-1950s and was originally named after Lenin. You can visit the grand socialist realism administration centre with a guide, where you’ll see authentic period furniture, grand spiral staircases, and meeting rooms with honeycomb ceilings.
• Nowa Huta Culture
  Nowa Huta has a number of arts venues, including the Łaźnia Nowa theatre, Kino Sfinks independent cinema, and the Cyprian Norwid Cultural Center, although these will hold little interest for non-Polish speakers.
• East of Nowa Huta
  If you are looking for a bigger adventure, you can find a museum at the Mogiła Cistercian Abbey, Wanda Mound with views of the countryside, and Jan Matejko’s manor house. The traditional wooden church of St. Bartholomew is also worth a visit.
• Polish Aviation Museum
  This interesting museum can be found 19 minutes away on the bus to the west of Nowa Huta.

ibis Styles Krakow East

Where To Stay In Nowa Huta

If you want to stay over in Nowa Huta, you’ll almost certainly be looking at the ibis Styles Krakow East – there’s a bit of a walk involved (or cab ride). There is also a business hotel right in the central of the district and a handful beyond Arka Pana. Usually, however, we recommend you stay in the centre of Kraków and take the tram out to have a look around.

Check Krakow Hotel Availability

Destination

Check-in date

Check-out date

• ibis Styles Krakow East
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  The décor is more organic looking than its central counterpart but its Nowa Huta location is too far away for most travellers.
• Hotel Centrum
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  Hotel Centrum is the main hotel in centre of the Nowa Huta district. The experience doesn’t always live up to its 4-star rating, though it will certainly suffice for the night.
• Hotel Grand Felix
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  Good quality budget hotel in the quiet Nowa Huta neighbourhood, Hotel Grand Felix is a 25-minute tram ride from the centre.
• Arka Kraków
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  A clean, functional budget hotel, Arka Kraków is good value for the price conscious, although the location might be a little inconvenient.
• Hotel Felix
  (View on Booking.com or Agoda.com)
  Hotel Felix is a minimal, budget hotel in the historically fascinating area of Nowa Huta, to the north east of the Kraków.

Places To Eat In Nowa Huta

Nowa Huta doesn’t have nearly as many options for eating out as other districts in and around the centre of Kraków. Tourists have traditionally been served by the novelty of Stylowa (see below) and there is a milk bar in the area. However, things are starting to change and you can get a nice burger or pizza in Przestrzenie Nowohuckie. For warmer days, there’s a food truck park, as well. Luckily, the trams run late enough that you can grab an evening meal before everything shuts around 10pm.

Restauracja Stylowa

You can also find the location of every restaurant on our Kraków map below, as well as a larger list of places to eat on our dedicated Restaurants in Kraków page.

• Restauracja Stylowa
  Trading on the district’s unique past, Restauracja Stylowa is an unusual Soviet-themed experience, obviously focused on tourists visiting the Nowa Huta district. The statue of Lenin may have been removed from the avenue outside but there’s still a bust of Comrade Vladimir within. Hearty, reasonably priced and good fun.
• Bar Mleczny Centrum
  Open from 8am on weekdays, this is a great place to get an authentic (and cheap) breakfast or lunch right on the main avenue. Milk bars are an essential experience of any trip to Poland and this is one of the most appropriate locations to try one out.
• Café Nowa Księgarnia
  If you’re looking for a snack and a good cup of coffee, this delightful bookshop is an excellent place, right on the central avenue. There’s also a handy tourist information centre in the same spot.
• Klubokawiarnia Ludowa
  This small restaurant within the Teatr Ludowy specialises in pizzas and fancy puddings. You can also get a coffee or cocktail and drink it out in the garden.
• Fit Cake
  Similarly you can get pastries and coffee from Fit Cake, which promises delicious treats with few of the unwanted side effects. Sugar-, gluten-, and lactose-free options, as well as vegan. The pastel interior is cute, too.
• Przestrzenie Nowohuckie
  Located around the back of Nowa Huta Cultural Centre, Przestrzenie Nowohuckie (or Nowa Huta Spaces) is a contemporary restaurant serving comfort favourites like burgers and wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas, with a view overlooking meadows and marshlands.
• Encek Food Truck Park
  To the south of plac. Centralny and adjacent to NCK (Nowa Huta Cultural Centre) is this neat little food truck park, offering up to a dozen different eating options. You’ll almost certainly find burgers, Belgian fries, and a range of international options. Ideal for warmer days.
• Joker – Food & Friends
  More pizzas, hearty burgers, and fries at this smart update on the diner. Plenty of sides for sharing and some delicious desserts.

Cepelix

Shopping In Nowa Huta

With one key exception, there isn’t too much shopping to be done for tourists in Nowa Huta. You can pick up fresh ingredients for a picnic in one of the parks and there’s a shopping mall fairly near. But there is one shop that is definitely worth a visit, especially for unique souvenirs.

For more practical shopping, during your stay, see our Shopping In Kraków guide for information on malls, supermarkets, pharmacies, and 24-hour shops.

Find out where these are located on our Kraków map below.

• Cepelix
  With an authentic 1950s interior, Cepelix is a marvellous collection of traditional blue ceramics, glazed terracotta, folk costumes, religious icons, and other knick knacks. It’s worth a look to get a sense of the original Nowa Huta building style, even if you don’t intend to buy anything, but is also a great place to pick up a unique souvenir.
• Centrum Handlowe Nowe Czyżyny
  You have to travel a bit, but there’s a sprawling shopping mall to the west of Nowa Huta, with a supermarket and plenty of places to eat. Though it probably makes more sense to return back into central Kraków, it’s useful to know it exists.

Nightlife In Nowa Huta

With central Kraków less than half-an-hour away, few people will travel to Nowa Huta for the nightlife. You can get a drink in some of the restaurants and hotel bars. Otherwise, there is a handful of places for tourists to choose from.

You can find an overview of Kraków bars, clubs, and music venues on our Kraków Nightlife page. All locations can be found on the Kraków map below.

• Klub Kombinator
  Next to the Teatr in Nowa Huta, this friendly bar is relaxed and makes for a nice early evening stop off if you’re exploring the district.
• TCF Hub
  A big, friendly games bar with pool, table football, table tennis, and darts tournaments. You can book tables in advance.
• Tauron Arena Kraków
  Stadium sports and music venue, roughly 4km from the centre of Kraków, where the biggest names play. Not in Nowa Huta itself but could make for a combined day trip.

Ronald Reagan Central Square

Getting To Nowa Huta

Nowa Huta forms the eastern edge of Kraków, roughly 8km from the city centre. You can take the #50 tram directly from the Dworzec Główny Tunel beneath the main train station. The journey takes just over 20 minutes and currently costs 6zł (less than 2€). Disembark after 11 stops at Plac Centralny im. R.Reagana in the very centre of Nowa Huta. Trams run every 15 minutes during the day.

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