If you’re wondering where to stay in Kraków, this comparision of the city’s key areas should help you decide. We describe the different parts of Kraków with the pros and cons, and hotel recommendations.
Mural in Podgórze – image © Jason Weaver
Where Is The Best Area To Stay In Kraków?
Where you stay will depend very much on what you want from your trip to Kraków. For historical splendour, you should pick one of the Old Town locations, although this comes with a price tag. If budget is a factor, the areas immediately outside the Old Town can be a good compromise. Meanwhile, Kazimerz has a special atmosphere all of its own. The good news is that central Kraków is very compact and many of the key attractions will be walkable from any hotel in or surrounding the Old Town. The outer zones are less convenient, although you may have a specific reason for making one of these your Kraków base.
AirBnB apartments are thriving in Kraków. However, the concentration of hotels in the centre, and the competition this brings, makes them arguably the more attractive option in terms of location and price. See our full list of Kraków hotels, broken down into different price brackets.
Kraków is a good destination all year round. For this reason, it’s wise to book well in advance. This is particularly true of the peak months of July and August. Christmas can also be busy – and cold. The spring months of May and June are a good option, as well as the autumn months of September and October.
Old Town
Most of Kraków’s key are attractions, from St. Mary’s Basilica to Wawel Hill, lie within the cradle of Planty Park. The streets and buildings are beautiful and it’s hard to go wrong with any accommodation here. The Old Town is a few minutes walk from the main train station, as well as trams and buses, and you’ll always be moments away from a giddy array of places to eat and drink. Kraków has also done a great job of keeping the area relatively traffic free. However, the nightlife can be rowdy and you will almost certain pay a hefty overhead to stay in the very heart of things. For romance, though, Kraków’s Old Town is very hard to beat.
All hotels marked in blue on the map below
The Bonerowski Palace – image © Jason Weaver
- The Bonerowski Palace
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Befitting such a grand name, the regal Bonerowski Palace is an historic, luxury building overlooking Main Market Square. - Hotel Copernicus
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An attractive hotel with gorgeous interiors and impressive rooftop views of Wawel Castle, Copernicus is a superb 5-star hotel. - Wawel Hotel
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Wawel is a small hotel with the personal touch. It’s Old Town location and Art Nouveau decoration are easy to fall in love with. - Hotel Jan
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Mid-priced Hotel Jan is a beautiful old townhouse, at the very heart of Krakow’s Old Town, with modern, cosy rooms. - Hotel Pollera
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There’s a touch of faded grandeur to Hotel Pollera’s Art Nouveau interiors, and a great location for the price. - Globtroter
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Quaint and charming, if a little old fashioned, the Globtrotter Guest House is just a block away from Market Square.
Kazimierz
Just south of the Old Town, Kazimierz was historically the Jewish quarter of Kraków. Less regal than its neighbouring district, it has a crumbling beauty and a special energy of its own. It’s equally full of tourists in search of culture and excellent places to eat and drink, but somehow retains a sense of cool. There are lots of places to stay here and the area scores well with small, boutique hotels. You’ll find a number of galleries and museums, and it remains within walking distance of the Old Town attractions, with transport links fairly close by. You should generally expect to pay a little more in this area.
All hotels marked in yellow on the map below
Queen Boutique Hotel – image © Jason Weaver
- Queen Boutique Hotel
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Perched on the edge of Kazimierz, Queen Boutique Hotel is a stylish and spacious with excellent food and customer service. - Spatz Aparthotel
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Extremely friendly staff and an excellent Kazimierz address make the boutique Spatz Aparthotel a favourite with couples. - Karmel Hotel
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Karmel is a beautiful, ivy-covered hotel, offering great value, on an authentic cobbled street in Kazimierz. - Hotel Galaxy
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Hotel Galaxy overlooks the Vistula river, a mile away from Wawel Castle, and is modern and clean with great spa and pool. - Miodosytnia Aparthotel
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One of Kazimierz’s most popular apartment-style hotels, Miodosytnia Aparthotel has idiosyncratic touches and a tranquil atmosphere. - Hotele Kazimierz
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Basic, but comfortable and good value for money and right in the middle of Kazimierz, as the name suggests.
Kleparz and Wesoła
If you’re on more of a budget, the areas surrounding the main train station are an excellent compromise. Whilst the distrct is less exciting than the centre, the accommodation here is varied and never more than 5-10 minutes away from the Old Town. The transport is excellent and it is convenient for the large Galeria Krakowska shopping mall. You’ll also get to see some fine monuments, churches, and green spaces on your walk into town. The downsides are more traffic than the Old Town, which can make your hotel room noisy in the summer, and the relative lack of places to eat.
All hotels marked in red on the map below
Andel’s Hotel Cracow – image © Jason Weaver
- Andel’s Hotel Cracow
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A clean, modern hotel, close to Kraków Główny train station and the Old Town, Andel’s Hotel Cracow is particularly good for couples. - Golden Tulip City Center Hotel
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A modern hotel in an attractive building, the Golden Tulip is a smart base for exploring, with impressive breakfasts to start the day. - Hotel Polonia
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The grand exterior and classical European style make historical Hotel Polonia an attractive choice in a convenient location. - Atrium Hotel
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A good, 3-star all rounder, with enthusiastic staff and good food, Atrium Hotel is in a quiet street yet very close to the Old Town. - Hotel Wyspianski
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Clean and economical, Hotel Wyspianski’s good location and helpful staff mark it out for serious consideration. - Old Time Hotel
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Somehow simultaneously opulent and cosy, the Art Nouveau Old Time Hotel has a dramatic atmosphere and great service.
Piasek and Nowy Świat
Similar to the areas just north of the Old Town, the western districts of Piasek and Nowy Świat can also make a good compromise. There’s a broad range of hotels here, including some of the big international brands. This brings a lot of choice, both in terms of quality and price. Eating here is better than around the train station and you are well placed for some excellent attractions like the National Museum. There’s also some delightful residential architecture in the area. On the other hand, it feels more urban to me and the location is slightly less convenient than the other central districts.
All hotels marked in darker pink on the map below
Amber Boutique Hotel – image © Jason Weaver
- Amber Boutique Hotel
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In a great location, just outside Krakow Old Town, Amber Boutique Hotel is elegant and comfortable with very attentive staff. - Sheraton Hotel
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The Sheraton Grand Krakow bears all the hallmarks of a 5-star hotel, though it might be considered a little outdated and overpriced. - Hotel Maltanski
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The Maltanski is an compact and attractive hotel with a lot of character, located on the western edge of Planty Park. - Kossak Hotel
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A recommended all-rounder, Kossak is everything you would expect from a modern hotel, with a favourable location. - Hotel Polonez
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Although a little like student accommodation, Hotel Polonez is a functional base with a generous breakfast. - Crystal Suites
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Great value, self-catering apartments just outside Krakow’s Old Town, the Crystal Suites are well-run by excellent staff.
Podgórze
South of the river and across the bridge from Kazimierz, Podgórze is currently undergoing a transformation. Site of some incredible attractions, including the Schindler Factory Musuem and a new contemporary art space, it also has some relatively unknown surprises for those prepared to explore. There are flashes of beauty, such as St. Joseph’s Church, but Podgórze feels very much like a residential area that is gradually accommodating tourists. There are some lovely cafés and places to eat, particularly around the river bank, and the district clearly has an exciting future. For now, however, it is probably a place to visit rather than stay.
All hotels marked in green on the map below
Qubus Hotel Krakow – image © Jason Weaver
- Qubus Hotel Krakow
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Qubus is a large, modern, and fully-featured hotel with a top floor pool and excellent breakfast. A strong mid-priced choice. - Hotel Wilga
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On the south side of the river, opposite Kazimierz, Hotel Wilga offers bright 3-star facilities and reliable eating. - Hotel Korona
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Hotel Korona has cosy rooms on the south side of the Vistula river, across the bridge from Kazimierz. - Hotel Alf
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Cheap and functional, Hotel Alf is off the tourist trap but has good transport to the main sights.
Western Kraków
Outside the city centre, western Kraków has a number of upmarket hotels, as well as some good deals. There’s a lot of green space out here, including woods and forests, and some family friendly attractions like the zoo. Arguably, this side of Kraków is also more convenient for Oswiecim and Auschwitz-Birkenau. However, you’ll find yourself increasingly in residential territory and it’s not a great location for exploring the main attractions, even with a car.
All hotels marked in light pink on the map below
Niebieski Art Hotel & Spa – image © Jason Weaver
- Niebieski Art Hotel & Spa
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A slick, modern establishment with river views and good health facilities, Niebieski Art Hotel & Spa is medium sized and quiet. - Hilton Garden Inn Krakow
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With views of the Vistula River and Wawel Castle, the 4-star Hilton Garden Inn has good business and fitness facilities. - Novotel Krakow Centrum
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Roughly a mile from the Old Town, Novotel Krakow Centrum is a strong choice for families and offers good value. - Hotel Sympozjum
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Even though the facilities are good, Hotel Sympozjum’s location means it’s possible to get a room at a budget price. - Hotel Bona
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Suited more to exploring the local countryside than the heart of Krakow, Hotel Bona is a good deal, especially for drivers. - Hotel Ruczaj
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You get what you pay for with Hotel Ruczaj’s ageing rooms, located just over 2 miles outside Krakow’s Old Town.
Eastern Kraków
Despite its proximity to Nowa Huta and attractions like the Cistercian Abbey, there is currently scant incentive to use eastern Kraków as your base. There is little infrastructure here for tourists and most of the accommodation is aimed at Polish travellers. All the same, if central Kraków is all booked up, you can usually find a bargain.
All hotels marked in light purple on the map below
- Hotel Orient
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With nice gardens and indoor pool, Hotel Orient is a better option for the nearby EXPO exhibition centre, rather than sightseeing. - Hotel Krakus
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Reasonably priced, clean and comfortable, with great staff and breakfasts, Krakus is 2.5 miles from the main attractions. - Hotel Felix
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Hotel Felix is a minimal, budget hotel in the historically fascinating area of Nowa Huta, to the north east of the Krakow. - Hotel Grand Felix
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Good quality budget hotel in the quiet Nowa Huta neighbourhood, Hotel Grand Felix is a 25-minute tram ride from the centre.