When Dave, our friends and I arrived in Krakow we thought we had it mostly figured out but there were a few things that didn’t quite go as we hoped. We found queues longer than expected, cafe recommendations fully booked and St Mary’s Bugle Tower closed! So, I’ve written a list of our best Krakow tips to help you plan your trip and avoid our mistakes.
| Our Top Krakow Tips •Stay for at least 3 days – 4 if you can •Book popular restaurants and attractions ahead •Carry some cash •Lots of museums are free on Tuesdays, check which museums have free admission during your visit •Check opening days and times before you plan anything |
Contents
- Planning Your Trip to Krakow
- Getting Around
- Timing Your Visit by Day of the Week
- Wawel Castle and the Old Town
- Eating Out
- Culture, Evenings and Local Experiences
- Krakow Travel Tips FAQ
- Final Thoughts
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Planning Your Trip to Krakow
1. Give yourself at least 3 days – preferably 4. That gives you a couple of days to explore Krakow old town, a day to visit Auschwitz and another if you fancy seeing the Salt Mines or taking a day trip to Zakopane. We only had 2 days so we missed out a lot and will need to return.
2. Book attractions in advance. The big name sights sell out and queues are long. We booked the Salt Mines in advance and were glad we had, it was a lot busier than we expected.
3. Take an umbrella. Krakow averages around 9 days of rain a month. We were wearing shorts on our first day and were soaked through on the second.
4. Krakow is a safe destination. We felt comfortable walking around including the evenings. Everywhere is clean and spotless and the Polish people we came across were considerate and kind. We saw police patrolling regularly.
Getting Around
5. Buses and trains are easy and cheap. We found public transport simple to use and very affordable. We booked a taxi on arrival because it was late but after that we caught the train to the Salt Mines (3 Euros return) and the bus back to the airport was free because it was on a Tuesday.
Tip: You can pay for the train onboard if you can’t figure out the ticket machine.
6. Book taxis in advance. My daughter warned me about this after their trip. If you flag one down, you’ll usually pay a lot more, so arrange it beforehand, especially for the airport.
7. Cars are kind to pedestrians in the Old Town but watch out for trams! Drivers are considerate around the Old Town and slowed down or stopped to let us cross. The trams are another matter, so keep your eyes peeled around the tracks.
Timing Your Visit by Day of the Week
8. Check out the free museums on Tuesdays. This is a brilliant one for budget travellers. Our walking tour guide told us that some of Krakow’s museums offer free admission to their permanent exhibitions on Tuesdays. But it’s not every museum so check the individual museum website before you go. And don’t expect to just turn up, most popular attractions have limited numbers and require advance booking even when admission is free.
9. St Mary’s Basilica Bugle Tower is closed on Mondays. This is the one that caught us out! We were hoping to climb St Mary’s Tower but discovered that the Bugle Tower is closed on Mondays. The Basilica itself is open to visitors on Mondays, so don’t confuse the two. The tower opening days also change depending on the time of year so definitely check the official website before your visit.
Wawel Castle and the Old Town
10. Allow several hours for Wawel Castle. The castle complex is much bigger than we expected, with different areas and exhibitions to explore. We didn’t have time to see everything, so if you’re interested in the interiors and exhibitions allow plenty of time. Some exhibitions also have their own tickets and opening time so check what’s available before you go.
11. Enter the Dragon’s Den from Wawel Castle. If you’re visiting the Dragon’s Den, don’t make the mistake of looking for an entrance at the bottom, as we saw a few people do. We discovered that the route starts from the castle and takes you down through the cave, with the lower entrance being the exit. You’ll need a ticket, which can be purchase at the machine near the entrance.
12. Wait for the dragon to breathe fire. The dragon statue outside really does breathe fire, and it’s worth hanging around for.
13. Listen to the trumpet at St Mary’s Basillica on the hour. The famous Hejnal Mariacki is played live from the taller tower every hour, around the clock, facing four different directions. The tune suddenly stops part way through. According to legend, a medieval trumpeter spotted an approaching Tatar attack and began playing the warning call. He was shot through the throat by a bow an arrow before he could finish, which is why the trumpet cuts off abruptly today. The locals are very proud of this tradition and it feels very special but our guide told us the legend isn’t really true!
Eating Out
14. Book popular restaurants well in advance. Everywhere we ate was fabulous and the best places fill up, so reserve as soon as your dates are set.
Our top recommendations:
- Starka in Kazimierz – is famous for their flavoured vodkas. They serve the most amazing mouthwatering Polish food. We loved everything especially the handmade dumplings. It’s cosy, atmospheric and they even have live music on Wednesdays and Fridays.
- Pierwszy Stopien – a Polish cuisine restaurant, filled with plants. The food and service were exceptional.
- Cechowa – traditional Polish food – recommended by our local guide
15. Bring cash. Some cafes only accept cash, and most places prefer it so keep some zloty on you.
16. We found most cafes only had one toilet. It sounds trivial but if you’re like me and need it often – go when you can!
Culture, Evenings and Local Experiences
17. Pop into the churches. Many of Krakow’s churches are free to enter, although there may be restrictions during religious services. Many of them are incredibly ornate, with beautiful altars and paintings. We particularly liked the Basilica of St Francis of Assisi, directly across the street from the Bishop’s Palace, with its Art Nouveau style stained-glass windows, designed by the Polish artist Stanislaw Wyspiański. Bear in mind these are working places of worship, so dress respectfully and keep noise to a minimum.
18. Learn two Polish phrases. Dzień Dobry (hello) – pronounced jen DOH-bri and dziękuję (thank you) – pronounced jen-KOO-yeh. People were genuinely surprised and smiled when we spoke a little Polish to them, even if our pronounciation wasn’t perfect.
19. Watch live music in a jazz bars. Krakow has a great jazz scene, and there are a few live music venues. It’s a great way to spend a relaxed evening. We went to New Days Blues Pub, which has live rock, blues and folk music almost every night and Harris Piano Jazz Bar, tucked into a cellar just off the Main Square.
20. Spend some time in Kazimierz, the Jewish Quarter. Don’t just visit during the day. Kazimierz is one of the most atmospheric parts of the city, and a favourite with locals. It’s full of cosy bars, restaurants and little squares that come alive in the evenings. We loved wandering around here and stopping for drinks and food along the way.
21. Take a free walking tour with GuruWalk. The tip-based walking tours are a budget-friendly way to see Krakow with a local. Our guide brought the history to life with stories about the city, local legends and plenty of useful tips. We did the Old Town and Castle tour and really enjoyed it. If we’d had more time, we’d have also booked the Jewish Quarter tour.
Tip: GuruWalk is a fantastic way to get to know a city. Check out their free walking tours here!
Krakow Travel Tips FAQ
How many days do you need in Krakow?
Three days is the minimum, and four is better. We had 2 and it wasn’t anywhere near enough.
Is Krakow safe for tourists?
In our experience – yes. It’s considered one of the safest tourist destinations in Europe.
Do you need cash in Krakow?
Yes, carry some, as a few cafes are cash-only.
What day are museums free in Krakow?
Tuesdays but it only applies to some permanent exhibitions – always check on official museum websites.
What’s the best way to get around?
Buses, trams and trains are cheap and simple.
Final Thoughts
If I had to pick three Krakow tips, they’d be to allow four days, book ahead, and check opening days before you plan.
Krakow is beautiful, the food is divine and we can’t wait to go back and explore more!
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