How to Spend 3 Days in Krakow: A Krakow Itinerary

I fell in love with Krakow the moment I exited the train station and began walking towards Old Town. It was dark outside and seeing the walls and the gate all lit up under the navy blue sky brought an instant smile to my face. As a lover of fairytale towns, I knew I would be happy spending the next 3 days in Krakow exploring medieval streets, castles, and more. 

With a rich history, beautiful architecture, and plenty of day trip opportunities, Krakow has a lot to see and do. But don’t worry if you are short on time, I’ve got you covered with this Krakow itinerary.  Here’s how to spend 3 days in Krakow, Poland.

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How to Get to Krakow

Located in southern Poland, Krakow is located on the Vistula River. It has its own train station and a major bus station located within walking distance of old town. Trains and busses are frequent from neighbouring countries and, for longer distances, night-travel is a popular option. Krakow also has its own airport, although it is quite small. City busses are available outside of terminal 1 and tickets can be purchased on board. It takes about 40 minutes or so to get to the city centre.

Getting Around Krakow

Krakow is generally a very walkable city, especially the old town and Wawel Hill areas. The Jewish Quarter and Ghetto, however, are a bit farther out. If walking longer distances is a problem, or the weather isn’t co-operating, the city has an excellent tram system where you can purchase your tickets on board.

Where to Stay for 3 Days in Krakow

Like most places, I would recommend staying close to Old Town as that is where the majority of sites and restaurants are located. There are plenty of accommodations just outside the city walls that are cheaper than staying within the walls themselves. If you are a budget backpacker, Krakow is a great city for hostel life. I met so many people here in my backpacking days. Looking for a place? Try Bubble Hostel. 

Not a hostel person? Don’t worry, there’s lots of great hotels within Old Town too. Plus, Krakow is a relatively inexpensive travel destination by European standards, so you may even want to splurge a bit. Try the Boneroswski Palace hotel or the Grand Hotel Krakow

3 Days in Krakow Itinerary: What To See and Do

Day 1 in Krakow: Old Town and Wawel Castle

I suggest dedicating your first day in Krakow to the Old Town and Wawel Castle. There’s more than enough to see and do to keep you busy, especially if you like medieval cities as much as I do. 

I recommend taking a free walking tour to kick-start your Krakow itinerary (a quick google search will show you there are several options). I’m a big fan of the free walking tours and I really enjoyed doing one here. It’s a great introduction to the city, plus, the best way to learn the local folklore and legends of Krakow. Trust me when I say this city is filled with incredibly stories and myths.

If a walking tour isn’t really your style, you can explore on your own as well. I suggest making sure you stop by and visit the following spots in Krakow Old Town.  

St. Mary’s Basilica

St. Mary’s is an impressive cathedral on the edge of the Main Square. One of the most obvious features of this beautiful building is the two towers of differing heights. There are numerous tales surrounding these towers, including the story of two brothers in a contest of who could build the tallest, but in a fit of jealously one killed the other. In one version, the murderous brother commits suicide by throwing himself out the tower, while another version says he went on the build the higher tower of the two. The knife that was used in the murder can be found today hanging in the Cloth Hall.

Another tale of the towers tells of a brave knight who was killed by an arrow as he sounded the trumpet from the highest tower to warn to the people of an invasion. Today the same tune (the Hejnal) is played every hour from all corners of the highest tower.

The Cloth Hall (Sukiennice)

Located in the centre of the main square in Old Town, the Cloth Hall is an iconic structure in the city of Krakow. Originally an international trade centre, today the Cloth Hall hosts numerous stalls from which artists and vendors sell their wares. Anything from souvenir t-shirts and shot glasses, to jewelry, to glassware can be found here. Despite its popularity and central location, the prices here are reasonable.

Wawel Castle

Overlooking Old Town and the Vistula River, Wawel castle is one of the most important historic and culturally significant places in Poland.

Today the castle is a national museum, made of up numerous structures surrounding the central courtyard. It houses a variety of significant treasures including the crown jewels, coronation sword, amongst other priceless artifacts. Entrance to the castle grounds is free of charge; however a ticket is needed to enter the museums. Tickets to each museum/site are sold separately, so you can pick and choose what you like. Please note that there are a limited number of tickets each day for the castle and castle grounds. If you are visiting during high season, you might want to make this your first stop of the day to ensure you don’t miss out. 

A must-see while at Wawel castle is the Cathedral. It is free to visit (except for certain areas). However, the main attraction (in my opinion) is actually outside the doors of the Wawel Cathedral. This is where you will see the bones of the city’s most famous legend; the Krakow dragon.

You can explore on your own but if you would like some more detail, I suggest taking a guided tour. 

The Krakow Dragon

According to legend, the city of Krakow was once plagued by a monstrous dragon. Although that dragon is no longer here today, thanks to the heroic antics of a cobbler’s apprentice, (read the full story here) a statue in acknowledgement of this local tale, and the supposed dragon’s cave, can be found at the base of Wawel Castle by the Vistula River. Be patient when taking pictures, because like any proper dragon this one breathes fire!

The Old Town Streets

Like with any city, one of the best things to do in Old Town Krakow is just to explore the streets and see what you find. The architecture here is quite pretty so make sure to bring a camera. You can also access parts of the city walls (for a fee) and take in the views from above. 

Day 2 in Krakow: Kazimierz (The Jewish Quarter)

For the second day of my Krakow itinerary I suggest heading to Kazimierz which is the Jewish Quarter. It’s a really funky area with a completely different feel to it than Old Town Krakow. If you are interested in history and the stories (of which there are many) I do recommend again taking a guided tour of this neighbourhood. It holds plenty of secrets. 

Explore the Streets of Kazimierz 

Despite it’s tragic history, Kazimierz is considered to be one of the most popular areas of Krakow today. Kazimierz is full of traditional restaurants and is a local hotspot for night life. The numerous synagogues are a draw for tourists, as is the area itself since it was a major filming location for the movie Schindler’s List.

As you walk through the area you will notice that many of the buildings have been restored, but amongst the nicer buildings you will notice a few that look like they still belong in the Nazi occupation times. That’s because no one knows who they belonged to and no one ever came back to claim them, so they stay abandoned; a reminder of the horrors that occurred.

Schindler’s Factory Museum

If you only have time to visit one museum during your stay- this is the one. Schindler’s factory, has been transformed today into a museum where visitors can learn about the Nazi Occupation in Krakow from 1939-1956. You will need a couple of hours to fully appreciate everything the museum has to offer. Admission is free on Mondays but only a certain number are given out so it’s best to go early. The museum is located in the Ghetto, about a 35 minute walk from Old Town. Get your tickets here.

Krakow Ghetto Memorial in Heroes Square 

This incredibly powerful memorial is located by the tram tracks in the Jewish Ghetto of Krakow. Consisting of numerous iron chairs (some of which are sized for children) this monument pays tribute to the thousands of Polish Jews who lost their lives during the Nazi regime. The chairs are meant to represent the luggage and personal belongings that the people were forced to leave behind as they were packed away and sent to concentration camps where the majority of them were murdered. The memorial is made up of 33 steel and cast iron chairs representative of the belongings that the Jews were forced to leave behind.

Day 3: Take a Day Trip from Krakow

Krakow offers a lot to see and do but it’s also a great base for some fantastic day trips. So if you have 3 days in Krakow (or more!) I definitely suggest you add in a day trip and escape the city.  There are two main options that make for easy day trips from Krakow

Auschwitz/Birkenau Concentration Camps

Probably the most well-known concentration camps in the world, this is a must-see on any visit to Krakow. You can take a tour from Krakow city or you can take a local bus on your own. Visiting the camps, however, must be done as part of a group. It’s a depressing visit, but I’m very glad I went. You can read about my experience here.

Book your day trip to Auschtitz and Birkenau here.

Wielczka Salt Mine

One of the oldest salt mines in the world, the Wielczka salt mine is a popular attraction for tourists because of it’s statues, three chapels, and an entire cathedral carved out of the salt rock. To enter the mine you need to descend nearly 400 steps, then walk about 3km to see the attractions before returning to the surface by elevator. Again, this is an easy half day trip from Krakow.

Book your visit to Wielczka Salt Mine here.

What to Eat and Drink in Krakow

There are probably a couple of things that come to mind when you think of polish food and drink. For me it was pierogis and vodka- and trust me when I tell you I have my fill of both! Pierogis are traditional polish dumplings and come in an assortment of flavours ranging from meat filled to fruit filled, and can be found anywhere serving polish food. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be eating plenty of pierogis during your 3 days in Krakow. They are SO good.

As for the vodka, well it comes in nearly every flavour imaginable! My personal favorites were lime, black current, and as my Polish friends recommended, hazelnut with a drop of milk. 

Another popular Polish food (and perfect snack after a vodka-filled evening) is Zapiekanka. Zapiekanka is half a baguette covered with mushrooms and cheese and toasted until the cheese is melted and the bread is golden brown. Traditionally the Zapiekanka is also served with a generous drizzle of ketchup. Other variations offer different toppings including meat options. Zapiekanka is a street food and commonly found throughout the city, but the most popular place to get one is the food stall in the centre of the Jewish Quarter.

What To Buy in Krakow

Krakow is a great place to pick up some souvenirs the most popular being; silver, amber, and of course, Polish vodka.

Old Town is lined with jewelry vendors, but some of the most reasonably priced items are actually in the Cloth Hall. Stay away from the shops along the road by the main entrance though the wall- this area is the most expensive.

Vodka can be purchased in numerous places throughout the city including grocery stores and specialty vodka shops. For a neat experience head to Szambelan, a shop located on the corner of Bracka and Golebia in Old Town. Here you can sample the different types of vodka then pick a bottle and have them fill it with your choice of vodka right in front of you. They will kindly wrap it in bubble wrap for you if you plan to travel with it.

Final Word on 3 Days in Krakow

Krakow isn’t typically on most traveller’s must-see lists, however, if you love fairytale towns, history, and beautiful architecture then definitely add it to your list. Spending 3 days in Krakow may not seem like a lot, but it’s enough time to see the highlights and discover what makes this city so special. 

Ready to Book Your Trip?

Don’t forget travel insurance!

Please do not travel without travel insurance! I’ve had to use it multiple times throughout my travels and it has saved me thousands of dollars. You can learn more about travel insurance here. If you are looking for a provider I love and recommend SafetyWing. For Canadian readers, take a look at SoNomad.

Book your accommodation

I love and recommend booking.com for accommodation. They have a range of hostels, guesthouses, hotels, and resorts. Plus, the platform has a great loyalty program that means the more you book, the more you can save. 

Book your tours

My go-to tour provider that I love to recommend is GetYourGuide. They have options all over the world and partner with local companies for everything from day trips to food experiences and even airport transfers. 

Get connected

If you want to have data while travelling for online maps or any other needs, an esim is one of the easiest solutions. I’m a big fan of Airalo and have used their sim cards around the world from Brazil to Uzbekistan, Greece to the USA. It’s really easy- you download the app, pick what country you want an esim for, and after you purchase it follow the installation instructions. You can use promo code HANNAH3326 to save $3USD on your next esim purchase. 

Not sure what to pack?

I have destination-specific guides for some countries but you can also check my travel essentials and camera gear if you are looking for some ideas. 

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