Weekend in Krakow

Today I want to share my itinerary for a weekend trip to Krakow with you. This city in Poland is an easy getaway from London, and there’s plenty to do and see here. From the historic center to the shops and restaurants, there’s a lot to entertain visitors. I’m here now and I can’t wait to show you the highlights of spending 48 hours in the city. I’ve included a map, too.

One of the things I love about living in London is how easy it is to travel to Europe. From day trips to weekend escapes, the continent is ripe for visiting. I’ve done countless adventures over the years, and I’m excited to share another one with you now.

I’m in Krakow for a weekend to visit a friend who lives here. I haven’t been to the city since I studied abroad in Prague during my university years, and I’m excited to have a local guide to take me around, refresh my memory, and show me what’s new.

She’s come up with a great weekend itinerary for us, and I hope it helps you plan a trip of your own. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a regular one, it will show you how to have a great time here.

Where to Stay in Krakow

There are plenty of great places to stay in Krakow. Whether you want to base yourself in a hotel, apartment rental, or other accommodation, the city has a range of spots to choose from.

My top pick is Hotel Teatr. I love the historic-meets-contemporary decor, great guest rooms, and ideal location in the Old Town. If that appeals, you can book a room here.

You can also see more options and deals here. Whatever you’re looking for, there’s a place you’ll love calling home-away-from-home in the city.

Friday

After a two-and-a-half-hour flight from London, I land in Krakow at 6pm on a Friday evening. I clear passport control, hop in a Bolt taxi, and find myself in the city center 30 minutes later.

Dinner in Kazimierz

My friend has planned a dinner for us at a local restaurant, and I’m excited to get a taste of Polish cuisine. Our table is at Pierwszy Stopien in Kazimierz, the historic Jewish quarter of the Old Town.

The restaurant has modern decor and a plant-filled interior that makes me feel like I’ve been transported into a greener world from the moment we walk in. I love it.

Soon we’re tucking into creative cocktails while we wait for warming pumpkin soup and risotto-like kashotto with pearl barley. We love that the menu has a mix of traditional meat-and-potatoes dishes as well as inventive vegetarian and vegan ones with Polish roots.

Plac Nowy

After dinner my friend takes me for a walk through Kazimierz. As we go, we stroll into a square called Plac Nowy. It’s packed with street food vendors in and around a unique circular building called Okraglak.

All around it, people are buying zapiekanka, hot open-face sandwiches that look like the French bread pizzas I ate as a child. If I weren’t full from dinner, I would join them.

Rynek Glowny

From Plac Nowy we make our way to Rynek Glowny, the main square in the Old Town. Dating back to the 13th century, this place lies at the heart of the historic city.

We walk around, soak up the buzzing scene, and take in the floodlit heritage buildings surrounding it. This is said to be one of the largest medieval squares in Europe, and I believe it.

Florianska Street

After taking in Rynek Glowny, we walk down the famous Florianska Street. There we pop into Pijana Wisnia for a taste of their famous cherry liqueur.

Served in glasses with soaked cherries at the bottom, it’s sweet and strong. There are pretty souvenir bottles to buy for gifts for friends back home, too. The bar is a fun place to end the first night of the trip.

Saturday

The next morning we enjoy pastries from a bakery called Buczek with my friend’s family. From cinnamon rolls to croissants and Polish paczki doughnuts, they set us up well for a day of sightseeing in Krakow.

Sightseeing

After breakfast my friend and I head out to explore the city. Our first stop is the Planty, a historic green space that encircles the Old Town. It covers the ground where Krakow’s medieval city walls once stood. Dotted with gardens and statues, it’s a beautiful place to walk.

The park leads us to the Barbican. Dating back to the late 15th century, this round gateway was once part of the city’s defensive walls.

One of Europe’s best-preserved examples of a medieval outer-wall fortification post, today it forms part of the Historical Museum of the City of Krakow.

Right behind the Barbican is St. Florian’s Gate, another famous landmark. Tall in stature, it’s one of the best-known Polish Gothic towers. The gate is believed to date back to the early 14th century, and its eye-catching Baroque crown was constructed in 1660.

St. Florian’s Gate opens onto the pedestrianized Florianska Street, where we had our cherry liqueur the night before. It offers a beautiful welcome to the Old Town.

Czartoryski Museum

After admiring the Barbican and St. Florian’s Gate, we walk a few steps over to the Czartoryski Museum. This famous cultural institution is one of Poland’s oldest museums.

The Czartoryski houses a range of art and historical objects, the most famous of which is Leonardo da Vinci’s the Lady with an Ermine.

We’ve pre-booked tickets (they can sell out), and we spend an hour exploring the impressive collection. I love everything from the paintings to the sculptures and artifacts.

Lunch

When we’re done seeing the museum, we make our way around the corner for lunch at Gossip Cafe. This local spot is known for everything from delicious breakfasts to Polish dumplings.

We order heaping portions of the latter, savoring the flavors of both meat and veggie ones as we discuss our favorite works in the Czartoryski.

Sightseeing

After lunch we do some more sightseeing. First we walk over to Rynek Glowny to visit the historic market inside the stunning Cloth Hall. This place is packed with people browsing the wares of local tradespeople who sell handicrafts and souvenirs.

From there we walk down Grodzka Street, one of the oldest roads in Krakow. Lined with historic buildings and shops, it’s part of the historic Royal Route that leads from the city gates to Wawel Castle.

We pop into Saints Peter and Paul Church to see the stunning Baroque interiors before continuing down the road to the fortress itself.

But we’re not going inside the castle complex today. We’re going around it to see one of the city’s most beloved statues: Smok. This legendary dragon sculpture breathes fire every 5 to 10 minutes. It’s a fun one to see, and it makes for great photos and videos.

Coffee

Once we’ve gotten our Smok fix, we walk across the Vistula River, take in the boat cruises, and head to a brutalist building called Forum. Once a hotel, it now houses a food court, a bowling alley, and other entertainment venues.

We meet my friend’s daughter, who’s been bowling all afternoon, and settle in for coffee and cake at a ground-floor cafe called My Coffee. Outside, fairground rides and a big balloon make for eye-catching riverfront scenery.

Night in the Old Town

In the evening, my friend and I head to dinner at a popular restaurant in the Old Town called Morskie Oko. Packed with carved wood, its series of small, split-level dining rooms feels like a secret warren.

We’re seated in a cozy nook, where we tuck into a feast of pierogi ruskie dumplings, carrot salad, grilled sheep cheese with cranberry jam, and potato pancakes with porcini mushroom sauce.

After dinner we walk over to Goralskie Praliny on Florianska Street for dessert. This place has great kremowka, a Polish cream cake with layers of flaky puff pastry. Said to be a favorite of Pope John Paul II, it goes down a treat after a big day of sightseeing.

Sunday

The next morning our weekend in Krakow continues with a walk to breakfast. Along the way, my friend and I pass landmarks like the Nicolaus Copernicus statue. It’s dedicated to the famous astronomer who studied at the Krakow Academy.

Breakfast & Books

Soon we find ourselves at Massolit, an atmospheric English-language bookshop in Krakow. With a warren of wood-paneled rooms and a cafe selling tea and pastries, it’s the perfect place for breakfast with books (which is the best kind of breakfast if you didn’t know).

We spend more time than we planned to browsing the titles and sipping our drinks at one of the tables dotted throughout the shelves. It feels like heaven.

Wawel Castle

When we manage to tear ourselves away, we walk over to Wawel Castle. It’s considered by many to be the most historically and culturally important site in Poland.

The famous hilltop complex consists of a large courtyard surrounded by buildings showcasing nearly all European architectural styles of the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods.

From the eye-catching Wawel Cathedral to one of the country’s premier art museums, the castle has a lot for visitors to discover. We’re pressed for time on this trip, so we stick to exploring the outside areas.

From stunning facades to gilded domes and cobbled courtyards, there’s a lot to see even without waiting in the long lines to enter the buildings themselves.

Kazimierz

Leaving the castle, we continue our day with a trip to Kazimierz. We’re here to see the narrow street where famous scenes from the movie Schindler’s List were filmed.

Jozefa Street (aka Schindler’s List Passage) is not only an atmospheric lane, but also home to informational boards outlining the plight of Krakow’s Jewish population before, during, and after World War II.

We read the boards, then walk around to see some of the famous street art murals in Kazimierz. Eventually we end up in Plac Nowy, where there’s an open-air market with all kinds of goods for sale. We browse the stalls for souvenirs until I have to leave for the airport.