A Weekend in Krakow

Krakow is one of those crowd-pleasing cities that has something for everyone: beautiful, historical, cultural. I’ve yet to meet a single person who hasn’t been taken by this city after visiting, myself included.

And while it is home to an array of top-notch attractions, it’s still small enough to walk almost everywhere. For these reasons a weekend in Krakow is a great idea if you’re looking for a quick European escape.

As you explore Krakow, with its cobblestone streets, medieval architecture, and lively atmosphere, it’s impossible not to fall in love with the city. 

Just a little more than 2-hours by plane from the UK, Krakow is the perfect place to go when you’re strapped for time. If you need a bit more convincing, here’s how to spend a weekend in Krakow, one of Europe’s most beautiful cities.

Hit up the main square

The main square, Rynek Główny, is the largest medieval town square in Europe. Renowned for its size but more importantly, its incredible display of Renaissance architecture. It was inducted into the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1978. A status that is well deserved. Personally, it’s my favourite main square across the whole of Europe.

For anyone that has been to Prague or Riga, you’ll notice a resemblance between the colourful buildings, cobbled streets, and the use of vintage trams as a popular mode of transport.

Poland’s most well-preserved historic centre

Remarkably, Kraków’s historic core, including its medieval Old Town and Wawel Castle, was largely spared from significant damage during WWII.

Unlike Warsaw, Poznan and Białystok which were virtually razed to the ground. Many of the buildings you see today in Krakow, date back to the 13th Century.

Having been the historic residence of Polish royalty, Krakow was architecturally impressive, with a strong European high culture character. As Krakow was close to the German border, it is said that the Nazi’s considered the city to be sufficiently German and planned to turn it into a completely German city. Furthermore, it was much smaller than Warsaw, making it easier to control it. 

Architectural highlights

Krakow’s most iconic landmark is undoubtedly St. Mary’s Basilica. Located in the Main Square, you can’t miss its twin towers spiralling into the sky. For one of the best views, I recommend taking the approach from Florianska Street.

Head inside St. Mary’s for an explosion of shimmering colours. From the vaults to the columns to the ceiling – everything is painted. Colours range from red to blue and ochre to gold, with no expense to detail spared.

Recommended: Entrance to St. Mary’s can get busy, particularly during peak season so it saves time to book tickets in advance.

If you purchase a city card & museum pass, you will get access to the church and many more attractions included in this guide.

Wawel Castle

Krakow also follows a Catholic religion and in ode to this, has, over the centuries built an incredible array of churches and castles. While St. Mary’s Basilica and Wawel Castle attracts flocks of visitors to Krakow, St. Joseph’s church located south of the city is in my opinion the most beautiful and surprisingly least visited.

St Joseph’s church looks like something out of a fairytale. Its ornate decorations, stained glass windows, red brickwork, exquisite Boroque detailing, and lofty spires really make it sing and stand out within the Podgórze district, and the city at large. 

It’s located south of the river, so make sure you cross over from Kazimierz to Podgórze using the Bernatek Footbridge which is an attraction in itself.

Street Art

South of the city in Podgórze is a fantastic piece of street art by BLU. It’s located on Piwna Street, only a few minutes walk away from St. Joseph’s church.

Like Banksy, BLU has not revealed his identity but his work sprawls across several major cities including London, Berlin and Prague.

This area, south of the city is great if you’re looking to escape the crowds and align more closely inside the everyday life of Krakow.

Museums to visit in Krakow

The National Museum

Krakow has one of the best art scenes in Poland, probably only surpassed by Lodz. At The National Museum you discover the who’s who of Polish artist from past and present.

There’s a prolific amount of contemporary Polish art on display. Before going I knew very little about Polish artists, in fact I don’t think I could name even one. However, now I at least know a few.

Particular of note is Tadeusz Kantor (1915 – 1990) who’s work caught my attention. I found his work original and wanted to know more about him. A little bit of interesting trivia is that he was a student of John Cage.

The museum was also holding an exhibition of work by Russian artist and photographer Alexander Rodchenko (1891 – 1956). Like Kantor, I was not familiar with his work. Turns out he’s kind of a big deal and made important contributions to constructivism, being one of the founders of the movement.

The Pinball Museum

Looking for something quirky? Make your way to the Pinball Museum. This is not your average museum. Some of the games are nearly 100 years old and span to present day. Great fun and even better when you have a beer in your hand. Be careful, you might be here all day.

Nowadays, with so many games being limited to the screen, a trip to this interactive museum feels like a blast from the past – though be warned it can get addictive. For this reason, I recommend going toward the end of the day, to avoid spending the whole day in there. 

Dishes to try and restaurants to visit

Now let’s move on to food… Ahhh food, glorious food! This is one area where I can’t stress enough how delicious it is regardless of how much you pay for it.

This makes Krakow one of the best places in Europe if you’re on a budget. I recommend trying Karkowka, which is grilled pork neck, and you must try Pierogi.

Pierogi are dumplings with a variety of different stuffings – this might sound quite plain but the Poles pride themselves on this dish. In fact restaurants continually come up with new and inventive ingredients to stuff inside their Pierogi, making it anything but plain!

My favourite restaurant in Krakow is Pierwszy Stopien located in Kazimierz. The dishes pay homage to traditional Polish recipes while offering a modern and elegant twist. It’s surprising good value for the quality too. Adding to this is the warm and inviting atmosphere – happy days all round.

Even away from Polish cuisine the standard of Krakow’s restaurants serving non-Polish dishes are incredibly high. In fact, I tasted better Italian in Krakow than I did in Italy!

Looking for somewhere to grab a decent beer? Head to the Jewish Quarter where you’ll find a cool, little pub called Singer that invites you in with its dim lighting and industrial decor.

Where to stay in Krakow

I love the Kazimierz district (the Jewish Quarter) for a more bohemian and artistic atmosphere. This district is known for its cafes, art galleries, food markets, and a vibrant nightlife scene.

Accommodations here vary from boutique hotels to cosy apartments. My favourite hotel in the area is Hotel M29. Modern, comfortable, and within walking distance to all the main attractions.

Are you planning a weekend in Krakow?