Backpacking Krakow Travel Guide

What if I told you Krakow was one of the first urban UNESCO sites on the planet? What if I said it was watched over by a 1,000-year-old castle, lies beside a snaking river, and has an Old Town area with enough cobbled alleys and pretty medieval squares to make Bruges blush?

I think I’d at least have your attention, right? 

Good, because Krakow certainly deserves it. Quietly happy to let Warsaw have the limelight, a visit to Krakow means exploring a second city with plenty of pizzazz, bags of culture, and a backstory that can fuel free walking tour after free walking tour.

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I spent several years living in this amazing town, and I’ll say this: Walking onto the Main Square (or the Rynek, as it’s known to the locals) to see the majestic St Mary’s Basilica rising overhead and the handsome ancient market hall of the Sukiennice never, ever got old.

Neither did it uncover Krakow’s hidden secrets and shadowy corners. Stray off the beaten path to the lively hoods of Kazimierz or Podgorze, and you’ll find artisan galleries and offbeat concept stores. Wait for the sun to start dropping, and you can hop underground rock bars and nail Polish vodka shots in small holes in the wall.

And that’s not even mentioning everything that awaits just beyond the city limits. It took me a few years to realise it (perhaps I was too busy hitting those vodkas!), but Krakow is the gateway to the soaring Polish mountains. They rise around the hearty highland town of Zakopane, some two hours by bus from the city, offering epic hiking, winter skiing, and cosy spa escapes. 

What more could you want?

What are the Major Attractions in Krakow?

The Old Town area reigns supreme here as the best place to visit in Krakow. It might be less than a mile across and only a whisker over a mile from top to bottom, but it packs one hell of a punch (did I mention that it was the first ever urban UNESCO site ever designated?).

The whole thing is encircled by the leafy Planty Park, a green space that marks the spot where the old city walls once fended off raids by the Tartars in the Middle Ages. Go past them into the web of streets, and you’ll soon find your way to the Main Square.

It’s famed as one of the largest medieval squares in Europe (only Prague pips it to the post) and it hosts some of the most totemic cultural landmarks in Poland, including a 15th-century Cloth Hall and the gloriously Gothic St. Mary’s Basilica, where a trumpeter plays a tune on the hour, every hour (read on to see why).

That’s ground zero for sightseeing, but there are museums and alternative neighbourhoods galore to add to your Krakow itinerary. You can go below the cobbles to see the amazing Krakow Underground exhibition, where remnants of the ancient square have been excavated. You can climb up to the Wawel Castle to tour opulent state rooms, or just for sweeping views of the town.

Day trips to the deep Wieliczka Salt Mines (700 years old and counting, no less), the Tatra Mountains (a hub for skiing and thermal baths), and the museum-memorial complex of Auschwitz should also be on the list. 

How Long to Spend in Krakow?

I first went to Krakow intending to stay just a few days. Fast forward a few years, and there I was, still hopping the bars and jazz clubs, the medieval squares and the Tatra Mountains. The point is that you could spend years here and not get bored – Krakow’s regularly ranked among the top digital nomad destinations in Europe for good reason!

That said, I can think of few cities better suited to a jet-in, jet-out city break. The bucket-list attractions are compactly dotted around the Old Town, which is all walkable, and a few day trips are accessible in only a few hours. Three to five days is ample for a whistlestop weekend tour of Krakow. 

If you’re keen to add on a trip to the mountains around Zakopane or want to do some skiing in the winter, then it’s probably best to set aside at least a week. (Technically, it’s possible to visit the peaks on a day trip, but that would mean skipping the enchanting highland spa hotels, so naaah.)

Old Town, off-beat neighbourhoods, and a day trip – that’s the perfect rigmarole for a 3-day jaunt to the Polish city of kings. I’d also throw in a night on the town (the party is spectacular in these parts) and a few hours for people watching in the Krakow parks (they’re perfect for it). Let’s begin…

Day 1 in Krakow: The Old Town must-sees

Start strong right in the heart of the city.

Kraków’s kernel is the UNESCO World Heritage Site Old Town area, and it’s simply gorgeous. You can take breakfast at your hotel/backpacker hostel to save some dollars, or drop into Milkbar Tomasza on its namesake street. It’s a rehash of an old Communist-style eatery that does fry-ups and traditional Polish breakfasts.

That puts you within easy walking distance of the Rynek. This is the main square of the city, and one of the largest main squares in Europe. Vast doesn’t quite do it justice, and there are several POIs here that you’re going to want to tick off. 

On the north side of the square is St. Mary’s Basilica, one of the most important churches in the country. Be sure to linger below it at the turn of the hour, because a trumpet player will do a ditty from the top window to honour a foiled defence of the city during a 12th-century raid by the Tartars! Opposite that, notice the grand hall that cuts through the centre of the square? Duck in to shop for souvenirs in an ancient trading space that’s been going since the Middle Ages.

At this point, it’s best to hand over to one of Krakow’s many free walking tours. Now, if you’ve been to any city in Europe in the last decade, you’ll know that they’re not really free. Conveners will ask for tips at the end, and do a frown worthy of an untipped New York barman if you don’t give. But the tours are certainly worth the dosh, because they go through all the main sights of the Old Town in about two hours, culminating at the gorgeous Castle of Krakow.

In the afternoon, take some time to delve into said castle. It’s got state room exhibits if you’re happy to fork out some more – perhaps it’s raining outside? However, the main draw is a soaring tower that comes out of the on-site cathedral to offer sweeping views of the town all the way down to the southern mountains. 

Watch the sunset from the edge of the castle hill and then seek out some traditional Polish pierogi (there are LOADS of spots for that in the Old Town, but my personal favourite is surely Domowe Przysmaki on Slawkowska street).

Day 2 in Krakow: Off-Radar Hoods with Pizzazz

Ditch the Old Town and head to the south. It’s walkable no matter where you stay, going through the narrow side streets all the way to the old Jewish Quarter of the city in Kazimierz. This is a fascinating corner of the town, with some totemic landmarks of its own…

Start at the Old Synagogue, which is actually the oldest synagogue in Poland. Around the corner lies the bustling plaza of Plac Nowy. This is the nerve centre of the Kazimierz area and a top spot to grab a mid-morning coffee with a side of people watching (remember I said it was great here!). From there, navigate south a little more to see the needle-like spire of the Corpus Christi Basilica, dating from the 14th century, and then Plac Wolnica, another square with a particularly great Ethnographic Museum (again, a good detour if it’s raining).

As lunch approaches, the district of Podgorze beckons. It’s within easy walking distance of where you are already, and the way there is lovely, taking you over a romantic bridge that crosses the wide Vistula River (more people watching, anyone?). There are some fantastic eateries – Vamos!, for Mediterranean tapas, Ramen People, for Japanese bowls – waiting the second you cross to the far banks.

All fed and refuelled, it’s time to tour the old remnants of the Kraków Ghetto. There’s a striking and moving memorial to the people once held so inhumanely in this part of town during the Nazi occupation, waiting on Plac Bohaterów Getta. That paves the way to the district of Zablocie, which hosts another headline attraction of Krakow: Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory. It’s now a museum dedicated to the history of the whole city, but it has some particularly sobering pieces on the war.

Evening time means sunset time. Go south a little more – still by foot – and scramble up the huge Krakus Mound. It’s one of a handful that pepper the outskirts of the city, and it’s got wow-worthy views swirling around it. Most of all, you can look northwards to the Old Town to see the spires of the churches that you walked through yesterday.

This evening, if you’re feeling game, hit the bars of Kazimierz, the district you explored by morning. They’re more local than the Old Town spots, with a bent towards craft beer, smoky underground rooms, and alt music.

Day 3 in Krakow: The Mountains Are Calling

Perhaps a little strangely, I’m going to recommend you leave one of the best cities in Europe in the Polish dust completely for day three. The reason? This town is the prime gateway to a region of southern Poland that’s become pretty darn popular, at least among hikers, skiers, and those hunting perfect Instagram shots! 

I’m talking, of course, about the High Tatras. Buses and trains leave from the central station in Krakow several times each hour, taking around 2-3 hours to get you to the mountain capital of the country in Zakopane. 

It’s a world away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Timber-carved taverns line the streets, jagged peaks loom overhead, and there’s a charming highlander culture in the air. If you get there with enough time, you’ll want to fit in a hike. It doesn’t have to be a long one – the Tatra National Park can be accessed on foot from downtown. I’d recommend the pretty path up Dolina Bialego, which runs beside a river all the way to a waterfall.

Later on, hit Krupowki Street. It’s the vena cava of Zakopane town; a hubbub of outdoor shops and cafes that’s got a real energy to it. There’s a rooftop bar atop the mall that’s got spectacular views at sunset. For nightcaps, check out Piano Bar.

One of the main reasons I’d say Zakopane is a worthy detour on your Poland trip is the fact that it’s home to some wonderful spa hotels that often don’t cost a packet. Retire early to have a sauna sesh and finish your 3-day trip in style.

Spending More Time in Krakow?

Krakow’s no one hit wonder. Once you’ve checked off the mainstays of the Old Town and the outer neighbourhoods, there’s a stream of UNESCO sites, museums, lakes, hills, forests, and other spots to get stuck into. Here’s a little taster of what else awaits if you have more time to spare…

• Devour real Polish cuisine – Pierogi dumplings, zurek soups, sour gherkins and potatoes in many forms are the hallmark of the local cooking. There are lots of spots in town offering this Central-European smorgasbord, but I’d highly recommend Gospoda Koko in the Old Town. It’s cheap, no frills, and filling.
• Tour the Wieliczka Salt Mine – The Wieliczka Salt Mine is yet another UNESCO-attested site to make its home in Krakow. The tunnels here extend a whopping – ready for this? – 178 miles through the ground just outside of the city. They’ve been there for centuries, and the buzzy-bee miners went about transforming the caverns into works of art. There’s even an underground cathedral in there!
• Hiking in Las Wolski – The western edges of Krakow are dominated by the vast Las Wolski forest, where hiking paths that are never busy weave and wind through the trees. It’s good all year round, but very cold and icy in the winter. Stick to the marked trails as it’s easy to get lost!
• A summer’s day in Zakrzowek – Zakrzowek was once an abandoned quarry that was totally out of bounds to the public. That all changed in the last five years, when the local authorities developed the site as a swimming area. There are now floating decks and pools that offer a much-needed cool-off location during the balmy Polish summers.

If all you’re after is the highlights, then here’s the place to look. After hotly debating umpteen possible things, I’ve finally managed to whittle down a list of the top things to do in Krakow. Here are the eight sights, activities, and experiences that I think simply cannot be missed…

1. A walking tour of the Old Town

You’ll have heard me wax lyrical about the Kraków Old Town plenty in this guide. That’s because it’s GORGEOUS. Seriously, it gives Rome and Florence a run for their money on the handsome front. There are free walking tours that’ll take you all around the major sites, from the main square and its glorious churches to the university where past popes and Copernicus himself once studied!

2. Pay your respects at Auschwitz 

If it’s your first time in Krakow and you haven’t been to this striking memorial that chronicles the horrors of the Nazi occupation, then it should certainly be on the itinerary. It’s about a 1.5-hour drive from the city centre and must be visited as part of a tour. You’ll see both sides of the main concentration camp and learn about the atrocities committed in the 1930s and 40s.

3. Sightseeing and cafe hopping in Kazimierz

The area of Kazimierz is steeped in Jewish history. It’s home to the oldest Synagogue in Poland and has enthralling flea markets that are 101 for souvenir hunters. I’d recommend spending at least a whole day in this part of the town. Better yet, consider booking a hotel down here. There are loads of boutique options, and they’ll put you on the doorstep of an area that’s bursting at the seams with top cafes and eateries.

4. Party hard

There’s a rumour that Krakow has more bars and clubs per square meter than anywhere else in Europe. Disclaimer: I haven’t counted to check if that’s true, but there sure are a lot of party hostels in Krakow if that’s your vibe. What I can say is that things get off the hook here after dark, plus the drinks are still among the cheapest in Europe. There’s a pub crawl that does the rounds in the Old Town, but Kazimierz has the better live music bars.

5. Hiking or skiing in Zakopane

Zakopane is about a two-hour bus ride south of Krakow, so it’s a cinch to get there for a day trip. It’s one of the stand-out highlights of the city, if you ask me. Hiking in the summer will take you high into the Tatra Mountains for alpine lakes and summits that gaze over Slovakia. Skiing in the winter is a real bargain compared to the Alps, and there are spa hotels with outdoor hot tubs that look fantastic in the snow.

6. The Krakow underground museum

My absolute favourite museum in the city centre, or should I say “under” the city centre, is this subterranean exhibit that reveals the ancient past of Krakow. It showcases an excavated corner of the main square that lies below the modern-day cobbles and lets you imagine what life was like here more than 700 years ago. It’s good for all ages.

7. A day of parks

You’re never more than a few minutes’ walk from a park in downtown Krakow. The Planty is worthy of special mention. It’s the green belt that surrounds the whole Old Town, and it’s utterly lovely on an autumn afternoon, when the oaks turn orange and yellow, and the cafes offer steaming coffee in al fresco patios. Beyond that, there are big, open fields of Blonia, or the soaring mound of Krakus, which has prime sunset viewing.

8. A swim in Zakrzowek

There was a time when swimming in Krakow meant heading to the local pool. Not so anymore, as the erstwhile quarry in the area of Zakrzowek has now been converted into an open-air swim spot with timber decks and splash pools. Warning: It gets really busy in the peak of summer. Prime time for Zakrzowek is May and September, though check ahead to ensure the pools are open.

Krakow’s not a city that’s going to break the bank a la Paris or Amsterdam. In fact, one of the things that drew me here way back in 2013 was the fact that I wasn’t going to leave with a hole burned in my travel budget. 

Inflation and the rest have cranked up costs in recent years, especially, but I’d still say this cultural hub of south Poland remains a bargain spot. You can still book hostels for as much as a meal out in Krakow, and decent midrange hotels for the price of the flight over. Not bad.

The Best Places to Stay in Krakow

There’s a three-neighbourhood rule in Krakow. AKA, there are four parts of town that first-time travellers should limit themselves to when it comes to looking for places to stay because they’ve got the best access to the sites, the gastronomy, and the nightlife. They are…

• Old Town – The heart of the action, a UNESCO site, and the home of the most luxurious hotels in town, you simply can’t go wrong picking the Old Town. It’s packed with options, including the best of the backpacker hostels, and means enjoying walking access to the top attractions. The downside? Old Town digs can be pricy, and it’s loud at night.
• Kazimierz – The quirky neighbourhood south of the Old Town is still within easy walking distance of the big attractions, but it’s a bit more spread out, a touch quieter, and way more bohemian. You’ll get lots of boutique stays here, along with some great bargains on dorm beds. It’s where I personally opt to stay whenever I’m back in town.
• Podgorze – Over the far side of the river, Podgorze offers more of a local vibe. There’s still a decent array of hotels, but also tons more in the way of self-catering options. The area is known for its parks and pretty squares, and riverside cafes. You’ll probably need an Uber or tram to get to the Old Town from here. No biggie.

Budget Accommodation Hacks

The good news is that Krakow is kinda’ cheap in its own right. I’ve got the lowdown on daily budgets and whatnot below, but suffice to say here that you can still bag a hostel dorm for less than $20/night.

The key to scoring the cheapest places to stay in Poland is timing. Summer sees huge spikes, as does the festive period before Christmas, and then again at New Year. Come in April, May, or October and November, and you’ll likely be pleasantly surprised at the price of dorm beds.

If you’re not into hostels, then there’s another potential saving to be had in Krakow: Share a flat. There’s been an explosion in the number of self-catering pads up for hire here, and they usually end up cheaper per night if you or one of your travel party is willing to take the sofa bed.

Here’s something that’s likely to be music to all those budget-conscious ears out there: Krakow is still one of the cheapest cities in Central Europe. Okay, so it’s not the ultra-bargain that it was when I first came here in the early 2010s. Back then, I could get a 500-mil beer and a pizza for under $5. Anyone got a time machine?

These days, you’re looking at a town more in line with the European spending average, though still distinctly on the low-cost side. I’d still say it’s possible to get by on as little as $35 a day, staying in hostels, drinking just a single beer, and hitting the free sites. 

A Daily Budget in Krakow

Here’s a rough estimation of the sort of costs you’ll be looking at dropping during your time in Krakow.

Krakow on a Budget – Top Tips and Tricks

As I’ve already mentioned, simply picking Krakow as your next city break destination is a good way to save some – this is one of the cheaper cities on the continent, don’t you know? If you’re still running a tight margin, then here are some extra tips for cost saving in the Polish city of kings…

• Do the free stuff – The Old Town, the lookouts of the Wawel Castle, the Krakus Mound, and many more sights in Krakow are completely free of charge. Make them the main focus of your travel plans, and you’ll notice the costs plummet.
• Winter travel – Krakow is chilly in the winter. I’ve been shivering at -4 and thought “what the devil am I doing here”. But the winter is darn beautiful in these parts. There’s snow and ice, cheap skiing, smaller crowds, and – crucially – lower hotel rates.
• Book in advance – Flights to Krakow, especially, will skyrocket in the 90 days leading up to departure. I’ve made it a habit of never going last minute. Pre-plan and you’ll be rewarded.
• Eat at the milk bar – A milk bar is a hangover from the Communist era in Krakow. It’s basically a no-frills kitchen that serves basic food at very, very reasonable prices. There are a few dotted around the centre, but many more in the suburbs, a bit further out. They’ll be worth the trek if you want the cheapest food in town.

Because Krakow is an urban hotspot with medieval architecture and museums as its A-list acts, there’s never really a bad time to visit. You’ll always be able to see the landmarks and hit the exhibits, and the nightlife really doesn’t sleep – that’s part of the attraction, eh?

That said, there are some key things to know when it comes to planning your jaunt. First off, the winters here get COLD. As in sub-zero, shivering, 10 layers of thermals sort of cold. There’s often snow in the city, and you can go weeks without it coming above freezing. The flip side to that is a really enchanting Christmas Market on the main square in December, and then a dip in tourist numbers come January.

The summer, on the other hand, can be very hot and humid. It’s not ideal for long sightseeing days, and it’s always busy between July and August, both with international travellers and domestic Polish travellers. The upside is that there’s a real buzz about the place. Bars spill onto the sidewalks, there’s great beer gardens, and loads of al fresco eating.

Overall, I’d say the best balance of weather, good prices, and crowds come with the two shoulder seasons of spring and autumn. Of those, it’s autumn – September and October – that really wins out because you get the added bonus of the Polish forests changing colour, which is wonderful to see.

What to Pack for Krakow

Krakow demands the usual city-break attire. That means comfy shoes for long walking tours (I like a pair of trainers for summer and sturdy boots for the winter). It means clothes to match the season. And it means your standard arsenal of extras, from charging packs to money wallets. 

Packing for a trip in the deep winter probably deserves a bit more attention here. Lately, winters in Krakow have been noticeably mild, but they’re still as cold as cold can be – seriously, past 0 degrees you hardly notice how darn cold it is! For the months of December, January and February, you’ll want to consider packing thermal underlayers, woolly hats, at least a thick outer coat and probably some midlayers. Gloves are a must, too.

Rain jackets are always required. Krakow gets sudden downpours thanks to passing thunderstorms throughout the summer, and it can rain for days in the autumn, winter and spring.

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Thousands – nay, millions – of travellers come and go from Krakow every year, and the vast majority of them have nothing but a wonderful trip. That said, I’ve heard some horror stories of things gone wrong over the years, and even had a few issues myself.

While there aren’t any neighbourhoods you should specifically avoid here, sticking to the most touristic areas of the core (Old Town, Kazimierz, and Podgorze) is wise. Going out after dark is part of the fun in Krakow, but beware of drunken antics on key streets – Szewska Street in the Old Town and Plac Nowy in Kazimierz, particularly. 

In fact, the only times I’ve ever felt personally threatened in Krakow are when the offender has been under the influence of booze or something else. So, keep your wits about you as best you can when out and about post-sunset.

Crime stats in the city are generally low to very low, with the biggest risk to tourists being petty theft and classic travel scams like extortionate taxi rates and the like. Overall, it’s definitely one of the safer places in Europe.

Sex, Drugs, and Rock ‘n’ Roll in Krakow

While all manner of I wouldn’t recommend doing drugs in Krakow. Simple as that.

Polish law is notoriously strict on drug use and possession – you can get up to three years in jail for simply having some weed on your person! True, the reality is that drug offences are rarely punished to the letter of the law, but it’s not really worth the risk, at least by my calculation.

There’s little to no visible prostitution in the main touristy areas of the city, but that’s largely because it remains underground. Again, it would highly recommend against participating since many of the best-known scams in Krakow take place in so-called gentlemen’s clubs. I’ve heard many a tale of people being charged thousands of euros for drinks, being held up by bouncers, and even being spiked.

Kraków has a shiny new airport, and it’s growing into one of the big low-cost hubs of central/ eastern Europe. Woohoo. That means constant cheap flights back and forth to the city I adore, right? Wrong. While there are good bargains from loads of UK cities to Krakow, it’s a thorn in my side that they remain stubbornly pricy – sometimes over $150 return for weekend dates. 

Getting into the city from the airport is a cinch these days. A direct train line runs from the terminal to the centre, costing around $4 per person, each way. It leaves every 30 minutes.

There’s a workaround, though. You can jet into nearby Katowice, which is often a lot cheaper, go to Wroclaw, which has fewer flights but is close enough to hop a train to Krakow, or even fly to Warsaw and catch the new high-speed train down. All are good alternatives and open up gazillions of different flight combos that could help you save.

The overland option isn’t quite so tempting if you’re coming from afar. Krakow has some night-train links, to Vienna and Budapest mainly, but it still lacks direct train options to and from Berlin. Buses are the backup. Plenty of international coach companies run connections to the German capital, to Slovakia, to Austria and beyond. They’ll arrive at the Kraków Glowny station, the main station, which is a short trot of about 10 minutes from the middle of the Old Town.

Getting Around Krakow

One money-saving thing about Krakow is its walkability. Yep, it might be home to over a million people, but you can still cover the ground from the Old Town to the area of Podgorze, which are the main parts of town you’ll want to see, in about 35-50 minutes. I often stay for weeks on end without using a single bit of public transport.

Talking of public transport, that’s ready and waiting if you do happen to need it. The trams, in particular, are fantastic. They cost just over $1 per ride and are able to dodge all the car traffic. Services loop around and through the Old Town all day long, stopping only super late in the evening. Buses are better if you want to reach more out-of-town areas or the mountain town of Zakopane (which is around 2.5 hours away).

Uber arrived a few years ago, and it’s changed Krakow’s travel scene entirely. A flood of new drivers keeps costs low – short hops between the Old Town and another area will usually set you back about $3, while a trip from your hotel in the centre to the airport runs around $10-15.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and declare that Krakow is one of the best darn nightlife cities I’ve ever visited. And I’ve been to Bangkok, so I hope that’s saying something. It’s just the sheer abundance of places to head, one after the other, endless variation, new people, new crowds. You get the idea. 

It’s a story of two neighbourhoods, really. There’s the Old Town, and then there’s Kazimierz (known as Kazi for short). The first is the mainstream option. It’s got the big clubs and the chart bars, and that ubiquitous outlet of the Hard Rock Cafe. But within the Old Town are also some more hidden areas, with jazz joints that have long histories, and alt dives that play great music.

If you really want to keep it local, stick to Kazi. The area is a hubbub of cafes that magically seem to become bars sometime around the mid-afternoon. Seriously, everyone’s drinking coffee one moment, then grabbing beers the next. 

Dining in Krakow

When I first visited Krakow, the food scene was not good. Bad pizza, no curry, and mainly stodgy Polish mainstays were the MO. It could not be more different today. A boom in international visitors and a huge influx of workers from across the Far East, South Asia and Western Europe has helped to kickstart a culinary revolution, and it’s something my taste buds are thankful for. 

Prices have gone up, of course. It’s normal now to spend $30-60 per head on a meal with drinks, but you can also seek out street eats that are way less than that…

Best Restaurants/Cheap Eats in Krakow

• Plac Nowy’s zapiekanki stalls – Head to Plac Nowy in the area of Kazimierz and find the circular stand in the middle of the square. It’s the legendary home of zapiekanki, a type of pizza bread that costs like $2 and is the perfect drinking food. It’s been my pre-sesh fuel for years.
• Curry up! – Cheap Indian street food that hits the spot.
• Jadlodajnia U STASI – Transport yourself back to when Brezhnev ruled the roost with a visit to this stripped-down Polish kitchen. They sell just one thing and do it magnificently. Pierogi on the cheap, folks!

Getting Off the Beaten Path in Krakow

On the surface, the Old Town of Krakow is super touristy. But you can peel below the layers and find something much more authentic and off the beaten path. I always feel like a great way to do that is to follow the jazz… 

There are at least two really great music bars tucked into secret spots in the area. Check out Harries Jazz for an underground venue that’s intimate and steeped in history – some of the best Polish jazz musicians have graced its stages. Just up the road is u Muniaka, which has a really cool location in a 14th-century cellar.

Another sure fire way of seeing something that’s a bit different is to set aside at least half a day to visit Nowa Huta. This is a vast part of the city; one that most city breakers will never see. The reason? It’s not a looker, unless you love USSR Brutalism. Basically, the whole place was built by the Soviets to be a utopian town center in the post-war period. It’s got huge squares that look positively Moscow-esque, and streets named after Ronald Reagan. You can do tours of the whole place in a classic Trabant car for extra vibes if you like.

Getting Insured BEFORE Visiting Krakow

Good travel insurance is an essential thing to have before heading to Krakow!

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

If you’re half-decided on Krakow, I’ll just say this: It’s the city that changed my life. The moment I stepped into that buzzing Old Town, where history and bumping modern shot bars collide in eye-watering contrast, I was hooked. 

Krakow has some big-name draws, not least of all the UNESCO sites of its downtown. But there are also loads of places you can go to stray away from the crowds and keep costs low, like the Tatra Mountains to the south, where hiking is totally free, for example!

It’s a place that’s good at any time of the year (just bring the woollies if you’re coming in winter) and always lively (the nightlife is some of the best I’ve ever come across). What’s not to love?