Three days in Krakow itinerary

When you search for cities to visit in Europe, Krakow doesn’t always rank among the top places to be. Before we delve into a detailed Krakow itinerary, we wanted you to know that Krakow is Poland’s second largest and one of the oldest cities. It steals all thunders from the capital Warsaw and it’s considered the most culturally and politically significant city in the country.  

For me, Krakow was easy to fall in love with and hard to forget. This lovely underrated city offered me a one of a kind experiences with its old square, salt mine, concentration camp, unforgettable night life and extraordinary cuisine. In no more than just 3 days, Krakow made it to my top 3 destinations in eastern Europe. 

Keep reading while I breakdown my 3-day Krakow itinerary, covering the most important attractions to check out in Krakow.  
Oh if you’re looking for a great destination for this summer, check out our Armenia itinerary.

Day 1 – Stop 1 – Main Square: 

One of the largest town squares in Europe and my 2^nd favourite after Prague. Krakow’s main square offers a variety of things to do: historical monuments, great restaurants, and medieval churches. So where to start?  

Kraków Cloth Hall 

The Kraków Cloth Hall is the central feature of the main square and comprise of a market in the ground floor (that dates back to mid-13^th century) and the Rynek Underground museum. It is also a good place to buy souvenirs at reasonable prices (surprisingly). Voila, you have shopped in a 700-year-old mall.  
Take a break and sit in the Noworolski Cafe for coffee, a coffee shop that witnessed all of Krakow’s history since it opened in 1910. 

While you are still in the main square, check “The Head” (not that you can miss it), a gigantic art piece by artist Igor Mitoraj. 

St. Mary’s Basilica  

Then continue the main square tour and pay St. Mary’s Basilica a visit. This breath-taking gothic church is adjacent to the main market square. Built in the 14^th century, St. Mary’s Basilica is particularly famous for its wooden altarpiece.  

Time for Lunch! 

Unlike any other main square, Europe’s largest medieval square is NOT a culinary tourist trap. You will be tempted to think so and you are forgiven, but the main square offers the best restaurants with awesome food at an affordable price! Try Zapiekanka, the Polish version of pizza. A true delicacy!  

Then head to the Town hall tower located in the middle of Krakow’s main square and climb to the top as the view of Krakow’s green rooftops is not something you want to be miss. It’s so worth it to add to your Krakow itinerary.

After that, head to Juliusz slowacki Theatre, an intricate building with gorgeous architecture. I just checked it out from the outside.  

Day 1 – Stop 2 – Krakow Barbican: 

Once connected to the city walls, Krakow barbican was the northernmost part of Kraków’s fortifications and leads to Krakow’s old town. It was built to defend the city from Turk and Tartar attacks. Its gothic structure is amazing and was known as the Gate of Glory (Porta Gloriae). From the outside, the building appears much smaller than it actually is.  

The Barbican now host exhibitions, feasts and tournaments. The old wooden benches and tables are a good place to have a rest from sightseeing. 

Make sure to catch “the frame”, located outside the Barbican, that pays homage to Polish painter Jan Matejko.  

Fun fact: they unveiled it in November 2013 which happens to be the 175th anniversary of Jan Matejko’s birth AND the 120th anniversary of his death in Krakow.  

A standard ticket for The Barbican and The Florian Gate costs around 8 PLN = 0.3 $ 

Day 2 – Stop 3 – Wawel Castle 

If you still have time and energy, check out Wawel Castle. Lovely grounds surroundings, great panoramic view, and a cathedral that is not to be missed. People lived at the site of this castle for as early as fifty thousand years ago.  

Day 2 – Road trip to The Wieliczka Salt Mine: 

If visiting a salt mine sounds like a boring tour, or if you’d rather stay in Krakow city, think again. This place is unexpected and unlike any typical tourist trip. It used to be a slat mine and kept producing table salt continuously until 2007.  The 20 chambers, dozens of statues and four chapels carved out of rock salt by the miners are more than enough to hold the interest and make the two-hour excursion fly by. 

TIPS: 

• The Chapel of St. King is the most beautiful one. 
• Bring a light sweater as the temperature underground ranges between 14° and 16°C, and wear comfortable shoes for the 800 steps ahead. 
• The guides are funny, witty and encourage you to try out the taste of the rocks. I don’t know if you would, but I did! 
• A standard ticket for The Wieliczka Salt Mine costs around 100 PLN = 26 USD (totally worth it). 

• The Wieliczka Salt Mine is almost 45 minutes away from Krakow and the tour over there takes up to 2 hours.  

Day 3 – Auschwitz concentration camp 

Auschwitz concentration camp was built and operated by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland during World War II and the Holocaust. It’s a walk down history lane, and a remarkable glimpse of history not to be missed when in Krakow.  

While visiting, I couldn’t help but feeling the harrowing events this place has witnessed. I kept wondering what the human kind are capable of. If you’re anything like me, you’ll want to read up on all the stories related to each room of this camp. There’s a very well-organized tour guide who provides you with detailed explanation.  

We recommend you take a tour to reach the concentration camps. It’s 1h30 to 2h away from Krakow and the tours can be booked in Krakow downtown. A standard ticket for Auschwitz costs around 70 PLN = 20 USD and if you book a tour with an agency they may charge you 20 USD more for the transportation. If you are on a tight budget, you need to take a bus or train from Downtown and reach there by yourself.  

Krakow turned out to be one of the most unexpected visits in Europe. My low expectations and, the diversity of things to do there, helped a lot to double the amount of fun I ended up having.  I want you to experience the same, this is why I created this Krakow itinerary and travel guide.

If you find this post of my Krakow itinerary useful or if you have any question, make sure to drop us a comment in the comment section below. It’s always great to hear your feedback.  
Happy travels.  
 

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