Things to Do in Krakow in 1 Day

Even though you only have one day in Kraków, with a good itinerary you can see the city’s must-see sights. The compact size of its Stare Miasto (the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the short distances, which make it easy to get around on foot, will allow you to visit at least the Market Square, Wawel Castle and part of the Jewish Quarter.

To start your tour of Kraków, it’s very important to realise that you’ll need to get an early start to make up for the lack of time. The first place to head for is the banks of the Vistula River, more specifically the iron statue depicting a dragon, located at the foot of Wawel Hill.

This dragon is one of the city’s main symbols. The legend, which you can read in more detail via this link, tells that many centuries ago, a creature of this kind lived in a cave on the hill and terrorised the local inhabitants. The fact that the statue breathes fire from its mouth every few minutes undoubtedly makes it a top choice on the list of things to do in Kraków with children, as they are sure to be fascinated.

Meanwhile, the so-called Dragon’s Cave, situated next to the statue, is open to visitors during the summer months. However, on this occasion, we’ll have to give it a miss to continue with the itinerary.

Guided tour or on your own?

There are several guided tours in Kraków that will take you to, roughly, the points of interest I’ve mentioned. For example, the Segway tour of Kraków. Whether you go on your own or join an organised tour, there are pros and cons, so the decision is entirely up to you.

• The main advantage of a tour, especially when you’re short on time, is that you’ll reach the places of interest without having to stop to find your way. What’s more, the guides will always provide you with interesting information.
• Krakow is a very easy city to explore on your own, as its size means you can walk almost everywhere. However, even if you prefer this option, it is still worth hiring a guide for some of the visits.

From the foot of the hill, you’ll need to make a short climb to reach one of the must-see attractions in Kraków: Wawel Castle. This castle, named after the hill on which it was built, is one of the symbols of Polish national identity, as well as being one of its cultural centres. Furthermore, for several centuries it served as the official residence of the country’s kings.

The complex is quite large, with a vast central courtyard surrounded by several buildings, all of which have interesting interiors well worth taking the time to explore. If you book a guided tour of Wawel Castle, you will see:

• The John Paul II Cathedral Museum: opened by Karol Wojtyła, the Polish-born Pope, in 1978, it houses an exhibition of religious artefacts.
• The entrance to the dragon’s cave: from the castle, you can access the cave where the legendary dragon lived.
• The Royal Palace: this was the first seat of the Polish monarchy. Later, the building was abandoned until it was rebuilt.
• Other attractions such as the Sandomierska Tower, the armoury and the ruins known as ‘Lost Wawel’.

My advice, if you’re short on time, is to focus your visit on seeing the exterior of the castle and the inner porticoed courtyard. The Palace and the royal apartments require several hours, so it might be best to leave them for another occasion.

Practical information

• Price: entry to the courtyard is free, whilst each of the attractions has a different price.
• Openinghours: the castle is open from 9.30 am to 5 pm.

If you book a tour of the Old Town, within the hill’s grounds you’ll find one of the country’s most important cathedrals. This cathedral, with over 1,000 years of history, was the site where some of Poland’s kings were crowned and also buried. Together with the palace, the Gothic-style Wawel Cathedral made Wawel Hill the centre of the country’s religious and political power for many centuries.

Inside, you can see 18 burial chapels, among which that of Sigismund I stands out in particular, considered the finest example of the Renaissance in Poland. Also of interest is the mausoleum of Saint Stanislaus, the country’s patron saint. Finally, it is well worth climbing the Sigismund Tower to view the 12-tonne bell housed there.

Practical information

• Price: entry to the Cathedral is free, but the Sigismund Chapel costs around 15 zlotys (just over €3). Students and pensioners pay half price.
• Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, open from 9 am to 5 pm (except from September to March, when it closes an hour earlier). On Sundays, it opens at 12.30 pm.

If you book the Old Town tour, after leaving the Cathedral, head down the hill and look for Grodzka Street, one of the liveliest streets in this historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This street, now predominantly commercial, was once part of the so-called Royal Route, a path that crossed the entire walled enclosure from the castle to St Florian’s Gate.

During this stroll, you can take the opportunity to browse the craft shops, whilst keeping an eye on the beautiful pastel-coloured façades of the 16th- and 17th-century buildings. If you prefer, you can choose the street running parallel to Grodzka, Kanonicza, where you can see Renaissance houses and some old churches.

Whichever route you take, you must stop at the Church of St Peter and St Paul to see the statues of the 12 apostles. It’s also worth popping into St Andrew’s Church to admire its Baroque style. Both are among the most important churches in Kraków.

At the end of Grodzka Street lies the extraordinary Market Square with all its monuments and activities, one of the must-see places in Kraków

It is, without a doubt, the heart of the historic centre and a landmark of the city. Surrounded by Renaissance-style buildings, it can be said to be one of the most beautiful medieval squares on the continent.

If you’re visiting Kraków at Christmas, don’t miss the fabulous Christmas market set up here, which you can wander through whilst listening to the Christmas choirs performing on stages set up for the occasion.

You’ll need to set aside a couple of hours to explore the Market Square in depth, as it features some real highlights that are not to be missed. One such place is St Mary’s Basilica, where you can admire the largest wooden altarpiece in Europe, measuring 12 metres in length. You can also climb one of its two Gothic towers to take in the views.

A must-see is the Cloth Hall, built in 1257 and now home to various souvenir and craft shops. The beauty of this building makes it one of the most photographed in Kraków. In its day, it was a hub of commerce, to the extent that some historians consider it the first shopping centre in history. You can go up to the first floor of the building, where the National Museum of Kraków is located, or head down to the basement to visit the Rynek Museum.

Another major attraction not to be missed whilst wandering around the square is the Old Town Hall Tower, the sole remnant of a building demolished in the early 19th century. My advice is to make the effort to climb its 110 steps to reach its viewing platform, one of the city’s finest. .

Joaquín’s Traveller Tip:

Try to time your visit to the basilica to coincide with the top of the hour. At those times, a small door in one of the towers opens and a trumpeter emerges to play a tune.

All that sightseeing has probably worked up an appetite. To recharge your batteries, I recommend booking a food tour of the Jewish quarter or visiting a remnant of the communist era: the Bar mleczny or Milk Bars, small restaurants that originally catered mainly to workers at a modest price.

Some of them have stood the test of time and retained some of their original features. The food served is simple and traditional, and the prices are among the lowest you’ll find in the country. Another point to bear in mind is that they don’t serve alcoholic drinks.

Obviously, they don’t have the style of the city’s finest restaurants, but I can assure you that the food is more authentic and the atmosphere is well worth it. I recommend Bar Mleczny Filarkami, which is just a 10-minute walk from the square. One of its advantages is that it has an English menu. Bear in mind that, generally speaking, in Poland people tend to eat around 1 pm, though there’s no problem if you’re a bit late, up until 2 pm.

Practical information

• Address: ul. Starowiślna 29.
• Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. Saturday and Sunday, 9 am to 4 pm.

After lunch, it’s a 10-minute walk to the next stop on the itinerary: Kazimierz, the city’s old Jewish quarter. If you want to explore it in depth, I recommend booking a tour of the Jewish quarter. This area underwent a revival following the filming of Schindler’s List and is full of synagogues and fascinating spots.

In my opinion, this is one of the most attractive parts of the whole city, both for its streets and buildings and for the atmosphere. You only need to read the article on what to see and do in Kraków’s Jewish quarter to realise the possibilities it offers during a trip.

The main street in Kazimierz is called Szeroka. There you’ll find several synagogues, Jewish bookshops and restaurants serving kosher food. You’ll also find the Martyrdom Monument, which pays tribute to the 65,000 residents of the neighbourhood murdered by the Nazis. As you won’t have time to visit all the synagogues, I recommend two:

• Old Synagogue: Although the current synagogue dates from the 16th century, it is known that another stood on the same site a century earlier. Built in the Renaissance style, it now houses a museum explaining how the Jewish community lived.
• Remuh Synagogue: this is the only one still holding services in the entire Jewish Quarter. Its origins date back to the 16th century and it has a cemetery at the rear. There is an admission charge, but it is an unmissable visit.

Practical information

• Opening hours: these synagogues (and the rest in Kazimierz) open at 9 am and close at 4 pm, although in summer they stay open until 6 pm. They are closed on Saturdays and public holidays.
• Admission price: admission is around 10 PLN (about €2.50). Certain groups are eligible for a reduced-price ticket.

A good stroll through the neighbourhood’s streets and a visit to the synagogues deserves a reward. One of my favourite places for this in Kazimierz is 2 Okna Cafe, located on Józefa Street.

The café, which also serves pastries, has a couple of tables outside. However, if the weather is fine, I recommend heading into the inner courtyard.

As well as coffee and tea, from late September onwards the café serves a lovely mulled wine. If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, you can also try mulled beer, or even mulled cider or spiced vodka.

An interesting spot linked to Oskar Schindler. In this case, from the film, it’s the staircase located in an inner courtyard between Jozefa and Meiselas streets. If you’ve seen the film, you’ll recognise the setting of one of its most dramatic scenes, depicting the evacuation of the ghetto by Nazi troops.

And if you’d like to learn more about Oskar Schindler, be sure to book a tour of Schindler’s factory, where you’ll discover more about this businessman who saved over a thousand Jews during the Nazi occupation.

As you can see, there are plenty of things to see and do in Kraków. On your day trip, not only will you have to miss out on visiting the Wieliczka Salt Mines or booking one of the excursions to the Auschwitz concentration camp, but you won’t be able to explore some of the city’s own hidden gems that are well worth a visit. But you mustn’t miss Plac Nowy (New Square), also known by the nickname ‘Jewish Square’.

In the centre stands a circular building (the Okraglak) which was built in 1900 to serve as a poultry market. Today, numerous stalls have been set up, both in the building and in various areas of the square. They sell all sorts of food, from grilled meat to sausages, including Poland’s most popular fast food dish, the zapiekanka.

The square fills up with young people looking for a bite to eat, to the point where it’s hard to find one of the few chairs available. However, you can also order your food and look for a free bench. If you’re feeling up to it, the streets near the square are full of cafés and pubs. The city’s student vibe is evident in these venues, which have given the neighbourhood a festive and bohemian atmosphere.

The quickest way to get from the airport to Kraków city centre is to book a private transfer. Depending on traffic, it will only take about 25 minutes.

If you prefer public transport, you needn’t worry too much about the journey time. There are several bus routes (208, 252 and 902) with frequent departures that will drop you off in the city centre in about 45 minutes.

Finally, the fastest mode of transport is the train. A train leaves the airport approximately every 30 minutes and reaches the city in just 18 minutes. The stop in Kraków is at the main station (Kraków Główny), just a few minutes from the entrance to the historic centre.

A good place to exchange money is the large shopping centre next to the main railway station. On the first floor, there are a couple of bureaux de change offering a good rate.

In the city centre you’ll also find more exchange bureaux, offering much better rates than those at the airport. One of the best tips for visiting Kraków is never to exchange money as soon as you arrive, but to compare rates at two or three places to get an idea of the best deal.

On the other hand, you’ll be able to pay by card in many shops and restaurants, especially if they’re in the more touristy areas. If you prefer to withdraw cash from an ATM, I recommend checking the fees your bank might charge for withdrawing cash abroad.