Krakow

A warm, hospitality-focused restaurant famous for its traditional Polish dishes and extensive selection of house-infused vodkas.

SignaturePork tenderloin in a rich wild mushroom sauce paired with house ginger vodka

Pod Aniołami

€€€

Stare Miasto

$$Closed

Located in a 13th-century goldsmith's cellar, this historic venue specializes in meats marinated and grilled over real beechwood fire.

SignatureMarinated pork loin grilled over beechwood embers

Morskie Oko

€€

Stare Miasto

$$Closed

A lively, wood-paneled tavern celebrating the hearty, cheese-and-meat-heavy cuisine of the Polish highlands.

SignatureHighlander potato pancakes topped with savory mutton goulash

Fine dining

Krakow's elite culinary scene blends historic Polish ingredients—like game, forest mushrooms, and river fish—with modern gastronomic techniques.

Bottiglieri 1881

€€€€

Kazimierz

$$$$Closed

An intimate, world-class dining room where seasonal Polish ingredients are transformed into complex, artistic tasting menus.

SignatureThe multi-course seasonal tasting menu

Copernicus

€€€€

Stare Miasto

Set in a Renaissance hotel atrium, this restaurant serves sophisticated tasting menus inspired by historical royal Polish recipes.

SignatureSlow-cooked venison with forest berries and parsnip puree

Pod Nosem

€€€

Stare Miasto

$$$Closed

Situated on the city's most beautiful street, this restaurant offers elevated Polish classics with a heavy focus on wild game and caviar.

SignatureWild boar dumplings with fresh herbs

Budget eats

Affordable dining in Krakow is anchored by historic milk bars (bar mleczny) and quick-service street food stalls.

Milkbar Tomasza

Stare Miasto

$Open now

A modern take on the classic Polish milk bar, offering freshly made, incredibly cheap traditional dishes in a clean, fast-casual space.

SignatureSavory pierogi filled with potato and cottage cheese (pierogi ruskie)

Bar Mleczny pod Temidą

Stare Miasto

$Open now

An unpretentious, no-nonsense relic of the communist era serving simple, hearty Polish staples on plastic trays.

SignatureTraditional cabbage rolls (gołąbki) with tomato sauce

Endzior

Kazimierz

$Closed

The most famous stall in the central rotunda of Plac Nowy, serving massive, toasted open-faced baguettes late into the night.

SignatureClassic zapiekanka with mushrooms, cheese, and garlic sauce

Vegetarian/vegan

Krakow is exceptionally vegan-friendly, with a creative plant-based scene that regularly reimagines traditional comfort foods.

Youmiko Sushi

€€

Kazimierz

$$Closed

An innovative sushi bar offering an entirely plant-based omakase experience using local, seasonal vegetables.

SignatureVegan sushi tasting menu featuring smoked tomato and roasted eggplant nigiri

Vegab

Stare Miasto

$$Closed

A popular fast-food spot serving hearty, organic plant-based kebabs packed with fresh vegetables and homemade sauces.

SignatureThe 'Olympus' vegab with vegan feta, olives, and tzatziki

Krowarzywa

Stare Miasto

$$Closed

Dark, high-energy, and packed with serious electronic music fans.

A pioneer of the Polish vegan scene, offering substantial, nutrient-rich burgers made from millet, tofu, or seitan.

SignatureThe Jaglanex burger made from millet, pumpkin seeds, and herbs

After dark

Nightlife

Where the night goes — clubs, rooftop cocktails and the rooms with the best live music.

Nightclubs

Krakow's club scene is largely subterranean, utilizing historic stone cellars to host everything from commercial dance parties to underground techno.

Prozak 2.0

Stare Miasto

$$Closed

Extremely crowded, loud, and celebratory.

One of the city's oldest underground clubs, featuring multiple rooms, a top-tier sound system, and a focus on electronic and techno music.

Teatro Cubano

Stare Miasto

$Closed

Elegant, vintage-inspired, and intimate.

A massive, high-energy venue playing Latin, reggaeton, and commercial hits, featuring a lively courtyard design.

Cocktail & rooftop bars

From hidden speakeasies to panoramic rooftop terraces, the city's cocktail scene is sophisticated, creative, and highly atmospheric.

Mercy Brown

Stare Miasto

$$$Closed

Chic, dimly lit, and sophisticated.

A stylish, hidden speakeasy located behind a wardrobe, offering exceptional bespoke cocktails and occasional burlesque performances.

Sababa

Kazimierz

$$$Closed

Bohemian, candlelit, and chaotic in the best way.

Set in a historic townhouse, this bar serves complex cocktails infused with Middle Eastern spices and botanical ingredients.

Singer

Kazimierz

$$Closed

Intimate, smoky, and packed with music enthusiasts.

A legendary local institution where the tables are antique sewing machines and patrons eventually dance on them as the night goes on.

Live music

Jazz is the soul of Krakow's live music scene, with historic cellars hosting nightly performances by accomplished Polish and international musicians.

Harris Piano Jazz Bar

Stare Miasto

$$Closed

Artsy, intellectual, and raw.

A legendary basement venue located directly on the main square, hosting live jazz, blues, and soul every single night.

Alchemia

Kazimierz

$$Open now

Focused, quiet during sets, and deeply respectful of the music.

The undisputed heart of Kazimierz's alternative scene, hosting experimental jazz, rock, and indie gigs in its dark basement.

Piec Art Acoustic Jazz Club

Stare Miasto

$$Closed

A respected, acoustically superb basement club hosting modern and acoustic jazz performances by top-tier Polish musicians.

See & do

Culture

Museums, landmarks and galleries worth structuring a day around.

Museums

Krakow's museums are highly immersive, often using cutting-edge technology to bring the city's complex medieval and wartime history to life.

Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory

Podgórze

Open now

An immersive, world-class exhibition detailing the Nazi occupation of Krakow and the story of Oskar Schindler's efforts to save his Jewish workers.

NoteHighly popular; tickets must be booked days in advance. Allow at least 2 hours.

Rynek Underground

Stare Miasto

Closed

A high-tech archaeological museum situated directly beneath the main market square, showcasing excavated medieval market stalls and streets.

NoteEntry is limited; book online beforehand. Great for a rainy day.

Czartoryski Museum

Stare Miasto

Closed

Home to one of Poland's finest art collections, most famously featuring Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece, 'Lady with an Ermine.'

NoteRecently renovated; allow 1.5 to 2 hours to explore the galleries.

Landmarks & architecture

The city's architectural landscape is a remarkably preserved timeline of European styles, from Romanesque and Gothic to Renaissance and Socialist Realism.

Wawel Royal Castle and Cathedral

Stare Miasto

Open now

The historic seat of Polish royalty, featuring a stunning Italian Renaissance courtyard and a cathedral housing the tombs of Poland's kings.

NoteThe castle grounds are free to enter, but individual exhibitions and the cathedral require separate tickets.

St. Mary's Basilica

Stare Miasto

Closed

A magnificent Gothic church dominating the main square, famous for its hand-carved 15th-century wooden altarpiece by Veit Stoss.

NoteBe inside at noon to watch the daily opening of the altarpiece.

The Cloth Hall (Sukiennice)

Stare Miasto

Closed

The world's oldest shopping mall, a Renaissance structure in the center of the main square still filled with souvenir and craft stalls.

NoteHead upstairs to visit the Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Art.

Galleries

Krakow's art galleries bridge the gap between monumental 19th-century academic painting and cutting-edge contemporary installations.

Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Art

Stare Miasto

Closed

Located on the upper floor of the Cloth Hall, this museum houses massive, dramatic canvases by Poland's master painters, including Jan Matejko.

NoteOffers excellent views over the Main Square from its outdoor balcony.

Bunkier Sztuki

Stare Miasto

Closed

A striking concrete brutalist building hosting temporary exhibitions of contemporary, often politically charged art.

NoteFeatures an excellent adjoining cafe popular with local artists and writers.

Starmach Gallery

Podgórze

Closed

A highly respected private gallery housed in a former synagogue, showcasing works by leading modern Polish artists.

NoteCheck their schedule online, as opening hours can vary between exhibitions.

Don’t-miss

Signature experiences

Eating Zapiekanka at Plac Nowy

Kazimierz30 minutes

It is the quintessential Krakow late-night ritual. Standing in the middle of the Jewish Quarter eating a massive, toasted open-faced baguette topped with mushrooms and cheese is a local rite of passage.

via Google

Listening to the Hejnał Mariacki

Stare Miasto15 minutes

Every hour, a trumpeter plays a traditional tune from the highest tower of St. Mary's Basilica, which stops abruptly to commemorate a 13th-century trumpeter shot in the throat by an archer.

via Google

Walking the Planty Park Loop

Stare Miasto1 hour

This green belt completely encircles the Old Town, built on the site of the city's demolished medieval defensive walls. It offers a shady, peaceful stroll past historic monuments.

via Google

Beyond the city

Day trips

Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum

A somber, essential visit to the former Nazi concentration and extermination camp. It stands as a powerful monument to the horrors of the Holocaust.

Getting thereDirect buses run regularly from the central bus station (MDA) to Oświęcim, taking about 1.5 hours. Alternatively, take a pre-arranged guided tour.

via Google

Wieliczka Salt Mine

A subterranean world of tunnels, lakes, and chapels carved entirely out of rock salt by miners over hundreds of years, including the spectacular Chapel of St. Kinga.

Getting thereTake the local train from Kraków Główny to Wieliczka Rynek Kopalnia (20 minutes) or take bus 304 from the city center.

via Google

Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains

Poland's winter capital offers dramatic alpine hiking in summer and traditional wooden chalet architecture nestled in the mountains.

Getting thereBuses depart every 30 minutes from the central bus station, taking approximately 2 to 2.5 hours depending on traffic.

Book ahead

Things to do in Krakow

Top-rated tours, tickets and experiences — book in seconds, skip the line.

from $152 approx.

Private Bike Tour in Krakow

5.0 (158)3 hours

from $29 approx.

Krakow: Guided Sightseeing Tour by golf cart/buggy

5.0 (79)40 minutes

from $133 approx.

Zakopane Snowmobile and Thermal Baths Full Day Tour from Krakow

5.0 (47)10 hours

from $28 approx.

E-Scooter Rental in Krakow for 4 hours

5.0 (44)4 hours

from $39 approx.

Private transfer from/to Krakow airport / City of Krakow

5.0 (43)25 minutes

from $35 approx.

Krakow Pub Crawl with 1 Hr of unlimited alcohol & 4 clubs/pubs

5.0 (42)5 hours

from $180 approx.

Wieliczka Salt Mine with pickup and private Transport

5.0 (41)4 hours

from $110 approx.

Wieliczka Salt Mine with Private Chauffeur and Licensed Guide

5.0 (30)3 hours

from $358 approx.

Private Tour: Secret Food Tours Krakow

5.0 (30)3 hours

from $41 approx.

Private Transfer from/to Krakow Airport

5.0 (28)20 minutes

from $248 approx.

Private Full-Day Zakopane and Thermal Baths Tour from Krakow

5.0 (27)11 hours

from $205 approx.

Auschwitz Birkenau guided tour from Krakow/Tickets/Private car

5.0 (27)6 hours 30 min