Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Kraków

Timeless Charm and Rich History

Kraków stands out as a city where history and modern life share space without pretense. The medieval core, with its stone streets and quiet squares, shows layers of the past in every corner. Yet everyday routines thrive alongside museums and cafés that welcome locals and visitors alike. From the bustling market to riverside walks along the Vistula, Kraków presents itself as practical and welcoming. Its architecture reflects centuries of change while keeping a steady rhythm that feels genuine rather than staged.

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City in Poland

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 8.0

General Safety:	8
Health & medical:	8
Accessibility:	7
Tap water:	9

Read details

4/5

English is widely spoken in tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants. Most young people and those in the service industry can communicate well in English.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Kraków Summary

These place ratings give you a quick overview of how well a destination matches different types of trips.

‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

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Outstanding for historic architecture and culture. Walk medieval squares, visit royal castles, explore museums and enjoy lively cafés and nightlife.

Place score

8.3

Best at:

Walkable

Architecture

Historic sites

Guided tours

Museums

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 7

Seniors

🛡️ 9

Travel Beginners

❤️ 9

Couples

Poland – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type E Type C: Type E: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Polish Złoty (PLN) £1 ≈ PLN 5.26
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payment is widespread in Poland, with credit cards and mobile payment options accepted in most places. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is appreciated but not obligatory in Poland. Rounding up or leaving 10% in restaurants is customary. Small tips for taxi drivers and hotel staff are also welcome.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is prohibited, though it may be overlooked in certain areas. Consumption is best kept to bars or private settings.
Public smoking:	Smoking is banned in public places, including restaurants and public transport stops, with designated areas available.

Constitution Day (May)	Expect patriotic parades and some closures.
All Saints’ Day (November)	Many visit cemeteries, and some businesses may close.
Christmas (December)	Markets and festive events are common, with closures on Christmas Day.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Bolt, Free Now, Uber
Other:	Poland is known for its rich history, stunning architecture, and hearty cuisine. Public transport is efficient and affordable, making it easy to explore.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Kraków, Poland

❄️

Jan

❄️

Feb

☁️

Mar

☁️

Apr

🌤️

May

🌤️

Jun

🌤️

Jul

🌥️

Aug

🌤️

Sep

☁️

Oct

☁️

Nov

❄️

Dec

High season:	May - Sep., Dec.
Shoulder season:	April, Oct.
Crowdedness:	9 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Christmas market on the Main Market Square from late November to 23 December

Smog from heating can affect air quality from October to March, especially in cold, still weather

1 November (All Saints' Day): shops and many restaurants close, cemeteries glow with candles

Don't miss

🏰 Explore the medieval Wawel Castle overlooking the Vistula River
🚶‍♀️ Walk through the atmospheric streets of the Old Town
🕊️ Visit the poignant Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial on a day trip
⛏️ Discover underground wonders at the Wieliczka Salt Mine
🥟 Enjoy pierogi and Polish cuisine in a traditional restaurant
🍻 Experience lively nightlife at Kraków’s Main Market Square

You've been here?

Why travel to Kraków?

Kraków offers an incredible mix of history, culture and lively energy. You can wander through Europe's largest medieval market square, explore the impressive Wawel Castle and dive into the city's past at museums like Oskar Schindler’s Factory. The Jewish Quarter, Kazimierz, buzzes with quirky cafes, street art and nightlife. While it's mostly safe and welcoming, be mindful of crowded tourist areas to avoid petty theft and expect busy periods, especially in summer.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Cloth Hall
2 Kazimierz
3 Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory
4 Main Square
5 Saint Florian's Gate
6 St. Mary's Basilica
7 Wawel Castle
8 Wieliczka Salt Mine

🎡Places for activities

1 Kraków Pinball Museum
2 Ogród Zoologiczny w Krakowie
3 Lost Souls Alley
4 Zamek Wawel

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Błonia
2 Krakus Mound
3 Planty Park in Krakow

🛍️Shopping

1 Cloth Hall
2 Galeria Krakowska

🎈Events

Kraków Film Festival (May)
Jewish Culture Festival (June)
Wianki - Summer Solstice Festival (June)
Christmas Market (December)
New Year's Eve on the Main Square

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Beautiful historic center; allow plenty of time just for walking.
Base near the Old Town or Kazimierz to reach main sights, cafés and nightlife comfortably on foot without excessive transport.
Book Auschwitz-Birkenau and Wieliczka Salt Mine excursions early, as spots and preferred time slots often sell out in high season.
Stroll the Planty Park ring at sunrise or dusk for quiet views of medieval walls, church towers and local daily life unfolding.

How to travel to Kraków

John Paul II Kraków-Balice International Airport (KRK) is well-connected to European cities. From the airport, you can take a train, bus or taxi to the city center. The central train station (Kraków Główny) offers good connections to other Polish and European destinations.

Access summary

From Kraków Airport (KRK): SKA1 train to Główny station, about 20 minutes.
From Warsaw: Fast direct trains to Kraków Główny, usually around 2.5–3 hours.
From Katowice: Frequent trains or buses to Kraków, typically about 1–1.5 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Kraków

Kraków offers a wide range of accommodation, from charming boutique hotels in the Old Town to budget-friendly hostels and stylish apartments in Kazimierz. There are also options for family-friendly and luxury stays.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Vienna House by Wyndham Andel's Cracow

9.2

Hotel H12****

9.4

Aparthotel Stare Miasto

9.1

Hotel Downtown Krakow

8.9

Mercure Krakow Stare Miasto Old Town

9.3

PURO Krakow Stare Miasto

9.4

Holiday Inn Krakow City Centre By IHG

8.9

Pollera

9.3

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Kraków

Kraków's Old Town is best explored on foot. The tram and bus network is efficient and easy to navigate. The city also offers bike rentals and electric scooters. Taxis and ride-hailing apps are available too.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-28 %

Daily expenses in Kraków are around 28% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend considerably less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

+0 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to PLN) is 0% worse than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£48	£102	£276
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£19	£45	£105
🍝 Food per day	£23	£50	£153
🚕 Transportation per day	£6	£7	£18

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£18
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£8
🍟 Fast food combo	£7.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£7.50
☕ Cappuccino	£3.50
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£4.10

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.25
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£10
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.30

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£6.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£38
🤧 Cold medication	£9.50
💇 Basic haircut	£15

Safety information overview

General safety

Kraków is generally safe, with low violent crime. Petty theft can occur in crowded places, so keep an eye on your belongings. The city is safe to explore day and night.

Health & Medical

Medical facilities in Kraków are of good quality. Pharmacies are widely available and English-speaking doctors can be found at private clinics. Emergency services are reliable.

Accessibility

The Old Town has cobblestone streets, which can be challenging for those with mobility issues. Many museums and attractions offer accessibility features. Public transportation is increasingly wheelchair-friendly.

Tap water

Tap water in Kraków is safe to drink, though many locals prefer bottled water. Public drinking fountains are not common, so a refillable bottle can be useful.