Krakow is probably the most visited destination in Poland, even Eastern Europe. People from all over visit it for the cheap beer and food, the remarkable culture and way of life, as well as its rich history. With some of Poland’s top sights and best attractions, Krakow is one of those places in Europe that you just need to visit. Luckily, it is thankfully pretty cheap to do so, having arrived only recently within the public eye. The city itself is breathtakingly beautiful and the old town was actually declared the first UNESCO heritage site in the world. If you are wondering what to do in Krakow, my ultimate guide has you covered for a 2025 visit.
What to do in Krakow | Your Ultimate Guide 2025
Where can I eat?
There is a large amount of choice within the city of Krakow. The old town has a range of different cuisines that come from all across Europe. After a short time exploring, you’ll easily find Polish, Italian and Greek, along with plenty more.
Some of My Favourite Restaurants
I should start by giving a massive shout out to La Campagna, a locally-famous Italian restaurant which we visit each time we’re in Krakow. The Michelin Guide has mentioned them countless times and, when you eat there, it is easy to realise why. One of my all-time favourite dishes is their duck breast with corn puree, served with (would you believe it) popcorn. To add to this, the restaurant has a beautiful garden where you can relax, eat your food and enjoy sampling the many varieties of wine.
Just around the corner in the old town is the Cyrano de Begerac. This mysterious French restaurant set within a cellar comes with a real ambience whilst you eat. I dare say that there is not another place like it. I should also say that when you are looking through these menus, you will see that many food items are 60PLN +, which could seem rather expensive. Just remember that it is 0.12 PLN to 1 GBP, meaning that you will get a Michelin-level lobster for the same price as something quite basic in England.
If you are just after some cheap, yet delicious food, you need to try Krakow’s signature dish; perogi. This simple little dish consists of a filling wrapped around in a dumpling. Coincidentally, we stayed in a hotel right next to one of the best places for this in town – Perogarnia Krakowiacy. We went for dinner on a few days and would gorge ourselves on all the different fillings.
If you are looking for a more vegan-friendly establishment (perogi certainly is not the way to go!), then I would suggest heading over to Hummus Amamamusi, where you can find cheap and affordable food to sample with 25 different varieties of hummus.
Final Recommendation – Polish Pizza
Being the second largest city in Poland, there are also countless other restaurants and cafes for you to try out, with every popular cuisine catered for. Be sure to try the local Polish food whilst you are there though and do not fall into the trap of thinking that it isn’t tasty, for whatever reason. If you are on the go I would certainly encourage you to try a Zapiekanka; a Polish pizza bread that goes down a treat at lunchtime. It comes in some very unique and delicious flavours and Krakow does it extremely well.
Where can I grab a drink?
Drinking and Krakow go together like steak and a fine wine. My parents have been to the city many times over the years. Each time, they come back with tales and photos of them sampling all of the different beers, wines and spirits.
The first place I would advise to go to is actually the main park. Whilst there are no specific bars (a lot of them were good), the circular park that surrounds the old town holds a variety of different places where you can sit and relax in the evening sunshine. The drink prices are also an absolute steal and it will really hit home just how expensive everything is in the UK.
Beer is the most common alcoholic drink that you can find in Krakow and there are multiple different distilleries that are available.
Some Personal Favourite Bars
Whilst we were in Krakow, we ventured upon T.E.A Time which actually is home to some of the best beer in the city. The atmosphere of the establishment is the very definition of ‘chilled’ and makes for a great evening out. They also have many different craft beers on tap, meaning that you can really take your time and sample some of the excellent options. It is also deep within the old Jewish Quarter (Kazimierz) and is quite out of sight. This means that it is not as much as a tourist hotspot as you would think. I would strongly recommend a visit for a real Krakow experience.
If you are a big beer drinker and want authentic, home-brewed beers, then C. K Browar could be for you. Again, it provides a true Polish experience and takes you away from the old tourist trail.
If the sun is shining and you want to relax in a beer garden, head on over to Forum Przestrzenie. This used to be a hotel back when Krakow was under control by the Soviet Union, but now is a chilled place to grab a beer. If cracking views of the Old Town wasn’t enough, they also have some table-top games to keep you entertained. For a more peaceful atmosphere then Bunkier Café could be more up your street.
If you are more in the mood for a spirit or cocktail, there are plenty of bars and clubs within the city. Whilst not exactly my expertise, I can point you in the direction of Pijalnia Wódki i Piwa or Bania Luka. Both offer cheap Polish shots as well as a selection of different snacks to eat. There are also plenty of other options within the Old Town.
Coffee and Breakfast
Krakow has plenty of little quaint cafes that can really deliver. Perhaps the most favourite Café within Krakow is Charlotte. This cute and cosy little place is home to a variety of European treats for breakfast, as well as a wide-range of coffees for you to choose from. Whilst it is in a tourist-saturated location, I can whole-heartedly recommend the breakfast here. It is delicious and really gives you fuel for a busy day exploring. I would suggest you try this place at least once for breakfast; it really fantastic.
How to spend your day
Krakow is famous across Europe for its rich cultural history that can be seen across the Old Town and its surroundings.
Wieliczka Salt Mine
One of the most famous attractions is, of course, the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Like something out of Middle-Earth, this impressive labyrinth spans for 178 miles, reaching a depth of almost 400 metres underground. The walls and structures, including some of the most impressive chapels and statues I have ever seen, are made entirely of salt. This mine offers tours which take a few hours and give you a real once-in-a-lifetime experience. I would thoroughly recommend a trip to the mines and can safely say it is a highlight of my travels. You can find my post on the Wieliczka Salt Mine here.
Schindler’s Factory
Another famous attraction is of course Schindler’s Factory, made famous by Spielberg’s Classic Schindler’s List. Whilst the factory has mostly deteriorated, there is a museum now located in the same position which gives you an in-depth history of the suffering endured by the Jewish communities under Nazi occupation, as well as the inspiring story of how Oskar Schindler saved thousands of lives.
Ghetto Heroes Square
The museum is also close to the Ghetto Heroes Square, which commemorates the victims of the Ghetto. Krakow’s Jewish community was one of the worst affected by the Nazi occupation and the infamous Auschwitz can be reached through tour groups from Krakow. Whilst a harrowing and sombre experience, I would recommend a visit simply to gain a true appreciation and understanding of this terrible part of human history.
The Old Town
The Old Town in Krakow celebrates its rich history through some stunning architecture.
St. Mary’s Basilica
The most famous landmark of the city is of course the St. Mary’s Basilica, which boasts two impressive towers. Legend has it that two rival brothers built the towers. Story goes that when the older brother built a taller tower, the younger brother killed him out of jealousy before throwing himself off the tower.
Market Square
St. Mary’s Basilica stands on the Market Square, which is the oldest Medieval Town Square in Europe and is home to plenty of cafes and restaurants to relax in with a view.
Jagiellonian University
Also in the Old Town is the Jagiellonian University, where the master astronomer Copernicus once taught. Whilst you cannot enter unless you are a student, you can still visit the outside of many of the buildings to see some impressive architecture.
Wawel Castle
Sticking with the historical front, Krakow also boasts and impressive castle complete with a dragon! Okay, this dragon isn’t actually alive, but it does breathe fire. The amazing sculpture stands guard at the base of the castle by the river and, every minute or so, lets out a mighty roar and shoots out a fireball. If you can make it past the sea of tourists by the dragon, you can walk up the steep slope towards the castle grounds. Here, you can either have a tour of the impressive historical site or simply walk around the grounds and soak up the ambience.
The Planty
Perhaps my favourite memory of Krakow is walking about the circular park that surrounds the Old Town, known locally as The Planty. This unique park makes you forget that you are in the second city of Poland and transports you to an age before Modern Europe existed. In the summer sunshine it is easy to spend hours at a time strolling along the paths within the park, stopping for the occasional beverage and nibble, and then taking a route to another part of the Old Town.
Final Thoughts | What to do in Krakow
Krakow is, without a doubt, one of my favourite cities in Europe. Not only is there so much to see and do (far too much for one blog post) but it has a splendid atmosphere, particularly the Old Town. I hope that you found my ultimate guide useful for planning your 2025 trip. If you have any questions or comments, just say. I would love to hear from you.
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My Travel Tips and Recommendations
Flights
My usual go-to for booking flights is Skyscanner, the flight search engine. What I love about Skycanner is that you have various options depending on your situation. If you know where you want to go it’s easy – all you need is to search for your destination and dates, and you are provided with all flight options to choose from. If you haven’t decided on your next trip yet, you can use the Everywhere tool for inspiration and to find the cheapest places to fly to.
Accommodation
Whenever I plan my travels Booking.com is my best friend. The website is super easy to use and provides a whole range of accommodation from fancy resorts to budget hotels. Jack and I also regularly use Airbnb – in particular, for staycations in the UK.
Things I can’t travel without
As a travel blogger and keen photographer I never travel without my trusty technology. Always packed are my
- Canon EOS M3
- GoPro Hero5 Black
- I’m also saving for a DJI Mavic Pro
Travel Insurance
It is so important to be prepared for all possibilities when travelling and you simply shouldn’t travel without insurance. When looking for cover I would personally recommend World Nomads or the Post Office – both are affordable and certainly won’t break the bank.
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Other posts that may help you:
- How to plan an Interrail trip
- 9 Polish Cities You Should Visit
- Interrailing Itinerary – Heading East to Poland
- Interrailing Through Austria and Italy: A 2 Week Itinerary
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed my post! We love Krakow and, whilst this blog post predominantly talks about what we did and what we can recommend, there is plenty to do in one Europe’s cultural hotspots. If you have any questions about the destination please do get in touch in the comments below.
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Love Victoria X
