Krakow is well-known for being one of the best cities in all of Europe. It is a vibrant and charming city with cobbled streets, it is an old town surrounded by a humongous urban green belt. Moreover, it offers you high-quality and affordable accommodation and restaurants.
Here is your complete guide for Krakow for two whole days. Happy reading!
- Day One – Explore Old Krakow
Take a stroll down the old streets of the old town in Krakow. Listen to the sound of musicians playing their instruments and stand around to watch artists paint. While you are at it, maybe even grab a yummy gelato. This is what a simple day in Poland feels like!
- Old Town Main Square
The largest market square in all of Europe is Rynek Glowny. It used to be an important and well-known trading location, back in the day.
During the daytime, the old town’s main square comes alive as numerous activities are held here. This includes live music, markets, performances, and much more. Excitement at its finest!
You can enjoy a cool summer day here while sitting on the terrace of the many restaurants located in the area. Take a deep breath and observe the people and the buzz of the city. Alternatively, you can also visit in the winter to see the entire square covered with snow. The twinkling lights that litter the Christmas markets in Krakow will surely take your breath away.
- Sukiennice Cloth Hall
Krakow used to be a vital trading hub, and Sukiennice Cloth Hall was where a large amount of trading took place. Many years ago, different products, such as leather, silk, and spices were sold here.
Just like in older times, the Cloth Hall is crowded with people. But instead of being a trading hub, it houses numerous souvenir shops and restaurants. The hall acts as a beautiful centerpiece of the humongous market square, splitting it into two parts.
- Mary’s Basilica
Another one of the iconic sites that are housed by Krakow is St. Mary’s Basilica. It too is located in the main square. The interior of the Basilica is decorated with dazzling golds and bright blues. You can easily manage a trip to it by spending only a couple of Polish Zloty.
However, remember that its entrance is on the side. If you want to enjoy a spectacular view of the beautiful city, all you need to do is climb exactly 239 steps to the very top of the tower, and voila! Enjoy the view.
Another interesting fact about this place is the sound of trumpets. Every alternate hour, a trumpeter opens one of the windows of the tower to perform a traditional play, right there in the highest tower of Saint Mary’s. You can hear the echoes of the trumpets throughout the square.
- Florian’s Gate and Barbican
The Barbican used to be a unique medieval defense, which stands on the outskirts of the old town of Krakow. Back then, people could travel into the old town by taking a drawbridge that led them straight from the Barbican to over the moat of the city.
Situated right across the Barbican is the gate of St. Florian. These days, it is used as the main entry point if you want to go into the old town. When you pass through the gate, you will be led directly into Florianska Street, one of Krakow’s most famous promenades.
- Wawel Castle
The Wawel Castle sits on a hilltop, located right outside the old town of Krakow. It is a stunning site, and you can easily enter the grounds of the complex, free of charge. It is a pleasant place for a casual stroll and gives you the chance to enjoy an incredible view of the entire city.
To set foot inside the castle, you will first need to purchase a ticket. Furthermore, make sure to visit the royal gardens, the dragons’ den, as well as the cathedral.
An interesting fact about Wawel Castle is that it was the first UNESCO Heritage Site in the world back in the year 1978.
- Day Two – The Jewish Quarter and Salt Mine
If you want to enjoy some silence for a while, head to the salt mines. Afterward, you can visit the lively streets of the popular Jewish Quarter to top your day.
- Wieliczka Salt Mine
Wieliczka is a 700-year-old salt mine, located under the ground. It has a bizarre size of no less than 300 kilometers. It will take you only two hours to visit the enormous chapels that have been carved out of the chambers, clear lakes, and rocks.
The tour will take you under the ground to at least 135 meters and for a length of around 3 kilometers. This is only 1% of the size of the entire mine!
Since the mines are located around 35 minutes away from Krakow, you can take a car or use public transport to get there.
- Jewish Quarter
To date, the Jewish Quarter is considered to be one of the best neighborhoods in the city. The streets will feel different to you somehow because of the incredible buildings, shops, delicious food, and small cafes.
The liveliness and laid-back vibe you will experience here makes it an ideal place if you want to wander for a while. Make sure to pay a visit to the Okraglak, which a market hall in a round shape. It has numerous local artists and food vendors.
If you want to learn a little bit about the history of the lively streets of the Jewish Quarter, you can visit one of the oldest synagogues in Krakow.
In addition, you can also take a walk through the popular Passage of Schindler’s List. It was used by Steven Spielberg as a set for the legendary film. The movie is related to a woman and a man, who were able to save over a thousand refugees at the time of the Holocaust.
You are now all set to explore the beautiful and stunning city. Do not miss out on spending two spectacular summer days in Krakow.
