How to spend two days in Krakow

Day one: Old Town and Market Square

Visit Krakow's historic heart

Start your Krakow adventure in Rynek Główny or ‘Main Market Square’ – getting here early is worth setting an alarm for. Not your standard downtown, this is Europe's largest medieval square and, especially in the quiet morning hours, it feels like stepping back in time.

Hang about on the hour and you’ll spot a real-life trumpeter appear in the taller tower of the two at St. Mary’s Basilica to play the hejnał, a traditional tune that abruptly stops mid-note. Legend has it the original trumpeter was shot through the throat while warning the city of a Mongol invasion. These days, he pops out every hour, day and night, wearing a traditional fire brigade uniform. Don’t forget to wave – he might wave back!

If you're feeling energetic, climb one of the towers – it’s one of Krakow’s top attractions. Tours of the tower are currently on pause due to renovations, but when it reopens, the 110 stone steps to the top are worth it for the views across the terracotta rooftops.

Explore the Royal Route

Next, follow the Royal Route up Floriańska Street, which is lined with shops and cafes and has plenty of medieval charm. You'll pass through St. Florian's Gate, one of the few remaining pieces of Krakow’s medieval fortifications and see the impressive Barbican, a circular fortress that once helped keep the city safe.

Need a break or fancy a picnic? The Planty Gardens wrap around the Old Town like a green garland, perfect for a picnic break or just to rest your feet.

Check out the castle in the afternoon

If a picnic wont cut it and you fancy a more substantial lunch, check out Czarna Kaczka (The Black Duck). They’re wild about waterfowl, whether it’s served in burger form, Polish style with blackcurrant sauce, Cracovian style with beets, red wine-glazed with plum-stuffed dumplings, or a whole Galician-style roast for two. The vibe is rustic and relaxed, with warm wood, plaid seats, patterned tiles and some rather lovely murals of your lunch taking flight.

Next, visit Wawel Castle. This isn't just any castle – it's Poland's Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Tower of London rolled into one. The State Rooms are gorgeous, as is the Cathedral where Polish kings were crowned for centuries.

Keep an eye out for the castle's dragon statue. According to legend, a fearsome dragon once terrorised Krakow until a clever cobbler defeated it by feeding it a lamb stuffed with sulphur. The statue, which breathes real fire every few minutes, commemorates the explosive folk tale.

Finish the day in the Old Town

As the sun sets, wander Kanonicza Street – one of the oldest and most photogenic in Krakow. For dinner, descend into the medieval cellars of Pod Aniolami, where candles flicker against ancient stone walls and traditional Polish dishes emerge from a wood-fired grill.

Cap off your night at Wodka Bar. Here, staff will introduce you to Poland's national spirit, vodka, in all its flavoured glory – the fig variety is dangerously good.

Day two: Jewish Quarter and jazz

Encounter the city’s Jewish past

Start your second day in Krakow in Kazimierz, the city's Jewish Quarter. While it tells a profound historical story, it's also become Krakow's coolest district, where vintage shops sit alongside centuries-old synagogues and street art decorates medieval walls.

Make a beeline for the Old Synagogue, which has survived since the 15th century. Inside, you'll find a fascinating museum that helps you understand Jewish life in Krakow before WWII.

The Galicia Jewish Museum, named after the historical Eastern European region encompassing parts of Poland and Ukraine (distinct from Spain’s Galicia), offers a compelling photographic journey through Jewish history. Its main exhibition, ‘Traces of Memory’, documents Jewish heritage sites across the region – from restored synagogues to abandoned cemeteries.

For lunch, head to Hevre, a vibrant spot in a former Jewish prayer house where faded biblical wall paintings and floral friezes peek through layers of history. Now a mix of bar, restaurant and creative space, it serves inventive Polish cuisine inspired by Galician traditions in a space that nicely balances preservation with contemporary life.

After lunch, cross the Vistula River via Father Bernatek’s footbridge (look out for the acrobat sculptures dangling above the river) to Podgórze. It’s where you’ll find Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory – the actual enamel factory where German industrialist Schindler saved the lives of more than 1,000 Jewish workers during the Holocaust.

Today its exhibitions combine personal stories, photographs and carefully recreated settings to document both the Holocaust and everyday life in occupied Krakow.

Spend the late afternoon in modern Kazimierz

Return to Kazimierz and let yourself get lost in its maze of streets. You'll find vintage markets, independent galleries and countless coffee shops.

Make your way to Plac Nowy, the neighbourhood's bustling square, to visit the central circular market hall (known locally as ‘Okrąglak’ or the ‘Round Thing’) that serves zapiekanka – think the best cheese toastie you've ever had.

The distinctive circular building, built in the 1900s and once a kosher slaughterhouse, is now the heart of Kazimierz's street food scene. There's usually a queue, but that's part of the experience.

Enjoy a jazzy last night out

End your day in Kazimierz at Starka Restaurant for traditional Polish recipes with a modern twist. Don’t miss their homemade vodka infusions – you might be tempted to try more than one!

For a nightcap, join locals at Alchemia, a moody bar where candlelight flickers against antique mirrors and the occasional jazz band plays from the corner.

Top tips for two days in Krakow

• Uber is cheap in Krakow and a reliable option for airport transfers. Consider downloading the app to your phone before you visit.
• If you’re visiting Schindler's Factory, be sure to book ahead as tickets sell out fast.
• Many of Krakow’s best museums offer free entry on certain days of the week. Visit on Monday for free entry to Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory and the Old Synagogue or on Tuesday to see the permanent exhibitions at the Main Building of the National Museum and the Czartoryski Museum for free.
• Keep some złoty (Polish currency) in your pocket as not everywhere takes card.
• Don't plan every minute of your weekend in Krakow. Some of the city's best moments come from wandering into random courtyards or following the sound of music down into a cellar bar.