Poland's former capital and one of the best-preserved cities of medieval Europe. The largest medieval market square on the continent, the royal castle on Wawel Hill, Jewish Kazimierz and the bugle call from St Mary's tower — the historic centre of Kraków was on the very first UNESCO list (1978).
For more than 500 years Kraków was the capital of Poland (until 1596, when the court moved to Warsaw) and the place where Polish kings were crowned and buried. The city largely survived the Second World War without major destruction, so its original medieval and Renaissance fabric remains. In 1978 the historic centre of Kraków was placed on the very first UNESCO World Heritage List — together with 11 other sites from around the world.
The heart of the city is the Main Market Square, about 200 metres on each side — the largest medieval town square in Europe, laid out in 1257 when the city was chartered under Magdeburg law. In the middle stands the Cloth Hall, and in one corner St Mary's Church, from which the bugle call is played live every hour — to the four points of the compass, 24 times a day in all, and broadcast at noon by Polish Radio.
Above the city rises Wawel Hill with its royal castle and cathedral — for centuries the centre of power and of the spiritual life of the Commonwealth. Below the Old Town lies Kazimierz, once a separate town and for centuries one of the most important centres of Jewish culture in Europe, today one of the most atmospheric districts of Kraków.
The Old Town is ringed by the Planty — a park laid out in the 19th century on the line of the demolished town walls. It makes a convenient landmark: almost all the main sights lie within the Planty and can be covered on foot in a day or two.
Kraków is well connected: about 2.5 hours from Warsaw by PKP IC train, about 4 hours by the A4 motorway. Kraków-Balice Airport (John Paul II) is about 11 km from the centre — the SKA train to the main station takes about 20 minutes. Trams and buses run by MPK serve the city.
The most important sights of the region, each with its own guide — how to get there, when to go, practical info.
A royal castle and cathedral on a limestone hill above the Vistula — for centuries the centre of power and of the coronations of Poland's kings.
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The largest medieval market square in Europe (about 200 m on each side) with the Renaissance Cloth Hall in the middle and an underground museum route.
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A Gothic basilica on the market square with the Veit Stoss altarpiece and a bugle call played live on a trumpet every hour.
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A former separate town and for centuries a centre of Jewish culture — synagogues, atmospheric lanes, bars and the market on plac Nowy.
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The Gothic barbican and St Florian's Gate with a stretch of the town walls — the start of the Royal Way to Wawel.
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The oldest building of the Jagiellonian University — a Gothic building with an arcaded courtyard and a university museum.
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A museum in the former Oskar Schindler Enamel Factory at Podgórze — a narrative exhibition about the occupation of Kraków, 1939–1945.
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A 19th-century mound with a surrounding fort on a hill west of the centre — a wide panorama of Kraków.
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A Mannerist pilgrimage landscape with 42 chapels standing in for the holy places of Jerusalem, plus a basilica and Bernardine monastery. UNESCO-listed since 1999.
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Poland's oldest salt mines, with underground chapels and lakes — Wieliczka UNESCO-listed since 1978, Bochnia since 2013.
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Poland's smallest national park: the Prądnik valley, Hercules' Club, Łokietek's Cave and Pieskowa Skała castle, 16 km north of Kraków.
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The medieval street plan inside the Planty ring — a grid laid out in 1257, the Barbican and the Florian Gate. One of the first sites ever inscribed by UNESCO, in 1978.
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List or submit a property →Restaurants, cafés, rentals, guides and local services in the Kraków region — with direct contact.
📍 Kraków, ul. Grodzka 35
Tradycyjna restauracja polska działająca jako rodzinny biznes od 1893 roku, w zabytkowych gotyckich piwnicach przy ul. Grodzkiej. Specjalizuje się w daniach z grilla na drewnie bukowym, dziczyźnie, pierogach i regionalnych zupach.
📍 Kraków, ul. Poselska 22
Kameralna restauracja przy ul. Poselskiej, tuż przy Rynku Głównym, serwująca tradycyjną, domową kuchnię staropolską. Wizytówką lokalu są dania z kaczki.
📍 Kraków, ul. św. Tomasza 8
Rodzinna restauracja kilka kroków od Rynku Głównego, serwująca klasykę kuchni polskiej. W menu ręcznie lepione pierogi, marynowane żeberka, placki ziemniaczane i golonka.
📍 Kraków, ul. Kamienna 16
Krakowska palarnia kawy w forcie Luneta Warszawska, z własną wypalarnią oraz sklepem stacjonarnym i online. Wypala świeże ziarna single origin w małych partiach.
📍 Kraków, ul. Stawowa 61
Krakowskie delikatesy premium z regionalnymi i tradycyjnymi produktami: miody, konfitury, słodycze, kawy i herbaty oraz zestawy prezentowe. Sprzedaż stacjonarna i internetowa.
📍 Kraków, Bulwar Czerwieński
Operator rejsów wycieczkowych po Wiśle z ponad 25-letnim doświadczeniem (statki Sobieski i Piotruś Pan oraz katamarany). Oferuje rejsy widokowe po Krakowie, pływającą restaurację i hostel na wodzie.
📍 Kraków, ul. Na Groblach 24 (Parking Wawel)
Wypożyczalnia rowerów in Kraków, pod Wawelem, oferująca różne typy rowerów na godziny i dni.
📍 Kraków, Stare Miasto
Firma oferująca zwiedzanie Krakowa komfortowymi meleksami po trasach przez Stare Miasto, Kazimierz i Podgórze. Wycieczki od 30 do 120 minut, z audioprzewodnikiem i obsługą grup.
📍 Kraków
Biuro przewodnickie prowadzone przez licencjonowanego przewodnika z doktoratem z historii UJ. W ofercie m.in. Droga Królewska, żydowski Kazimierz, Wzgórze Wawelskie, wycieczki szkolne i gry miejskie.
📍 Kraków, ul. Floriańska 37
Salon masażu orientalnego przy ul. Floriańskiej na Starym Mieście. Oferuje relaksujące i antystresowe masaże tajskie i balijskie, czynny codziennie do późnych godzin.
The Planty and the tables on the market square come to life, and it is less crowded than in summer. An ideal time for walks round the Old Town and Kazimierz.
The height of the season — the market square is full from early morning and there are queues for Wawel. Book tickets for the Wawel exhibitions ahead. Festivals and open-air concerts.
A golden autumn in the Planty and by the Vistula, with fewer visitors and lower room prices. A very good time for sightseeing.
An atmospheric Christmas market on the Main Market Square (from the end of November) and the Kraków nativity cribs. Short days, but a magical atmosphere.
Approximate straight-line distances from the centre of Kraków — calculated from real coordinates. By road it is often further.
Add it to the guide and reach people looking for exactly this region — direct contact with the guest, a standard listing with photos costs 250 zł a year, Premium 600 zł a year.
