Kraków in southern Poland is one of our favorite Polish cities. It’s a place where culture, history, food, and activities all merge in a perfect mix. This is the city that you fall in love with and want to come back and explore more. Having been there several times, we have found the best spots not to be missed. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or returning for another round of pierogi and cobblestone charm, Kraków always has something new to offer.

Stare Miasto – Old Town Rynek

When you arrive in Kraków’s Old Town, it’s easy to feel like you’ve stepped into a medieval fairy tale — but look a little closer, and you’ll discover a place that’s not frozen in time, but very much alive. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the heart and soul of the city, buzzing with music, history, students, and the scent of fresh obwarzanek (local pretzels). This is probably the most visited area of the city, and it is easy to understand why that is.

The central attraction is Rynek Główny, the largest medieval market square in Europe. It’s huge — nearly 40,000 square meters — and always alive. In the middle stands the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice), once a center for international trade, now filled with souvenir stalls and upstairs art galleries. And, around the whole square, there are restaurants and cafés that make the perfect place to enjoy and just get the vibe of the city.

Wawel Castle

One of the most visited highlights in Kraków. The Wawel Castle is covered with interesting sights and hidden gems that are just waiting to be explored. Learn more about the dragon that used to live here and that today is a symbol of the city. The castle has a lot to offer, and there are many options to choose from when it comes to exploring the castle. Several different tickets offer sights and different parts of the castle.

A lot of people get confused when they arrive and don’t know what kind of tickets or combos to choose from. Regardless of your choice, you will be satisfied. However, we have been there and checked the whole place out. You can read our post about the Wawel Castle and plan what you want to visit and what tickets to get.

Sukiennice – Give your wallet a run for its money

The word Sukiennice literally means “cloth hall”, and that’s exactly what it was — a marketplace for textiles and luxury goods. Its roots go back to the 13th century, when Kraków became a key stop on European trade routes. Merchants from as far as England, the Middle East, and Asia came here to sell and buy cloth, salt, silk, leather, spices, and amber. Today, it is a great place to get some souvenir shopping done.

The prices are a bit higher than in other parts of the city, but some souvenirs can only be bought here. There are a lot of local handicrafts that you can buy. A tip is not to buy anything with amber here. The problem is that it is hard to be sure that you get the real amber and not a well-made replica. If you are interested in amber, it is better to visit Gdansk in the northern part of the country.

Rynek underground Museum

Opened in 2010, the museum lies 4 meters below the surface of the Main Market Square. It’s part archaeological site, part interactive exhibition — offering a rare glimpse into what Kraków looked and felt like in the Middle Ages. The museum was built following years of excavations that uncovered merchant stalls, roadways, burials, and forgotten architecture from centuries past.

Instead of removing or hiding these findings, the city made a bold move: they built a museum around them. Today, visitors can walk through preserved ruins, trace the outlines of medieval streets, and even stand where Kraków’s merchants once traded goods in the 13th and 14th centuries. It is special, and even if most parts are in ruins, it is still a cool place to visit.

St. Mary’s Basilica

By far the most popular church in the city. St. Mary’s Basilica makes sure that you don’t forget about her. Every hour, a trumpet player emerges from one of the towers and plays the tune called ”Hejnał Mariacki. This is a really old tradition with the trumpeter playing the song in all directions of the horizon. The music stops abruptly because the legend says that the trumpeter was shot by an arrow in his throat during medieval times.

It is free to enter the church and the prayer room. However, if you want to see more of the church, there is an entrance fee. This allows you to explore parts of the church that are not open to the public. Make sure to get a ticket to see the trumpeter up close by buying a special ticket that allows you to go to the tower. A really nice church in Old Town Krakow that is well worth visiting.

Czartoryski Museum

Even if the most popular thing inside this museum is ”Lady with an Ermine” by Leonardo da Vinci, there is a lot of nice artwork and artefacts to see here. Parts of the exhibition are dedicated to historical and military items that are hard to find anywhere else. With around 336 000 different things owned by the museum, there is something for everyone to see and to be amazed by. A fun fact is that the Czartoryski Museum is one of Poland’s oldest museums.

A tip is to come here on a Tuesday. This is a day when all the permanent exhibitions are free of charge to visit. On the downside, be prepared to spend extra time here since there are a lot of people visiting the museum when it is free to enter. No matter what day you visit, we are sure that you will be happy with your visit to the museum.

Town Hall Tower

In the middle of Kraków’s Main Market Square stands the Town Hall Tower, the only surviving piece of the city’s old medieval town hall. The rest of the building was demolished in 1820, but the tower remained — a lone monument that still anchors the square with its Gothic brick walls and slightly leaning silhouette. Built in the late 13th century, it has weathered storms, fires, and centuries of change. One storm in 1703 even tilted it about half a meter off-centre, a quirk that gives it even more character.

Today, the Town Hall Tower is less crowded than Kraków’s major attractions, but no less atmospheric. It’s a compact, elegant piece of the city’s history — a place where you can literally climb through centuries and end with a view that captures the heart of Kraków.

Planty Park

Planty Park encircles Kraków’s Old Town like a green ribbon and transforms the site of the old city walls into a peaceful, almost four-kilometre-long park. Walking its winding paths, you walk between shaded trees, flower beds, fountains, and small monuments, with glimpses of the bustling city on one side and the historic Old Town on the other. This is a place that is close by, but at the same time, in nature.

Planty is a favourite for joggers, families, and anyone seeking a quiet moment. Each stretch has its own charm — from tranquil, leafy paths to sunny lawns where musicians sometimes play. In every season, it offers a gentle way to experience Kraków, slowing down the pace and letting the city’s rhythm sink in. A place to fall in love with!

Droga Królewska

Walking along Droga Królewska, or the Royal Route as it is called, is like stepping into Kraków’s living history. This historic path stretches from St. Florian’s Gate through the Old Town, leading all the way to Wawel Castle. Once, this was the route for royal processions and coronations. Along the way, centuries of architecture line the streets — from ornate townhouses and churches to bustling squares — each building telling a story of the city’s past.

As you stroll, the rhythm of everyday Kraków blends with echoes of history. Cafés on the sidewalks and street performers add life to the plazas. Every corner offers a glimpse of medieval and Renaissance charm. Walking the Royal Route isn’t just sightseeing — it’s a journey through time, giving you the sense of Kraków as it was for kings, merchants, and citizens alike.