What to see in Krakow

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Wieliczka Salt Mine

Just 14 km southeast of Kraków lies the Wieliczka (vyeh-leech-kah) salt mine, one of Poland's top attractions. With its 300 km of tunnels and chambers spread across nine levels - with the deepest being 327m below ground - tourists have been...
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Schindler's Factory

The Schindler Museum, located on ul Kącik east under the railway line, is a must-visit destination to explore the history of the German occupation of Kraków from 1939 to 1945. It offers a range of interactive exhibits that go beyond the story of...
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Wawel Royal Castle

Wawel Royal Castle, the historical and cultural epicenter of Poland, serves as a national symbol of identity. It is now used as a museum containing five sections - Crown Treasury and Armoury, State Rooms, Royal Private Apartments, Lost Wawel, and...
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Main Market Square

At the heart of Old Town is the expansive Main Market Square, measuring 200m by 200m and renowned as the largest medieval town square in Europe. At its center stands the Cloth Hall, a 16th-century construction, while the 15th-century Town Hall...
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Basilica of St Francis

On a sunny day, visitors can explore Stanisław Wyspiański’s stunning art nouveau stained-glass windows in the dark basilica. The magnificent deity in the chancel above the organ loft is an absolutely breathtaking sight. Additionally, travelers...
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Bishop Erazm Ciołek Palace

Kanonicza Street in Krakow, Poland is the ideal place to house a grand palace complete with ancient artwork and sculptures. This new addition to the National Museum features two displays of religious artifacts. Art of Old Poland (spanning from...
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Church of SS Peter & Paul

This church, the first baroque building in Kraków, was erected by the Jesuits in 1583. Brought to the city to oppose supporters of the Reformation, the building features a Latin cross layout, a large skylit dome, and a relatively simple interior,...
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Collegium Maius

At the Jagiellonian University's Collegium Maius, one of the finest examples of 15th-century Gothic architecture, visitors can take a guided tour (between 10am and midday) to view manuscripts written by renowned Polish astronomer and...
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Corpus Christi Church

This church in Kazimierz, founded in 1340, is located in the northeastern corner of Plac Wolnica and is the oldest in the town. It was once the parish church and now the baroque interior includes a high altar, massive carved stalls, and a...
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Czartoryski Museum

The Czartoryski Museum is renowned for housing the city's most opulent art collection, with Leonardo Da Vinci's iconic 15th-century painting, Lady with an Ermine (1489–90), as its most treasured piece. In addition, the museum boasts an impressive...
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Galicia Jewish Museum

The Museum of Galicia in Poland honors the memory of Jewish victims of the Holocaust while highlighting Jewish culture and history from the former Austro-Hungarian region of Galicia. Its 'Traces of Memory' photographic exhibition demonstrates the...
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Kościuszko Mound

The memorial of Tadeusz Kościuszko, an esteemed Polish and American military hero who lived between 1746-1817, is located in Zwierzyniec, 3km west of the Old Town. Built between 1820-1823, it stands at a towering 34m high, and includes soil from...
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Krakowski Park

This park, revamped in the spring of 2018, is a wonderful spot to spend some time alone, with children, or with a dog. Its vibrant displays of plants bring in the bees and its central pond is teeming with ducks and is shaded by a huge willow...
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Museum of the People's Republic of Poland

Located in the socialist-realist Światowid cinema, this museum and exhibition space focuses on the Communist history of Nowa Huta and of Poland as a whole. Through rotating photographic exhibitions, the museum brings attention to various aspects...
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National Museum

The National Museum in Kraków, located 500m west of the Old Town on ul Piłsudskiego, houses three permanent exhibitions: the Gallery of 20th-Century Polish Painting, the Gallery of Decorative Art, and Polish Arms and National Colours. The Gallery...
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New Jewish Cemetery

Dating back to 1800, the large cemetery on ul Miodowa was the main burial ground for Kazimierz's Jewish population until WWII. During the German occupation, many of the grave markers were damaged or destroyed, with around 9000 still visible. Some...
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Old Synagogue

Dating back to the 15th century, this synagogue is the oldest surviving Jewish house of worship in Poland. Unfortunately, the Germans looted and partially destroyed it during WWII, yet it was later restored. The prayer hall has been reconstructed...
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Planty Park

The Planty Park, which follows the path of Kraków's historic moat, has become an integral part of life in the city's Old Town. Strolling down its wide paths, you'll come across public art, cafes, ponds, statues, and beautiful floral displays, as...
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Plac Bohaterów Getta

Plac Zgody, located in Podgórze, was a public square during the German occupation of WWII. This was the beginning of the Jewish wartime ghetto and it stretched for several blocks. A map on the northern edge near a former German command post...
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Remuh Cemetery

The Remuh Synagogue, located near the cemetery, dates back to the 16th century Renaissance period. Before the New Jewish Cemetery opened in the late 18th century, this space served as the main burial ground for the area. Unfortunately, during...
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Royal Private Apartments

A glimpse into how the monarchs and their families lived in the past. You will be able to appreciate the many amazing old tapestries, primarily from Northern France and Flanders, hanging on the walls. Much of the collection was collected by...
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Rynek Underground

This incredible attraction beneath the market square of the city is a journey through a medieval market, long forgotten chambers, and even more exciting, holograms and modern audiovisual technology. To gain access to the tunnels, visitors must...
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St Mary's Basilica

St Mary's, a beautiful brick church, is defined by its two towers of varying heights. The first church here was constructed during the 1220s and was later destroyed in a Tatar attack. The basilica was then built. Visitors may explore the...
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Stained Glass Workshop & Museum

Visitors to this museum and workshop can admire the beauty of stained glass and appreciate the skill and creativity it takes to make it on guided tours offered hourly in English from 12 PM to 5 PM.
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Stanisław Lem Science Garden

Science lovers will have a fantastic time at the interactive science park situated 4km east of Old Town, which was built in honour of the late Polish science fiction author Stanisław Lem. Here, outdoor exhibits illustrate the far-fetched results...
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Temple Synagogue

The 19th-century Temple, with its impressive Moorish architecture, underwent a lavish restoration in the past two decades after suffering partial destruction from the German military occupation during World War II. Now inactive, it still hosts...
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Wawel Cathedral

For centuries, Wawel Cathedral has hosted many coronations, funerals, and burials of Poland's monarchs and nobles. The main structure is a Gothic-style cathedral, while several surrounding chapels have been built in different styles. The...
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Holy Trinity Basilica

This ancient church, originally constructed in the 13th century, suffered severe fire damage in 1850. Today, visitors can appreciate the 14th-century entrance from the west side of the building. Though the monastery behind the northern wall is...
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Cloth Hall

Sitting at the heart of the Main Market Square, this building was the epicenter of Kraków's medieval clothing market and dates back to the early 14th century. Composed of two rows of stalls, the building was extended and eventually became a...
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Pharmacy The Eagle

The former pharmacy on the south side of Plac Bohaterów Getta stands as a testament to the heroic effort of its owner, Tadeusz Pankiewicz, who risked his life to help Jewish residents of the Podgórze ghetto during WWII. Pankiewicz, a Polish...
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State Rooms

Begin your exploration of the State Rooms at the entrance in the southeastern corner of the courtyard. As you ascend to the second floor, you will pass through a series of two-dozen rooms and chambers of the castle, restored to their original...
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Jordan Park

Henryk Jordan Park is a popular destination for families, dog-walkers, and outdoor enthusiasts alike. In the summer months, visitors can stretch out on the park's grassy expanses, while in the winter they can take advantage of the ice skating...
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Museum of Pharmacy

Despite its uninspiring name, the Jagiellonian University Medical School's Museum of Pharmacy is a must-visit, situated in a beautiful historic townhouse and boasting a 22,000-piece collection of old laboratory equipment, rare pharmaceutical...
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Archaeological Museum

Visitors of the Małopolska region can explore its history from the Palaeolithic period until the early Middle Ages, and marvel at the amazing collection of ancient Egyptian relics, featuring both human and animal mummies. Furthermore, more than...
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Benedictine Abbey of SS Peter & Paul

Approximately twelve kilometers southwest of the center of Tyniec, the Benedictine Abbey of SS Peter and Paul stands in dramatic contrast atop a cliff overlooking the Vistula River. Visitors may pass through a set of imposing gates, reminiscent...
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Church of St Adalbert

Considered to be the oldest place of worship in the city, this small church on the southern corner of the Main Market Square has been around for around 1000 years, with its 11th-century Romanesque roots still visible in its foundation. The...
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Church of St Andrew

Built towards the end of the 11th century, this church has been able to maintain much of its original Romanesque stone exterior over the course of its nearly thousand-year lifespan. Inside, however, visitors are treated to a stark contrast, as...
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Church of St Benedict

Nestled in a wooded incline in Podgórze, this enigmatic little church is one of the oldest in all of Kraków. While its origins are unknown, researchers estimate it was constructed in the 12th century. Though its interior has been refurbished,...
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City Defence Walls

At this museum, visitors gain access to two of the few remaining parts of the old city walls - the 14th century Florian Gate and the 15th century Barbican. The former was once the primary entrance to the city, and the latter was a round bastion...
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Cricoteka

Dedicated to the life and work of Polish dramaturge Tadeusz Kantor (1915–90) and his experimental theatre company, Cricot 2, this modern museum provides an insight into the avant-garde. As most of the exhibit is focused on the stage props and...