Top Things to do in Krakow
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Things to do in Krakow, Southern Poland: The Best Sights & Landmarks
Krakow is one of the most culturally and politically significant cities in Poland. It was the central site of the Nazi General Government during WWII, and there’s still a residual feeling of solemnity here that’s especially apparent during visits to the Plaszow Concentration Camp and the Oskar Schindler Factory. Both the Historic City Centre and the Jewish District are brimming with cafés, shops, and pubs, and the 10-acre Main Market Square is a medieval feast for the senses.
Restaurants in Krakow
1. Stare Miasto
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8,988 reviews
The 13th century merchants' town is home to Europe's largest market square and offers numerous historical houses, palaces and churches with magnificent interiors, 14th century fortifications, ancient synagogues, Jagiellonian University and the Gothic cathedral where the kings of Poland were buried.
2. St. Florian's Gate
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,209 reviews
Encircling the Old Town district, this 14th-century gate and its four towers are the remnants of the city's fortifications, most of which were destroyed at the beginning of the nineteenth century.
3. Muzeum Uniwersytetu Jagiellonskiego Collegium Maius
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,088 reviews
First founded in 1364, this integral part of Krakow life has many distinguished alumni including distinguished Polish intellectuals, political leaders and well-known international figures like Nicolaus Copernicus and Pope John Paul II. The Collegium Maius is the oldest surviving building of the university.
4. St Mary's Basilica
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,788 reviews
One of the most famous of Poland's churches, this Gothic structure features two striking towers of different heights and surprisingly richly decorated insight, mostly thanks to the vibrant polychromy by great Polish artist Jan Matejko. The greatest masterpiece is though the Main Altar by Veit Stoss - a late Gothic illustration for St. Mary's and Jesus life, including scenes of Mary's death and Assumption. Please note that the church, including Main Altar, is currently under long maintenance and renovation works, which may be of some inconvenience.
Reviewed By alexanderd59 - Lisbon, Portugal
A most beautiful church and during the Christmas market period sands out like a beacon ,we had seen the film of the beautifully carved alter backdrop that the nazis stole in 1940 and was found in Nuremberg after the war , it was repaired ,restored and placed back in the church ,the Krakow square is a magical place ,but below it is a fantastic museum , that shouldn’t be missed ,
5. Krakow's Rynek Glowny Central Square
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 26,455 reviews
Huge 10-acre square, the largest in any of Europe's medieval cities, features the 16th-century Renaissance Cloth Hall and the splendid 14th-century Gothic Basilica of the Virgin Mary.
Reviewed By vickitD6053PZ - Portsmouth, United Kingdom
Lovely place to sit Nd people watch , with plenty of atmosphere lots of restaurants with outdoor seating, you can even take your pick and go for a horse and carriage ride or hire a segway or even a scooter, you will never get bored here and can return time after time
6. Wawel Royal Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10,412 reviews
Serving as a royal residence and the site where the country's rulers governed Poland for five centuries (1038-1596), this castle is a symbol of the independent Polish state and today contains a priceless collection of 16th-century Flemish tapestries, considered to be one of the largest in the world.
Reviewed By travelessential - Melbourne, Australia
Definitely worth your visit, amazing detail and architecture especially see Lost Wawel and the armoury. Strangely you have to buy tickets for each section you are wanting to see and the queues are long so definitely use online if you can. Also strangely the cathedral is another ticket and another office. They should really just sell one ticket covers all. It would be a lot quicker!
7. Wawel Cathedral
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,816 reviews
National shrine known for its superb religious art including the giant bell of Zygmunt of 1520, one of the world's largest, and the burial place of many Polish kings and their families, national heroes and numerous bishops.
Reviewed By MarkH706 - Paphos, Cyprus
Great and very intresting trip to Wawel and the Royal Cathedral on Wawel Hill Visiting the Royal Tombs to see the last resting place of Polish monarchs and national heroes also visiting the Pope John Paul II Cathedral Museum. Worth the visit but the ticket office on our visit was hectic.
8. Kazmierz The Former Jewish District
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9,378 reviews
Sizable Jewish population of Krakow moved to this district at the end of the fifteenth century, which served as the main cultural center of the Polish Jewry for centuries.
Reviewed By ChristineJ192 - Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
This is a wonderful area to walk around and discover.Buildings are great & a lot of them are being renovated so I suspect this will become a more popular area over the next few years. The Plac Nowy is a central square which has a brilliant flea market on a Saturday & in the centre is a round building which houses lots of little street food kiosks serving a traditional Polish pizza like snack for around £2 Take a look & enjoy wandering the streets
9. Planty Park
10. Bazylika i Klasztor Franciszkanow
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 938 reviews
Decorated with vibrant colors and Stanislaw Wyspianski’s famous stained glass window “God the Father.”
Reviewed By Fane_Babanul - Rishon Lezion, Israel
What makes this church truly remarkable is the stained glass windows authored by Stanislaw Wyspianski, an original Polish artist.
