The largest medieval town square in Europe
With sections dating back to the 11th century, Kraków’s stunning Rynek Główny blends almost 10 centuries of architectural styles into a harmonious whole. The Gothic towers of St. Mary’s Basilica and Renaissance Cloth Hall are surrounded by elegant town houses, each of which has a fascinating history. A walking tour with a private guide is the perfect way to get acquainted with this beautiful square.

Walk In the footsteps of the great polish kings and queens
An excellent way to see Kraków’s Old Town is to follow the royal coronation route from Floriańska Gate to the castle and cathedral on Wawel Hill. In fact, most of Poland’s regal ancestors are also buried there in the royal crypts. I can recommend this informative guide to the Wawel Royal Apartments.

Follow the life of a saint
Though born in Wadowice, Karol Wojtyła spent many years in Kraków before becoming Pope John Paul II and there are traces of the man’s life all over the city. From the Papal Window, commemorating Cardinal Wojtyła’s evening addresses to the crowds outside, to Arka Pana, the startlingly modern church he consecrated, a whole industry has grown up around the Polish pope.

Masterpiece of Leonardo da Vinci
Kraków is full of excellent galleries and museums – see the KrakowCard for a list of almost 40 suggestions. However, the must-see art experience is Leonardo da Vinci’s sublime Lady with an Ermine. It recently moved back to its home in the Czartoryski Museum after extensive renovations and, if you’re as lucky as I was, you may even have the room completely to yourself. Tickets can be reserved in advance.

Discover the culinary offers
For many, food and drink is the reason to visit Kraków. You’ll find food from all over the world, as well as a refreshing range of places to eat vegan. But, while you’re here, you should get to know the many delights of Polish and Eastern European cooking. Pick somewhere from our list of restaurants or find out how to decode a menu with a Polish food crawl. Kraków is also an excellent city for bars and drinking. Get the low down on how Polish beer is brewed with a guided tasting session. Or navigate your way through inventive variations of flavoured vodka. See our Kraków Drink Tours page for more.

Cycling tours for every taste
Kraków’s Old Town is relatively free of traffic which makes cycling an excellent way to get to know the highlights. Informative tours are available covering every conceivable area, duration, and aspect of history. This 4-hour tour covers a lot of highlights and includes insurance. Or let an electric bike do the hard work for you. If you don’t fancy cycling, you can see Kraków by a huge range of transportation, including horse and cart, electric car, electric scooter, river cruise, private catamaran, or Segway. Just check Get Your Guide to see what’s available for the dates you visit.

Discover an unusual hobby
Come to Kraków for the Baroque churches, stay for the axe throwing! The city is a haven for pretty much any kind of fun you could possibly imagine. This includes archery, quad biking, bubble football, rafting on the Dunajec river, and shooting live weapons. An  extreme axe throwing class includes a hotel pick-up.

Moving visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau
Some Kraków museums, like Schindler’s Factory, are deeply affecting and give vivid context to historical events. A visit to the concentration camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau is an unsettling and life-changing experience. There are various tour options for visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau from Krakow which you can book online. See our photo walkthrough of visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau so you can get a sense of what you will be witnessing and expect reality to look profoundly different afterwards. 

Behind the scenes of a classic Spielberg film
Steven Spielberg shot much of Schindler’s List in Kraków locations. The enamel factory, where Oskar Schindler protected Jewish employees during the Nazi occupation, is now a fascinating museum covering all aspects of this horrific period. Advanced booking with a knowledgeable guide is even better and will ensure your entry to one of Kraków’s most popular museums.

Disappear underground
Since mining for salt in the 13th century, Kraków has always made clever use of subterranean spaces. You can book tickets online for day trips to Wieliczka Salt Mine including transport to and from Krakow. Closer to the centre, the Old Town has many charming cellar bars and restaurants, and one of Kraków’s newest museums is Rynek Underground, built directly beneath the main square. Entry is limited by demand, so a guided tour will not only increase your enjoyment of this excellent museum but also ensure you get in.