I recently spend a wonderful weekend in Krakow – and I am not one for gatekeeping! Of course I want to let you in on all of the best things to see and do in just a weekend, so you can focus on having a great time. Read along for all of the details on how to have the best weekend in Krakow.

Krakow is one of the best weekend destination in Europe in my opinion. It is such a charming and beautiful city, and has a lot more to offer in terms of culture and history than I knew before visiting. And with just one weekend in the city, you will hardly break the bank, as both accommodation, food and sights are some of the lowest in Europe!

Is it possible to see the best of Krakow in just a weekend?

Krakow is one of those European cities you can definitely experience in just a weekend. With two full days in the city, you will be able to explore most of what the city has to offer, get a taste of the different neighborhoods, and even try a museum or tour. But I will say: If you DO have the option to spend an extra day in the city, your trip will become even better by venturing out from the city on a daytrip!

You can either visit Zakopane, which is a stunning mountain town with thermal spas and mountain hikes – or you can visit Auschwitz-Birkenau for a very memorable glimps into the history of Poland. Go to the end of this post for more details!

A Wonderful Weekend In Krakow

Saturday: Krakow Old Town

If you spend a weekend in Krakow, you want to center most of your time around the most charming part of the city: Krakow Old Town. This area of Krakow is both historical and beautiful and will easily entertain you for your first day in the city. Below are some of the parts you don’t want to miss:

Rynek Glowny (Old Town Square)

Rynek Glowny is the Polish name for the Old Town Square in Krakow. Simply wandering around this large, historical area will leave you smiling and taking photos every time you take a look at something new. There is honestly so many great sights around the old town square alone! Be sure to explore St. Marys Basilica – and listen to the trumpets playing from the window each hour. Also, you don’t want to leave without checking out the Town Hall Clock Tower and the Cloth Hall for some souvenir shopping or museum browsing.

St. Florians Gate & Krakow Babican

In the Northern part of Krakow Old Town, you will find St. Florians Gate. This beautiful, gothic tower was once used to spot new visitors to Krakow and close the gates for those, who were not welcome. Just outside of the gate is Krakow Babican: a fortress from which the soldiers of Krakow would defend the city from attacks. It is a beautiful area to walk around and has a lot of interesting history to it, if you want to know more!

Stroll Around The Planty Garden Ring

One of my favorite parts of Krakow was the fact that the entire old town is surrounded by a beautiful park, which you can stroll through. Any time you get tired of walking in lines with other tourists, or simply want to escape the crowds for a bit, all you have to do is enter the Planty Garden Ring. You can easily get from one part of the old town to another by following the paths in the garden. Along your way, you will find many locals gathering with their friends, relaxing on benches and walking their dogs. I loved the vibe!

Walk Down The Picturesque Streets of Grodzka And Kanonicza

Some of the most famous streets in Krakow are Grodzka and Kanonicza, both of which you will find walking south from the Old Town Square. Along these streets, you will find a ton of beautiful buildings, cathedrals and churches, as well as shops and quaint cafés. The streets are some of the best picture spots in the city, and generally just a great place to stroll around!

Visit The Royal Wavel Castle

As you approach the south end of Old Town Krakow, you will notice and castle towering over the rest of the city. This is the Royal Wavel Castle: a must visit for your weekend in Krakow. You can walk around the castle grounds free of charge, and this is a great way to get a taste of the beautiful architecture and the views from the top! And if you are interested in entering the insides of the castle and the cathedral, you can book it here.

Bonus For Harry Potter Fans: Visit The Leaky Cauldron!

If you aren’t a fan of Harry Potter, feel free to skip ahead… But if you are: welcome my fellow friend! One of the memories that stand out most to me from my trip to Krakow is visiting the Leaky Cauldron. This wizard-themed café is SUCH a treat for anyone, whos heart beats for the Harry Potter universe. The entrance is well hidden, which means you will only find it if you are specifically looking for it. As you make your way down a narrow staircase, you enter a candle-lit, cave-like room with bubbling potions, wizarding books and wands around every corner. If you go, be sure to order a elixir to experience the full magic – just trust me on this.

Sunday: Kazimierz & Schindler’s List

Spend Your Morning At Oskar Schindler’s Factory Museum

For the second day of your weekend in Krakow, it is time to learn about some of the darker and more recent history in Poland. Schindler’s List Factory Museum is a highly impressive museum telling the story of how a Polish man saved the lifes of over 1200 Jewish people in Krakow during the Second World War. Even if museums aren’t usually your thing, I higly recommend checking this one out! You can book your tickets for the museum here.

Explore Kazimierz Street Food At Plac Nowy And Judah Food Market

Kazimierz (the old Jewish Quarter of Krakow) is literally food market heaven. Around this neighborhood, you will find a handful of food markets, where you can try delicious, polish and international foods. If you spend a weekend in Krakow during the summer, the vibes here will be emaculate. Live music will be playing, outdoor seating areas will be filled with happy people and the atmosphere will be lively like no other! But even if you visit during the colder months, be sure to walk by Plac Nowy for a traditional Zapiekanka.

Ghetto Hero Square And Podgorze Market Square

Ghetto Hero Square and Podgorze Market Square are two of the most famous and historically significant squares in Kazimierz. The best way to experience these historical parts of the old Jewish Quarter of Krakow is through a guided tour like this one, where are local guide can tell you all about the events that have happened. Simply walking around the neighborhood will only give you so much, as there aren’t much written information around the historical parts.

The Old Synagogue And Remuh Synagogue

The Old Synagogue and the Remuh Synagogue in Krakow are two of the most significant places in Kazimierz. And since you are visiting the Old Jewish Quarter of the city, it would be a true mistake to miss these! Take a stroll around the area and the graveyards, enjoy the marvelous architecture and maybe join a guided tour to soak in all of its history.

The Best Daytrips From Krakow

Zakopane

Taking a daytrip to Zakopaneduring a long weekend in Krakow is my absolute TOP recommendation for you. Zakopane is a beautiful town placed right by the Tatra Mountains, which is especially famous for its many thermal spas with mountain views. And if you head up to the mountains, you will find a ton of beautiful hiking trails to the most amazing waterfalls, lakes and views over the south of Poland. I never knew that this type of landscape exsited in Poland, and it was a true eye-opening experience for me.

Auschwitz-Birkenau

If you have been taught just a tiny bit about the history of Europe, you will likely have heard about Auschwitz-Birkenau. This concentration camp is home to some of the darkest and most significant history of the Second World War. And although this isn’t a daytrip that will lighten your soul, it is an incredibly interesting experience to walk through it and see it with your own eyes. It is probably the one museum, that has made the biggest impression on me during my life so far. And if you book one of these tours, you get picked up and dropped off directly from your hotel, which is so convenient and easy!

Wieliczka Salt Mine

Lastly, one of the most popular daytrips from Krakow is to the Wieliczka Salt Mine placed in Wieliczka just south of Krakow. It is known as the worlds longest active salt mine, and every month thousands of visitors come to experience the impressive sight. And if you are short on time, you can actually go to both the salt mine and Auschwitz-Birkenau all within the same day through this tour!

I hope this post has left you feeling well prepared for an amazing weekend in Krakow! If you have any questions, be sure to leave them below, and I will get back to you as soon as possible. Enjoy your trip!