Krakow City Break: Our Guide to a Long Weekend in Krakow

Is Krakow worth visiting? Absolutely.

When to visit:

Krakow is one of our favourite European cities for a cultural city break. With a beautiful historic centre, fascinating museums, excellent food and plenty to explore beyond the city, it's an easy destination to fill a long weekend.

We visited Krakow, Poland, in December 2018, when the Christmas markets were in full swing and snow was falling.

Best time to visit: Krakow is a year-round city break destination, but visiting in the run-up to Christmas is particularly atmospheric.

How long do you need in Krakow? We recommend a minimum of 3 nights for a Krakow city break.

Budget: £ - Krakow can be a good-value choice for a European city break.

We stayed at Zulian Aparthotel, a short walk from the centre of Krakow. The rooms were spacious and we found the breakfast plentiful, making it a convenient base for exploring the city.

Things to Do on a Long Weekend in Krakow

There's plenty to fit into three or four days in Krakow. These were some of the highlights of our trip.

• Browse the Krakow Christmas Markets and stop for gingerbread and mulled wine along the way.

• Spend time in Krakow's Main Market Square (Rynek Główny), the historic heart of the city and a great place to stop for lunch or dinner.

• Wander through Kazimierz, Krakow's historic Jewish Quarter, exploring its streets, cafés and fascinating history.

• Visit St Mary's Basilica, one of Krakow's most recognisable landmarks. Make sure you go inside to see its spectacular interior.

• Explore the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) in the centre of the Main Market Square. Once an important centre for international trade, today its ground floor is home to market stalls and souvenirs.

• See the Town Hall Tower, which rises above the western side of the Main Market Square.

• Visit the Rynek Underground Museum, beneath the Main Market Square, to discover more about Krakow's medieval history.

Auschwitz-Birkenau from Krakow

Many visitors to Krakow also choose to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau, around 70 km from the city.

It is an important and deeply affecting historical site. We recommend allowing a significant part of the day for the visit rather than treating it as simply another sightseeing excursion.

We can arrange your Krakow city break together with flights, accommodation, transfers and pre-booked excursions, helping you put the whole trip together in one place.

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