Things to Do in Krakow in 2026 — Tours, Attractions & Hidden Gems

Krakow's Wawel Castle rising above the Vistula River — the starting point for most day trips in southern Poland.

1 Auschwitz-Birkenau — the Most Important Visit You'll Make

Seventy kilometres west of Krakow, the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum is one of the most significant historical sites in the world. More than a million people — the vast majority of them Jewish — were murdered here during the Second World War. An Auschwitz tour from Krakow is not a tourist attraction in the conventional sense. It is an act of witness.

A guided tour includes round-trip transport and a licensed guide who provides historical context that an independent visit cannot replace. The guide explains each building, the personal stories behind the exhibits, and the significance of what you see across Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau. Book well in advance — June through August, guided entry slots fill weeks ahead.

Prefer to visit independently? We also offer a private round-trip transfer from Krakow to Auschwitz — door-to-door, timed to your museum entry slot.

2 Wieliczka Salt Mine — 135 Metres Below the Surface

The Wieliczka Salt Mine has been carved from solid rock salt since the 13th century — one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the world.

Just 15 kilometres from Krakow's Old Town, the Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of the most extraordinary places in Central Europe. Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1978, the mine extends over 287 kilometres of tunnels to 135 metres below the surface. The Tourist Route passes through 20 chambers — vast cathedral-like spaces and narrow glittering corridors, all carved by miners over seven centuries.

The highlight is the Chapel of St. Kinga: a full underground church 101 metres below ground, with walls, floor, chandeliers, and bas-reliefs all carved from salt. Masses are still held here. The descent is 380 wooden steps — the return is by mining elevator. Temperature inside is a constant 14°C year-round.

3 Thermal Baths near Krakow

The thermal baths near Krakow are open year-round — outdoor geothermal pools heated to 28–36°C, with views of the Tatra Mountains.

An hour south of Krakow, the Podhale region sits above one of Europe's richest geothermal zones. Thermal baths near Krakow are one of the most popular krakow activities for visitors who want a day away from the city — outdoor pools heated to 28–36°C year-round, surrounded by Tatra Mountain views.

Three complexes stand out:

• Chochołów Thermal Baths — the largest, with 30+ outdoor pools, a sauna village and rotating hot basins. Ideal for families and groups.
• Terma Bania(Białka Tatrzańska) — a top-rated resort with 15 pools, water slides and a full spa.
• Gorący Potok(Szaflary) — the most natural option, with 20+ sulphur geothermal pools and a relaxed atmosphere.

Buy entry tickets online through Krakow Planner and skip the queue on arrival — particularly recommended on weekends and public holidays.

4 Things to Do in Krakow Old Town & Wawel Castle

Krakow's Old Town is one of the best-preserved medieval city centres in Europe — inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1978. The Main Market Square (Rynek Główny) is the historic heart of the city, surrounded by the 14th-century Cloth Hall, St. Mary's Basilica with its famous hourly trumpet call, and the Town Hall Tower.

Wawel Castle, rising above the Vistula at the southern edge of the Old Town, was the seat of Polish kings for five centuries. The castle complex blends Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque architecture and houses the Polish Crown Jewels. Wawel Cathedral — the coronation site of Polish kings — stands within the same complex.

The Old Town is entirely walkable. Most visitors spend a full day here. If you want guided context for what you are seeing — the history of each building, the stories behind the monuments — the Hop-On Hop-Off bus and our city tour options below cover the Old Town in depth.

5 Kazimierz — the Jewish Quarter of Krakow

Adjacent to the Old Town, the Kazimierz district in Krakow served as the centre of Jewish life in the region for five hundred years. Its synagogues, cemeteries, and narrow streets carry that history visibly. The neighbourhood gained international attention as the primary setting for Schindler's List — several of the film's locations are within walking distance of each other.

Today Kazimierz has a dual character: a neighbourhood of deep historical significance and one of Krakow's most atmospheric areas for restaurants, galleries, and bars. Among the unique things to do in Krakow, an evening walk through Kazimierz — ending at one of the bars around Plac Nowy — is as authentic as the city gets.

Several of our guided city tours cover Kazimierz in detail, including the history of the Jewish community, the WWII ghetto in nearby Podgórze, and Schindler's Factory.

6 Ojców National Park & Pieskowa Skała Castle

Ojców National Park — Poland's smallest national park, just 25 km from Krakow, with dramatic Jurassic limestone cliffs and over 400 caves.

Twenty-five kilometres north of Krakow, Ojców National Park is Poland's smallest national park — and one of its most beautiful. The park occupies a dramatic Jurassic landscape of limestone cliffs, forested river valleys, and over 400 caves. It is one of the most underrated day trips from Krakow, Poland — most visitors go to Auschwitz and Wieliczka and miss Ojców entirely.

Pieskowa Skała Castle, perched on the edge of a limestone cliff, was first built by King Casimir the Great in the 14th century and rebuilt in Renaissance style in the 16th. It is one of the finest examples of Renaissance architecture in Poland and today houses collections from the Wawel Royal Castle. In front of the castle stands the Hercules Club(Maczuga Herkulesa) — a 25-metre natural limestone pillar, one of the most dramatic viewpoints in southern Poland.

Within the park: the ruins of Ojców Castle(original 14th-century gate still standing), the Kraków Gate rock arch that once marked the entrance to the city from the west, and the wooden Chapel on the Water — a 19th-century chapel built on piles in the Prądnik River. Local legend ties the area to King Władysław Łokietek, who is said to have hidden in one of the park's caves during his struggle for the Polish throne.

7 Hop-On Hop-Off Bus — See the City at Your Own Pace

The Kraków Hop-On Hop-Off bus covers all major landmarks with audio commentary — a flexible option for first-time visitors.

The Hop-On Hop-Off Krakow bus is one of the most efficient ways to get oriented in the city. The route covers all major landmarks — the Old Town, Wawel Hill, Kazimierz, Podgórze and beyond — with audio commentary in multiple languages. A 24 or 48-hour ticket includes the bus tour, a boat ride on the Vistula River, a multisensory Legends of Krakow show, and entry to the Museum Galicia.

8 Gondola Cruise on the Vistula — Things to Do in Krakow at Night

One of the best things to do in Krakow at night is seeing the city from the Vistula River after dark. The 1-hour gondola cruise runs beneath the illuminated Wawel Castle, past the lit riverbank, offering a perspective of the city that most visitors never experience. Available as a private tour for up to 12 people or a traditional 1-hour sightseeing cruise.

9 Live Polish Folk Show & Dinner

An evening of live Polish folk music, dance, and traditional cuisine in the heart of Krakow. The show features performances of regional dances, the legendary Lajkonik — a Krakow folk figure — and live musicians playing traditional instruments. Dinner is included, with panoramic city views from the venue. A good option for those who want to experience Polish culture in a relaxed setting — and one of the more memorable krakow activities for groups and families.

10 Zalipie — Poland's Painted Village

Zalipie — a village where every cottage, fence and barn is painted with colourful floral patterns. One of the most unique day trips from Krakow.

One hundred kilometres east of Krakow, Zalipie is one of the most distinctive villages in Poland — and one of the least visited by foreign tourists. For over a century, local women have maintained a tradition of painting colourful floral patterns on every surface: cottage walls, fences, wells, barns, and doghouses. The tradition began as a way of covering soot marks from open hearths and evolved into an art form recognised across Poland.

Among the truly unique things to do in Krakow's wider region, a private day tour to Zalipie stands entirely outside the standard tourist circuit. It includes a visit to the village, a meeting with a local folk artist, and entry to the folk art museum.

11 Tatra Mountains Adventure — Quads, Skywalk & Thermal Baths

For travellers who want a more active krakow day trip, this full-day tour combines three experiences: an off-road quad bike ride through Tatra terrain, a mountain skywalk with panoramic views of the peaks, and an evening thermal bath session at Bania. Transport from Krakow included. One of the most varied day trips available — covering adrenaline, scenery, and relaxation in a single itinerary.

12 Getting to Krakow: Airport Transfers

Krakow is served by two airports. Kraków–Balice (KRK) is the main international airport, 17 kilometres west of the city centre. Katowice Airport (KTW) is a budget airport 80 kilometres northwest of Krakow, used by several low-cost carriers. We offer private door-to-door transfers from both airports — fixed price, 24/7, free cancellation, instant confirmation.

• KRK Balice Airport Transfer — Krakow city centre, door-to-door
• KTW Katowice Airport Transfer — Krakow city centre, door-to-door