Overview
Krakow may very well be the gem of Poland. Often missed on Euro Trips and skipped for the larger named cities of Prague, Vienna and Budapest, Krakow is truly awesome. With a larger than life old town crowned with Europe’s largest open square, Krakow is just what you are looking for. Castles, architectural allure, excellent bars and restaurants in a casual setting seem to be at every corner of the largest city in southern Poland.
Krakow, itself, only sits about 7 hours north by bus of Vienna, so if you are making a trip to Central Europe, it’s an easy spot to pop over to for a day or a even week. It’s also a perfect jumping off of point to explore Germany, other Polish cities such as Warsaw, Lodz or Gdansk as well as the Baltic States up north. If we haven’t convinced you yet, how Krakow is the place to be, maybe the prices will lure you in. Pretty much the entire city is cheap, even touristy restaurants and we would challenge you to find beer for more than 4 Euros anywhere besides clubs.
The most unique part of Krakow may be the Kazimierz district better known as the old Jewish Quarter. Since its decimation during WWII, the former ghetto is now home to both tons of historical monuments as well as the hippest and trendiest spots to get your Polish delicacies and beverages.
Is it Cheap?
Yes! And luckily for you, this also extends to hostels, food and activities. Poland is notoriously cheap, with PolskiBus, being possibly the cheapest bus company in existence, offering bus trips in and around Poland for absolutely ridiculous fares. The average meal price will run you around 7 Euros and beers are commonly found around 3. The Poles use the Zloty, so don’t be surprised by the high prices, it doesn’t actually amount to much.
Wawel Castle
Old Town Center
The Zapiekanka
Kazimierz
What To Do
While being a larger city, Krakow is incredibly walkable, making it quite easy to see a lot of things during your stay. Besides the charm of the old town, the entire city and its many parks are worth exploring. The different regions each have their own personality and the city is brimming with life throughout the warm times of the year. We wouldn’t advise taking a trip to Poland, or anywhere in central Europe as it were during the winter as temperatures duck well below freezing.
Stroll Through The Old Town
The old town of Krakow is outstanding. While one would picture Poland as grey and communist, this is anything but the case. The old town is lined with beautifully, architecturally diverse victorian buildings painted all the colors of the rainbow. It’s narrow alleys and broad main streets are all tucked in behind a circular park, serving as a border between new and old. The streets are lined with stalls, diverse restaurants, cafes and museums while the cobblestoned streets are full of tourists, locals and horse drawn carriages. It’s hard not to buy into the mystique of such an old and beautiful city.
Have a Drink in Kazimierz
As mentioned in the earlier section of this article, Kazimierz is the old Jewish quarter of Krakow. Within this area you will find awesome little bakeries, old churches and synagogues and some of the best bars in Poland. Make sure to go to the Plac Nowy Open- Air Market to not only see an awesome daily flea market filled with communist and WWII memorabilia but to more importantly try a Zapiekanka, Poland’s de facto favorite street food.
Meet Dragons at Wawel Castle
On the southern tip of the old town you will find a large hill. Upon it sits Wawel Castle, a former home to many of the leaders Poland’s regal history. It’s the perfect spot to see the entirety of the city, its river and the new side of Krakow. Krakow is known for it’s dragons and the castle doesn’t disappoint. At the bottom of the castle sits a large metal dragon that breathes actual fire! Pro Tip: Do not waste your money or time going down the dragon’s cave. It is nothing more than a tunnel to the bottom of the hill, that “kind of” (Used loosely!) resembles a cave. You will come out having gained nothing and having more questions than answers.
Take a Day Trip to Auschwitz or the Salt Mines
Krakow is the perfect starting point for a day trip, or possibly a weekend excursion depending on how much time you have. We would recommend going to pay your respects to the victims of the holocaust at Auschwitz or exploring the cavernous Soviet Salt Mines. If you want to go a bit farther, Zakopane sits just two and a half hours south of Krakow near a lake high in the mountains. It’s a perfect place to reflect and enjoy Poland’s natural beauty.
Wander through the Central Market
In the center of old town “Rynek Glowny” you will find a vast market selling some great Polish gifts. While it is certainly touristy, the charm wasn’t lost on us.
What To Eat and Drink
Krakow is an awesome city as far as we are concerned for budget eating. With cheap street food and reasonable restaurants your options are really endless.
While in Krakow it is recommended to try to eat at a Bar Mlceny “Milk Bar”. These are super traditional establishments that serve only truly Polish food during the day time hours. It’s the best place to try Pierogis (Small Polish Dumplings) , Borscht (Beetroot soup), or cabbage rolls. We recommend Bar Gornik on Dolynch Mlynow.
Near there, you can also find a place call Ogrodek Raj, which is a small local spot with a very comfortable outdoor seating area. Pretty much everything on the menu is under 6 Euros and their food is impeccable. We suggest trying their soup of the day followed by goulash served over potato pancakes.
The Zapiekanka is something that has become an urban legend of Krakow. Origins go back to the old times of the Jewish quarter, where people had to make due with what they had. The Zapiekanka can now be found all over Krakow and thankfully Poland for that matter.
Essentially, it’s half a baguette topped with meat, cheese and other toppings. While sounding quiet pedestrian, it is much more of an art form and engineering project than anything else. How do you melt the cheese without burning the bread and how do you fit one pound of toppings on a single bun without toppling the whole thing? While debating the larger significance of the Zapiekanka, stop thinking and shove that bad boy in your mouth with no regrets.
We couldn’t talk about Krakow and not mention the fact that Poland may have the world’s best doner kebabs. This is a BeyondThePack preference and we welcome anyone to debate us about it, but people, this is a fact. If you want something absolutely absurd, that will completely fill you doner kebab obsession, go to U Szwagra. So much meat, so much sauce, so much goodness.
Internet and Phone - Sim Local, the Best Way To Stay Connected in Poland
Krakow offers a range of phone and internet connection options tailored for tourists. Visitors can choose from various local SIM cards and mobile plans available at numerous kiosks, stores, and the airport, ensuring seamless connectivity throughout their stay. Public Wi-Fi is widely accessible in cafes, hotels, and popular tourist spots, making it easy to stay connected.
Being a person who is constantly on the go, I stay connected effortlessly on my travels with Sim Local. Get your eSIM instantly and enjoy high-speed internet without the hassle of finding a local SIM card. Whether you're in Krakow for a short trip or an extended stay, SIM Local provides flexible data plans that keep you connected to family, friends or work, from where ever you are. The best part is that if your trip is canceled or you change your mind, great customer service is waiting, as well as a fair refund policy. You can check out Sim Local by clicking here.
Transportation
Since Krakow is such a cheap place, we suggest spoiling yourself a bit and taking an Uber, as a short ride is normally around 5 Euros. If Uber is not your style, as like every other European city, Krakow has a wonderful network of buses and light rail trams to get you from A to B.
Where To Stay
Krakow has tons of hostels at its disposal and we are sure you won’t have a problem finding an awesome one. We can vouch for having stayed at Greg and Tom’s Hostel Chain as well as the Goodbye Lenin Chain. Both are good but Greg and Tom’s is really the spot to be at.
Clubbing and Nightlife
Cheap vodka, endless amounts of beer, eager tourists and head pounding clubs can only begin to describe what Krakow nightlife is like. Szewska street just on the western edge of old town is home to a few good clubs although the Kazimierz district is really the spot to be during the night time hours.
We loved starting our nights at Pijalnia Wodki. The bar is great, with shooters and beers for 1 Euro and a real dedication for keeping the communist aesthetic intact. Old weird Soviet TV’s, cyrillic newspapers lining the walls and barmen in bowties really make the place as unique as any in the world.
This certainly isn’t a Polish club but Teatro Cubano is an amazing latin bar that you just have to check out. It turns out that Krakow is a big Erasmus city, so there are always tons of young people looking to have a good time. Pro Tip: Don’t worry about the liquor stores closing on you; they are open 24 hours a day!
My Travel Essentials For A European Backpacking Trip
Below you'll find a list of my must bring backpacking items. I have gotten this list down to my essentials through trial and error over 4 years of living in a backpack. I hope you'll find these items helpful on your journey!
►Main Backpacking Backpack: https://amzn.to/3vUHdik [Amazon]
►Great Front Facing Duffle-bag : https://amzn.to/3SjK6Ra [Amazon]
►Quick Dry Towel : https://amzn.to/3uarxH8 [Amazon]
►Multi Country Charger Adapter : https://amzn.to/3Ul37p0 [Amazon]
►Refillable Water Bottle : https://amzn.to/48SnG0n [Amazon]
►Padlock : https://amzn.to/3SdyYp7 [Amazon]
►Earplugs : https://amzn.to/498xTpl [Amazon]
►Power Bank : https://amzn.to/3SyXP8e [Amazon]
Travel Photography & Video Favorites
If you're interested in creating your own video content on your trip, these are some of my favorite items I've had. They work, they're effective and besides the Sony Aa7C, they aren't going to break the bank either!
►On the Go Video | Go Pro Hero 12 : https://amzn.to/3u38oHh [Amazon]
►Photography | Sony A7C : https://amzn.to/3u1Y6ap [Amazon]
►Portable Tripod | https://amzn.to/42ojHqc [Amazon]
►Lavalier Microphone | https://amzn.to/3SbL41U [Amazon]
►Drone | https://amzn.to/47TCwSY [Amazon]
►Portable Monitor | https://amzn.to/3Hzv2dg [Amazon]
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