Krakow Itinerary 4 Days
As one of the oldest towns in Poland, Krakow is definitely worth a visit. There are plenty of things to do here.
We stayed for 4 days and recommend a few excursions nearby!
Most travelers use Krakow as a hub to visit Auschwitz or the salt mines of Wieliczka.
The town itself has a lot to offer as well.
In this city break, we combine the rich history of the city with fun activities. This way, you can have a fun and relaxing stay.
Getting to Krakow
By air
Krakow has an international airport, so you can easily book a flight into Krakow in order to get a short break in this ancient city.
Getting from the airport to the city takes around 30 minutes with a transfer shuttle.
By train
Krakow train station is located on the edge of town. It’s an easy walk or you can book a shuttle to take you to your accommodation. This is a perfect city to include into a great European train journey.
By car
The city is located in the South of Poland or the province of Lesser Poland. You can easily reach it by car and include it in an epic road trip. If you have a car at your disposal, we recommend visiting Zakopane right after Krakow.
Where to stay in Krakow
Check out the Airbnb we stayed at when we were in Krakow.
We absolutely loved this cute apartment. Even though it’s located right outside of the old town, it was still perfect. Within a few minutes, we walked straight into the center of the action!
Get your 30€ Airbnb discount with this link or read more about how Airbnb actually works.
If you would like to check out other options check our post about best places to stay in Krakow.
Are you wondering if Poland is a cheap destination, you don’t have to worry about breaking the bank, because it’s super affordable!
Day 1: Explore the old town
We spent our first day in Krakow just exploring the town. After traveling there and checking into our Airbnb, the day was half gone. That’s why we decided to go for a city walk.
Explore the Green Belt around Krakow
The old city center of Krakow is surrounded by a large green belt. Planty Park consists of 4 km of park with cute walkways and fountains. The park surrounds the ancient city walls.
You can walk around the entire town in less than 2 hours and it’s a relaxing activity to do! During this walk, you can already see the different ancient entry gates to Krakow.
Walk through Krakow Old Town
The Old city center of Krakow is beautiful and you can discover it in no time. There aren’t too many streets. So you can just wander around without any fear of being lost.
Eventually you will either end up on the city square or touch the green belt or Planty Park. Florianska Street is a nice street for a walk and it runs straight to the main square.
Krakow Cloth Hall
This 13th-century building is located in the middle of the main square. The Cloth Hall is a marketplace where you can get souvenirs or just walk through. Admire the beautiful architecture or just sit on one of the heated terraces and watch life slide by.
Have dinner at the city main square
You can either have dinner at one of the restaurants at the main square or in one of the side streets.
Dinner on the main square is a little more expensive, but it allows you to see the life that goes on. Watch the horse riders light up their carriages and take tourists around the old town.
Or keep an eye on the St Mary Basilica to see the trumpet player stop his hourly tune halfway through the song.
St. Mary Trumpet Call
Every hour, a trumpet player starts an iconic anthem. But he stops halfway through the tune. That’s because a legend states that the St. Mary trumpet player tried to warn the town at the time of the Mongol invasion of Poland.
Attackers shot the player in the throat before he could finish his anthem. That’s why, up to today, the song stops abruptly before it’s finished.
Day 2: Day trip from Krakow
Visit Auschwitz and Birkenau
Use your second day in Krakow to pay a visit to the Auschwitz and Birkenau Memorial. You will need an entire day for this excursion. It’s a must-visit when you’re this nearby.
But be warned, a visit to Auschwitz is heavy and it works on your mind a lot. The horror that went on in here is terrible. For us, this felt weird and the visit tired us a lot.
Even though we know pretty well what happened in Auschwitz, being there is obviously very different from reading about it.
If you plan on visiting Auschwitz, you can always read our guide about this excursion or check out the organized tours you can take.
Free evening
After spending a day in Auschwitz and learning about the nature of the facts that played out in this place, you probably need an evening off. We did!
Everyone reacts differently to a day like this. Some will feel a need to just do nothing. While others get an urge to feel alive and a need to seize every day from now on.
Spend your evening with a quiet dinner or explore some of the bars in Krakow.
Day 3: Castles and dragons
Wawel Castle and Dragon
In the morning, plan an excursion to Wawel Castle near Krakow. This fortified castle is located on a hilltop near the city center. It’s listed as Unesco World Heritage. It’s the largest castle in Poland and you can easily visit this medieval castle on foot. It’s located in the Krakow Park.
At the foot of Wawel Hill, you can find the fire-spitting dragon of Wawel. Surrounded by myths and legends, the dragon is a tourist highlight in Krakow.
Oskar Schindler Factory
The Oskar Schindler Factory is a large part of Jewish history in Poland. If you want to learn more about this story and Jewish history, visit the factory museum.
Of course, reading the popular book Schindler’s List will also give you more insight in the history of Krakow.
Explore Polish Food
Poland has a rich cuisine and we recommend trying it. Do a food tour to get inside information on how the different dishes are made. Try some street food and local liquors.
Krakow Escape rooms
Krakow is known for its escape rooms. Fear, panic and muffled screams are combined with the sounds of growling chainsaws and other horrible noises.
It seems as if Krakow has a love for horror. The Lost Souls Alley is thé most popular of all Krakow escape rooms, but there are plenty more to try out!
Day 4: Day trip from Krakow
Wieliczka Salt Mine
The last day is perfect for a visit to the iconic Salt Mine of Wieliczka. This impressive mine was operational up to 2007 and it produced table salt.
Wieliczka is one of the oldest operational salt mines in the world and it looks absolutely stunning.
Depending on the time of your visit, this place can get very crowded and waiting lines are long and tiring.
Conlcusion 4 days in Krakow
So this was our 4 days in Krakow itinerary! We enjoyed our stay a lot and obviously hope you do too.
Let us know how your stay was and if we should include anything extra in this itinerary!
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