Two full days are enough for a weekend in Krakow: the first for the Old Town and Wawel, the second for Kazimierz and Podgórze across the river. A third day leaves time for the Wieliczka Salt Mine or a slower day in the museums. You save the most time by staying in the centre, because then you can walk almost everywhere and you never have to think about parking.
In short
- Day 1: the Main Square, the Cloth Hall, St Mary’s Basilica, the Royal Route and Wawel.
- Day 2: Kazimierz, the Father Bernatek Footbridge, Podgórze and Schindler’s Factory.
- Day 3 (optional): the Wieliczka Salt Mine, about 20 minutes by train, or museums and Krakus Mound.
- Book ahead: Wawel and Schindler’s Factory can sell out for the day at weekends.
- No car needed: you explore the centre on foot and by tram. Leave the car at an apartment with parking.
- Where to stay: the Old Town or the edge of the Old Town and Kazimierz, for example Bagel Residence on Dietla Street.
Day 1: the Main Square and Wawel
Start early on the Main Square, before it gets busy. Walk around the Cloth Hall, look into St Mary’s Basilica and listen to the bugle call, the hejnał, played from the tower every full hour. If you like museums, the Rynek Underground is right under the square, and the Gallery of 19th Century Polish Art is upstairs in the Cloth Hall.
From the square, walk down Grodzka Street to Wawel. This is the route the kings once took, which is why it is called the Royal Route. On the way you pass the Church of Saints Peter and Paul and St Andrew’s Church. The walk takes about 15 minutes.
You can walk up Wawel Hill and into the castle courtyard without a ticket. The exhibitions inside the castle are paid. Both floors of the castle cost 95 PLN (reduced 71 PLN), and the Crown Treasury or the Armoury costs 47 PLN (reduced 35 PLN). Children under 7 go in free. Tickets are sold online up to 4 weeks ahead at bilety.wawel.krakow.pl. On Mondays selected exhibitions are free, but the free passes are only given out at the ticket office on the day and there is a daily limit. Wawel Cathedral has its own separate ticket.
After Wawel, walk down to the Vistula Boulevards and along the river. Spend the evening in the Old Town: the Planty park, Floriańska Street, St Florian’s Gate and the Barbican look completely different after dark.
Our tip: “Do Wawel in the morning if you come in high season or on a long weekend. Tickets to the royal chambers can run out for the day, while the courtyard and the river view are free at any time.”
Day 2: Kazimierz and Podgórze
Kazimierz is a 15 to 20 minute walk from the Main Square. This former Jewish quarter has synagogues on Szeroka Street, Plac Nowy with its famous zapiekanka, the Polish open sandwich, and plenty of cafés hidden in courtyards. The best plan is simply to wander: Józefa, Meiselsa and Izaaka streets are full of galleries and small restaurants.
From Kazimierz, cross the Father Bernatek Footbridge to Podgórze on the other side of the Vistula. A 15 minute walk further on you will find Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory, with an exhibition about Krakow under German occupation, and next to it MOCAK, the Museum of Contemporary Art. The Schindler’s Factory exhibition is very popular, so buy your ticket online in advance.
End the day on Krakus Mound. Entry is free and from the top you can see the whole city, from Wawel to Nowa Huta. It is one of the best sunset spots in Krakow.
Day 3: Wieliczka or a slower day in the city
Do you have a third day? Our guests most often choose the Wieliczka Salt Mine. The train from Krakow takes about 20 minutes, and the whole visit including travel takes half a day. Tickets, transport and tips are in our guide to the Wieliczka Salt Mine from Krakow.
A visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial in Oświęcim takes a full day, and entry passes have to be booked well in advance. Everything about booking and transport is in our guide how to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau from Krakow.
Prefer to stay in the city? Choose the museums you did not have time for, walk around the Planty park that circles the Old Town, or visit Nowa Huta, a completely different, socialist realist district of Krakow.
Getting around Krakow for the weekend
The Old Town and Kazimierz are best explored on foot. For longer distances there are trams. You can buy tickets from machines at the stops and on board, also by card, or in the Jakdojade app. Coming by car? The centre is inside the Clean Transport Zone, and parking there is paid and hard to find. The rules are explained in our guide to the Clean Transport Zone and parking. Flying in? See how to get from Krakow Airport to the city centre.
Our tip: where to stay for a weekend
On a short trip every hour counts, so it is best to stay somewhere you can walk everywhere from:
- On the Main Square: Apartments in Pałac Pod Baranami. You step out of the gate and you are on the square.
- Between the Main Square and Kazimierz: Bagel Residence Old Town on Dietla Street. Wawel is a seven minute walk, and you can leave your luggage in the luggage room before check in and after check out. Handy if you want to keep sightseeing on Sunday.
- By the Planty park: The Old Town View on Podwale, four minutes from the Main Square, and Art of Serenity on Zacisze Street, a few minutes from the main station. Convenient if you arrive by train.
- In Kazimierz: Sarah Apartments on Miodowa Street, in a new building with a lift.
- By car: Łagiewniki Apartments Free Parking, with a free space on a fenced property. You can take the train to the centre from the station five minutes away.
We send the door codes on the day of arrival, and you check in on your own at any time from 3:00 pm. So there is no need to rush for a fixed time, even if you arrive late on Friday after work. Not sure which area to choose? Read our guide where to stay in Krakow.
A weekend in Krakow in different seasons
- November and December: from late November the Christmas market runs on the Main Square. See our guide to the Krakow Christmas Market.
- Winter: it gets dark early, so see the main sights in daylight. More in Krakow in winter.
- A weekend with a concert: going to an event at TAURON Arena? See how to get there and where to stay near the arena.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Krakow?
Two full days cover the highlights: the Old Town with Wawel, and Kazimierz with Podgórze. A third day lets you add Wieliczka or museums.
What should I not miss on a weekend in Krakow?
The Main Square with the Cloth Hall and St Mary’s Basilica, Wawel, Kazimierz with Plac Nowy and Szeroka Street, and the Vistula Boulevards.
Do I have to pay to enter Wawel?
No for the hill and the courtyard. The exhibitions inside the castle are paid, and on Mondays selected exhibitions are free within a daily limit of passes.
Where should I stay in Krakow for a weekend?
In the Old Town or right next to it, so you can walk everywhere. The edge of the Old Town and Kazimierz is a good choice, for example Bagel Residence on Dietla Street.
Do I need a car in Krakow?
No. You explore the centre on foot and by tram. If you come by car, choose a place with parking, for example in Łagiewniki.
What time can I check in?
From 3:00 pm, on your own, at any time. We send the door code on the day of arrival.
A weekend in Krakow with Cracow Travel. Book direct and explore on foot from the centre. With the code CT231974 you pay 50 PLN less for stays of 2 nights or more. See available apartments →
Sources: Wawel Royal Castle (ticket prices, free Mondays, online sales). Photo: Zygmunt Put, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Updated: November 2026. The Cracow Travel team, hosting guests in Kraków for 15 years.