Krakow works well for a winter trip with children, because most family attractions are indoors: the Wieliczka Salt Mine, the Water Park, museums with family exhibitions and the Armoury at Wawel Castle. Outdoors there are ice rinks and, on selected days, the winter edition of Energylandia in Zator. For a family trip the most comfortable choice is an apartment with a separate bedroom, a kitchenette and a washing machine.
In short
- Indoors: Wieliczka Salt Mine, Park Wodny water park, the Polish Aviation Museum, the Armoury and chambers at Wawel Castle.
- Outdoors: ice rinks, Krakus Mound, a walk along the Vistula Boulevards.
- Energylandia: open as Winter Kingdom on selected days from 28 November 2026.
- Polish school winter holidays: 18 January to 28 February 2027, in three rounds by region. Krakow’s own holidays are 15 to 28 February.
- Where to stay: family apartments with a separate bedroom, such as Flower Residence, the Apartment near the Arena or Łagiewniki with free parking.
Indoor attractions for cold and rainy days
Wieliczka Salt Mine. Underground it is 17 to 18°C all year, so in winter it is one of the best attractions for the whole family. The train from Krakow takes about 20 minutes. Tickets and tips are in our guide to the Wieliczka Salt Mine from Krakow.
Park Wodny water park. At Dobrego Pasterza 126 there are eight slides with a total length of 800 metres, a lazy river with rapids and a paddling pool with a pirate ship for the youngest. It is open every day from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm. Current prices are on the Park Wodny website.
Wawel Castle. The Dragon’s Den cave is only open from April to October, but you can visit the castle chambers, the Crown Treasury and the Armoury in winter too, Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Children under 7 go in free, and at weekends there is a family tour with an educator (39 PLN per person). Kids usually love the Armoury most (47 PLN, reduced 35 PLN). The fire-breathing dragon statue at the foot of the hill is there all year round.
Polish Aviation Museum. On Jana Pawła II Avenue in Czyżyny you will find dozens of aircraft and helicopters, many of them in hangars. The museum runs family workshops and film screenings, and one day a week entry is free. The free day changes, so check it on the museum website.
Outdoors
Ice rinks. Every winter Krakow opens outdoor ice rinks. In previous years they were set up next to TAURON Arena and in Nowa Huta, among others. The city publishes the current list for winter 2026/2027 on krakow.pl.
Krakus Mound. Entry is free and from the top you can see the whole city. In the snow it makes a great short walk.
The Main Square and the Planty park. Children love the pigeons on the square, the bugle call played from St Mary’s tower every full hour and the horse-drawn carriages. A walk around the Old Town along the Planty takes about an hour.
Energylandia in winter
Energylandia, Poland’s biggest amusement park, is in Zator, about 50 km from Krakow. In winter it opens as Winter Kingdom on selected days only. The 2026/2027 winter season starts on 28 November. In November and December the park is open at weekends and from 26 to 30 December, from 11:30 am to 6:30 pm. Check the opening days in January and February in the Energylandia calendar before you go. The easiest way to get there is by car. From an apartment with parking, for example in Łagiewniki, you are straight on the road.
Polish school holidays: when Krakow is busier
Polish children have two weeks of winter holidays between 18 January and 28 February 2027, at different times in different regions. Krakow’s own pupils are off from 15 to 28 February. During these weeks family attractions such as the Water Park and Wieliczka are busier, especially at weekends, so book tickets online where you can.
Our tip: where to stay with children
For a family trip, an apartment where the children can sleep in a separate room, and where you can cook dinner and wash clothes after a day in the snow, makes life much easier:
- For a family of up to 4: Flower Residence in Kleparz. Most apartments have a separate bedroom, every one has a kitchenette and a washing machine, and the building is new, with a lift. The Main Square is a 15 minute walk.
- For a family of up to 6: the Apartment near the Arena, 60 m², three rooms, a separate kitchen and a space in the underground garage included. The Aviation Museum and Park Lotników Polskich are right next door. In the Old Town, a larger family can stay in the biggest apartment at Barbakan Residence, with two bedrooms, in a building with a lift.
- By car, with Energylandia and Wieliczka on the plan: Łagiewniki Apartments Free Parking. A free parking space on a fenced property, a separate bedroom, a washing machine and a dishwasher. There is no lift in the building.
We send the door codes on the day of arrival, and you check in on your own from 3:00 pm, at any time. No need to make it for a fixed hour after a long journey with children. Coming by car? See the rules of the Clean Transport Zone and parking.
Frequently asked questions
What can you do in Krakow with kids in winter?
The Wieliczka Salt Mine, the Park Wodny water park, the Armoury and chambers at Wawel Castle, the Polish Aviation Museum, ice rinks and, on selected days, Energylandia in Zator.
Is the Dragon’s Den open in winter?
No. The Dragon’s Den is open from April to October. In winter you can visit the castle, and the fire-breathing dragon statue stands below Wawel all year.
Is Energylandia open in winter?
Yes, as Winter Kingdom, but only on selected days. In 2026/2027 it opens on 28 November. Check the January and February dates in the park calendar.
When are the Polish winter school holidays in 2027?
Between 18 January and 28 February 2027, two weeks in each region. In Krakow and the Małopolska region from 15 to 28 February.
Where should I stay in Krakow with children?
In an apartment with a separate bedroom and a kitchenette, such as Flower Residence in Kleparz, the Apartment near the Arena for up to 6, or Łagiewniki with free parking.
Planning Krakow in winter without the kids? See Krakow in winter: what to do from November to February.
Krakow with kids, with Cracow Travel. Book a family apartment direct. With the code CT231974 you pay 50 PLN less for stays of 2 nights or more. See available apartments →
Sources: Portal Oświatowy (school holidays 2027), Wawel Royal Castle (tickets, Dragon’s Den), Park Wodny Kraków, Polish Aviation Museum, Energylandia (calendar). Photo: Ferdziu, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 PL. Updated: November 2026. The Cracow Travel team, hosting guests in Kraków for 15 years.