Krakow, Poland is one of our favorite cities in Europe. Hauntingly beautiful with a solemn history and an incredible resilience that you can feel in the atmosphere, Krakow is an ideal destination for a short getaway – or a long one.
You ideally need at least 3 days in Krakow to see the top sites in and around the Polish city located in the southwestern portion of the country.
If you’re a first-time visitor to Poland and you’re planning your itinerary, we’ve laid out a practical itinerary for 3 days in Krakow.
Where to stay in Krakow for 3 days
If you have a limited time in Krakow, I recommend staying somewhere near Market Square.
We have stayed at Braka 6 multiple times and love the amount of space in the apartments and the proximity to so many of Krakow’s attractions and restaurants. It is about a 15-minute walk to Krakow’s Central Train Station and less than a block from Market Square.
A few alternative hotels that are also highly rated include Hotel Wentzl and the 5-star Bonerowski Palace.
3 Days in Krakow – Itinerary Overview
Krakow is not only one of the best cities in Poland to visit, but also the perfect base if you would like to take day trips to places like the Auschwitz concentration camp or Zakopane – one of the most beautiful winter wonderlands in the world.
With three days in Krakow, you can explore a lot of the city, learn about its somber history, and even fit in a day trip. Here is an overview of our Krakow itinerary.
Day 1:
- Breakfast at Nowa Prowincja
- Step inside Basilica of St Francis of Assisi
- Explore Market Square
- Hunt for Souvenirs at the Cloth Hall
- Visit St. Mary’s Basilica
- Walk the Royal Route
- Stroll through Planty Park
- Visit Wawel Castle
- Back to Market Square for Dinner and Nightlife
Day 2:
- Breakfast at Green Caffe Nero
- Take Lime Scooters or Taxi to Jewish Quarter
- Explore the Old Jewish Ghetto
- See the Jewish Ghetto Memorial and Remaining Fragments of the Wall
- Tour Schindler’s Factory
- Taxi to Wieliczka Salt Mine
Day 3:
- Guided tour to Auschwitz Birkenau
A Comprehensive 3-Day Krakow Itinerary
Now that you have an overview of your 3-day itinerary for Krakow, here is a detailed look at what you’ll see each day.
Day 1 – Old Town and Wawel Castle
After having breakfast at Nowa Prowincja, which is a lovely cafe right across the street from Bracka 6 Apartments, the rest of your day will be spent exploring Old Town and Wawel Castle, one of the most famous castles in all of Europe.
Basilica of St Francis of Assisi
A short walk down the street that Bracka 6 and Nowa Prowincja is on, the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is worth a brief stop because it is both free and beautiful.
Small and unassuming on the outside, the Basilica is one of the oldest churches in Krakow. Famous for its vibrant Art Nouveau interior, the church’s cathedral ceiling, stained-glass windows, and wall frescoes are stunning.
Aside from being a colorful work of art, visiting the church is a tranquil experience and if you go first thing in the morning, it is the perfect place for a quiet moment of reflection to start your day.
Market Square
Market Square is the main square in Kraków, Poland. As the largest medieval town square in Europe, it is framed by stunning architecture like St. Mary’s Basilica and the Renaissance Cloth Hall.
By day, the square is busy with diners enjoying meals at outdoor cafés, people shopping at flower stalls and the occasional festive market, as well as the constant sound of horse-drawn carriages.
At night, it is even more magical, with soft lights casting a golden glow across the square where street performers entertain crowds.
Whether you’re sipping Polish beer at an outdoor table, shopping for hand-crafted Polish souvenirs, or simply enjoying the sights and sounds, Market Square is worth visiting both during the day and at night.
Cloth Hall
At the center of Market Square, the Cloth Hall, or Sukiennice, is a stunning reminder of the city’s mercantile history.
This elegant structure, with its beautiful arcade and multiple archways, has been a center of trade since the 14th century. Once the hub for international merchants selling spices, textiles, and goods, it now houses various market stalls where you can shop for traditional Polish crafts, from amber jewelry to hand-painted ceramics.
If you’re interested in museums, the upper floor hosts the Sukiennice Museum, part of the National Museum, showcasing a remarkable collection of 19th-century Polish art. It also houses an underground museum where you can walk among the remnants of medieval Krakow.
St Mary’s Basilica
Standing prominently in Market Square, St. Mary’s Basilica is one of the most famous churches in Europe.
Its twin towers dominate the skyline of the square. There is a fee to enter the basilica, but inside you’ll find a kaleidoscope of colors that rival that of the nearby Basilica of St. Francis.
From its intricately painted ceiling and walls, and to the 15th century wooden altarpiece depicting the life of the Virgin Mary, the interior is worth taking the time to explore.
One of the most unique things about the basilica is that every hour, a traditional bugle call echoes from the tallest tower.
Royal Route
After exploring Market Square and all it has to offer, take a stroll down the Royal Route. Similar to the Royal Route in Warsaw, walking this route is like tracing the path once taken by kings, dignitaries, and royal processions.
This historic route takes you from St. Florian’s Gate, through Market Square and ends at Wawel Castle.
Along the way, you’ll walk down the shop-lined Grodzka Street, where you can find plenty of souvenir shops and restaurants serving up delicious Polish cuisine.
Planty Park
Planty Park is a lovely green embrace that encircles the historic Old Town.
Once the site of medieval city walls, this serene park is now a tranquil urban escape for both locals and visitors where you can stroll or cycle beneath large trees, or if you’re visiting Poland with kids, you can let little ones roam free or play at a small playground.
Spanning over four kilometers, Planty has plenty of benches where you can sit, relax, and enjoy people-watching before making the up-hill walk to your next stop.
Wawel Castle
Wawel Castle is one of Poland’s major landmarks. Perched atop a hill overlooking the Vistula River, this sprawling complex was once the residence of Polish kings and queens.
Plan to spend about half a day here exploring its grand chambers, chapels, and treasure-filled museums. The castle grounds also have breathtaking manicured gardens and even small cafes on site where you can enjoy an afternoon coffee and pastry.
Kids will also love seeing the Wawel Dragon near the exit of the castle. The statue breathes real fire every few minutes.
After exploring Wawel Castle, head back to Old Town for dinner and to take in the atmosphere of Market Square at night.
Day 2 – Jewish Ghetto and Wieliczka Salt Mine
Day two of your 3 days in Krakow will take you across the river to an area of town that was once the Jewish Quarter and to a suburb of Krakow that is home to one of the world’s largest salt mines.
Jewish Ghetto Memorial
The Jewish Ghetto Memorial in Kraków’s Podgórze district is a poignant tribute to the victims of the Holocaust. Also known as the Ghetto Heroes Square, it features 70 oversized, empty bronze chairs spread across the square—which was the area where Jewish people who were pulled from their homes during World War II would be gathered before forcibly relocated to concentration camps or killed on the spot.
The empty chairs symbolize the lives lost and the devastating emptiness left behind. Pause for a moment of quiet reflection as you will be standing in a square where many people died or were carried off to their ultimate death.
Nearby, you’ll find the only remnants of the ghetto wall that still stands.
Schindler’s Factory
Only a block or two from Ghetto Heroes Square, Schindler’s Factory is one of the most moving museums in Krakow.
Once the site of Oskar Schindler’s enamelware factory, where he saved over 1,200 Jewish people, it is now a museum that walks you through the city’s history during WorldWar II and the Nazi Occupation from 1939-1945.
Inside, you’ll walk through a reconstructed Jewish ghetto, learn how the Jewish people were treated during the occupation, and hear actual stories from people living in Kraków’s Jewish ghetto during this dark era.
The museum doesn’t just tell Schindler’s story but also provides a broader look at the German occupation and the Polish resistance. You could spend hours here, but if you’re traveling with kids, you will likely want to allot just about 2 hours. That is about as long as kids will last in the museum.
Wieliczka Salt Mine
After exploring the Jewish Ghetto, catch a cab or book a guided tour to the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Located just outside Kraków, this UNESCO World Heritage site is a full underground world where everything is carved from salt.
The salt mine has been operating since the 13th century, with over 300 kilometers of tunnels carved deep into the earth. It was once a source of great wealth for Poland, when salt was a major trading commodity.
After descending a seemingly endless staircase, your guided tour of this subterranean wonder will take you by salt sculptures and into underground rooms like St. Kinga’s Chapel, a full cathedral carved from salt with elegant chandeliers and carvings on the wall depicting scenes from the life of Jesus Christ.
The mine also features underground lakes and exhibits on the history of salt mining. You’ll want to dress warmly and bring a lightweight jacket, even in summertime, because the mine stays chilly year-round.
Day 3 – Day Trip to Auschwitz
This third day on this 3-day Krakow itinerary will likely be the hardest. It will likely be the most memorable but not necessarily “enjoyable” because on your third day, you will journey about an hour outside of the city on a guided day trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Visiting the former Nazi concentration and extermination camp is a sobering experience, yet an essential part of understanding the history of Poland and the atrocities of World War II that changed our world forever.
Guided tours lead visitors through Auschwitz’s infamous “Arbeit Macht Frei” gate. You’ll explore the different buildings that served as barracks and even walk inside the gas chamber where hundreds of thousands likely perished.
Next, you’ll visit Birkenau, a secondary camp about a mile away from Auschwitz. Walking through the vast complex and hearing the stories of the victims is emotionally heavy. If traveling with kids, this day trip is probably not suitable for kids under 10. It’s hard to fathom, even for adults, the cruelty and horror that took place at Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Note: If you are traveling with small children who aren’t ready for this type of heaviness, consider a day trip to Zakopane and the thermal baths instead of Auschwitz.
Final Thoughts: Is 3 Days in Krakow, Poland enough?
Although Krakow is a large city with more than 769,000 people, it has a quaint, almost small-town feel, so you can easily explore much of Krakow in 3 days. We felt Krakow was worth visiting for a longer time period because it has a great atmosphere and overall vibe, but if you’re in Poland for a limited time as part of a longer Central Europe itinerary, you can see the top sites in Krakow and get a taste of the city in a long weekend.
Do you have a question or comment about any of the things to do in Krakow on this itinerary? We’d love to hear from you! Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
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