3 Days in Kraków, Poland: Itinerary for First-Time Visitors (+ Map & Tips)

This post contains affiliate links, which not only help with planning your trip but also make this website and YouTube channel possible at no extra cost to you—win-win! Thanks for your support.

For a three-day trip to Kraków, what should you prioritise? Where could you eat and drink? How much do things cost? We’ll be covering this plus other tips and practical information in this three-day itinerary, all based on our own trip to Kraków in May. Let’s get started!

Three Days in Kraków: Itinerary Overview

Day One
Wawel Hill
Kraków Old Town

Day Two (Day Trip)
Auschwitz-Birkenau
Wieliczka Salt Mine

Day Three
Kazimierz
Podgórze
Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory

You can Also Watch Our Kraków Video Itinerary

Kraków Three-Day Itinerary Map

>>> Grab our free map of things to do in Krakow <<<

Search For Your Kraków Accommodation

Krakow Three-Day Itinerary – Day One

Breakfast: obwarzanek

We’ve got a busy day, so for breakfast on the go, try obwarzanek krakowski.

This is a braided, ring-shaped bread that tastes like a cross between a pretzel and a bagel. You’ll find them at the many blue stalls dotted around the Old Town.

Prices vary, and unsurprisingly the most expensive ones we saw were in the Main Square. We got ours from a stall on Grodzka Street for 3 zloty.

Tip // Have an obwarzanek in the morning while it’s fresh! It can get a bit stale later in the day.

Wawel Hill

Just south of the Old Town is Wawel Hill, where you’ll find Wawel Royal Castle, one of the largest castles in Poland. It’s free to stroll around the grounds and admire the historic buildings and beautifully manicured gardens.

There are various paid sites to visit around the castle, such as:

• State Rooms
• Royal Apartments
• Treasury and Armoury
• Dragon’s Den

The Wawel Castle website lists what the different areas are, how much they cost and how long they take to visit. You could easily spend half a day at Wawel Hill if you want to visit all the areas of the castle, but for the sake of this itinerary we’re just sticking to the free bits.

Tickets are sold by exhibition, so you can pick and choose what to visit, or just buy a combination ticket if you want to visit the lot.

While you’re there, don’t miss Wawel Cathedral, where many Polish monarchs were crowned and buried. Above the entrance, you’ll see some bones hanging. These are thought to be from a mammoth, rhino and a blue whale, or from a dragon. Which of those you choose to believe is entirely up to you.

Wawel Dragon, Dżok The Dog and walk of fame

Near the entrance to the cave at the bottom of Wawel Hill, you’ll spot the fire-breathing dragon statue, dedicated to the legend of the Wawel Dragon. The story goes that the dragon terrorised the city until a clever shoemaker’s apprentice tricked it into eating sulphur, which didn’t end too well for the dragon.

If you’re up for a side quest, keep an eye out for the small dragon statues scattered around Kraków.

Close to the dragon, walk along Kraków’s own walk of fame towards a statue commemorating Dżok — one of the world’s most faithful dogs. After his owner died at a nearby roundabout, this good boy waited there for a whole year before being adopted by a local. 

Jagiellonian University Museum 

There are a number of museums you could visit in the Old Town, and the first one we chose was the Jagiellonian University Museum. This 14th-century university is one of the oldest in Europe, and it’s where Copernicus studied.

Inside the small museum, you’ll wander through rooms such as:

• the old library
• the treasury
• the professor’s residences
• the lecture hall

Tip // There’s also a musical clock show at set times throughout the day, so check the university website in advance to double check the times when you visit.

Lunch: Suggestion 1 (Milk Bar)

At some point, you’ll be ready for lunch, and I have a couple of suggestions. First, try a traditional Polish milk bar (bar mleczny). These places are like no-frills canteens serving up hearty, traditional food at an affordable price. Expect dishes like pierogi, potato pancakes, soups, and cutlets. Simple but seriously comforting.

We liked Bar Mila, just a 10-minute walk outside the Old Town. There is another milk bar (Bar Mleczny Pod Temida) right in the Old Town if you’re looking for convenience, although we didn’t get around to trying this one ourselves.

Lunch: Suggestion 2 (Bar Smak)

Another suggestion I have for lunch is Bar Smak. This is a small, unpretentious café serving tasty Polish food at a good price.

Our potato pancakes with mushroom sauce were great, although we both thought the pierogis at Bar Mila had more flavour. I don’t think you can go wrong with either place, though.

If you want to sample a range of local dishes and drinks, you could take one of Kraków’s highly rated food tours.

Rynek Główny (Market Square) & Cloth Hall

Make your way to Kraków’s busy Main Market Square.

Depending on where you’re staying, you might have seen it first thing in the morning on the way to Wawel Hill. But it will be much busier now, and absolutely packed with people and pigeons. It’s a great time to soak up the atmosphere, admire the historic buildings from different angles, and see the huge square at its liveliest.

The centrepiece of the Main Market Square is the Cloth Hall. This Renaissance-style market is now home to stalls selling mostly touristy souvenirs. So, if you’re after a cuddly pigeon, you’re in the right place!

One interesting detail to look out for is the row of coats of arms from Polish cities just above the stalls, so don’t forget to look up.

St Mary’s Basilica

On the square, you’ll find St Mary’s Basilica.

The exterior is impressive, but it’s worth going inside too to see the starry ceiling and the incredible hand-carved wooden altarpiece.

From Monday to Saturday, the altar is opened at 11:50am. So if you visit when the doors open at 11:30, make sure you hang around for the big reveal.

Watch for the trumpeter. If you’re near the basilica when the hour changes, look up at the taller tower. A trumpeter plays a short tune that ends suddenly, mid-note.

This centuries-old tradition happens every hour, so there’s a good chance you’ll catch it.

Rynek Underground Museum. 

To learn more about what life used to be like in Kraków, head down to the Rynek Underground Museum.

It’s just beneath the square and gives you a look into Kraków’s medieval past through excavated streets, artefacts, and multimedia exhibits. I’d recommend booking this one in advance, as it can sell out. If they have sold out, or you would like to learn more, then you could book a guided tour of Rynek Underground.

Floriańska Street & the Barbican

From the Main Square, walk up Floriańska Street towards the impressive Florian’s Gate. This busy street used to be part of the Royal Road, a ceremonial route that Polish kings would take on their way to Wawel Castle.

Once you pass through Florian’s Gate, you’ll spot the Barbican just ahead. This imposing circular fortress, with its thick walls and turrets, once helped protect the city.

Pubs and Bars in Kraków’s Old Town

Fancy a drink? Here are a couple of bars we liked in the Old Town.

Wódka is a small, cosy bar where you can order a tasting flight of… you guessed it… vodka. For 65 złoty, you can choose six flavours from a long list of interesting options.

Our favourites were:

• Caramel – tasted like a boozy Werther’s Original
• Hazelnut – reminded us of Nutella

Neither of us particularly liked the gooseberry. Sorry, gooseberry.

If you’re more of a beer drinker, try House of Beer. They’ve got a great selection of craft beers at good prices, and the staff were really friendly and happy to help us decide.

Dinner in Kraków’s Old Town

We only ate dinner in the Old Town once, and this suggestion might not appeal to everyone, but we really enjoyed it, so I’m including it in this guide!

Wolf Pit Tavern is a medieval fantasy-themed restaurant and bar inspired by The Witcher universe. Enjoy the fun décor, brew your own potion-themed cocktails, and tuck into some fire-grilled food.

If you fancy saving a bit of money, you can swap your złoty for the tavern’s own currency, which gives you a discount, so get involved!

It’s a popular spot and they only set aside a small number of tables for reservations, so either book well in advance or just join the queue. We were able to book via Facebook Messenger.

Krakow Three day Itinerary – Day Two

Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Wieliczka Salt Mine

For your second day, head out of the centre to visit two of the most powerful historical sites in Poland: Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Wieliczka Salt Mine.

We did a guided tour that covered both in one day. The company we went with also offered trips to just one of the two sites, in case you don’t want to visit both, or it simply sounds like too much for one day.

• Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Wieliczka Salt Mine in one day (the one we did)
• Auschwitz-Birkenau only
• Wieliczka Salt Mine only

Our day started early, with a minibus pick-up at 6am. The drive from Kraków Old Town to Auschwitz took around an hour and a half, and on the way, we were shown a documentary about the camp, which helped us understand more about what we were about to see.

Our visit took us to two parts of the former Nazi concentration and extermination camp: Auschwitz I and Birkenau. When we arrived, we were met by an educator who guided us through the terrible history of the camp, where over one million men, women and children were killed.

It’s a very heavy experience, and both the exhibits and the complex itself are difficult to see. However, it is a place to honour the victims, to better understand what happened, and to reflect on an important part of history that must not be forgotten or repeated.

After a three-hour tour of Auschwitz, we stopped for lunch before the one-hour transfer to the Salt Mine.

From here, our minibus tour took us to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, around one hour away. These mines were first excavated in the 13th century and produced table salt right up until as recently as 1996. And yes, I’m still telling myself the 90s are recent.

The visit takes you deep underground on a two-and-a-half-hour guided tour that winds through a magical maze of tunnels and chambers. You’ll see amazing sculptures and a vast underground church all made entirely out of salt, chandeliers included! 

Kraków’s Famous Blue Sausage Van!

Back in the city after a long day, if you’re too tired for anything fancy then head to the legendary blue sausage van.

You’ll get a fire-grilled kiełbasa, a chunk of bread, and a bit of mustard and ketchup if you want it. Even if you don’t fancy one straight after your day trip, the van’s there until 3 a.m., so it’s a solid option if you ever need some late-night food.

Krakow Three day Itinerary – Day Three

Breakfast in Kazimierz

For your last day, head south of the Old Town to explore two districts: Kazimierz and Podgórze.

First things first though, you’ll want breakfast. There are plenty of well-reviewed cafés around, but one we really liked in Kazimierz was Poranki.

They have a range of sweet and savoury breakfast options like topped waffles, toast or pancakes. Dishes range from around 30 to 45 zł, and the coffee was really good too.

Remember, you can find all the sights mentioned in this itinerary on our free Kraków map!

Kazimierz

The north-eastern part of Kazimierz was historically the centre of Jewish life in Kraków, while the rest of Kazimierz was mainly Catholic.

These days, Kazimierz is known for its lively atmosphere, independent shops, street art and a growing food and bar scene. Parts of it look a bit gritty, but that’s not a bad thing and it actually adds to the charm. The area has loads of character and is really fun to walk around.

Just across the river is Podgórze, which today is home to peaceful parks, riverside walks, and St Joseph’s Church, which has an absolutely incredible exterior.

However, during World War II, this is where the Nazis forcibly relocated Kraków’s Jewish population to create the Jewish Ghetto. You can still see traces of that history around the district today, as well as the Empty Chairs Memorial on Ghetto Heroes Square.

If you’re at all interested in learning about the history of the Jewish community in Kraków, I’d recommend taking a walking tour. We booked a free tour with Walkative, who operate on a tip-only basis and have loads of great reviews from other travellers. 

Our guide was funny, knowledgeable, and pointed out so many things we’d have never known to look for on our own. The tour lasted about two and a half hours, although it flew by.

If you decide to skip a tour and explore on your own, do know that you can go inside some of the synagogues.

We went inside Remuh Synagogue, which is the smallest in Kazimierz and still in use today. This is also where you access the cemetery, which is one of the oldest surviving Jewish cemeteries in Poland.

Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory

In Podgórze, you’ll find Schindler’s Factory, which now houses a World War II museum. Part of the exhibition tells the story of Oskar Schindler, who, as you’ll know from the film Schindler’s List, was the German businessman who saved over a thousand Jews by employing them in his factory.

However, this is only a small part of the exhibition. Most of the museum focuses more broadly on life in the city during the war.

If you do want to go, it’s worth booking in advance, as the queues for tickets can get pretty long. You can either book a self-guided ticket or visit as part of a tour.

Lunch: Maczanka at Judah Food Market

At some point between these two activities, you’ll want a lunch break. I’d recommend Judah Food Market – a small collection of food trucks serving a variety of dishes, from burgers to baked potatoes.

We went to Andrus Food Truck, known for their take on the traditional Polish dish maczanka. Their sandwiches are stuffed with slow-cooked pulled pork that’s been marinated for two days, and you can choose from a range of toppings to finish them off. We paid 32 zł (£6.50 / $8.90) for the classic.

Alternative Suggestion: zapiekanka at Plac Nowy

Another street food option is zapiekanka. This is a halved baguette topped with mushrooms, cheese, and whatever extras you fancy, then toasted until it’s bubbling and melty. It’s usually more of a late-night snack, but still works well for lunch.

We tried a couple, and our favourite was from Endzior at Plac Nowy. Depending on your toppings, prices ranged from 15-28 zł (£3.10-£5.70 / $4.20-$7.80).

Bars & Pubs in Kazimierz

As mentioned earlier, Kazimierz has loads of great bars and pubs. Here are a few we liked:

For craft beer lovers:

• Nowy Kraftowy – Right on Plac Nowy, with a good selection of craft beers and a busy, lively atmosphere. There was even a market on when we visited.
• Omerta – Just around the corner from Nowy Kraftowy, this one has a bit of a Godfather theme and another solid beer selection.

For vodka shots:

• Pijalnia Wódki i Piwa – Next to Nowy Kraftowy, this bar is styled after Poland’s communist era and offers cheap vodka shots. They’ve also got a couple of locations in the Old Town.

For atmosphere:

• Alchemia – A popular spot on Plac Nowy. The outdoor tables are great for people-watching, and the inside is cosy with an old-world feel.
• Hevre – Housed in a former synagogue, this place serves fresh Pilsner Urquell straight from the tank. You can even choose from four traditional Czech pour styles, depending on how much foam you want.

For live music:

• New Day Blues Bar – Known for its daily live acoustic rock covers.

Pinball Museum

If you’re after an evening activity that doesn’t involve drinking, check out the Kraków Pinball Museum, located between Kazimierz and the Old Town. They’ve got over 60 pinball machines, along with loads of old-school arcade games like Street Fighter and Pac-Man.

You just pay one entrance fee, then it’s unlimited free play for the rest of your visit.

Dinner Suggestion

For your final night, treat yourself to a nice meal out.

We went to Starka, a cosy little restaurant that serves really good-quality food. The menu focuses on traditional Polish dishes with a bit of a modern twist. They also serve homemade flavoured vodka, which is worth trying.

Definitely book this one in advance if you fancy it, as it’s small and does get fully booked.

Planning A Trip To Europe? You Might Want To Read some of Our Other european City Guides.
Here are a few suggestions:

• 3 Days in Munich: A Fun Itinerary For First-Timers
• How to Spend One Day in Salzburg, Austria
• 3 Days in Seville: Best Things To See & Do
• 3-4 Days in Venice, Italy (+ Map) | Things To Do For First-Timers
• How to Spend 4 Days in Rome (+ Map): Fun Things To See and Do