How to spend three days in Krakow, Poland. I visited Krakow back when studying abroad in Prague Fall of 2021. Below is an overview of my very affordable trip with some recommendations for attractions and food, my lodging experience and even a budget break down at the end.
(Last Updated on March 11, 2023)
Travel Summary
Duration: October 7, 2021 to October 10, 2021.
Accommodation(s): Mohito Hostel
Location Overview
Krakow, is the second largest city in Poland, located in southern region near the border of the Czech Republic. Krakow is known for its Medieval style and historic architecture.
While studying abroad in the Czech Republic, one of my goals is to visit at least one destination in each bordering country (Poland, Austria, Slovakia, & Germany). When some of my flatmates threw out the idea of Krakow, I was hesitant at first, as I’d just returned from a weekend in Crete, Greece and was feeling a little burnt out. I’m glad I pushed through that feeling and decided to go because I ended up having a really great time in the city!
Currency
Zloty 1 USD= 3.94 zl. Your USD or EUR will go a long way here! Krakow is one of the more inexpensive European locations to travel to, especially if you’re eating off the tourist path.
Good to note- credit/ debit cards are widely accepted so you will rarely need cash.
As a Discover credit card user, I was quite surprised to find my card was accepted at almost every location I visited in Krakow, as they’re often not in other cities I’ve visited so far.
Transportation
To/From Prague
From Prague, Krakow is just over an hour in the air. By train and bus, the journey is about 6.5 hours with a transfer. I opted for the longer train and bus connection, as round trip my tickets were $35 USD and I could bring my luggage.
I typically book my tickets through Omio.com, as I can simply plug in my start and end destination and the site does the rest of the work for me! Often times, I am able to access my ticket directly through the Omio mobile app, which is also super convenient. The train/bus provider for this trip was RegioJet.
I left from Praha Hl.n (Hlavni Nadrazi), the main station in Prague, and took a train to Ostrava-Svinov. From Ostrava-Svinov I then changed to a bus, which took me on a direct route to Krakow Dworzec Autobusowy, the main bus station in Krakow which is located directly next to the Krakow Glowny Train Station. I was initially stressed about the transfer, as Ostrava-Svinov was not the last stop on the train’s route, and I needed to pay attention to the announcements to make sure I got off at the right stop. Luckily, there was a sign posted on the train door with the route stops, and estimated times of arrival. Our train was running late, but the bus adjusted accordingly, and I used google maps to make sure I got off at the right train station stop.
Finding the bus stop was even easier than I’d expected, as the bus left from right outside the station’s entrance.
The way back I took a different bus run by the same agency (RegioJet), which stopped at Ostrava-Svinov, and then a train which ended at Praha Hl.n.
Bus Station to Old Town, Krakow
To get from the main bus/train station to town is an easy 20 minute scenic walk through a couple major squares, and a park. I contemplated taking public transport, but decided to walk and got to see some sights along the way.
Accommodations
I stayed in the Mohito Hostel, located in the heart of Old Town, and just steps from Rynek Glowny, the main square of Krakow Old Town. The hostel was $17.15 USD for two nights, and was in a 8 person mixed room. As the name suggests, this is a party hostel but has an unbeatable location and price.
Pros of the hostel included the price, as this is one of the cheapest hostels I’ve stayed in so far. There is a private bathroom located right outside the shared dorm room with an individual shower, something I consider quite a luxury and the communal bathroom has individual showers stalls with a sink and locking door.
Cons including the hostel reception being located on the third floor of the building, having to pay for luggage storage & towels, not having any privacy in the shared dorm room, and not having paper towels in the bathrooms. My room was located right next to the common room, which got quite noisy starting around 8 PM, and died down by 11 PM as people started heading out for the night. For those who like to socialize, this hostel is great for making friends to go out with, but those who are noise sensitive may want to avoid rooms next to the common areas.
Things to Do
Rynek Glowny
Also known as the main square of Old Town, it’s impossible to miss. Home to numerous restaurants, shops, and stands. Notable landmarks located in the square include the Town Hall Tower, Basilica of the Virgin Mary’s and Cloth Hall.
Cloth Hall
Located in the center of Rynek Glowny, this hall has been used for trade since the 14th century. Now the hall is open for tourists and features lots of different stands selling various local items including amber, the native gemstone of Poland. I walked through the hall one evening, which took about 15 minutes with stops, and enjoyed getting to see the different stands!
Wawel Hill
Located about a 12 minute walk from Rynek Glowny, Wawel Hill is one of the main attractions here in Krakow. Home to Wawel Castle and Cathedral, I ended up coming here twice: once on my own during sunset to walk around the grounds and a second time with study abroad friends to explore the Cathedral and experience the hill during the day. Note that the grounds do close at sunset. I would highly recommend touring the interior of the Cathedral which was 8zl ($2 USD) for students. You can purchase tickets from the building next to the Cathedral, which comes with an interior map for a self-guided tour. Make sure to look at the map on your ticket! We missed the bell tour because we just walked around without paying attention to it.
Auschwitz-Birkenau Tour
Originally I was unsure if I was going to book this tour, as I only had a few days in the city and the tour I booked with Discover Cracow was estimated to be 7 hours long. I ended up deciding to book it after some encouragement from my mom over text, as she’d done her own Europe vacation back in college and had really wished she’d gotten this opportunity.
The tour did end up being a little over 7 hours long from pick-up to drop-off, so this is really an all day thing, but was so worth it. It was difficult, but also very rewarding in knowledge and powerful. I even ended up meeting another American student on the tour bus, and we chatted together on the bus rides between the stops.
I highly recommend the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum and Memorial Tour hosted by Discover Cracow through the Viator app. Discover Cracow has multiple tour times daily. I booked the noon tour and the price came to $28.50 USD which is very reasonable for the content you receive.
The tour includes transportation to the locations and back, as well as a guided tour of the two sites. I recommend packing your own food, as I did not and ended up paying for overpriced food at the cafe next to Auschwitz. Be sure to also wear comfortable walking shoes and dress weather appropriate, as the majority of the time is spent outside and going in and out of the buildings.
Royal Road
Royal road runs through Old Town, starting at the northern end, traveling through the main square, and down to Wawel Castle. Even if you didn’t know it existed, there’s a good chance you’d find yourself on it at some point while wandering around Old Town. I suggest taking this route either on your way up or down from Wawel Castle, as there are numerous touristy shops to explore and notable landmarks on this route include the Krakow Barbican, St. Florian’s Gate, as well as multiple churches such as the Church of St. Mary and Church of St. Peter & Paul. From the north, the road is called Florianska, or St. Florian’s Street. After Rynek Glowny, the road switches to Grodzka until you reach Wawel Castle.
Planty Park
This greenbelt park wraps around Old Town, and is 4km long- making it one of the largest city parks in Krakow. I walked this trail with some friends my second trip to Wawel Castle, and it was a nice way to see some foliage and nature while in the city.
Wieliczka Salt Mine
Unfortunately I did not have time to see the salt mine during my time here, but my friends went and had great things to say. It is a 20 minute ride by tour bus, and its attractions include shafts, an underground lake, chapels, and more. Discover Cracow also does tours for this, or you can try your hand at public transport but expect the commute to be a bit longer.
Cat Museum
I stumbled upon this little quirky experience when wandering around Old Town. I went because I thought it was going to be something more and I wanted to send cat content to my boyfriend who loves cats. Probably not worth the visit unless you love cat figurines, as it consists of one tiny room with a bunch of them, plus a few cat picture books and photos. Although, if you are a cat lover, it may be worth the $1.75 admission if you’re looking for something small thing to do.
Where to Eat ($-$$$)
Cafes
Cafe Lisboa ($)
I highly recommend this cafe! I actually had this on my to do list before arriving, as I’d heard good things about this place. With it’s unmistakable blue exterior decor, this cafe is known for its Portuguese egg custard tarts, but also features a handful of other light bites as well as coffee and wine. You can find their menu here. I had the fried eggs, which come with a couple of slices of bread and a “salad”, which is more or less a small serving of fresh spinach and arugula. I sat outside while eating my meal and enjoyed some people watching. The best part? My meal only cost 10zl, which comes to $2.54 USD! They also have a nice bathroom inside to the right of the service counter.
Charlotte- Chleb i Wino ($)
Another personal favorite, this cafe is very popular. I got there quite early (around 8am) and by the time I’d left (9am) half of the downstairs was already filled. This bistro has a handful of locations in Poland, and serves both breakfast and lunch items. Many of which are served on, or with, their special Charlotte’s bread. See the menu here. I sat in the downstairs seating area, where there is an open kitchen and you can see the bread being made from scratch. I got the Charlotte’s Breakfast, consisting of a selection of bread, butter and preserves. The breakfast also included a free beverage all for 19zl ($4.58 USD). All of their menu prices were very reasonable, even for the sandwich and salad options!
Cafe Mini ($$$)
I debated whether or not to include this… but I will outline the pros and cons because I think you’re paying for the experience here! I found this place while wandering back from Wawel Castle on Thursday night around 7pm. It was dark, I was quite cold, and the gorgeous exterior drew me in. The outside patio is stunning, lit with warm lanterns surrounded by red flowers, featuring glass heating lamps and red blankets. The food and drinks are on the pricier side, but it’s important to note this place is on Grodzka Street, and in a very touristy section. I say, come for the experience at night of sitting under heated lamps with a nice blanket, and perhaps indulge in a piece of cake, but expect to pay for your experience! When looking back, that $5 specialty hot chocolate was overpriced, but the feeling of warmth reminds me it was definitely worth it in the moment.
Restaurants
W Starej Kuchni Restaurant ($$)
I dined here on my last night with some friends, and had a really nice experience at this traditional Polish restaurant. The restaurant was located right next to the Mohito Hostel, and very close to the square. We got free bread to start, and the server brought us regular menus as well as a picture book menu with examples of the different dishes. I opted for the Roasted Honey Ribs with homemade fries, for 36.90zl ($9.37USD). The ribs were nice and tender, and everyone else’s meals looked delicious as well. The menu had a large selection of dishes, and I would recommend this place if you’re looking to get a taste of the Local Cuisine. You can find the menu with prices here, if you’re interested in planning ahead.
Czarna Kaczka- The Black Duck ($$)
Unfortunately, I did not actually eat here as I walked in looking for a table of one and they were fully booked on a Thursday night! Located right off Grodzka Street, and about half way between Wawel Castle and the main square. Specializing in traditional Polish cuisine, this place must be quite popular (also highly rated on Trip Advisor), therefore why I have added it to this list briefly. My advice- get a reservation for this place 🙂
Misc.
Visit an Obwarzanek Stand ($)
You HAVE to try this Krakow specialty which can be found at numerous stands scattered all around the city. These stands are everywhere, and cost 2-2.5zl ($0.50 USD). Note that you will need cash for the stands. I walked in an exchange place closeby in the square and just traded a $5 bill I had for zloty. A obwarzanek is best described as a cross between a bagel and pretzel. It’s a parboiled piece of ring-shaped bread which is boiled and sprinkled with salt and sesame or poppy seeds before being baked. I thought it was going to be too plain without any sauces, but found it to be quite delicious, and spent my morning munching on it while walking around the city.
PodwaFelskie Bubble Waffle ($$)
Super cute little shop serving freshly made bubble waffles with customizable toppings. There is not a lot of seating, so best to take on the go but packaged in a cup with a spoon and very manageable to eat while walking. Came to $4.30 which was a little pricer for what you got, but a cute place nonetheless.
Trip Budget
Transportation, Lodging (2 nights), & Auschwitz-Birkenau Tour: $81.05 USD
Food Day 1 (dinner & hot chocolate): $17.76 USD
Food Day 2 (breakfast, lunch, dinner & snacks): $27.63 USD
Food Day 3 (breakfast, lunch, dinner& snacks): $31.63 USD
Note: I did eat every meal out, so it’s definitely possible to spend less than this if you cook for yourself!
Extra expenses (Wawel Cathedral & Cat Museum Admissions & souvenirs): $19.82
Total for 3 days $177.89 USD
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