Short trip to Krakow (insider hints)

Our 2 day Krakow trip

(German) We spontaneously decided to go to Krakow because the Ryanair flight was 24€ back and forth. Because we did not know what to do in Krakau we searched the Internet for all special things we have to consider and what is most important to see.

Money: We have heard a lot of times before that Krakow is super cheap but it is also very European so if you go to the touristic places you still pay a lot for meals and so on.

Exchange: We have taken for the 2 days 200 zloten (polnish Dollar = 58€) at the Airport but it would have been cheaper if we would have done this in Frankfurt.

Transfer: The Transfer from the Airport to the oldtown is quiet cheap (3.8 zloten ~ 1€) and you can buy it also in the busses if you just catch the bus. You don't need any transfers in Krakow because everything is very close there so enjoy the walks along the city.


Hostel: Hostels are very cheap! We took the Salve Hostel next to the old town which was 60€ for 2 persons and 2 nights with a good breakfast, not just the stereotypical bread and jam.

Food and Drinks: We first went to the market square and ate there in a restaurant which was normal expensive as in other city's, so don't do that. The best place we have found was Polakowski on the opposite side of the Franciscus church. There you can have very good food for less than 7€ for two persons where you can find the Beetroot soup (less than 2€), Bigos, Pierogis, jewish stew and much more. An other one is also located in the jewish quarter.

If you like small cafes you probably go to Cafe Camelot. You can eat there also quiet cheap and get good hot chocolate and special kind of drinks like warm beer with blood orange.

What you have to try are different kind of Vodkas. They have all flavors and if you wanna do a short Vodka tasting go to Vodka Bar. Here you can have 6 different Vodka shots for 2€ each but they are all self-made. But it is always crowded! If you wanna have cheap and good Vodka without tourists you go to BaniaLuka where you get shots for 4.5 zloten (1.1€) and they are also very good.

Museum: There are more than 100 Museums in Krakow so you have to decide in which you wanna go. A Special hint is that nerly for every Museum there is a day where the entrance is free, most likely mondays or tuesdays, so look it up here (if the link is stillt up-to-date):

We heard of a small and non touristic museum which is called "15 Minutes Krakow Museum" telling you the whole Story of Krakow very dense but good comprimised with many informations. The entry was 14 zloten but it was worth it. It is best to start with this one because then you have a good oritentation what else you probably wanna do.

Then where you can go for free on tuesdays is "Rynek Underground- History Museum" which shows you a lot of history and technical things like how the streets and buildings were built. They have a lot of good documentary movies where you can spend at least 2 hours inside so take your time. It's located at the market square (Glowny) with view to the St. Mary's Basilica (where you also should go because it's a nice church). Tickets you can get on the other side of the market building in the tourist information center.

Then if you are interested in everything related to World War II you have to go to Schindlers Factory. Monday the entrance is free but it is just opened until 2pm (other days till 6pm and 15 zloten entry). You can also spend there up to two hours and it is very nice made and won't make you too sad, which won't ruin your nice traveling mood. You can walk there within 30 minutes from old town and also passing by "Ghetto Heroes Square", a place with a lot of chairs :D

Sights: The typical sights you will all find somewhere else as the Wawel Royal Castle, Cloth Hall, Florian Gate, St Mary Church and so on. If you wanna go to the Krakow letters on the top of this post you just have to go along the wawel and look at the castle. The in our opinion nicest church there was the Basilica of St Michael the Archangle. It is not touristic and just calm and nice with a forecourt.

The Trompeter: There is since the 14. century every hour a trumpeter playing the Bugle call which at some Point just stops (historically where the trumpeter was hit by a arrow in the throat while the Mongols attacked Krakow but the signal saved Krakow). There are up to 6 trumpeter in duty but one shift goes for 1 whole day so this one trumpeter has to stay there and play every hour the same melody… This is the employment you can have in Krakow so they get a lot of money for that.

I hope we could help you with These few informations to organize yourself in Krakow if you also do just a short trip.