Attractions - a tour of Krakow in two days. Hour-by-hour guide

Krakow - the former capital of Poland and the City of Kings - is a place where you can spend several weeks and still have plenty of things to see. How about a tour of Krakow in two days? If you think it is impossible, our mini-guide will prove that it can be done and that it will be the most amazing two-day tour in your life!

Jump to paragraphs

• Krakow in two days - day one
• Krakow - Attractions in the Market Square
• Tourist attractions - Krakow as the capital of arts and legends
• Monuments of Krakow - the Hill of Polish Kings
• Two days in Krakow - day two
• A weekend in Krakow? Discover its surroundings!
• Krakow and its surroundings - tourist attractions that leave lasting memories

Krakow remains one of the most popular cities in Poland. Some even took to calling it the City of Tourists - in addition to students, you will meet many visitors strolling through the streets of the former Polish capital. It captivates them not only with its exceptional sights, but also with its incredible charm that makes it hard to leave.

Two days in Krakow may seem like nothing, given all of the attractions the city has to offer. But two days are still better than nothing. Enjoy our guide to touring Krakow in two days - we will help you organise your tour hour by hour, providing tips about what you should definitely check out in and around Krakow. And believe us, there are plenty of attractions out there!

Krakow in two days - day one

What does Krakow offer to visitors? Tourist attractions are largely located in the Old Town - you should start your tour of Poland's former capital right there. A cup of hot coffee is a must before a long day. And the best way to drink coffee is to do it with a great view of the heart of the city. How about a morning boost on the roof of the Cloth Hall? Right by the St Mary's Basilica, you will find a cosy café with a view of half of Krakow's Main Market Square. You can sit there and observe the daily hustle and bustle in the city centre, while planning your next steps for the day. After a good coffee, you are likely already excited to move on. You might want to start descending, since the Cloth Hall houses the entrance to the Underground Market Square, which takes you back in time. Here, thanks to an extraordinary multimedia show, you will experience the atmosphere of the Market Square in medieval times. During the tour you will listen to the sounds of the old market and the buildings, which burned down at some point in the past!

Krakow - Attractions in the Market Square

Once you get in tune with the atmosphere of the city as it was seven centuries ago, you are ready to come to the surface and experience the contemporary Krakow. What other attractions are worth visiting next? Krakow’s claim to fame is its Market Square - you should start there and experience the largest and most charming market square in Poland. It is not only large but also picturesque and always bustling with life. You can strike up a short chat with the florists or just walk around and choose a place to return to after the tour. During the summer season, there is no shortage of places offering food and beverages. Like in every city, be on a lookout for spots where you will find the most Cracovians. That is the best way to find places that offer great food, drinks and parties until the morning hours.

Tourist attractions - Krakow as the capital of arts and legends

Before that, you should definitely check out one of the many atmospheric streets that start in the Market Square. Start with Św. Jana Street, which will lead you to the Czartoryski Alley, as well as the museum that houses the portrait of the most important lady in the arts. The Lady with an Ermine, the most valuable painting in the Polish collection, is available to view every day, including on weekends. Before visiting, make sure that she was not moved - every once in a while, she pays a visit to the National Museum, which (fortunately!) is not very far from the Market Square. A visit to Leonardo’s Lady will not take long - and that will surely be time well spent.

After the visit to the museum, it is time to head to the Old Town and walk the famous Royal Route, following in the footsteps of local legends. This tour will take you about 3 hours, but you will hardly notice the duration. You will be captivated by the sight of the famous altarpiece by Veit Stoss and the story of the extraordinary artist from Nuremberg, who did not just come to Krakow, but ran away and ended up here. Why? Just ask a local guide or one of the residents. They will surely tell you. 

The altar is located in Krakow's most famous church - the St Mary's Basilica. It is truly a sight to behold, and you can easily spend quite some time in each of the naves.

Legends are a very important and integral part of Krakow's history. One of them tells the story of knights turned into the pigeons, which flock in the Market Square, and another is about the yellow slipper. The latter is connected to the Veit Stoss altarpiece - legend has it that a yellow slipper was found behind it, lost in the 15th century by a boy named Wawrzek. How did that happen? Look for a book on Krakow legends in nearby souvenir shops and learn about the fascinating history of the city.

Monuments of Krakow - the Hill of Polish Kings

Let us go back to the tour and the Royal Route, which leads from Krakow's Market Square to the Wawel Royal Castle. While walking along Grodzka Street towards the royal castle, you will find it impossible to take your eyes off the historic townhouses with equally impressive and unusual architectural details. Make sure to stop by and enjoy the paintings, cornices, colours and shutters of the townhouses that have witnessed many historical events. Krakow is not just about points of interest found in every guide out there, but also lesser-known buildings in the historic part of the city. On the way, a short stop at the Candy Factory is a must - everyone knows well that you should always have a quick snack on hand. If you are not fond of sweets, you can always grab a fresh pretzel at almost every corner.

At around 3:00 p.m., you should have covered most of the Royal Route. You are now at the final straight - the Kanonicza Street, one of the city's most beautiful streets, leading to the Royal Hill. It is a charming alley off the beaten path. Leave Grodzka Street and walk along Kanonicza Street right up to the castle gate. You will have to climb a small hill, but on the other side you will be rewarded with a beautiful panorama of the city. Before you get there, however, you should visit the Wawel Cathedral. This is the cradle of the Polish Renaissance, with the famous gilded Sigismund Chapel. The cathedral is also a very important place in the history of Poland, housing the tombs of Queen Jadwiga, Władysław Jagiełło, Jan III Sobieski, Stefan Batory, as well as many other Polish kings and important figures. At the top of the cathedral, you can find the Sigismund Bell, which rings out only during special events and celebrations.

The Wawel Castle features royal chambers, private suites, a treasury and armoury, as well as royal gardens. The furnishings of the chambers may not be the most spectacular, but there is no doubt that the tapestries, ornate ceilings and remains of the former splendour give a realistic idea of how the old Polish kings lived. After the tour of the castle, you will return to the courtyard and from there you can head towards the second castle gate. Along the way, you can admire a beautiful panorama of Krakow, with views of the Vistula River below the castle and the historic and modern architecture of the city. With a bit of luck, you can also see the Tatra Mountains - if weather permits, you can see them from the many vantage points in the city. Many of Krakow’s attractions are located indoors, but you should not shy away from those located outside as well.  

On the first day, you should also pay a visit to the fire-breathing Wawel Dragon - a favourite attraction for the youngest visitors. Unfortunately, you are going to spend quite a while in the former royal residence - finish your day with a hearty meal at one of Kraków's exceptional restaurants, offering regional dishes and local cuisine. Keep in mind that the best restaurants are not found in plain sight, but in cosy townhouses. Look for them on Sławkowska, Św. Tomasza, Poselska and Bracka Streets!

Two days in Krakow - day two

Touring all of Krakow in two days can be quite a challenge. Be sure to start the second day with a trip to Krakow's Kazimierz, founded in the 14th century - once a separate town, today a district of Krakow with a truly rich history, but not without its dark pages. For a start, visit the moving museum located in the buildings of the former Oskar Schindler's factory, which will allow you to understand the fate of Krakow's Jews during World War II.

Then, you can start exploring the trail of Jewish monuments from the Tempel Synagogue on Miodowa Street to the Old Synagogue on Szeroka Street, along with beautifully restored townhouses, old craftsmen's workshops and the historic Jewish cemetery with tombstones dating back to the 16th century. Make sure to stop in the Nowy Square and try the famous zapiekanka from the no less famous Okrąglak. 

If it is not your thing, head to nearby Wawrzyńca or Dajwór Streets, where there are two clusters full of food trucks, offering many regional delicacies, as well as all the flavours of the world. It is a pleasant stopover that will give you energy for the upcoming hours filled with exploring Krakow and its surroundings. After all, a weekend in Krakow is an intense time and it is always good to have energy for more!

A weekend in Krakow? Discover its surroundings!

Although a tour of Krakow in two days is hardly enough time to see everything, you should not forget about the surrounding area. What pops up for you when you Google: “Krakow and its surroundings - tourist attractions”? Most likely several things, including the Ojców National Park, Auschwitz-Birkenau and the famous “Wieliczka” Salt Mine. The latter is a perfect attraction for all seasons, offering some respite from heat in the summer and some warmth in winter, since a walk in the park, even the most beautiful one, when the temperatures are below freezing, is hardly a pleasant experience. To date, the mine was visited by some 45 million adventure-seeking tourists from all over the world. And for a good reason...

The 3-kilometre Tourist Route with winding galleries and more than 800 steps taking you 135 metres underground lets you see chambers carved in salt, majestic carpentry structures, salt sculptures and underground lakes, all accompanied by stories about the mysteries of the mine and the legends of the underworld, complemented by a light show on the shore of one of the brine lakes.

This is not yet another underground attraction, like at the start of your tour, but also an encounter with history and a journey through time, which is concluded by a lift ride to the surface, or to the world, as they say deep below. If you happen to be in Krakow, you might also hear people say that they are going ‘to the field’ - but that is another story.

Krakow and its surroundings - tourist attractions that leave lasting memories

The former capital of Poland and City of Kings is home to so many attractions that choosing just a couple of them can make your head spin. You can always forget about all of that and just wandering around the streets, trying to get some unusual sights for photographs. How about experiencing Krakow, rather than trying to tour it in just two days? All you need to see is a couple of places to truly experience the atmosphere of this extraordinary city. And you will want to come back for more!