A long weekend is a great chance to see Krakow’s most interesting corners and visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine - but without a good plan it’s easy to lose time in queues and on transfers. This article will help you estimate the real time needed to visit Kazimierz and Wieliczka and gives practical plans for one or two days.
We write specifically about: how long a walk through Kazimierz realistically takes, how long tours in Wieliczka take, and how to combine both trips during a longer weekend in the city.
Don’t forget: during long weekends many attractions are busier than usual - it’s wise to allow extra time for transport and lines.
The article is written in a friendly tone and is based on practical observations and official information about routes and visiting times.
If you prefer, you can skip ahead to the sample schedules — you’ll find them below.
Kazimierz is a district you can explore in many ways — “quick” or completely relaxed. Realistic time frames are:
- 90 minutes — express pace: a walk through the most important spots (Szeroka Street, Old Synagogue, Remuh, Plac Nowy). Not much time, but lots of views and atmosphere.
- 2–3 hours — standard pace: allows a calm walk along main streets, entry into one synagogue or a small museum, a snack break and several photo stops.
- Half a day (3–4 hours) — discovery pace: adds courtyards, more museums, a longer meal and time for winding side streets and finding less obvious spots.
In practice, if you want to feel Kazimierz’s atmosphere and pop into a few interiors, plan a minimum of 2 hours. If you want a leisurely lunch, a museum visit and an evening concert — reserve an entire afternoon and evening.
Wieliczka has several official routes — the most popular is the Tourist Route, which for an average visitor takes about 2–3 hours. This route shows the main chambers and chapels and the biggest underground highlights.
There are also more “mining” or themed routes that last longer — typically about 3–4 hours depending on the option. When planning, remember that underground you cover many stairs and passages (the initial descent from the shaft is several hundred steps and the total number of steps on the route is significant), so the pace depends on the group’s fitness.
Also keep in mind travel time from Krakow to Wieliczka — about 30 minutes by car, a bit longer by bus or train depending on connections and traffic. During a long weekend you may need extra buffer time for roads and entrances.
Practical tip: book tickets in advance, especially for long weekends — queues at ticket offices and at the entrance can significantly extend waiting time.
The temperature underground is steady and cooler than above ground, usually around 15–18°C, so bring a light jacket or sweater. You’ll also find a restaurant (for example Karczma Górnicza) and small shops on the tourist route if you want to rest afterwards.
Plan A - Weekend classic (2 days):
- Day 1, morning: Old Town and Wawel (briefly, no rush if you prefer).
- Day 1, afternoon and evening: Kazimierz — 2–3 hours of walking, dinner and live music in the evening.
- Day 2, morning: travel to Wieliczka — plan to arrive 30–45 minutes before your tour start to make sure you get in on time; Tourist Route 2–3 hours.
This plan is the most relaxed and gives time to rest between attractions.
Plan B - Intensive long weekend (1.5 days + evening):
- Day 1, afternoon: quick visit to Kazimierz (approx. 2 hours) + dinner.
- Day 2, morning: Wieliczka — book an early slot (first entries) and return to the centre in the afternoon for extra walks or a museum visit.
This is a good choice if you want to make the most of one full day.
Plan C - Long weekend for those who like to take it easy (3 days):
- Day 1: relaxed arrival in Kazimierz, café time and immersing in local culture.
- Day 2: Wieliczka in the morning, afternoon to rest or enjoy extra attractions (museums, shopping).
- Day 3: Old Town, Wawel or short trips outside the centre.
If you want to sightsee without rushing and leave room for surprises, pick this option.
Buy tickets online where possible — especially for Wieliczka. During long weekends available slots sell out fast and arriving without a reservation can mean long waiting times.
Wieliczka - choose an early or late-afternoon entry if you want to avoid the biggest crowds. Tours run at set times, so arrive with a margin.
Kazimierz - the best hours for a quiet walk are morning or late afternoon/evening (outside lunch time and before evening concerts). Plac Nowy and its surroundings are often busiest around midday.
If you plan to visit synagogues or museum interiors, check opening hours and possible closures. Entering interiors can add 30–60 minutes to your plan.
Leave a time margin of 30–60 minutes for transfers and surprises (traffic, tram/bus changes, coffee breaks).
- Comfortable shoes — lots of walking on cobbled streets in Kazimierz and many stairs in Wieliczka.
- A light layer — the mine is always cooler, usually about 15–18°C, so even in summer a thin sweater helps.
- Electronic ticket or reservation confirmation — speeds entry and saves time.
- Small backpack or bag for water and snacks — especially for longer sightseeing.
- Phone with enough battery — for photos and navigation; if you plan to use headphones or audio devices, check their comfort before you go.
- Cash and card — many places in Kazimierz accept cards, but small stalls and food windows can be cash-only.
Tourist Route — ideal for most visitors: shows the main chambers and chapels, lasts about 2–3 hours and is the most popular option.
Mining Route and themed routes — for people who want more activity, technical detail and longer time underground — plan 3–4 hours.
If you travel with children or people with limited mobility — consider a comfortable pace and check route accessibility regarding stairs and steps. Wieliczka offers some surface accessibility, but the main tourist route includes many stairs.
Remember: not every route runs daily in every language, so check availability when booking.
If you want to combine Wieliczka with other nearby attractions (for example the graduation tower or local museums), allow an additional 1–2 hours.
1) Book in advance and choose early time slots — early entries are usually less crowded.
2) On a long weekend set off early: streets and attractions fill up in the afternoon, and travel time to Wieliczka can increase.
3) If you only have half a day — pick one: either an in-depth Kazimierz visit or Wieliczka. Trying to do both in one day becomes tight.
4) Schedule meals outside peak hours (for example, an 11:30 lunch or a late 15:00 meal will help avoid restaurant queues).
5) Leave some time for surprises: a small market, a pop-up concert, an exhibition or a local café — these are often the nicest moments of the trip.
Quick Kazimierz (1.5 hours): 10:00 start at Szeroka Street — 10:15 Old Synagogue — 10:40 Remuh and cemetery — 11:10 Plac Nowy and a quick snack — 11:30 finish.
Kazimierz at ease (2.5–3 hours): 10:00 start — visit a museum (about 45–60 min) — lunch break — explore courtyards and photo spots — 13:00 finish.
Wieliczka full experience (Tourist Route): arrive in Wieliczka 09:30, tour start 10:00 — visit 2–3 hours — return to Krakow around 13:30 (allowing time for transport).
Intensive option (Kazimierz + Wieliczka in 1 day): possible but requires an early start (e.g., Wieliczka at 8:30, return ~12:00, Kazimierz afternoon 14:00–17:00) — still, I recommend splitting into two days if you prefer to avoid rushing.
In every scenario leave a 30–60 minute buffer for unforeseen situations.
If I had to recommend one sensible plan for a long weekend: dedicate day 1 to an evening in Kazimierz with dinner and music, and day 2 to an early morning trip to Wieliczka with a return in the afternoon for a relaxed Old Town visit. This balance gives you city atmosphere and the unique underground experience with minimal stress and a comfortable pace.
If you want, I can prepare a personalised Kazimierz itinerary for you — tailored to your available time, fitness and interests. Tell me how many hours you have and what you’d like to see, and I’ll design a step-by-step plan.
Wishing you a great long weekend — Krakow and Wieliczka have so much to offer, and good pacing with a few simple preparations will leave you with wonderful memories, not the feeling that you spent the whole time rushing.
See you in Krakow! - Małgorzata Kasprowicz
