You’re staying for seven days — great! That’s enough time to see the classic sights, visit a few museums and take one or two short day trips outside the city. Krakow is compact: the Old Town, Wawel and Kazimierz sit close together, and the rest is easy to reach by public transport or a short car or bus ride. Treat the plan below as flexible — adapt it to the weather, your mood and the group’s pace.
A few practical pointers: book tickets in advance for the most popular attractions (Wawel Castle, the Rynek Underground, Wieliczka Salt Mine), especially in high season. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to stroll the Main Square if you want to avoid crowds. Wear comfortable shoes — most sightseeing is on foot. And leave some unplanned time to do nothing: sit with a coffee, watch street life and soak up the city’s atmosphere.
What you’ll find in this article: a detailed day-by-day plan, alternatives (for families, museum lovers or nature fans), practical tips about transport, tickets, food and packing. Let’s get started!
- If you like, print the list of places and mark them in a maps app on your phone — it makes organising your days easier.
- Check opening hours and seasonal changes: some attractions have different hours outside the high season.
Morning: start at the Main Market Square. Walk around the Cloth Hall, visit St. Mary’s Basilica (if you want to see Veit Stoss’s altarpiece, plan an early visit). Look at the market stalls and feel the city’s pulse — street musicians and obwarzanki add to Krakow’s atmosphere.
Midday: follow the Royal Route toward Wawel. Climb Wawel Hill, visit the Cathedral and the State Rooms of Wawel Royal Castle — if you plan to go inside, buy tickets in advance. Don’t miss the Dragon’s Den and the fire-breathing dragon sculpture — always a hit, especially with children.
Afternoon: the Planty — a green belt encircling the Old Town — are ideal for a break after sightseeing. Spend the evening in one of the atmospheric cafes or restaurants in Kazimierz or near the Square. I recommend a gentle walk along Kanonicza and Grodzka streets to feel the city’s history.
- Time: allow about half a day for the Old Town and half a day for Wawel (a full day if you enter many interiors).
- If you’re short on time — focus on an outside walk and a visit to the Cathedral.
Morning: head to Kazimierz — the former Jewish quarter full of synagogues, charming streets and small galleries. Visit synagogues such as Remuh, wander around Plac Nowy (famous for its zapiekanki!) and browse local handicraft shops.
Midday: cross the Bernatek footbridge to Podgórze. This area has a calmer atmosphere, Podgórze Market Square and important museums — plan a visit to Oskar Schindler’s Factory if you’re interested in 20th-century history (buy tickets ahead).
Afternoon and evening: walk the boulevards along the Vistula River, visit Krakus Mound for a panorama if you feel like a short climb, and in the evening try a restaurant with local cuisine — Kazimierz offers a wide range from Jewish-inspired dishes to modern bistros.
- For photographers: Kazimierz and Podgórze offer unique shots at any time of day.
- If you’re interested in wartime history and memory, combine Schindler’s Factory with a walk through sites connected to Podgórze’s past.
Morning: choose one or two museums that interest you most. Popular picks are the Rynek Underground (an interactive journey through the city’s history) and the National Museum. Factor in time for visits and a coffee break.
Midday: depending on your interests, visit Oskar Schindler’s Factory (if you didn’t go on Day 2) or one of the smaller specialist museums. Krakow hosts many temporary exhibitions — check whether any intriguing shows run during your stay.
Afternoon: break a museum day with a stop in a traditional café — look for venues with a story or small gallery-cafes. In the evening, enjoy a walk in the Planty or along the river.
- Museums are often busiest at midday — consider early visits.
- Book online tickets for the most popular exhibitions well in advance.
Morning and late morning: visit Nowa Huta — a unique example of socialist-realist urban planning. Walking Aleja Róż, the Central Square and past the blocks with arcades will show you a different face of Krakow. There are local museums and memorial sites to discover.
Midday: have a traditional meal in a milk bar or local canteen — a great chance to try homestyle Polish food and chat with residents.
Afternoon: if you want some greenery, combine Nowa Huta with nearby open spaces such as the Nowa Huta Meadows or the Nowa Huta Reservoir. Return to the centre in the evening and enjoy a relaxed stroll.
- Nowa Huta is perfect for people interested in social architecture and contemporary history.
- You can explore it independently or with a local who can share anecdotes and point out lesser-known spots.
All day: the Wieliczka Salt Mine is a must for many visitors. Located about 15 km from central Krakow, it offers a tourist route with chambers, chapels and salt sculptures. Tours are guided and take several hours — allow time for travel there and back plus a possible lunch break.
Practical tips: wear comfortable shoes and remember the underground temperature stays around 16–18°C. Book tickets in advance — queues and time slots fill quickly in season.
Alternative: if you want a shorter program, pick a themed route or combine Wieliczka with a walk around Wieliczka’s market square.
- Check entry times and route availability before you go.
- For families with small children: some routes require stair climbing — check requirements before booking.
All day: Ojcow National Park is a nearby and very rewarding nature option — limestone cliffs, caves, castle ruins and distinctive rock formations such as Hercules’ Club. The park is north of Krakow and makes a short car or bus trip.
What to do: pick one of the shorter walking routes, visit Ojców Castle, the Łokietek Cave or the Dark Cave (note: cave access can be seasonal). The park’s education centre has a natural-history display worth seeing.
Practical: follow national park rules and check the latest information on opening hours and reservations. Bring water, snacks and good shoes.
- Ojcow is a welcome break from the city, ideal for families and nature photographers.
- Some attractions limit access seasonally — check before you set out.
Option A — a relaxed day in Krakow: stroll lesser-known streets, visit antiquarian bookshops and galleries, buy souvenirs in the Cloth Hall, and choose a nice restaurant for a farewell dinner.
Option B — a day in the mountains: Zakopane and the Tatra Mountains are a popular destination from Krakow — travel usually takes about two hours one way (depending on road conditions). It’s an intense but possible day trip if you prefer to end with fresh air and mountain scenery.
Option C — another museum or a repeat of a neighbourhood: if you still have museum time left, use the day to catch up on exhibitions or revisit Podgórze or Nowa Huta.
- If you go to Zakopane: start early to beat the traffic and get the most time in the mountains.
- Make sure you allow enough time to get to the airport or train station if you’re leaving that day.
Transport: central Krakow is very pedestrian-friendly. For farther points, use trams and buses — public transport covers most attractions. For nearby day trips (Wieliczka, Ojcow) a car, shuttle or tour bus is most convenient. Taxis and ride-hail services are widely available.
Tickets and reservations: book online for the most popular attractions (Wawel, Rynek Underground, Schindler’s Factory, Wieliczka Salt Mine). In high season queues can be long and some time slots sell out days or weeks ahead.
Accommodation: choose a neighbourhood based on your travel style: the Old Town and Kazimierz are central, lively and convenient for short stays; Podgórze offers a quieter vibe; Nowa Huta is an option for a different local experience. Check travel times from your accommodation to the places you plan to visit in the morning (museums usually open before noon).
Food: try local specialties: obwarzanek, Plac Nowy zapiekanka, pierogi and żurek. Krakow has a rich café and restaurant scene — from traditional eateries to modern kitchens. Ask locals for recommendations and try smaller bistros away from the busiest tourist streets.
Weather and packing: in autumn and winter bring warm clothing; in summer pack a hat and water. For mountain trips to the Tatras bring layered clothing and reliable footwear.
- Check rules for entering churches and museums (some sites require more modest dress).
- Card payments are common, but keep small cash for market stalls and smaller vendors.
For families: spread out activities, add child-friendly attractions (the Experyment Science Centre, water parks, the zoo), plan more breaks and shorter walks. Wieliczka and Ojcow make great “adventure days.”
For history lovers: dedicate an extra day to wartime museums, memorial exhibitions and memory trails (Auschwitz-Birkenau is outside Krakow but is an important, though solemn, option for a full-day trip).
For nature lovers: aside from Ojcow, consider trips to the Krakow-Czestochowa Jura or day hikes in the Tatra Mountains (Zakopane).
- For specialist routes (e.g. John Paul II sites or film-location trails), check opening times and reservation requirements in advance.
- Adjust the pace if needed: it’s better to see fewer things well and enjoy them.
- Reservations: tickets for Wawel, Rynek Underground, Schindler’s Factory and Wieliczka if you plan to enter interiors.
- Travel insurance and identity documents (important for family discounts and bookings).
- Comfortable shoes, a small daypack, and a reusable water bottle.
- Transport plan for day trips (own car, rented transport or shuttle) and approximate travel times.
- A list of restaurants and cafés you want to try — but leave room for spontaneous discoveries.
- A copy of the plan on your phone and a paper backup.
- A small first-aid kit and blister care — walking on cobbles can be hard on new shoes.
Krakow feels like a city that always has more to show — you’ll want to return. A week lets you meet its key faces: historical, cultural, culinary and natural. My best tip: combine planning with moments of doing nothing — the best memories often come during a coffee on a small side street.
If you’d like, I can help adapt this plan to your pace, interests and travel dates — tell me which places you want to visit and I’ll prepare a personalised route. Enjoy your trip and see you in Krakow!
- Małgorzata Kasprowicz, Krakow tour guide.
- If you print the plan: mark the days and places you must visit and leave the rest for spontaneous discoveries.
- Safe travels — Krakow is waiting!
