A melex is a comfortable, eco-friendly way to move quickly around central Krakow — ideal when you want to see a lot in a short time, rest your legs, or travel with people who have limited mobility.
Typical melex routes cover the Old Town, the Royal Route to Wawel, the Kazimierz district and Podgórze. Standard rides last from 30 minutes to 2–3 hours, but you can extend them with stops, so a whole day by melex gives a lot of flexibility.
Remember that a melex works great as a complement to walking: a few short rides and several get-offs will let you visit key spots without rushing and with breaks for coffee or lunch.
1. Wawel - castle and cathedral: the heart of historic Poland, with viewing terraces and royal chambers. It's worth visiting the cathedral and walking the ramparts around the castle.
2. Main Market Square and Cloth Hall (Sukiennice): a large medieval square full of cafés, stalls and historic sights; sit at a table and watch city life go by.
3. St. Mary’s Basilica: famous for its tower with the hejnał trumpet call and richly decorated interior — a short stop is a must.
4. Kazimierz: the atmospheric former Jewish district with narrow streets, synagogues and excellent lunch and coffee spots.
5. Oskar Schindler’s Factory / Podgórze: an important historical site with a moving exhibition about the city’s wartime story.
6. Wieliczka Salt Mine: a world-class wonder with the underground St. Kinga’s Chapel and salt sculptures — it requires a reservation and several hours to visit.
7. Ojcow National Park: picturesque limestone formations, castle ruins and pleasant short trails — a great half-day escape outside the city.
8. Rynek Underground / Historical Museum: adds valuable context to a walk around the Market Square and is often overlooked but enriches the city experience.
9. Kościuszko Mound or the Vistula Boulevards: places with lovely views and a pleasant riverside walk.
10. Wadowice and Kalwaria Zebrzydowska (as a full-day option outside Krakow): the Birthplace of John Paul II, the basilica and the famous cream cake; Kalwaria is a unique complex of chapels and a pilgrimage site, listed with UNESCO.
Yes and no — a melex will get you quickly between points, but fully visiting interiors (Wawel, Schindler’s Museum, Wieliczka) takes time. The best approach is to combine melex rides with a few longer stops at the most important sites.
Example: a morning melex tour of the Old Town and Wawel, a coffee break and a stroll around the Market Square, an afternoon in Kazimierz with lunch and a short visit to Podgórze — this is a realistic and enjoyable plan for a full day.
If you plan to include Wieliczka or Wadowice + Kalwaria the same day, expect that leaving Krakow will take a large part of the day (Wadowice is about 50 km — roughly a 50-minute drive; trains or buses can take longer). In that case it’s better to book a full-day trip outside the city.
9:00 - Start at the Main Market Square, short melex route around the Old Town and toward Wawel.
10:00 - Wawel: walk the courtyards and visit the cathedral.
11:30 - Coffee at one of the charming cafés (for example Café Camelot) and some time at the Market Square.
13:00 - Melex ride to Kazimierz, lunch in one of the recommended restaurants on Szeroka Street or near Plac Nowy.
15:00 - Walk around Kazimierz and visit one of the museums or the Remuh Synagogue.
17:00 - Ride to the Vistula Boulevards or to Kościuszko Mound for sunset.
19:00 - Traditional dinner - e.g. karczma 'Pod Wawelem' or a place that serves regional dishes.
If you prefer a trip outside Krakow: leave early for Wadowice (around a 50-minute drive, bus about 1 hour), visit the Birthplace of John Paul II and the Basilica, and don’t miss a break for a cream cake (kremówka) at a local pastry shop.
After Wadowice, a short drive (about 15 km) takes you to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska — a Baroque pilgrimage complex with paths and chapels, unique in Poland and included on the UNESCO list. Together this makes a classic full-day program.
Practical tip: when planning Wadowice + Kalwaria check museum opening hours and return connections to Krakow — the earlier you start, the more relaxed the day.
Cafés and breakfast spots: Café Camelot (Old Town) - a charming interior and a great atmosphere to start the day.
Lunch in Kazimierz: try a local bistro or the milk bar 'Mleczarnia' (a cozy spot with simple cooking), or a restaurant near Plac Nowy where you can find street food and tasty snacks.
For dinner: traditional Polish cuisine at 'Pod Wawelem' (popular with visitors for its location and generous portions) or other restaurants offering regional dishes.
In Wadowice: be sure to try a kremówka at a local bakery on the market square — it’s a local classic.
- Kalwaria Zebrzydowska is not only a pilgrimage site — it’s an architectural and landscape complex with a rich history and a unique layout of paths and chapels (many visitors are not aware of its partly intentional artistic spatial design).
- Wawel is more than a castle — many visitors skip the cathedral and royal tombs, which are truly worth seeing.
- The kremówka gained international fame thanks to a personal memory from John Paul II; tasting it in Wadowice is a small culinary and historical experience in one.
- Trying to 'see everything' in one day. It’s better to choose 3–4 things and really experience them than to run between spots and feel nothing.
- Not booking tickets in advance (Wieliczka, permanent exhibitions) — in season you can lose hours in queues.
- Skipping breaks for coffee and rest — Krakow has many charming places for short stops, so use them.
Is a melex expensive? Prices depend on length and operator; there are options for short rides per person and hourly vehicle rentals for groups. For a solo tourist it’s often a convenient, reasonably priced option.
Will a melex reach everywhere? Melexes are best on main tourist routes; narrow lanes and some parts of the Old Town may be restricted, so it’s wise to combine rides with walking.
Can you combine a melex tour and a trip to Wadowice? It’s not practical on the same day — Wadowice is far enough that it’s better to dedicate a full day to it or plan a separate excursion.
- Book tickets to popular attractions in advance and check opening hours outside the high season.
- Dress comfortably: Krakow involves a lot of walking on cobblestones; comfortable shoes and layered clothing are essential.
- If you plan to go to Wadowice or Wieliczka, check bus and train connections — travel times can be longer than expected during peak hours.
If this guide helped you plan a day in Krakow — share it with friends or on social media so others can benefit from the ideas!
If you prefer to explore with a local, experienced guide, I invite you to use the services of Małgorzata Kasprowicz (Margaret Kasprowicz). I will be happy to help tailor the route to your expectations and schedule.
