I spent a long weekend in Krakow and had a really great weekend. I wasn’t really sure what to expect from the city, and honestly I chose to visit because a friend and I got a cheap flight.
But Krakow didn’t disappoint! It’s a lovely city with a really nice vibe.
How to spend a long weekend in Krakow
Getting to Krakow for a long weekend
I usually use momondo.com to search for cheap flight deals. I flew from London Stansted for £50 return, with hand luggage only. Perfect for an inexpensive long weekend in Krakow.
It’s easy to get a train from the airport to the city, which takes about 20 minutes and costs under £5 each way. If there’s no train at the right time for you, a taxi will take about 15 minutes and cost under £15.
Stay in Kazimierz
I have a friend at work whose wife is Polish. I asked him for recommendations on where to stay for a long weekend in Krakow. Without missing a beat, he responded “Kazimierz”.
Kazimierz is the old Jewish Quarter in Krakow and I’m really glad it’s where we based ourselves for the weekend.
I stayed at Shalom Kazimierz Hotel which is well located in amidst cafes, restaurants and bars. It was cute and comfortable with friendly staff. Hotels in Poland are relatively inexpensive and this one cost about £50 per night for a twin room.
This hotel is surrounded by great cafes and bars, so it’s pretty handy for a tasty brunch or a good night out!
If you’re visiting Krakow in the middle of summer, I recommend shelling out a bit more for a hotel that has air conditioning. Our top floor room was a bit too toasty in the 38*C heat, however I would be more than happy to stay there again in a different season.
Wander around Wawel
Wawel is Krakow’s Castle. Perched on top of a hill with panoramic views of the city, it’s a really pretty place to wander around. There’s a cafe at the top which is a nice spot for a coffee and/or ice cream.
The castle even has a fire breathing dragon. Well, a fire breathing dragon statue anyway!
My friend and I spent quite a lot of time up at Wawel, just relaxing in the sun in the beautiful gardens.
Get the train from Krakow to the Salt Mine
The Wieliczka salt mine just outside of the city is really worth a visit. You can catch a train from Krakow Glowny or Krakow Zablocie to Wieliczka Rynek-Kopalnia, which takes about 20 minutes.
This activity is perfect if it’s raining as you’ll be spending a good couple of hours underground.
Maybe a salt mine doesn’t sound that exciting, but it really is impressive. There is a cathedral down there, with intricate decorations carved into the walls and even a salty statue of the pope!
To explore the mine you have to take the tour, which lasts about 3 hours and requires you to walk 3.5km. Tours are available in Polish, English, German, French, Italian, Russian and Spanish and cost around £18.
The guide will take you 135m down into the depths of the mine, where they’ll explain the history of the site.
And you can lick the walls… yep, definitely salt!
Have a Beer by the River at Forum Przestrzeniw
If you’re spending a long weekend in Krakow in the summer, I recommend a walk out to Forum Przestrzeniw. Good luck pronouncing it, and I hope your deck chair skills are up to scratch, but it’s a really great spot for an afternoon beer!
This bar is an outdoor spot on the bank of the river. Grab a deck chair, buy a beer, and enjoy the chilled atmosphere.
Try Polish Food on your long weekend in Krakow
There are so many great and inexpensive food options in Krakow you will be spoilt for choice. You can eat cuisines from around the world, but make sure you try some traditional Polish food!
Try Zapiekanka at Plac Nowy
I particularly enjoyed Zapiekanka at Plac Nowy. Plac Nowy is an old market-style building with many stalls all selling variations of Zapiekanki at around the same price.
Zapiekanka is much like a pizza, with half a baguette as the base. It’s worth noting that the traditional base of Zapiekanka is mushrooms topped with cheese.
They don’t mention the mushrooms on the menus – it’s assumed that you know. So if you don’t like them (or are allergic, like I am), shop around for a stall that will make you one without the pesky fungi.
Find a Pierogi restaurant
Pierogi is a must-try food when visiting Poland. Pierogi are small dumplings filled with either savoury or sweet fillings. Traditional fillings include potato, ground meat, cheese, or fruits.
There’s no shortage of restaurants selling Pierogi around Kazimierz. You can try it as a snack or as part of a main meal.
Enjoy your long weekend in Krakow!
I loved spending a long weekend in Krakow and I hope you do too! If there are other things you enjoyed on your visit to Krakow, let me know in case I go back one day!
Liked this? You might like…
Join my email list and get adventure inspiration in your inbox!
Plus! Free guide: How to Get More Adventure in Your Life