Overflowing with churches, museums, and historical sites, Krakow is the city to visit if you want to capture Europe’s culture through photography. The second largest city and one of the oldest in Poland, Krakow is pretty easy to explore. You just need to familiarize yourself with its key sights and activities.
>>Polish Food – 10 Polish Dishes that aren’t Pierogi that you must eat in Poland!
Night view of Krakow By Ziarno – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 pl
MUST-DO ACTIVITIES IN KRAKOW
Explore the Main Market Square
Also known as the Old Town Square, the city center is filled with quaint little cafes, colorful market stalls, and charming houses. Be sure to snap a few shots of the Cloth Hall glowing in its majestic glory. It is one of the city’s most recognizable icons, and the central feature of the main market square in Kraków’s Old Town. It’s one of the many sights you wouldn’t want to miss when documenting your trip. You might want to have your photos printed to a travel photo book to bring back those amazing memories.
Listen to a live folk band when you get a chance. Grab a drink at one of the pubs, literally stop to smell the flowers (there are a lot of them lined up at the stalls on the streets). And, if you fancy an old-school carriage ride, hop on one to tour the area for a minimal fee.
Krakow Market Square By Maatex – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 pl
Visit Museums on No-Entrance-Fee Days
Another money-saving tip when exploring Krakow: visit museums on the days when they don’t require an entrance fee. This will allow you to breathe in more of the town’s history without shelling out too much cash.
Here are the scheduled free days of the museums around the area:
Monday
| Museum Name | What’s in Store for You | Time | Address |
| Rynek Underground | I think this is interesting, as it shows the trail of Kraków’s European identity throughout time. | Open between 10 am and 8 pm | Rynek Główny 1 |
| The crypt of the Church of St. Adalbert | St. Adalbert is the oldest church in Kraków. | 10 am to 4 pm | Plac Mariacki |
| Schindler’s Factory | Modern museum devoted to the wartime experiences | 10 am to 2 pm; closed on the first Monday of the month | Lipowa 4 |
| Pharmacy “Under the Eagle” | Tells of the role of the pharmacy in Ghetto | 10 am to 2 pm
| Plac Bohaterow Ghetto 18 |
| Old Synagogue (Jewish Museum) | Jewish artifacts | 10 am to 2 pm | Szeroka 24 |
| Wawel Castle and Cathedral | Magnificent white “pearl of the Renaissance,” tomb of Queen Jadwiga, 1470 Russian murals, and many more | From April to September 30th from 9 am to 5 pm; October to March from 9 am to 4 pm | Wawel 3 |
Tuesday
| Museum Name | What’s in Store for You | Time | Address |
| University Museum Collegium Maius | Generic exhibits in the library and assembly hall | Tuesdays from April to October: 3 pm to 6 p.m. (5:20 pm – last tour) Tuesdays from November to March: 2 pm to 4 pm (3.20 pm – last tour)
| ul. Jagiellonska 15 |
| MOCAK Museum The Museum of Contemporary Art | Museum tours in Polish and English | Up to 6 pm | Right next to the Schindler’s Museum |
| Polish Aviation Museum | Old aircraft and aircraft engines in Kraków, Poland | 9 am to 7 pm
| Aleea Jana Pawla II |
Wawel Castle in Krakow by FotoCavallo
Wednesday
| Museum Name | What’s in store for you | Time | Address |
| Botanical Garden | 5,000 plant species (both exotic and native) and 300-year-old Jagiellonian Oak | 10 am to 2 pm; also free on Fridays | ul. Copernicus 27 |
| The Hipolit House | Garden and bourgeois house | 9 am to 4 pm
| Mariacki 3 |
Thursday and Saturday
| Museum Name | What’s in Store for You | Time | Address |
| Wawel Castle and Cathedral | Magnificent white “pearl of the Renaissance”, tomb of Queen Jadwiga, 1470 Russian murals, and many more | Monday-Saturday, 9 am to 4 pm; Sundays and Holidays 12:30 to 4 pm | Wawel 3 |
Sunday
| Museum Name | What’s in Store for You | Time | Address |
| Bishop Erasmus Ciolek Palace | Vintage art, from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance to the Baroque | 10 am to 4 pm | ul. Kanonicza 17 |
| The Arsenal – Czartoryski Museum – the Gallery of Ancient Art | Mummies, part of the Book of the Dead, and interesting exhibits about ancient Egypt | 10 am to 4 pm | ul. Pijarska 8 |
| National Kraków Museum | Interesting facts about Krakow | 10 am to 4 pm | al. 3 Maja |
| Jan Matejko Museum | Various paintings | 10 am to 4 pm | ul. Florianska 41 |
| Sukienicce Museum on the 2nd floor: The Gallery of 19th century Polish Art | 19th-century Polish painting and sculpture | 10 am to 6 pm | Rynek Główny 3 |
Attend a Concert
A Little Klezmer Music Over Dinner by Andrew Stawarz
In the 1930s, the Jewish community thrived in Poland. Although the landscape has changed since then, the Jewish tradition lives on. Experience this aspect of Polish culture by attending a Klezmer dinner concert. Here, you’ll get serenaded by authentic Jewish music and taste authentic Jewish cuisine. You wouldn’t want to leave Krakow without experiencing a Jewish concert.
Visit Forum Przestrzenie
Marked by signs of brutalist architecture, Forum Przestrzenie is now a hit venue for all things creative like workshops, music, fashion, and food, fairs, club organized events, concerts, and many more. If you’re young or young at heart, or just want to go to a hip place to soak up creative energy, go to Forum Przestrzenie.
When exploring Europe, don’t just limit yourself to popular destinations. Try visiting Poland, and discover hidden gems tucked within its quiet and vast lands.
Written by staff for EuropeUpClose.com and sponsored by Adoramapix
More Travel Tips
First Time Visitor’s Guide To Krakow, Poland
The Romance of Krakow, Poland
Wroclaw: Poland’s Riverside Treasure
A Guide to Polish Beer
The Insider’s Guide to Poznan, Poland
A Crash Course in Polish Gastronomy in Poznan
Traditional Polish Food Dishes You Must Try When You Visit Poland
The Salt Mines of Krakow, Poland
Tanja (the Red phone box travels) says
I’d love to visit it!