Kraków
Kraków is a city in southern Poland known for its medieval Main Market Square, Wawel Castle and the Kazimierz Jewish quarter. Most travelers use it as the base for visiting Auschwitz-Birkenau.
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Kraków is a city in southern Poland that served as the country's royal capital for centuries, until the court moved to Warsaw in 1596. Its Main Market Square is one of the largest medieval squares in Europe, lined with Gothic churches, the arcaded Cloth Hall and cafés. Wawel Castle sits on a hill above the Vistula River, and the historic Jewish quarter of Kazimierz lies just southeast of the Old Town. The city also has a long university history, dating to the Jagiellonian University, founded in 1364.
Two or three days cover the Old Town, Wawel and Kazimierz, which makes Kraków a good first stop for a trip built around history and walking. Many travelers add a day trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau, the former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp west of the city. The Wieliczka Salt Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is also within reach for a half day.
Kraków in five
- Reserve Auschwitz-Birkenau entry aheadEntry is free but must be reserved online; no entry cards are available at the gate. A guide-educator costs extra.Memorial: visiting
- Take the train from the airportTrains run from Kraków Airport to Kraków Główny station in about 20 minutes.
- Book Wawel tickets aheadThe castle's exhibitions are ticketed by route and time, and summer slots go early. Book online.
- Pay in złotyCards work almost everywhere. When a card machine offers your home currency, choose złoty for a better rate.Money
- Book the Wieliczka Salt MineThe Tourist Route is guided, in set languages and times. Book online and allow about three hours with travel.
Things to do in Kraków
See all attractions in Kraków
Need to know
- Airport
- Kraków (KRK), about 20 min by train
- Getting there
- Trains from Warsaw, about 2.5 hours
- Getting around
- Walk; trams for Kazimierz and Podgórze
- Best base
- Old Town or Kazimierz
- Time needed
- 3 days with Auschwitz
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryCloudy12 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh2°Low-3°Cold, quietJanuaryCloudy
Poor
- High
- 2°
- Low
- -3°
- Precipitation
- 50 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryRain12 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh5°Low-1°ColdFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 5°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh9°Low1°CoolMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 45 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool
- AprilRain12 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh14°Low4°MildAprilRain
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 67 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- MayRain14 rainy daysHigh18°Low8°Warm, greenMayRain
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 91 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, green
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh23°Low13°WarmJuneRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 77 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- JulyRain16 rainy daysHigh25°Low15°Hot, busyJulyRain
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 124 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- AugustRain13 rainy daysHigh25°Low15°WarmAugustRain
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 110 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh21°Low11°CalmerSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 112 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Calmer
- OctoberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°Autumn colorOctoberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 68 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberPartly cloudy10 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low2°Cold, grayNovemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 54 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, gray
- DecemberPartly cloudy12 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh4°Low-1°Christmas marketDecemberPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 4°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Christmas market
Average daily high and low in Kraków, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Jun Jewish Culture Festival in Kraków · Jul Jewish Culture Festival in Kraków
Right now in Kraków
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
6
- Feels like
- 3°
- Humidity
- 94%
- Wind
- 10 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 12%
Kraków
09:47 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today8°5°12%Monday: Drizzle. High 8°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Tue6°4°8%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 6°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Wed7°3°4%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 7°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Thu9°0°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri6°0°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 6°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat8°-1°1%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 8°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Sun6°-1°6%Sunday: Cloudy. High 6°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 6%.
Updated 06:44 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 3.951 PLN
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Coming up
Every year
- Jun–JulJewish Culture Festival in KrakówKraków
Day trips by train
- Auschwitz-Birkenauabout 1.5 hours by bus or trainThe Memorial and Museum; reserve entry ahead.
- Wieliczka Salt Mineabout 30 min by trainUnderground chapels carved from salt.
- Zakopaneabout 2.5 hours by bus or trainThe Tatra Mountains' main town.Read the guide
Before you go to Kraków
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Kraków, checked
- Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial: entry cards must be reserved in advance online; none are available at the entranceChecked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
Plan around Kraków
Cities, trains, entry rules and money
Read the guideWarsawThe capital, 2.5 hours by express train
Read the guideGdańskBaltic coast, a long day or a flight away
Read the guideTours and ticketsBooking timed entry for the big sights
Read the guideSchengen 90/180 ruleCounting days for a Central Europe trip
Read the guideChristmas marketsWhy December works in Kraków
Read the guideZakopaneTatra trails and Morskie Oko, a day trip or a base.
Read the guideWrocław or Kraków?Which Polish city fits a first visit.
Read the guideKraków FAQ
How do you get from Kraków to Auschwitz?
By bus or train to Oświęcim, about 1.5 hours, or on a guided day trip. Reserve your entry card on the Memorial's site before you go.
How many days do you need in Kraków?
Three days: one for the Old Town and Wawel, one for Kazimierz and Podgórze, one for Auschwitz-Birkenau. Add a day for Wieliczka.
Is Kraków better than Warsaw for a first trip?
For a first trip, Kraków has more historic streets and sights within walking distance. Warsaw has the stronger museums and a bigger city feel.
Is the Wieliczka Salt Mine worth it?
Yes if you like underground chapels carved from rock salt. The Tourist Route is guided and set by time slot, so book ahead and allow about three hours with travel from Kraków.
Where should I stay in Kraków?
The Old Town for walking to the Market Square and Wawel, Kazimierz for food and bars, Podgórze for a quieter riverside base, and near Kraków Główny if you have early trains.