Things to do in Kraków
Kraków has a historic centre that grew from a medieval trading town. Around it you find Wawel hill with the castle and the cathedral, and Kazimierz, the old Jewish district south of the centre. Most visitors who come for Wieliczka Salt Mine stay here and make the mine a half-day trip. The train takes about 25 minutes.
This page covers the three areas that fill most itineraries and the order that works around a mine visit. If you plan the mine first, start with Wieliczka Salt Mine from Kraków or the Wieliczka Salt Mine tickets.
The Old Town and Main Square
The historic centre in one walk.
The Main Square is the centre of the Old Town. The Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) stands on it, and St Mary's Church is on the same square. Give the square and the streets around it a half day, and do not plan a tight timetable.
Prices and opening times for individual sights in the Old Town differ and change, so check the current ones before you go.
The arcades of the Cloth Hall are part of the same walk. For a first visit, the Old Town is the part of Kraków that most people see. It is also the easiest to combine with the mine, because you can do it on the day before or after.
Our picks: Kraków on foot
The Wawel walk adds the castle courtyards; the Old Town walk is shorter on the hill and stays around the Main Square.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Old Town and Wawel walking tour
- Local guide
- Wawel courtyards
- Collegium Maius courtyard
A local guide through the Old Town to the courtyards of the Collegium Maius and the Wawel royal palace. Tickets for the castle interiors are extra.
Check availability →Kraków Old Town walking tour
- English-speaking guide
- Old Town walk
A two-and-a-half-hour walk through the Old Town with an English-speaking guide. Entries are extra.
Check availability →Kraków and Wieliczka tours
Guided visits to the salt mine and other trips from Kraków, with live prices and availability.
Wawel hill
Castle, treasury and viewpoint. Prices as of 2026.
Wawel has separate exhibitions, each with its own ticket. There is no single entry for the whole hill. These are the prices for the castle exhibitions, not for the cathedral. Cathedral admission is separate, so check it on site.
| Exhibition | Full | Reduced |
|---|---|---|
| Castle, floors 1 and 2 | PLN 95 | PLN 71 |
| One castle floor | PLN 57 | PLN 43 |
| Crown Treasury | PLN 47 | PLN 35 |
| Armoury | PLN 47 | PLN 35 |
| Castle Underground | PLN 47 | PLN 35 |
| Dragon's Den | PLN 15 | PLN 10 |
| Viewing tower | PLN 19 | PLN 14 |
The Dragon's Den and the viewing tower open from 24 April to 31 October, and the Royal Gardens from 24 April to 4 October. Children under 7 with a free ticket enter free. For selected exhibitions, free tickets for November 2026 are announced, issued 7 days in advance. That is not free entry to all castle areas.
Pick the exhibitions you want before you buy. A single floor, the treasury and the armoury are different visits, and the two-floor ticket covers only the castle floors.
Kazimierz
The old Jewish district.
Kazimierz lies south of the centre. It is known for its old synagogues. It is a district to walk through and to read about, for its Jewish cultural heritage. Plan a separate half day for it, after the Main Square.
If you also plan a visit to a memorial site outside the city, see Auschwitz and Wieliczka from Kraków before you fix the order of your days.
How to fit the mine into your days
The mine takes about half a day with the train.
Time underground
The tourist route takes 2 to 3 hours. The underground museum can add about 1 hour. With the train in both directions, count on about half a day.
One day in Kraków
With one day, choose one area: the Old Town with the Main Square, or Wawel. Do the mine on a separate day.
Two or three days
Use one day each for the Old Town, Wawel and Kazimierz, and put the mine in the morning or afternoon of a day with a lighter programme. See the best time to visit for seasons and weather.
Where to sleep
The Old Town and Kazimierz both work as a base for the train. Where to stay in Kraków compares the areas.
More from this guide
Plan the mine around the city.
Kraków: frequently asked questions
How far is Wieliczka Salt Mine from Kraków?
By train the ride from Kraków Główny to Wieliczka Rynek-Kopalnia takes about 25 minutes. Add the way to the station and the walk to the mine entrance.
How much does Wawel cost?
There is no single ticket. In 2026 the two castle floors cost PLN 95 at the full price and PLN 71 reduced. A single floor costs PLN 57 or PLN 43, and the Crown Treasury, the Armoury and the Castle Underground cost PLN 47 or PLN 35 each.
Does a Wawel ticket include the cathedral?
No. The prices above are for castle exhibitions. Cathedral admission is separate, so check it when you are there.
Is it better to do the mine or Kraków first?
The mine needs about half a day with travel, the city fills the rest. Do whichever fits your arrival day. Keep them on separate days if you can.
Is this the official site of Kraków or the mine?
No. This is an independent visitor guide. It is not run by the city, the castle or the mine.