19 Can’t Miss Hidden Gems in Krakow

Hidden Gems Krakow Poland
Robbie Vai Author: Robbie Vai
Clock Icon 10 minutes read
Update Icon Dec 28, 2024

Krakow is Poland’s second city and an exciting tourist destination, which is why more than 11 million people visit each year.

The central market square is known as one of the most beautiful in Europe, the nightlife will impress even the most seasoned party-goers, and history buffs will appreciate the many sites that provide a glimpse into Poland’s turbulent and varied past.

If you’re planning to visit Krakow for the first time and looking for some inspiration for lesser-known attractions off the beaten path, you’re in luck! Here are our 19 can’t-miss hidden gems in Krakow.

1. Krakus Mound

Photo Credit: Olivier Uchmanski

Krakow is home to four burial mounds, including the famous Kościuszko Mound. Krakus Mound is a less well-known mound located in the Podgórze district where Krakow’s mythical founder, King Krakus, is buried.

The mound is also a great (and free) vantage point for panoramic views of the city without the crowds.

2. Bar Mleczny Krakus Polish Milk Bar

  • Website: www.barykrakow.pl
  • Address: Bolesława Limanowskiego 16, 30-534 Kraków, Poland
  • Opening hours: 8.00 am – 6.00 pm Monday to Friday / 9.00 am – 4.00 pm Saturday & Sunday

Polish milk bars are affordable communist-era dining establishments serving authentic local food. The first milk bar was opened in Warsaw at the end of the 19th century, and no trip to Poland is complete without experiencing one.

Most of Krakow’s milk bars are filled with tourists, but Mleczny Krakus is a fantastic option off the beaten path. Be sure to get an order of pierogis (Polish dumplings) — they’re delicious and very well priced.

3. Krakow’s Hidden Bars

Poles know how to have fun, and Krakow is renowned for its nightlife. If you prefer to hang out in places that other tourists don’t frequent, try these spots:

Teatr Barakah Art Cafe

  • Website: https://teatrbarakah.com/art-cafe/
  • Address: Paulińska 28, 31-065 Kraków
  • Opening hours: 6.00 pm – 10.00 pm Thursday / 6.00 pm – 11.00 pm Friday & Sunday / 6.00 pm – 12.00 am Saturday

Tucked away in a former Jewish bathhouse is Teatr Barakah Art Cafe, a theater, bar, and gallery all in one. There are regular and eclectic performances in the theater hall — check the website to see what’s scheduled during your visit.

HEVRE

  • Website: www.facebook.com/hevrekazimierz/
  • Address: Beera Meiselsa 18, 31-058 Kraków
  • Opening hours: 10.00 am – 12.00 am Monday to Thursday / 10.00 am – 1.00 am Friday & Sunday / 10.00 am – 11.00 pm Saturday

This elegant bar is housed in a former prayer house and is a spectacular setting for a drink or two. Visit during the day to drink coffee and appreciate the frescoes and vintage chandeliers, or come after dark to party with locals.

4. Zakrzówek Park & Reservoir

There’s no better place to cool off in the summer months than Zakrzówek Park and Reservoir. This is a popular place for climbing and hiking, but the real draw is the series of swimming pools set among floating docks.

Plus, the views of the city are fantastic — you’ll be able to spot Wawel Hill among other landmarks.

5. Kasprowy Wierch Cable Car

Photo Credit: Lumena

The Tatras Mountains are just two hours from Krakow and are a popular place for hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter. Whichever season you visit, don’t miss a ride on the cable car.

The journey starts in Kuznice in upper Zakopane and takes riders to the top of Mount Kasprowy Wierch to admire the spectacular mountain views. For a stress-free day trip, book one of the many guided tours that depart from Krakow year-round.

6. Srebrna Gora Winery

  • Website: www.facebook.com/hevrekazimierz/
  • Address: aleja Wędrowników 2, 30-248 Kraków
  • Opening hours: 8.00 am – 4.00 pm Monday to Friday / 10.00 am – 5.00 pm Saturday & Sunday

Most visitors think of Poland as a beer and vodka-drinking country, but Poles also have a long history of wine production. In fact, Polish wine-making can be traced back to the Middle Ages, and it’s possible to visit a winery on the grounds of a 17th-century monastery right here in Krakow.

The Srebrna Góra Vineyard is one of the largest in the country — take a guided tour to learn the history of Polish wine production before trying a few varietals for yourself.

7. Father Beratek’s Bridge

Known by locals as Acrobats Bridge, this charming spot is a great place to snap some vacation photos. The bridge connects Podgorze and Kazimierz and is adorned with acrobat statues, as well as an ever-growing collection of love locks left by couples.

8. Park Debnicki

Park Debnicki sits on the Vistula River and surrounds a pretty neo-Renaissance palace, making it a charming spot for a picnic in the sun. Don’t miss the impressive “Rock Notes” sculpture by Bronisław Chromy.

9. Stary Kleparz

Photo Credit: travelview

  • Website: www.starykleparz.com
  • Address: Rynek Kleparski 20, 31-150 Kraków
  • Opening hours: 6.00 am – 6.00 pm Monday to Friday / 6.00 am – 3.00 pm Saturday

This is Krakow’s oldest marketplace, and it’s located conveniently close to the Main Square. Here, you can pick up Polish specialty food and fresh produce, as well as a good range of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean items.

10. Krakow’s Charming Churches

Most tourists will pay a visit to St Mary’s Basilica during their time in Krakow, but many overlook these two hidden gems:

St Adalbert’s Church

  • Website: http://wojciechnarynku.pl/
  • Address: Rynek Główny 2, 31-042 Kraków
  • Opening hours: 1 June – 30 September: 10.00 am – 4.00 pm Monday to Saturday

St Adalbert’s Church is a beautiful piece of Polish history worth adding to your itinerary. Located in the market square in Krakow Old Town, this stone church dates back to the 11th century and is one of the oldest in the country.

Franciscan Church

  • Website: https://franciszkanska.pl/
  • Address: Plac Wszystkich Świętych 5, 31-004 Kraków
  • Opening hours: 6.00 am – 8.00 pm daily

This church was consecrated in the 13th century and is the first example of the brick and sandstone architecture that Krakow became famous for.

11. Polish Aviation Museum

  • Website: https://muzeumlotnictwa.pl/#
  • Address: al. Jana Pawła II 39, 31-864 Kraków
  • Opening hours: 9.00 am – 5.00 pm Tuesday to Sunday

See more than 200 aircraft at this former airport, including the world’s only surviving Polish pre-war PZL P.11 aircraft. The interactive multimedia displays make it an exciting day out for aviation fans of all ages.

12. Krakow Pinball Museum

  • Website: https://krakpin.com/
  • Address: Stradomska 15, 31-068 Kraków
  • Opening hours: 2.00 pm – 9.00 pm Monday to Thursday /2.00 pm – 10.00 pm Friday / 12.00 pm – 10.00 pm Saturday / 12.00 pm – 9.00 pm Sunday

Test your pinball skills at this fun museum located in a 15th-century cellar near Wawel Castle. There are dozens of games to explore, including a few that date back to the 1930s. And, best of all, the price of the ticket includes unlimited play.

13. Vistulan Boulevards

Do as the local Cracovians do and take a relaxing stroll along the boulevards of the Vistula River. These paths, parks, and cycle lanes are popular places for the city’s residents to get some fresh air in the heart of the city, and they make a great break from the hustle and bustle of the old town.

14. Tyniec Abbey

Photo Credit: alexgo.photography

Tyniec is a village located on the outskirts of Krakow and is where you can see the impressive clifftop Benedictine Abbey. Tyniec Abbey was built in the 11th century and still serves as a functioning monastery to this day. Take a guided tour to learn all about its history.

15. Płaszów Concentration Camp

The Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps are visited by many tourists who pass through Krakow, but Płaszów Concentration Camp is an often-overlooked site located in Krakow itself. This forced labor camp was established on the site of a Jewish ghetto by German Nazis during World War II.

The nearby Liban Quarry was used in scenes of Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-winning Schindler’s List movie, which was based on the heroic story of Oskar Schindler’s factory. Both sites are free to visit and are accessible 24/7.

16. Under the Eagle Pharmacy (Apteka pod Orlem)

The owner of this pharmacy helped thousands of Jews in the Krakow Ghetto of Podgorze when he opted to remain open during the holocaust. Tadeusz Pankiewicz would often give free medicine to imprisoned Jews, and his pharmacy became a safe meeting place for Jewish leaders.

The pharmacy is now a museum that can be visited as part of an English-language walking tour of the Jewish Quarter.

17. Saltworks Castle

Photo Credit: Diego Grandi

  • Website: https://muzeum.wieliczka.pl/
  • Address: Zamkowa 8, 32-020 Wieliczka
  • Opening hours: 9.00 am – 4.00 pm Tuesday to Friday / 9.00 am – 5.00 pm Saturday & Sunday

The Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of the oldest of its kind in the world and is a must-see attraction. While you’re in the area, be sure to check out the Saltworks Castle. This was the former headquarters of the salt mine and is now a fascinating museum dedicated to the history of Wieliczka.

18. Muzeum Nowej Huty; Nuclear Bunkers of Nowa Huta

The neighborhood of Nowa Huta was built to be the ‘perfect communist city’, and this includes hundreds of bunkers that lie beneath its surface. This vast underground world includes 250 rooms serving as a hospital, a command center, and accommodation for hundreds of people. Take a tour to see some of the bunkers for yourself.

19. The Head

Photo Credit: Lazy_Bear

Catch a glimpse of the original 14th-century Town Hall when you pay a visit to its clock tower. This 70-meter-tall tower is located in the city center, and there’s an observation deck at the top which makes it a great place for panoramic views.

Unearth Krakow’s Many Hidden Gems

Europe is home to countless historic cities, but Krakow is easily one of the most fascinating. There’s so much to do here, but it’s when you get off the beaten track that you’ll discover Krakow’s true magic. Which hidden gem will you seek out first?

Robbie Vai
Author: Robbie Vai
Our journal features a diverse group of travel enthusiasts who are passionate about exploring the world and sharing their experiences. From solo adventurers to family vacationers, our team of writers offers unique perspectives and insightful tips to help inspire and guide your next adventure. Whether it's discovering hidden gems off the beaten path or indulging in luxurious getaways, we're here to help you make the most of your travels. Robbie is an amalgam of these writers.
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