Last updated on July 7, 2016
Krakow, Poland, a city of culture, fascinating history, castles, fairy tales, hearty cuisine and, of course, vodka! From the best historical sights and tours to the finest feasts and watering holes, this is your essential 3-day itinerary.
Day One
Take the Auschwitz-birkenau Concentration Camp Tour
You will be picked up from your hotel after breakfast and transported to the UNESCO-protected Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Upon meeting your guide you will be shown around the exhibitions documenting Nazi oppression housed in the barracks of Auschwitz I before a visit to the extermination camp of Auschwitz II (Birkenau), where the gas chambers and crematoria operated during wartime.
There will be a lunchbox given to you in the middle of the tour. You’ll be back in Krakow 3.5 hours later. Auschwitz-Birkenau tours can be bought with local tour operations and includes transport.
See the Fairytail-esque Wawel Castle
Discover the treasures of one of Europe’s largest royal castles with a charismatic and well-informed guide, who will pick you up from your hotel. Arrive at Wawel Hill, take a stroll along its fortifications and visit the richly decorated Royal State Rooms and the Cathedral of Wawel.
Take an opportunity to admire a rare masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci Lady with an Ermine and other outstanding art collections of the castle. See the full range of Wawel attractions here.
Krakow Bar Crawl
Explore Krakow’s vibrant nightlife with a party expert. Meet your guide after dusk, join an international group of party lovers and begin your tour of the most essential pubs, vodka bars and clubs until the dawn comes. Party all night long, dance, drink and have fun with friendly locals, good music and drinks of the highest quality.
Day Two
Discover the Wieliczka Salt Mine
You will be picked up from your hotel after breakfast and transported to Wieliczka Salt Mine – another breathtaking UNESCO attraction of Krakow metropolitan area. During a 3.5 hour tour you will be guided to a 100+ metre deep saline kingdom, see the equipment of medieval miners and the impressive pieces of art they carved into the salt rocks. The beautiful site composed of wonders of nature and man-made structures are something you will never forget.
Visit Schindler’s Factory
You will be picked up and driven to Podgorze district where the Factory of Oskar Schindler is located. A guide will show you through one of the best museums in Poland, devoted to the reality of Krakow under Nazi occupation and the uplifting story of Oskar Schindler who saved over a thousand Jews from the Holocaust. This dynamic tour takes 2 hours altogether.
Dine at One of Krakow’s Traditional Restaurants
Start your Krakow gastro adventure with your appetite fully satisfied at one of the top restaurants of the city. Fancy some traditional Polish dumplings or a gourmet dinner at a Michelin recommendation? Follow your guide to decide where to collect your first culinary experience of Krakow.
Compose Yourself at a Live Chopin Concert
After the demanding tours of World War II-related museums, you will be invited to a piano concert at Chopin Gallery in Krakow, Bonerowski Palace. A one-hour performance of the most recognisable pieces by the acknowledged Polish composer will be given by award-winning musicians, enabling you to relax while admiring their incredible talent.
Day Three
Main Market Underground Museum
A local guide will lead you to the nearby Cracow Underground Museum. You will be surprised to discover how extensive an exhibition is placed 4 metres below the surface of the Main Square, covering the past of Krakow in a complex way since prehistoric times.
The unique underground museum has plenty of archaeological exhibits displayed with the use of advanced technology inside. No minute of this 1-hour tour will be considered as wasted!
Cruise the Vistula River
You will board a boat at the foot of Wawel Hill and take a 1-hour cruise along the longest river of Poland – the Vistula. On your way to the Jewish Quarter you’ll see such picturesque views as the Monastery of the Norbertan Sisters, St. Margaret’s Church or St. Salvator’s Church, as well as the panorama of the Jewish Quarter – Kazimierz. Once you’re back on dry land again, you will be picked up to take the last tour of your visit
Jewish City Walking Tour
Your private guide will show you around the most charming district of Krakow – the Jewish Quarter of Kazimierz. Throughout the remaining 2.5 hours you will be led along its narrow cobbled streets, visit the Old Synagogue in Szeroka street, Nowy Square and numerous venues where the Jewish heritage is clear to see.
There will be time to buy souvenirs and take the pictures of this enchanting place. Prepare yourself for one of the most comprehensive 3-day tours you will ever have a chance to take.
Grab a Drink at a Proper Polish Pub
The beer and vodka culture of Krakow is cultivated in hundreds of pubs operating in the Old Town or Jewish Kazimierz. Your expert guide will take you to a carefully selected pub where you will have a chance to sit back and enjoy a pint of good Polish lager after and reflect on your day.
Where to Stay in Krakow
Do not forget of the royal character of Krakow. Take advantage of the regal conditions offered by the most splendid Cracovian hotels: excellent locations, exquisite cuisine and magnificent decor guaranteed inside the carefully selected 5-star accommodations to choose from. Investigate the list of top-rated Krakow hotels and pick the one that perfectly responds to your taste.
