←Poland travel guide
Lesser Poland Voivodeship, Poland
Kraków
Royal courtyards, medieval squares, and a thousand years underfoot
ArchitectureCultureHistory & HeritageNightlife
Kraków served as Poland's royal capital for five centuries, and its UNESCO-listed Old Town preserves one of Europe's largest medieval market squares alongside the hilltop Wawel Castle complex above the Vistula River. The adjacent Jewish quarter of Kazimierz and the enormous underground salt mine at Wieliczka, just outside the city, give visitors a remarkable density of history within easy reach.
Check Poland visa requirements →
Best time to visit
April to June and September to October
Region
Lesser Poland Voivodeship
Main airport
Kraków KRK (KRK)
Discover
Top Things to Do in Kraków
UNESCO World HeritageHistory
Wawel Royal Castle
Wawel Royal Castle stands on a limestone hill above the Vistula River in Kraków, a fortified complex that served as the seat of Polish kings from the 11th century until the late 16th century. Its architectural ensemble ranges from Romanesque foundations through Gothic towers to a magnificent Italian Renaissance arcaded courtyard, and the adjacent Wawel Cathedral houses the tombs of rulers and national heroes. The castle's State Rooms, Crown Treasury, and art collections make it the most visited historic monument in Poland.
UNESCO World HeritageCulture
Beyond the City
Day Trips from Kraków
UNESCO World HeritageHistory
Wieliczka Salt Mine
The Wieliczka Salt Mine, inscribed on the very first UNESCO World Heritage List in 1978, has been continuously mined since the 13th century and extends more than 300 metres deep through nearly 300 kilometres of galleries. Visitors follow a three-kilometre sightseeing route past chapels, sculptures, and an extraordinary underground lake, all carved entirely from rock salt by miners across seven centuries. The centrepiece is the Chapel of St Kinga, a fully decorated church of cathedral scale hollowed out of the salt at a depth of 101 metres.
UNESCO World Heritage
Wise
Your bank marks up every USD you spend in Poland. Wise doesn't.
- No foreign transaction fees
- Free ATM withdrawals up to your limit
- Pay in local currency at the real rate
4.8 ★ App Store·4.8 ★ Google Play
Airalo eSIM
Your phone plan was built for home. This one was built for Poland.
- No SIM swapping
- No data roaming charges
- Active in minutes
4.7 ★ App Store·4.6 ★ Google Play
Plan Your Trip
Getting Around Kraków
Tours, stays, transfers, and flights — curated partner options are on the way.
Tours & Activities
Skip-the-line tickets, guided tours, and day experiences — curated partner options are on the way.
Coming soonWhere to Stay
Hotels, apartments, and guesthouses across every neighbourhood — booking options are on the way.
Coming soonAirport Transfers
Private and shared rides between the airport and the city centre — partner options are on the way.
Coming soonFlights
Compare fares from hundreds of airlines to find the best route in — search options are on the way.
Coming soonTravel Guide
Frequently Asked Questions About Visiting Poland
Entry requirements vary by passport. Check the requirements for your specific passport on the Poland page at Yoogo.
Poland uses the Polish złoty (PLN), and it is not part of the eurozone, so euros are not accepted in most shops and restaurants. Cards are widely accepted in cities, including contactless and mobile payments, though carrying some cash is useful for smaller establishments, markets, and rural areas.
Poland is considered a low-risk destination, with a homicide rate below the EU average and no significant threat of terrorism in major tourist areas. Pickpocketing can occur in busy Old Town squares and on crowded public transport, so standard precautions apply.
Poland has a well-developed rail network connecting major cities, with InterCity and Pendolino express trains running frequently between Warsaw, Kraków, Gdańsk, and Wrocław. Within cities, trams and buses are the standard mode of public transport, with tickets available from machines at stops or via mobile apps.
Late spring (May to June) and early autumn (September to October) offer pleasant temperatures, fewer crowds than peak summer, and lower accommodation prices. Summer (July to August) is the warmest period and is popular for Baltic coast beaches and mountain hiking in the Tatra range, though cities can be busy.
English is spoken to a good standard in hotels, restaurants, and tourist attractions in major cities such as Kraków, Warsaw, and Gdańsk. In smaller towns and rural areas, English proficiency decreases, so a few basic phrases in Polish are appreciated by locals.
Poland does not require proof of any vaccination for entry. Standard travel health advice recommends being up to date with routine vaccinations, and those planning outdoor activities in forested areas during summer may wish to consult a travel health clinic about tick-borne encephalitis.
Tipping is customary but not obligatory in Poland. In restaurants, rounding up the bill or leaving around 10 per cent is the norm for good service, paid in cash directly to the server rather than added to a card payment.
Poland has excellent 4G coverage in cities and along major routes, with 5G available in larger urban centres. International eSIMs covering Poland are widely available from providers such as Airalo, and EU roaming rules allow travellers from EU and EEA countries to use their home data allowance without additional charges.
Poles are generally formal in initial meetings, greeting with a firm handshake and using titles rather than first names until invited to do otherwise. If invited to a Polish home, it is customary to remove your shoes at the door and to bring a small gift such as flowers (in an odd number) or chocolates for the host.