If you’re looking for a cheap trip to Krakow, we’ll explain more in today’s blog post. My guide to Krakow weekend getaways, including the best places to eat and drink, what to do, how to plan your time, and everything you need to know to make your Krakow weekend getaway great. Share your top tips!
Krakow is becoming an increasingly popular destination for budget city holidays as more and more people hear about this gorgeous city. In fact, Which! magazine named him the best city for a city break three years in a row. There are many cheap flights to Krakow and the prices on arrival are also very reasonable. There is so much to see and do, and many of the activities and sights won’t cost you a penny, making your vacation to Krakow super cheap!
Read more: Prices in Krakow: 3 days in Krakow and how much it cost
When is the best time of year to visit Krakow?
Krakow is a beautiful city that can be visited all year round. I visited in the fall and it was amazing.
Spring and summer are especially nice, as Krakow has a lot of nice outdoor spaces and parks.
Autumn is very nice because it’s quiet but not too cold. If you are looking for a cheap trip to Krakow, autumn is one of the cheapest times to visit. We went in early November, which was perfect as it was cheap and quite warm, just as it was starting to get that festive and magical atmosphere.
If you visit Krakow in December, the Christmas market will open and it will be a beautiful winter wonderland!
If you are traveling to Krakow in January, February, or March, it will be very cold. Temperatures often drop below freezing in January and February, which can make it a bit difficult to get anything done. If you go in winter, you might even see snow, but personally, I don’t want to go there during the cold season!
Where to stay in Krakow
If you only have 36 hours in Krakow, we recommend staying in the center to be right in the middle of the action. If possible, please choose one of the following:
- old Town
- Jewish quarter
The Old Town contains most of Krakow’s attractions and is the city’s main tourist hub.
The Jewish Quarter is full of great bars and clubs, so it’s a great place to party.
I decided to stay at a hotel called Hotel Atrium, which is a 5-10 minute walk from the old town.
Click here to read reviews of Hotel Atrium on TripAdvisor
Click here to see reviews of Hotel Atrium on Booking.com
Hotel Atrium costs £77 for two nights including breakfast. Although many of the conditions were met, the room was found to be deserted. I would recommend staying here if you are looking for a cheap and comfortable place to stay, but not if bedroom decoration is important to you!
it was:
- great price
- great location
- the staff were great
- The reception area and bar & restaurant were luxuriously decorated with lots of plants
- Tours and private taxi transfers can be booked at reception
- Communication via email before arrival was great and they even arranged a taxi for me
- It was very quiet
- Breakfast was ok
- Wifi was good
- The room was large and clean
- The bathroom was also large and clean with a great shower
- the bed was comfortable
The bedroom was not very cozy and had a bleak interior, so I didn’t want to spend any time there. As you can see on Booking.com, some rooms have nicer decor, so maybe I should have requested a different room!
But it was really cheap, so price and location were the two most important factors for me.
Is it easy to travel to Krakow?
yes! Very easy.
There are many cheap flights available, so it’s easy to get there. I flew from Manchester with Ryanair for £16 return!
I found it very safe and all the locals were friendly.
Everyone seemed to speak English well, so communication was no problem.
It’s a very cheap city, so the easiest way to get to and from the airport is by taxi or Uber (I recommend Uber). Public transport is also available, with an Uber ride into the city costing less than £10.
Krakow is a small city, so it’s easy to get around on foot.
It’s also a popular city with tourists, so bars and restaurants are used to catering to tourists.
A Krakow weekend break itinerary
Krakow is a small city so I think a weekend is enough time to see it all if you are prepared!
If you just spent a weekend in Krakow, I recommend doing these four things and devoting half a day to each activity.
1 – Stroll around the old town (best in the morning – completely free)
2 – Explore the Jewish Quarter (best in the afternoon or evening – completely free)
3 – Visit Auschwitz
4 – Visit the salt mines
If you are visiting the Old Town and the Jewish Quarter on the same day, we recommend spending the morning in the Old Town and the afternoon or evening in the Jewish Quarter.
The Jewish Quarter is very quiet in the morning, so don’t go the other way. The Jewish Quarter is full of bars, cafes, and restaurants, but if you arrive too early, they may not be open.
Read more: 25 things to do in Krakow Old Town
We recommend plotting these 25 items on Google Maps so you can find them when you arrive.
Some people spend the first day exploring the Old Town and Jewish Quarter, and the second day visiting Auschwitz and the salt mines. However, it can be a little tiring, so if you prefer a slower pace, this is easier to do.
Saturday morning – Old Town
Saturday Afternoon – Auschwitz
Sunday Morning – Salt Mine
Sunday Afternoon – Jewish Quarter
Visiting Auschwitz and the salt mines from Krakow
Two really popular day trips from Krakow are visiting Auschwitz and the salt mines.
You can use public transport from Krakow to both destinations and purchase tickets at the entrance upon arrival. This is the cheapest way to visit Auschwitz and the salt mines. If you are unsure of your public transportation options, we recommend asking at your hotel.
If you’re short on time, we recommend taking an Uber as it’s quick and easy.
If you want the easiest option possible, join a tour with hotel pickup.
Krakow Tours
Use Get Your Guide for tours. I think it’s a great tour, very easy to book online and reasonably priced. Highly recommended for anyone who likes to plan and book activities in advance.
From Krakow: Auschwitz-Birkenau and Wieliczka Salt Mine Tour with Pickup
For £55, there is a full day tour (starting at 7am, 11 hours) that includes hotel pick up and drop off and takes you to Auschwitz and the salt mines. This includes a live tour guide and admission tickets.
Wieliczka Salt Mine Half-Day Tour (Transfer included
Alternatively, you can take a half-day trip to the salt mines for £30. This is his 4-5 hour trip with departure times from 8am to 4:15pm. This price includes admission tickets and a live tour guide.
Auschwitz-Birkenau Full Day Tour with Pickup
And tours that just go to Auschwitz are pretty cheap. Here he is under £22 and with tour guide and entrance tickets he is around £6-8.
Where to eat and drink in Krakow
Krakow has an incredible number of bars and cafes, many of which are extremely stylish, modern and gorgeous. Not only that, but if you’re coming from the UK, you’ll find it to be very affordable. So if you’re planning a cheap holiday to Krakow, you don’t have to worry about finding a “low-cost restaurant” as all the restaurants will feel pretty cheap.
Here are 10 suggestions for places to eat and drink in Krakow (we don’t want to overwhelm you!)
- Camelot Café, where you can enjoy breakfast or brunch in a cozy atmosphere
- Make bread and coffee for breakfast “in place” in Kazimierz
- Hummus and caterpillars for lunch with vegan and vegetarian options
- Ewa Waszwith Zaripianki enjoying lunch with a view of Planty Park
- Hara Forum Indoor Food Market
- Kantyna Zablocie is one of the most Instagrammable places in the city!
- Karma Coffee where you can enjoy delicious coffee in a cozy shop
- Traditional dumplings Piero Garnia Domois
- Gavi Restaurant serves fine cuisine
- Marcy Brown for cocktails
Bars and restaurants come and go, so be sure to check before you go. We also highly recommend following Krakow City Guide on Instagram. Margo is always sharing the best places to eat and drink in Krakow and has a very useful electronic guide to Krakow that you can download.
If you’re looking for a weekend away in another city on a budget, consider Vilnius, Lithuania. Read more: Vilnius prices: how much does a 3-day trip cost