An idea for a weekend in Cracow | PolishTrains

At a glance

• Krakow Glowny station is located in the immediate vicinity of the Old Town inside Galeria Krakowska
• The Planty park forms a green ring around the Old Town, perfect for a leisurely stroll
• Wawel Royal Castle and Cathedral sit on a hill overlooking the Vistula River
• Kazimierz, the historic Jewish quarter, offers galleries, cafes and lively nightlife
• From Krakow you can travel by train to Budapest, Vienna and Prague
• A weekend covers the Main Market Square, Wawel, Kazimierz and Podgorze comfortably on foot

Central Railway Station

Cracow Central Station is located in the immediate vicinity of the Old Town in Galeria Krakowska. Its modern platforms and the number of train connections from all over Poland and other countries, such as Hungary, the Czech Republic and Austria, ensure its status as one of the most important in Poland. Leaving the Gallery onto Jeziorański Square, we see the 19th century building of the Station and the historic townhouses surrounding the square. We head to the subway, which we use to walk for ... 4 min 400 m

Planty

Surrounding the Old Town, the Planty is a green ring around the former city walls, created during the Austrian reconstruction of Cracow. Today it is a recreational space where the citizens of Cracow come to sit on a bench and take a stroll. The symbol of the planty is the round Barbican, a fragment of Cracow's great 15th century fortification. From the Barbican, walk through the Florianska Gate to find yourself on the ... 5 min 200 m

The Royal Route

Florianska Street is a fragment of the Royal Road, stretching between St Florian's Church and Matejko Square and the Wawel Royal Castle. The Royal Road was the site of ceremonial coronation entries and commemorative processions. Today, Florianska Street is known for its exclusive boutiques and numerous souvenir shops. After a few minutes we arrive at the ... 7 min 550 m

Market Square

The heart of the old town and the symbol of the whole of Cracow. With an impressive area of 4 hectares, it is one of the largest in Europe. The landscape of the Market Square plate includes the famous horse-drawn carriages, St. Mary's Basilica, the Town Hall Tower and the Cloth Hall - former trade stalls. In the Cloth Hall, interesting amber products and folk crafts can also be purchased today. The square is surrounded by numerous cafés and restaurants, whose gardens form a colourful ring around the main square.

Museums

The Main Square is also home to museums. One interesting offer is the Museum of the Market Square Underground, where visitors can learn about the history of the city and see how its landscape has changed over the centuries. On the first floor of the Cloth Hall, on the other hand, there is the Gallery of 19th Century Polish Art, where paintings by the most eminent Polish artists of the period are on display. A visit to the Gallery is also an opportunity to see the Market Square from another - above-ground - perspective. This spectacular view is guaranteed by the terrace of the museum's café. From the Market Square, take St. Anne's Street to ... 4 min 350 m

University

The origins of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków date back to 1364 and the time of King Casimir the Great. Already in the 14th century students from all over Poland and other countries were drawn to Kraków. The oldest building of the University is the Collegium Maius, a building founded by Queen Jadwiga and Władysław Jagiełło in 1400, now housing the Jagiellonian University Museum. It is to the pair of successive founders that the University owes its name, as it has been in continuous operation ever since. After visiting the university quarter, we return to the Market Square and then ... 15 min 1.1 km

Wawel Royal Castle

We continue our walk along the Royal Way, which, via Grodzka Street, brings us to the foot of Wawel Hill. The first mention of the castle on the Vistula River dates back to the end of the 13th century. Not much later, the castle became the seat of the first rulers of the Piast dynasty. The first Romanesque buildings on the hill also date from this period. After the division of Poland, King Władysław Łokietek initiated a Gothic expansion of the castle, which was continued with vigour by his son, Kazimierz Wielki. The Wawel Royal Castle owes its final Renaissance touch to the Jagiellonian dynasty. It is from this period that the famous courtyard with arcaded columns, a symbol of the castle, originates. You can visit the castle both from the outside and inside by choosing a theme and tour. Then follow Stradomska Street to ... 12 min 1 km

Kazimierz

The former Jewish quarter of Cracow, which even owes its name to him, is also associated with the figure of Casimir the Great. Kazimierz was founded as a separate urban centre in 1335 and was the first seat of the Cracow Academy. At the end of the 15th century, Jews began to settle here and it is to them that Kazimierz owes most of its identity, visible in such monuments as the Old Synagogue, the Tempel Synagogue and the Remuh Cemetery. Nowadays, life in Kazimierz is concentrated on two squares - Plac Nowy and Plac Wolnica, where numerous atmospheric premises and cultural institutions are located. From Wolnica Square, it takes us 18 min 1.5 km to cross the Vistula River via the Bernatka footbridge...

Old Podgórze

On the right side of the Vistula awaits a district that, despite its growing popularity, has still retained its intimate character. Among historic tenement houses, colourful cafes and sleepy streets, you will find the 19th-century neo-Gothic St. Joseph's Church on the Podgórze Market Square. Behind the market square, there is the atmospheric Bednarski Park with walking alleys through which we can go towards the Krak Mound. The Mound offers a beautiful panoramic view of the whole Cracow and its surroundings. 28 min 2.3 km

Jewish suburb

Very popular with tourists from all over the world is Schindler's Factory, a place of authentic history that starred in Spielberg's film of the same name. Other important Holocaust-related places in the Podgórze are the Eagle Pharmacy and the Ghetto Heroes Square with its eloquent lone chairs. From the square, head towards the Vistula River. 25 min 2.8 km

Vistula Boulevards

After a day of sightseeing, it is good to take a rest. From the Vistula Boulevards we can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the Vistula bend with the Royal Castle on the other side of the river, Kazimierz and the visible towers of St. Mary's Church. The Vistula Boulevards are an ideal place for an evening stroll in the rays of the setting sun and an obligatory taste of Cracovian bagel! On the banks of the Vistula River, walk back to the Castle and from there it's just a few steps to the Market Square. 49 min 3.9 km

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How to buy a train ticket to Cracow?

Here are sample train connections:

Train timetables for these and other train connections, online booking and purchase of train tickets to Cracow for PKP Intercity, Pendolino and TLK trains are available on the PolishTrains website, and soon on the EuroAutokar website, you will be able to buy coach tickets at attractive prices.