Last updated on January 8th, 2025 at 03:07 pm
Thinking about visiting Krakow with kids or teens? Krakow, in the south of Poland and one of its oldest cities, is a treasure trove of history, culture and family-friendly attractions. It’s home to an imposing castle, a huge medieval market square and some fantastic museums and unique experiences – plus worthwhile daytrip options nearby.
We visited over the winter months and had two days in Krakow – a perfect amount of time to explore this engaging and atmospheric city. Here’s our take on the best things to do in Krakow, Poland.
The Family Conscience contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of these links, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. Read my disclaimer for more information.
POLAND QUICK FACTS:
LANGUAGE: Polish
CURRENCY: PLN (Polish Zloty)
FLIGHT TIME FROM UK: 2 hour 20 minutes
FLIGHT TIME FROM US: 8.5 to 11.5 hours
NATIONAL ANIMAL: White Tailed Eagle
POPULATION: 40 Million (800,000 in Krakow)
Getting to Krakow City Centre from the Airport
You’re likely to arrive at John Paul II International Airport (Kraków-Balice). It’s located about 11 km from the city centre, making it pretty easy to get there.
Here’s how to get from the airport to the city centre:
Train: The direct train to Kraków Główny station is quick (about 20 minutes) and tickets are reasonably priced (around 17 PLN). You can buy your tickets at the airport (Level 0), online or even from the conductor onboard the train.
Bus: Bus lines 208, 209, or 252 and night bus 902 connect the airport to the city centre. While this is the cheapest option, it takes slightly longer, so we wouldn’t necessarily recommend it if you’re travelling to Krakow with children.
Taxi: We chose to travel into the city centre by taxi. They’re widely available just outside the terminal building and are the most convenient way to get into the city centre – especially if you have luggage. Expect a fare of about 110 – 130 PLN (we spotted a sign in the airport saying ‘Expect to Pay 110 PLN’).
Car Rental: If you’re staying on in Poland and are looking to explore beyond Krakow (such as a trip to the Tatra Mountains), you might want to consider renting a car. In terms of parking, there are paid parking zones in Krakow with varying prices charged according to whether you park in Zone A, B or C.
✅ BOOK HERE for CAR RENTAL in KRAKOW
Getting Around Krakow
Walking: We chose mostly to walk around the city. Krakow’s Old Town and many key attractions are within walking distance of many of the hotels in the city centre – plus walking is free of course!
Public Transport: The city has a tram and bus network which connects most areas. Tickets can be purchased at the machines at each tram/ bus stop.
Bike Rental: Teenagers might enjoy cycling through Krakow’s parks and along the Vistula River. I’d recommend this only during the spring or summer months.
Taxis and Ride-Sharing Apps: Services like Bolt and Uber are in operation in Krakow and are reasonably priced. For taxis, ask your hotel reception to call you a taxi, or you can book a taxi online through iTaxi or BetterTaxi.
The Krakow map above details my recommendations for places to visit, stay and eat during your 2 day Krakow itinerary.
Day 1: Explore Krakow’s History and Interactive Experiences
On your first day of your Krakow 2 day itinerary, plan to explore Krakow’s Old Town, including the Cloth Hall and the Rynek Underground Museum. Then, I’d recommend a family-friendly, unique experience to engage the kids!
Morning
Rynek Underground Museum
Address: Rynek Główny 1, 31-042 Krakow
Located beneath Krakow’s Main Square (the entrance is on the outside of the Cloth Hall), this museum offers a fascinating journey back to medieval Krakow. And since it’s all indoors and underground, it’s one of the best things to do in Krakow in winter!
Follow the arrows around the museum to walk along the foundations and original roads of the square during the Middle Ages. It’s a little unclear which direction you should head at first, but it becomes clearer as you go along.
If you or your kids are interested in archaeology, the Rynek is a fascinating place to visit. Artefacts are grouped together by use – so you’ll find blacksmith’s tools, jewellery and children’s toys in different sections of the museum.
We enjoyed learning about the skeletons thought to be vampires which were excavated. Also, make sure you look out for the trepanated skull. The video commentary in the small rooms along the way is worth stopping for too.
Kids will enjoy the museum’s use of technology to bring history to life. This includes nteractive exhibits, special effects and holograms, as well as the archaeological artefacts – all facilitating a journey back into life over 700 years ago.
Booking a guided tour is a good idea at the Rynek. We didn’t do this but I wish we had, since I think we would have learnt so much more!
Opening Hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays 10 am to 7 pm, Tuesdays 10 am to 4 pm, Fridays and Saturdays 10 am to 8 pm. Closed on the second Monday of each month; Free entrance on Tuesdays (no booking available in advance).
✅ Book a ticket and tour for Rynek Underground Museum HERE
Cloth Hall (Sukiennice)
Address: Rynek Główny 3, 31-042 Kraków, Poland
Krakow’s famed Cloth Hall is not only a symbol of the city’s significant trading history but is still very much in use today.
The building is easy to spot – look for the large rectangular Renaissance-style building with arches – positioned in the middle of the square.
The Cloth Hall houses small shops or stalls selling local crafts, amber jewellery (you’ll find lots of this in Krakow), and other souvenirs. Perfect for picking up unique gifts for home. We didn’t end up buying anything but enjoyed having a look around.
Take a look around the main square after the Cloth Hall. We visited just after Christmas, and the Christmas markets were still going strong! There are some beautiful churches and statues and shops to take a look at too (perhaps pick up some traditional Polish pottery while you’re here)!
Opening Hours: 10am to 6pm; Admission free
Wawel Castle
Address: Wawel 5, 31-001 Kraków, Poland
Wawel Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and was home to Polish royalty. Plan to spend a couple of hours here.
With a ticket to the castle, you can explore the Royal Apartments, the Crown Treasury, and the Armoury. Separate tickets are available for different exhibitions and can be booked online up to a month in advance.
‘Castle Underground’ is one of the best exhibitions/ parts of the castle to see. And don’t miss the legendary Dragon’s Den, where the Wawel Dragon’s tale will have kids enthralled.
Opening Hours: Monday 10am to 4pm, Tuesdays to Sundays 9am to 5pm. Children under 7 years old go free; discounted rates are available for children between 7 and 18 years old. Free entry to some exhibitions on Mondays between January and March.
✅ Book HERE for a ticket and tour to Wawel Castle
Afternoon
Womai Centre: World of Science and Senses
Address: Pawia 34, 31-154 Kraków, Poland
This unique attraction features two exhibitions/tours: “Into the Light” and “Into the Darkness”. We completed them both, and loved them! If you’re looking for things to do in Krakow for kids, I can confirm that a visit to Womai was our kids’ favourite aspect of our trip.
Both tours are led by fantastic guides who work hard to bring everything to life.
The “Into the Light” tour includes interactive exhibits centred around optics, the nature of light and our perception of things.
Our guide Damian through several rooms containing different experiences and experiments, including a shadow room in which you can make your own art on the walls, and an ‘upside down’ room. For this one, we had to wear mirrored glasses which make you feel like you’re walking on the ceiling.
The “Into the Darkness” tour takes you through sensory experiences (such as shopping, using a kitchen and sorting out washing) in complete darkness. We were accompanied by a blind guide (Martyna) who looked after us brilliantly.
Our kids learnt so much from this experience – particularly at the end when they were able to ask Martyna questions about how she lives life as independently as possible.
This tour helps you appreciate the complexities of living life as a blind person, and how much we use our sight over and above all our other senses.
Both tours are perfect for curious teens, offering opportunities for both fun and learning. The “Into the Darkness” tour is suited to older children (recommended for age 9 plus) while the “Into the Light” tour is suitable for children of all ages.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm, Saturdays and Sundays 10am to 8pm.
✅ Book HERE for tickets for tours at Womai
Day 2: Exploring History Beyond Krakow
For your second day in Krakow, plan a day trip to visit Auschwitz and Wieliczka Salt Mine. Visiting both sites in one day makes for a long day, but it’s worth it.
Wondering whether a visit to Auschwitz is suitable for children/teens? I have more on that in Visiting Auschwitz with Children and Teens.
This is the tour we went on and we were really impressed with our tour guide and driver:
✅ Book HERE for a combined tour to Auschwitz and the Salt Mine
Morning
Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum
Address: Więźniów Oświęcimia 55, 32-600 Oświęcim
Located about 1.5 hours from Krakow, Auschwitz is a moving reminder of World War II atrocities and specifically the Holocaust.
It’s recommended that a visit is suitable for children aged 14 years and over, however, it is left to your discretion as a parent and you’ll need to go by what you think your child is able to cope with. Our children were 15 and 12 years old when we visited and they managed the visit well. You don’t need to go into every building or exhibition.
NOTE: Block 4 is the building with victims belongings (such as shoes and luggage) and with the display of human hair). This is possibly the toughest part of the tour and if you or your children would like to avoid it, you can.
I’d recommend that you book a guided tour rather than visiting on your own. You’ll learn so much more this way and, since it’s often very busy, you’ll be supported in navigating the site.
Tours usually last around four hours and take in both Auschwitz and Birkenau (which is around 3km away).
The experience is solemn but educational, and an important historical site. We felt understanding what happened here was really important for our kids.
If you’re visiting Krakow with younger children, I’d give some thought to whether they might get bored and if this might lead to behaviour that could disrupt others. If this is a possibility, I might avoid going. Again, it’s all down to the individual child and what you as a parent feel they can manage.
Opening Hours: Check the official website for up to date listings. There are shorter opening hours in winter months.
✅ Book HERE for tours to Auschwitz
Afternoon
Wieliczka Salt Mine
Address: Daniłowicza 10, 32-020 Wieliczka
If you decide not to visit Auschwitz, you can still arrange a separate tour to Wieliczka Salt Mine, which is around 20 minutes outside of the city. It’s one of Krakow’s highlights.
This UNESCO-listed site features a labyrinth of tunnels, some impressive sculptures and a chapel made entirely of salt. Our tour guide told us that some of the miners were skilled artisans who were commissioned to make the sculptures.
The Chapel of St. Kinga, with its chandeliers and intricate carvings, is a highlight, as are the lakes inside the mine – which look beautiful with the lighting set up in the mine.
Teens will enjoy exploring the underground mine and the sheer size of it.
NOTE: There are a LOT of steps down to the mine so you’ll need to be able to physically manage this. It’s not suitable for strollers.
I would HIGHLY recommend you book an organised tour to the mine. We saw large queues at the mine when we arrived but we were able to bypass these since we were on a tour.
✅ Book HERE for tickets and tours to Wieliczka Salt Mine
Where to Stay in Krakow
Krakow has a wide range of accommodation suitable for families and within a varied price range. Our recommendation would be to stay central, making it easy for you to get around on foot on Day 1.
Budget Option: Yourplace Biskupia Old Town Apartments – If you’re looking for self-contained accomodation, these apartments are affordable and centrally located in the Old Town
✅ Book HERE for Yourplace Biskupia Old Town Apartments
Mid-Range Option: Vienna House Easy Cracow – Comfortable, clean and modern rooms in this family-friendly accommodation.
✅ Book HERE for Vienna House Easy Cracow
Luxury Option: Queen Boutique Hotel – We stayed at the Queen Boutique Hotel and would highly recommend it. Fantastic breakfasts and a really good central location.
✅ Book HERE for Queen Boutique Hotel
Where to Eat in Krakow
During your visit to Krakow, make sure you try some traditional Polish food, including:
- Pierogi: Dumplings stuffed with sweet or savoury fillings.
- Placki Ziemniaczane: Polish potato pancakes
- Oscypek: Smoked cheese often served with cranberry sauce.
Recommended Restaurants
Budget: Zapiekanki Baroko – Polish fast food; toasted baguette with lots of different topping choices. Great for a quick bite.
Mid-Range: Pierogi Mr Vincent – This Van Gogh themed pierogi cafe is tiny (so get there early). The pierogi here is amazing, as are the croquettes. You can’t go wrong no matter what you choose.
Mid-Range: Kuchina Domowa – this lunch bar (also serving dinner) has Polish food to suit the whole family. From schnitzel and potato pancakes to burgers, it’s reasonaly priced and cosy.
Upscale: Amarylis – this Michelin stared restaurant was in the basement of our hotel (Queen Boutique Hotel) and we had dinner without the kids here one evening. The service and the quality of the food is unbeatable – and if you’re staying at the hotel, you receive 20% off. Bargain!
Teen-Friendly Food Options in Krakow
If you’re travelling with kids or teens who are pickier eaters, fear not, There are plenty of cafes and restaurants offering pizza and burgers, plus dessert cafes offering waffles and ice cream.
If you’re visiting a more traditional Polish restaurant, kids might like dishes such as schnitzel, fries, sausage and potato pancakes.
Is Krakow worth visiting?
Krakow is a destination that seamlessly blends history, culture, and fun activities for teens.
From exploring underground museums and castles to learning about World War II and enjoying unique interactive experiences, this itinerary covers what to see in Krakow in 2 days to ensure a memorable family trip. We’d highly recommend Krakow for a family city break.
Wondering where else to head in Europe for a city break with your family? How about one of these options:
