Cheap city break Krakow

When is the best time to go?

May to September brings terrace weather (18 to 25 degrees) and long evenings on Rynek Główny. September and October, the autumn break, may be the smartest months: golden light, fewer crowds and the sharpest deals on flights and hotels to Krakow. December turns the market square into one of Europe's most atmospheric Christmas markets. Avoid January and February, often grey and around -5 degrees.

The best neighbourhoods in Krakow

• Stare Miasto (Old Town) Around Rynek Główny, Europe's largest medieval market square, with the Cloth Hall, St Mary's Basilica and Wawel Castle within walking distance. The most central place to sleep.
• Kazimierz The old Jewish quarter, now the hip heart with klezmer restaurants, vintage shops and the zapiekanka food trucks on Plac Nowy.
• Podgorze Across the Vistula: the former ghetto, Schindler's Factory and the modern art museum MOCAK.
• Nowa Huta A 1950s communist model town with wide boulevards and Soviet architecture, 20 minutes away by tram.
• Salwator A quiet, green district along the Vistula, with a tram to the centre and views of the Kosciuszko Mound.

Top 5 things to do in Krakow

• Wawel Castle and Cathedral The grounds are free; the State Rooms cost about 45 zloty (~11 euro) and Wawel Cathedral with the bell tower about 21 zloty (~5 euro).
• Rynek Główny, Cloth Hall and St Mary's Basilica The square is free; St Mary's with the famous Veit Stoss altarpiece costs 35 zloty (~9 euro), the underground Rynek museum about 38 zloty.
• Auschwitz-Birkenau day trip 70 km west; entry is free but timed, and in high season (from 10:00) a guide is compulsory (~90 zloty). Allow half to a full day; bus or tour from about 15 euro.
• Wieliczka salt mine UNESCO salt mine with underground chapels, 10 km outside the city; guided entry about 126 zloty (~30 euro), or from 44 euro including a transfer from the centre.
• Jewish Kazimierz and Schindler's Factory Walk the quarter for free past synagogues and street art; the museum in Schindler's enamel factory costs about 38 zloty (~9 euro), book online.

Flights + transport from the Netherlands

Ryanair, Wizz Air and Transavia fly direct from Eindhoven to Krakow-Balice (KRK) in about 2 hours, often from 55 euro return; KLM and Ryanair also fly from Schiphol. From the airport the train takes you to Krakow Glowny, the central station, in 20 minutes for about 17 zloty (~4 euro). In the city an MPK tram or bus ticket is 4 zloty for 20 minutes, 6 zloty for 60 minutes and a day pass 22 zloty (~5 euro).

What does a city break in Krakow cost?

Krakow is one of Europe's cheapest city breaks. Hostels from 12 euro, mid-range hotels 45 to 90 euro, apartments around 60 euro per night. Food is dirt cheap: pierogi from 3 euro, lunch 7 euro, dinner 12 to 18 euro, a local beer 2 euro. Insider: eat a zapiekanka (long open baguette with mushrooms and cheese) on Plac Nowy for about 4 euro, or pierogi in an old-school milk bar (bar mleczny). Budget from 280 euro per person for 3 days including a flight.