Market Square Cloth Hall Krakow Poland two day itinerary things to do 48 hours

48 Hours in Krakow Poland, Two Day Itinerary

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Krakow Poland Two-Day Itinerary for First-Timers

It is difficult to determine how to best use your 48 hours in Krakow Poland, there are so many great things to see and do. This 2-day itinerary is jam-packed with must-see sites and top attractions, including, Market Square, Wawel Castle, the Jewish Ghetto, and Schindler’s Factory. Looking for more options? Check these additional things to do in Krakow to supplement this itinerary. Have more time? Add a day trip from Krakow to Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp or the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Be sure to watch Schindler’s List and learn a bit about the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp before your visit. It is possible to travel the world with limited PTO, here’s how to visit Krakow in two days. Enjoy your time out of the office!

READ Complete Guide to Poland, What You Need to Know 

Market Square Cloth Hall Krakow Poland two day itinerary things to do 48 hours
Market Square Cloth Hall

Krakow Day One: Kazimierz, Jewish Ghetto and Schindler’s Factory

8 am Grab a coffee and wander the Jewish neighborhood of Kazimierz, the filming site of Schindler’s List. Photograph the beautiful urban decay and the Ghetto Hero’s Square art installation.

10 am Take the tour of Schindler’s Factory. Be sure to buy tickets online, the museum sells out.

12 am Stop to peek through the window into the old Jewish cemetery and have lunch in a café on Szeroka Street.

1 pm Walk across Father Bernatek’s Bridge and photograph the art installation on your way to Wawel Castle. Stop to video the fire-breathing Wawel Dragon. Continue on toward Old Town.

St. Florian’s Gate Floriańska Street Krakow Poland two day itinerary things to do 48 hours
St. Florian’s Gate

3 pm Snack on Polish dumplings for dinner at Pierogarnia Krakowiacy. Visit St. Mary’s Basilica, climb the tower, and listen to the trumpet call. Photograph the head sculpture at Town Hall Tower. Check out the vendor’s stalls in the cloth market and watch the street performers in Market Square. Learn Kraków’s history at the Rynek Underground Museum or browse 19th-century Polish art at The Sukiennice. Sample vodka and shop for souvenirs along Floriańska Street. Walk under the St. Florian’s Gate and take a selfie with the statue of Jan Matejko.

7 pm Attend the Polish Folklore Show and Dinner

Krakow Day Two: Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Wieliczka Salt Mine

The easiest way to visit both the Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Wieliczka Salt Mine in one day is by a day trip. Auschwitz-Birkenau has become the symbol of the Holocaust. The complex included a concentration camp, labor camp, large gas chambers, and crematoria for mass murders. Otto Thierack stated, “We must free the nation of Poles, Russians, Jews, and Gypsies”.  Over 1.1 million people died at Auschwitz. A visit to the site is life-changing.

Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp Krakow Poland two day itinerary things to do 48 hours
Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp

1,000,000 people visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine each year. The mine is a UNESCO World List of Cultural and Natural Heritage site and is considered a spiritual and historical monument. Descend 800 steps to explore 20 chambers chiseled out in rock salt, statues sculpted in salt, underground saline lakes, and displays of mining tools. The Chapel of St. Kinga is the star of the tour and worth the visit.

Wieliczka Salt Mine Krakow Poland two day itinerary things to do 48 hours
Wieliczka Salt Mine

Note: Krakow Poland is not an easy city. My sister and I flew in on different flights and neither of us received our luggage. The train platform into town was not well marked. After finding it and getting a ticket there was an overhead announcement stating the train is not running and transport to the city is by bus departing in 5 minutes. Grateful I didn’t have my bag, I ran and jumped on just as the door closed. The struggle continued in the city. Google was not able to locate any public transportation even as I stood at a tram station. Leaving Krakow was not easy either. I was on the first flight out and it was delayed 1.5 hours. The airport looks new yet you are bused out to the planes and the internet was spotty at best. Would I visit again? No. Do I regret this visit? Not at all.

Be sure to check the Krakow Poland Tourism Board website for upcoming festivals, special events, and what’s happening during your stay.

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Poland Travel Guide

Download an ebook, phrasebook, map, or bundle directly from Lonely Planet, or pick up a Poland Travel Guide from Amazon.com to browse on the plane.

Book Your Accommodation in Krakow Poland Now

I stayed at the PURO Hotel Kraków Stare Miasto. The location was great. It was directly across from the train station and within walking distance of the old town.

Krakow Poland Attractions and Day Tours

The best attractions sell out! Don’t chance it, get your tickets now and relax when you arrive.

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