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Historic Centre of Kraków

Kraków · Poland

Background

World Heritage since
1978
Type of site
Cultural
Old Town laid out
1257

The Historic Centre of Kraków, the former capital of Poland, sits at the foot of the Royal Wawel Castle. UNESCO describes the 13th-century merchants' town with Europe's largest market square, its houses, palaces and churches, the remains of the 14th-century fortifications, the medieval district of Kazimierz with its synagogues, the Jagiellonian University and the Gothic cathedral where the kings of Poland were buried.

The present plan of the Old Town was drawn up in 1257 after the Tatar invasions. Medieval Kraków was ringed by a 3-km wall with 46 towers, now replaced by the Planty park. The Royal Road runs from St Florian's Church through the Barbican and the market square up to Wawel. Kraków was among the first sites on the original World Heritage List in 1978.

More on the UNESCO listing More on Wikipedia

  1. 1038Kraków becomes the centre of Polish political life
  2. 1241The Tatar invasion destroys the city
  3. 1257The Old Town is laid out on its present grid
  4. 1596Sigismund III moves the court to Warsaw
  5. 1978Inscribed on the first World Heritage List

Find Your Way Around

The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them

  1. 1
    Main Market Square
    St Mary's Basilica, the Cloth Hall and the Town Hall Tower; a trumpeter plays from St Mary's every hour.
  2. 2
    Wawel
    The royal castle and the coronation cathedral on the crag above the Vistula; timed castle tickets sell out in summer.
  3. 3
    Kazimierz
    The old Jewish quarter's synagogues, squares and cafés.
  4. 4
    Rynek Underground
    Medieval Kraków beneath the market square.
  5. 5
    Planty and the Barbican
    The park ring where the walls stood, and the round gate fort.

Know Before You Go

From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides

Wawel Tickets First
Wikivoyage: buy castle tickets before climbing the hill; numbers are restricted with timed slots that sell out fast in summer and at weekends.
Everything Inside the Planty
The Old Town is bounded by the park ring and crossed on foot; the stations are just north of it.
Hourly Trumpet
The hejnał sounds from St Mary's tower every hour.
Book Schindler's Factory
The museum of Kraków under occupation needs tickets booked ahead.

Square, Castle and Kazimierz

From the GoGo Kraków guide · Open the Kraków Guide ›

  1. 09:30
    St Mary's Basilica1 hr
    The altarpiece and the trumpeter's tower.
  2. 10:45
    Cloth Hall45 min
    The Renaissance market hall.
  3. 12:00
    Wawel Castle and Cathedral3 hrs
    The royal hill.
  4. 16:00
    Synagogues and Squares of Kazimierz2 hrs
    The old Jewish quarter.
  5. 19:00
    Pierogi and Żurek90 min
    Polish dumplings and sour soup.

Best Time to Visit

Best months: May–Sep. Freezing days in Dec–Feb.

Typical highs

Best monthsRain: wettest Jul (106 mm), driest Dec (41 mm)

Climate: NASA POWER

Pair It With

Other World Heritage sites nearby, by distance

WORTH A NIGHTDAY TRIPSAME DAYDistance not to scale · tap a site
Do These Together
The Wieliczka Salt Mine is 30 minutes away, Kalwaria Zebrzydowska's pilgrimage park 29 km, and Auschwitz-Birkenau about 90 minutes.
Sources
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, listing 29 · Wikipedia: Kraków Old Town · Wikivoyage: Kraków/Old Town (CC BY-SA 4.0) · GoGo Kraków guide · UNESCO listing