Cheap flights to Krakow from GBP15*

Kraków may be Poland’s second-largest city, but it’s the country’s largest tourist destination. It was Poland’s capital for almost 600 years, after all! Poles and foreigners alike fall in love with Kraków’s royal atmosphere and grand squares, its castle of legends and majestic churches. Paired with cosy cafés, a charming Jewish quarter, hearty food and craft beers, Kraków offers a warm welcome, be it in the chill of winter or the mild summer months.

 

Fly to Kraków, Poland for:

Poles flock to Kraków as a pilgrimage to their country’s origins. The city is dominated by the Renaissance castle, where kings ruled Poland until 1611, having been crowned in the neighbouring Cathedral. Visit these monuments, stroll the grand market square, select embroidered cloth to take home, taste pierogi, Polish-style bagels and smoked sheep cheese, and enjoy a local craft beer to experience all the best of Poland.

 

Royal and Renaissance traditions in the Old Town

The historical Cracovian centre of power sits atop Wawel Hill, a limestone outcropping over the Wisła River. The Royal Castle as it looks today is the work of King Sigismund I the Old, who defied his moniker by commissioning the ‘new’ style now known as Renaissance. Italian architects introduced tiered arcades but made sure to keep the roofs steep to accommodate the Polish snowfall. Inside, Polish Gothic wood carvings and exquisite Jagellonian tapestries are on display. Next door is Wawel Cathedral, a site so important that it carries the burdensome official name Royal Archcathedral Basilica of Saints Stanislaus and Wenceslaus on the Wawel Hill. St Stanislaus, patron saint of Poland, is entombed here in a silver coffin. After your pilgrimage, head to the heart of Kraków to Market Square, Rynek Główny. Bigger than Brussels’ acclaimed Grand Place, the square is crowned by the towers of Saint Mary’s Basilica, home to the largest Gothic altarpiece in the world. Be sure to listen for the bugle call, played every hour. The melody breaks off suddenly, in memory of a 13th-century trumpeter who was shot in the throat by a Mongol arrow as he warned the citizens of an impending attack. Visit the Renaissance arcades of Cloth Hall in the centre square to buy exquisite Polish handicrafts. Another of Kraków’s charms is Kazimierz, the Jewish district adjacent to the old town, where Steven Spielberg filmed Schindler's List. During World War II, the Jews of Kraków were forced by the Nazis into a ghetto in Podgórze, across the river. Most were later killed. Since the 1993 film, Kazimierz has won the hearts of visitors, and the neighbourhood has blossomed.

 

Ancestors of bagels, cheese and doughnuts

History permeates the food traditions in Kraków, too. Start with a snack called obwarzanek, a circular pretzel that some claim is a predecessor of the bagel. Sprinkled with salt, poppy or sesame seeds, they’ve been sold on the market square for over 600 years. For a special treat from the sheep that graze the foothills of the Tatra mountains, which you can see in the distance south of Kraków, try oscypek, a smoked cheese. Buy this salty, chewy delicacy in decorative designs from grannies in traditional dress, or warm with cranberry sauce at Kraków’s Christmas market. Still hungry? Top things off with a pączek, Poland’s national doughnut, filled with rose jam and sprinkled with or glazed in sugar. Of course you will have heard of pierogi. Head to Pierożki u Vincenta for plates of steaming pierogi dumplings with fillings from garlic to bacon to cabbage to salami, cherries to plums to apples. For a full slate of Polish classics, opt for Czarna Kaczka, or The Black Duck. Apart from the duck specialities, try żurek, a sour rye soup served in a bowl made of bread or a beef goulash with potato cakes. Pair your meal with Polish beer and finish with a vodka. For your digestion, of course.

 

The most bars per capita in Europe?

Kraków claims the most bars per capita in Europe, including the popular beer gardens that populate the city in spring through early autumn. Mleczarnia is one of the most famous, next door to the house from Schindler’s List where Mrs Dresner hides from the Nazis. Another in Kazimierz is Eszeweria, with mirrors, candelabra and other antique gems in the dim interior, but brimming with friends and lovers in intense conversation or relaxed laughter, especially in the lush inner garden. For a different kind of Kraków nightlife experience, try Barka, which means barge. That’s right, it’s a boat bar on the Wisła River. Find it right next to the Lover’s Bridge, and dance on deck. Select from among 200 bottled beers and a great variety on tap from across the region at House of Beer, in the old town. At the trendy Multi Qlti Tap Bar, they’ve got 20 local craft brews on tap, and more in the fridge.

 

Exploration and remembrance

Dragons lurk in the caves under Wawel Hill… or do they? As the story goes, a dragon called Smok terrorised the locals by eating their sheep and young girls, until along came a humble cobbler who slayed the dragon in exchange for King Krakus’ daughter’s hand in marriage. If you are brave enough to visit the fire-breathing bronze statue of Smok, you can tame him just like Daenerys. He guards the entrance to Smocza Jama, the Dragon’s Den. Speaking of underground lairs, Wieliczka Salt Mines are worth the 350-step descent into the depths of the earth. You’ll see a chapel carved out of the rock salt, salt chandeliers that look like crystal and a light show over a silvery underground lake. Or opt for the miners’ tour, donning overalls and a headlamp to learn the ropes of this demanding profession. Consider taking the time to remember the victims, Jewish and others, of the Holocaust, at Auschwitz, the concentration camp where 1.1 million people died between 1941 and 1944 at the hands of the Nazi regime. Prepare yourself to see the Arbeit Macht Frei gateway, the train tracks, the barracks and gas chambers, sobering reminders of the cruelty human beings can inflict on each other. h2>Kraków Airport Kraków Airport, named John Paul II International Airport after its famous son, is just 15 kilometres from the city by train. With a single terminal, it’s easy to navigate but has plenty of cafés and shops for its size, plus a tourist information desk of course. The trains have air conditioning, power outlets and WiFi, but don’t forget to look out the window on the 20-minute journey!

 

Weather in Kraków

Kraków has four distinct seasons, but not a lot of extremes. In summer, average temperatures are between 19°C and 22°C, with more rain than other parts of Europe. Winter can get a bit chilly at -1°C on average, but all four seasons are mild enough to enable a visit any time of year.

Krakow Airport

Located just 11 kilometres west of Kraków’s city centre in Balice, John Paul II International Airport Kraków–Balice (KRK) offers several convenient transport options to reach the city. For a hassle-free start to your visit, consider pre-booking an airport transfer service to avoid language barriers and overpricing. Alternatively, a train ride takes you from the airport to the Kraków Główny railway station in just 20 minutes. Cheaper, buses 208 and 252 run at 20- to 60-minute intervals, depending on the time of day, while the nocturnal 902 bus means you always have a way to get around. Taxis run 24/7 for the 25-minute trip into the centre.

FAQs for booking flights to Kraków

How to get cheap flights to to Kraków?

Use FareFinder to compare fares and discover the cheapest Kraków flights for the next 6 months, helping you to plan ahead and save. Frequent flyers can save even more by joining the Wizz Discount Club, which gives you and your companions access to an instant €10.00 discount on fares from €19.99 and further discounts on checked-in baggage purchased online.

When is the best time to visit Kraków?

High season (June-August) is perfect for attending festivals, shoulder season (April-May and September-October) makes for the best sightseeing trips, and low season (November-February) is ideal for backpack travelers. However, Kraków has four distinct seasons that are mild enough to enable a visit any time of the year. In summer, average temperatures are between 19°C and 22°C, with more rain than other parts of Europe. Winter can get a bit chilly at -1°C on average.

How to get from Kraków Airport to Auschwitz? 

There are several ways to get to Auschwitz from Kraków Airport (KRK). Note that there are no direct buses or trains from the airport to Auschwitz. The most recommended is getting the line 33200 train going towards Kraków Lotnisko, at Kraków Bronowice, then transfer to Oswiecim. This will take approximately 2 hours, 14 minutes. Or board the train directly from Kraków Glowny to Oswiecim; it will take about 2 hours and 26 minutes. You can also board the bus that leaves from the Kraków Airport to MDA Dworzec Autobusowy and transfer to another bus to Oświęcim, taking a total time of about 3 hours and 20 minutes.

The faster option is to take a taxi, and that would take about 44 minutes to get there. If you prefer to drive by yourself or use a town car service it will take you around the same time.The distance between Kraków Airport and Auschwitz is 69 km, with a road distance of 57 km. By train, you get the best way to travel without a car and it strikes a balance between cost and convenience.

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