Kraków from Prague: the long ride to Poland's royal old town

For much of Polish history Kraków was the royal capital, and its old town still looks the part: a vast market square, a hilltop castle and a university founded in the fourteenth century. Getting there from Prague takes patience, but you arrive in a city with a strong sense of itself.

The journey is the thing to plan. Once you are on the platform at Kraków Główny, the old town is a few minutes' walk and the rest is easy.

Getting there

By train. Services run from Praha hlavní nádraží towards Poland via Ostrava, and some continue to Kraków Główny, the main station. The journey is long and may involve a change, so check cd.cz for the current timetable and booking options (as of 2026; check the official source). Night and day services have existed, but the offer changes, so verify what runs now.

By bus. Buses from Prague's Florenc station and other stops also serve Kraków. Journey times and prices vary by operator, so compare and read the booking conditions.

Whichever you pick, treat the journey as part of the plan: a book, snacks and a seat reserved. Kraków Główny sits right by the old town, with a shopping centre attached, and you can be in the centre within minutes on foot.

The old town

The Main Market Square (Rynek Główny) is one of the largest medieval squares in Europe. In the middle stands the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice), a long arcaded building of market stalls. St Mary's Basilica overlooks the square, and a trumpet call (the hejnał) is played from its taller tower every hour. It breaks off abruptly, in memory of a medieval legend.

Cafés and restaurants ring the square, with higher prices in the most visible spots. A side street often means better value. The old town is circled by a park, the Planty, a pleasant green loop where the medieval walls once stood.

Wawel Hill

South of the old town, the Wawel is a hill crowned by the royal castle and the cathedral, the traditional place for coronations and royal burials. Different parts of the complex need separate tickets. Check the official site for what's open and how to book (as of 2026; check the official source). The castle grounds can be seen without entering the interiors.

Kazimierz

South-east of the old town lies Kazimierz, the historic Jewish district. Its synagogues, cemeteries and squares tell the story of Kraków's Jewish community, and today the area is also lively with cafés and bars. A walking tour helps with context. It's a good place to spend the evening.

The Auschwitz question

Many visitors consider visiting the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum, the former Nazi concentration and extermination camp in Oświęcim, west of Kraków. It is a serious and affecting visit, not a casual outing. The Memorial has its own entry rules, which usually involve booking in advance and visiting with a guide or on a timed ticket. Use the Memorial's official site, not a third-party reseller, for current rules (as of 2026; check the official source).

Plan it as a separate half-day or full day rather than an add-on, and think about whether it's suitable for children. Getting there is by organised transfer, bus or train. For another memorial visit closer to home, see Terezín.

Money and practicalities

• Poland uses the złoty (PLN), not the euro or the Czech crown. Cards are widely accepted and contactless is common.
• If a terminal asks whether to pay in your home currency or złoty, choose złoty.
• English is widely spoken in tourist areas.
• Tipping in restaurants is customary, at around 10 per cent, if service isn't included.
• Trams are the main way around, and the centre is walkable. Check the city's transport operator for tickets.

A plan for three days

What locals know

The best of Kraków is found a step off the Market Square. The Planty is the city's living room, a ring of park where residents walk, sit and cut between districts, and the streets just off the square hold the quieter cafés. Stay one night inside the old town ring if you can, because the square empties after the day-trippers go and the city becomes, for an hour or two, the one the residents know.

The common mistakes are treating the old town as a quick stop before Auschwitz, booking the memorial through a reseller and leaving the return journey unplanned. Do the old town properly, treat the Memorial as a separate day and check your return timetable early.

For the food

Try pierogi (dumplings), żurek (a sour rye soup) and the zapiekanka, a toasted open baguette that is a late-night staple and is associated with Kazimierz. Local bakeries sell the obwarzanek, a ring-shaped bread, from street carts.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Prague to Kraków?

By train from Praha hlavní nádraží via Ostrava, sometimes with a change, or by bus from Florenc. The journey is long, so check cd.cz and the bus operators for what runs now.

Which currency does Poland use?

The złoty (PLN), not the euro or the Czech crown. If a terminal asks, choose złoty.

Can I visit Auschwitz-Birkenau as part of the same trip?

Plan it as a separate half-day or full day, and book through the Memorial's official site, not a third-party reseller.

Do I need to book Wawel?

Different parts of the complex need separate tickets. Check the official site for what is open and how to book.

Check your return timetable before you go, and leave generous time for the long ride home.