Krakow itinerary — 2 days

Centred on Rynek Główny square, Kraków Old Town is a historic enclave framed by the greenery of Planty Park. The square houses The Cloth Hall Museum, the Rynek Underground Museum, and the Gothic St. Mary's Basilica. Quirky stores, cafes, and a range of eateries abound in the surrounding narrow lanes. Tourists head for shopping and craft beer on bustling Florianska Street, and after-dark cocktails in nearby jazz dens.

This reservoir was accidentally created when the quarry operating there broke through the groundwater level. Although it is officially prohibited, on summer days it is one of the most visited places, where locals come to swim, have picnics, scuba dive, or go rock climbing. The depth varies from 7 to 21 m, and it is said that several rather strange things are hidden at the bottom, such as cars, boats, or even the former changing rooms of the quarry workers. Zakrzówek is one of Kraków's hidden treasures, hardly visited by tourists (and a favorite spot of locals). This former quarry was closed in 1990 and filled with water, creating a beautiful natural refuge near the center of the bustling city. The unreal turquoise water contrasts with the rocks, making this place simply stunning.

An interactive open-air science park covering six hectares within Park Lotników Polskich, named after world-renowned sci-fi author Stanisław Lem. The garden features over one hundred hands-on exhibits that demonstrate fundamental laws of physics, mechanics, optics, and acoustics in an engaging outdoor setting. Visitors of all ages can test giant levers, whisper into acoustic dishes, solve labyrinths, and visit a dome planetarium.

Perched atop a limestone cliff overlooking the Vistula River southwest of Krakow, this Benedictine abbey is the oldest operating monastery in Poland. Established in 1044 by Duke Casimir the Restorer, it showcases a rich blend of Romanesque foundations, Gothic cloisters, and an ornate Baroque church dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul. Visitors enjoy sweeping river vistas, a monastic museum, and a shop selling herbal remedies.

A branch of the National Museum built around the collection started in 1796 by Princess Izabela Czartoryska. Its star is Leonardo da Vinci's 'Lady with an Ermine', the portrait of Cecilia Gallerani; nearby hang Rembrandt's 'Landscape with the Good Samaritan' and a rich display of antiquities and European painting. The compact palace on św. Jana street pairs well with Floriańska; Tuesdays are free.

Erected at the beginning of the 14th century, this Gothic defensive tower stands at the head of Floriańska Street as the only surviving main gate of Kraków's medieval city walls. Rising nearly 35 meters with a Baroque copper helmet, it features stone reliefs of Saint Florian and the royal Piast eagle. Along the adjoining preserved defensive wall, local painters display colorful street canvases in a charming open-air gallery.

Krakus Mound (Kopiec Krakusa) is an ancient monumental earthwork standing 16 meters tall atop Lasota Hill in Kraków's Podgórze district. Dating back roughly to the 7th or 8th century, folklore honors it as the resting place of King Krakus, the legendary founder of Kraków. Free and open to all, the summit provides one of the city's finest 360-degree viewpoints, taking in Wawel Castle, church spires, and distant Carpathian foothills.

A poignant historical museum housed in the former enamelware factory where industrialist Oskar Schindler employed and saved over a thousand Jewish workers during World War II. The immersive permanent exhibition chronicles Krakow under Nazi occupation from 1939 to 1945, using soundscapes, recreated city streets, wartime documents, and Schindler's preserved office with a monumental glass cube of enamel pots.

Connecting the historic districts of Kazimierz and Podgórze across the Vistula River, this footbridge opened in 2010 and honors monk Laetus Bernatek. The crossing is famous for balancing acrobat sculptures by Polish artist Jerzy Kędziora, gracefully suspended on cables between the arches high above the water. A favorite spot for romantic strolls, the railings are densely adorned with thousands of inscribed lovers' padlocks.

One of Poland's historic zoological gardens, founded in 1929 amidst the protected Wolski Forest on Pustelnik Hill. Nestled beneath mature beeches and oaks, it is home to more than 1,400 animals across nearly 270 species. The zoo is renowned for its breeding programmes for endangered snow leopards, pygmy hippos, Asian elephants, red pandas, and Rothschild giraffes, offering a tranquil woodland walk among spacious natural enclosures.