Begin your trip by taking a walking tour of Krakow's historic Old Town. Visit the Rynek Glowny (Main Square), the largest medieval town square in Europe, and see the St. Mary's Basilica with its iconic wooden altarpiece. Then, stroll down the Royal Route to see the Wawel Castle and Cathedral, which served as the residence of Poland's kings and queens. End the tour at the Kazimierz district, the city's former Jewish quarter, to see the Old Synagogue.
Start your day by visiting the National Museum to see works by famous Polish artists such as Jan Matejko and Jozef Mehoffer. Then, head to the Planty Park, a green belt that surrounds the Old Town, to relax and take a break from sightseeing. In the afternoon, visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's oldest salt mines.
Start your day at the Plac Nowy Market Square, where you can try the famous Kielbasa sausage and other street food. Then, visit the Wawel Hill to drink coffee with an incredible view of the city. In the evening, visit the Stary Kleparz market to try traditional Polish dishes such as pierogi and bigos and sample local beer at the Wesele pub.
Most of the sightseeing can be done on foot, but for longer distances, you can use public transportation such as buses and trams. A 20-minute ride costs 2.80 PLN (less than 1 USD).
If you have more time, consider taking a day trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration camp during World War II. If you have less time, focus on the Old Town walking tour and visit the Wawel Castle and Cathedral, which are must-sees in Krakow.
Krakow has one international airport, John Paul II International Airport Krakow-Balice (KRK), located about 11 kilometers west of the city center. A taxi ride to the city center takes about 30 minutes and costs around 70 PLN (approximately 20 USD).