Where To Stay in Kraków?

Kraków’s Best Areas & Coolest Neighborhoods

Choosing a hotel or apartment in a good area can really help make a city-break awesome, so what are the best areas to stay in Krakow? Fortunately, that’s quite easy to answer. 

With most areas of interest being relatively central, Krakow feels very easy to get around despite being a city of over a million people. Accommodation is also relatively cheap, meaning you don’t have to sacrifice quality for location. 

Our favourite areas to stay in Krakow are the Old Town (Stare Miasto), the Jewish district Kazimierz and the chilled out Podgorze district. Read on to find out more about Krakow’s neighbourhoods, or check out this article on the best hotels in Krakow.

The Old Town (Stare Miasto)

At the very heart of Kraków you’ll find the Rynek Głowny. This is the city’s huge main square, and UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s such a pleasure to wander around the cobblestone streets, explore the alleyways, or drink a cold beer in one of the cafes.  

This medieval centre runs from the Royal gate in the North to the stunning castle by the river. It’s encircled by remains of old city walls and the gorgeous Planty green belt. All of this area is considered to be within the “Old Town”. 

The main square (Rynek Główny) and its surrounding streets offer countless restaurants and bars. You’ll find everything from traditional Polish cuisine to fine dining and street food snacks. That’s not to mention the bakeries and cafés displaying the most delicious looking cakes you’ve ever seen. (And they taste as good as they look!). 

The Old Town has a number of historic landmarks. In fact, it’s estimated that the district has more than 6,000 historic sites. Its impressive and varied medieval architecture makes the Old Town a work of art in itself.

The main bus and train stations are also only a stones throw from the North-East corner of the Old Town. This is one of the more convenient areas to stay in Krakow if you need easy bus or train connections. 

Kazimierz: Kraków’s Jewish District

Once an independent city, Kazimierz is today one of Kraków’s most famous districts. It boasts a wealth of unique cafés, nightlife and gastronomy. Kazimierz is not as pretty as the Old Town, but has an almost Bohemian vibe. It’s a very cool place to stay and explore.  Kazimierz is defos a serious contender when thinking of where to stay in Krakow. 

Kazimierz has a number of fascinating squares, connected by interwoven streets and narrow alleyways. On the southern edge, you have the Vistula (Wisła) river and river boulevards. It’s a lovely place for a walk and there’s a number of riverboats where you can stop for some food and drink.  

Next to Kazimier’s 14th Century synagogue, you’ll find Szeroka square, lined with Polish and Jewish restaurants. With live music drifting across the square, it’s a laid-back, buzzing atmospheric. A great spot to soak up the area’s rich history. 

For the more adventurous, Plac Nowy (New Square) is the place to be. At the center of the square is an octagon selling the famous Zapiekanka street food. The square is enclosed on all sides by an array of  restaurants and awesome little bars. It’s our favourite nightlife spot, with less tourists and the kind of bars you won’t find back home. 

We’d like to say more about Kazimierz but we need to sum up. It’s quieter and less beautiful than the Old Town, but the unique charm and atmosphere make it totally worth experiencing whether you choose to stay there or not. 

Podgorze

If you’re looking for where to stay in Krakow that’s a little quieter, cheaper, but still easily accessible, Podgórze is the place to be. It’s just across the river from Kazimierz and the castle. This side of the river is far less touristy than the Old Town and Kazimierz. However, it’s steadily developing a reputation as one of Kraków’s more interesting districts.  

This area is known as the former WWII Jewish Ghetto. It famously home to Oscar Shindler’s factory – the man responsible for saving over a thousand Polish Jews from the Nazi’s. Just like Kazimierz, the area has moved on from its dark past and is now full of life, culture and gastronomy. 

The riverside area near the Kładka bridge especially boasts some excellent bars and restaurants. It’s one of our favourite areas for a beer in the evening sun.  

Podgórze’s main square is dominated by the Gothic style St. Joseph’s Church. This was cleverly built against the foothills to tower over the neighbourhood. If you venture further from the southern banks of the Vistula River you’ll discover Podgórze’s green parks and the Krakus Mound, one of the best sunset viewing spots in the entire city. 

One thing to note: Podgórze is actually a pretty large area, split up into smaller districts. For convenience, stay close to the river. It’s gives you easier access to Kazimierz and the Old Town. 

Summary: What is the best area to stay in Kraków?

If our friends come over to visit Poland, we’d usually always recommend staying close to the centre of Kazimierz or the Old Town. You’ll never be more than a short walk from any of the main attractions. You can also get anywhere in the city via public transport very easily, or an Uber. 

With the price of accommodation in Kraków, there’s really no need to stay further out that the areas mentioned. Even for travellers on a budget, many of the best hostels are located right in the centre of the action. 

Important Note: Kraków has a big nightlife scene and on some streets, you might have noise issues. For party-goers, this isn’t usually a problem, for everyone else maybe just check the reviews on your hotel or apartment before booking or confirm that your bedroom isn’t street-facing.