Zwierzyniec

Getting there

1 Kraków Airport is nearby to the west of the city, so it may be convenient to take a taxi direct to your accommodation instead of going downtown. The airport train stops at the suburban stations of Kraków Młynówka and Łobzów where you can change to other local transport. The main 2 railway and bus stations are 500 m north of the Old Town bastions. Trams run west along the riverbank as far as Salwator, and northwest to the end of Aleja 3 Maja at Cichy Kącik. The lines meet at Filharmonia west edge of Old Town, then rattle through the centre along Franciszkańska and Dominikańska. They emerge east side to run up the middle of Westerplatte then either branch east along Lubicz and Mogilska away out to Nowa Huta, or continue north and make a big loop to return to the west edge of Old Town. In late 2019 sections of track along Westerplatte are dug up.

See

1 National Museum in Krakow - Main Building (Muzeum Narodowe w Krakowie - Gmach Główny), al 3 Maja 1, ☏ +48 12 29 55 500. 10:00-18:00, closed Mondays. The permanent collection comprises 20th-Century Polish Art, Decorative Art, and Arms and Uniforms in Poland. The ground floor has temporary exhibitions Adult 35 zł, conc 25 zł, Sundays free. (updated Nov 2025) 2 Błonia Park is the extensive meadow west of Old Town. It was a swampy grazing land until the 19th century, then was drained to become a 48-hectare park suitable for large gatherings. World-shakers who have held mass audiences spellbound here include Napoleon Bonaparte, popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, and Céline Dion. 3 Salwator (where the trams turn around) has a group of interesting churches. The Church of St Salwator on Bronisława Hill was built in the 10th century in Pre-Romanesque style, with later Romanesque and baroque additions. Its small graveyard was full by the 19th century so the large Salwator Cemetery was opened in 1865 some 300 m west. Notable burials here include science-fiction author Stanisław Lem (1921-2006). The Parish of the Holy Saviour (or "Church of St Augustine and St John the Baptist") and the Norbertines convent are on the south side of the highway. Most of the complex was rebuilt in 1596 and the interiors renewed in classical style in 1777.

4 Kościuszko Mound (Kopiec Kościuszki), al Waszyngtona 1. Daily 09:00-sunset. Tadeusz Kościuszko (1746-1817) was a revolutionary hero first in the US (where he designed West Point) then in Poland where he led the 1794 uprising against the country's second partition. He was captured but survived the reprisals after the uprising, and eventually retired to die in Switzerland. He was buried there but his remains were soon transferred to the royal crypts in Wawel. This artificial mound was built in 1820 to commemorate him, with a Neogothic chapel and a citadel added under Austrian rule in the 1850s. It was several times threatened with demolition

Do

1 Theatre Scena STU, al. Krasińskiego 16-18. Originally a student theatre, now repertory but still avant-garde. (updated Dec 2019) 2 Kino Kijów, al. Krasińskiego 34. Old-style cinema hall in 1960s modernist building. Also has concerts and other events. (updated Dec 2019) 3 Kino Mikro, ul. Lea 5. Arthouse cinema shows European & retro, seldom mainstream Hollywood. (updated Dec 2019) Football: the city's three soccer teams all have stadiums in this district. KS Cracovia play in Ekstraklasa, the top tier. Their home ground is the Cracovia stadium, capacity 15,000, along Focha at the east end of Błonia park. Wisła Kraków were relegated in 2022 and now play in I Liga the second tier. Their home ground is Stadion Miejski im. Henryka Reymana, capacity 33,000, north of Błonia park. Garbania play in II Liga the third tier, and share Stadion Miejski. 4 Krakow Opera (Opera Krakowska), ul. Lubicz 48, ☏ +48 12 296 61 00. Two stages for opera and ballet. (updated Dec 2019) 5 Waterpark (Park Wodny), ul. Dobrego Pasterza 126. Daily 08:00-22:00. Indoor pool with slides, children's pool and padding area, plus sauna. Day ticket 50 zł. (updated Dec 2019) Multikino is a multiplex cinema next to the waterpark.

Buy

Several larger and smaller shopping malls are located in the area. Big cluster of shops including IKEA and Galeria Bronowice lies next to the northern ringroad.

Eat

1 China Palace (Chiński Pałac), ul. Mackiewicza 14B (East side of Clepardia campsite). Daily 12:00-21:00. Good Chinese cuisine, filling portions. (updated Dec 2019) 2 Kiełbaski z Niebieskiej Nyski, Grzegórzecka 4 (in front of Hala Targowa). Daily 20:00-03:00. The "Blue Nysa" is a Krakow institution that has been serving up sausages cooked on a wood-fired grill since 1991, shortly after free enterprise was allowed again. The menu is as simple as it gets: 15zł for a kielbasa with a squirt of mustard (ketchup is optional), 3zł for a stale bread roll, 3zł for gazowana (a Communist-era orange-flavored soda). There's one shared table to stand around and make new friends. There's always a queue, and it can get rowdy late at night. (updated Sep 2024)

Drink & nightlife

This area doesn't have many stand-alone pubs, head into Old Town for those. But you might try -

1 Whisky Bar Egon, Urzędnicza 26 (a block south of Królewska). Open daily 16:00-00:00. Despite the name, this is also a microbrewery. (updated Sep 2024) 2 Zielono Mi, Królowej Jadwigi 4 (by Salwator tram terminus). Open M-Th 14:00-00:00, F 14:00-03:00, Sa 12:00-03:00, Su 12:00-00:00. Microbrewery. (updated Sep 2024) 3 Pub Amnezja, Kasztanowa 20. Tu-Su 16:00-22:00. Beer garden and sausages. (updated Sep 2024)

Sleep

Budget 1 Smok Campsite, ul. Kamedulska 18 (4 km west of centre on Hwy 780 Jozefa), ☏ +48 12 429 83 00. Open whole year. Good facilities, pay in cash only. Some noise from nearby highway but a good bus service to town. Adult 25 zł, tent 10 zł, campervan 20 zł. (updated Dec 2019) 2 Clepardia campsite, ul. Pachońskiego 28 A, ☏ +48 12 415 96 72. Open mid-April to mid-October with camping and tourer pitches plus bungalows. Free WiFi, swimming pool. Good public transport to the centre, shops, restaurants and a park nearby. But in summer the place gets overcrowded and unclean. Adult 30 & child 15 zł, tent 15-20 zł, campervan 35 zł bungalows from 120 zł. (updated Dec 2019) 3 Oleandry Youth Hostel, ul. Oleandry 4, [email protected]. Good location & rate but not always clean. No alcohol or smoking, apparently. You need to be out between 10:00 and 16:00. Discounts for members of PTSM, the Polish Youth Hostel Association. Dorm beds from 35 zł, bed linen 7 zł, double room 100 zł. (updated Dec 2019) 4 Hostel Premium, ul. Pomorska 2, ☏ +48 12 633 30 48, [email protected]. Good reliable hostel, clean & comfy. Rooms for 1-4 and dorms for up to 8 people. All with ensuite facilities, TV, SAT, and internet connection (cable or wi-fi). Dorm bunk from 20 zł, rooms from 60 zł. (updated Dec 2019)

Mid-range There are a lot of hotels located next to the northern part of Kraków ring road.

5 Hotel Florian, Ul.Czerwonego Prądnika 19 (2 km NE of Old Town, 200 m west of Olsza rwy station), ☏ +48 12 413