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The Cloth Hall and Town Hall Tower seen from above Krakow's Main Market Square.

Poland

Walk Warsaw's rebuilt streets, explore Jewish history, visit Krakow's royal castle and descend into Wieliczka's salt chambers on a rail trip between two cities.

Best timeMay to Jun, Sep to OctMoneyPolish zloty (PLN)PlugsEuropean two-pin sockets, 230 VMain airportWarsaw (WAW)
Approved by TravPa Editors, Nov 6, 2026
The Cloth Hall's arcades face Krakow's Main Market Square, with the Town Hall Tower rising behind them. · Adapted from Jorge Lascar, source edits by Poeticbent and Ludvig14 · CC BY 2.0
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Overview

Start in Warsaw for its rebuilt Old Town, royal parks and museums, then take the train to Krakow for Wawel and Kazimierz. Fast trains can take about 2 hours 20 minutes between the cities; leave more time for station access, luggage and your actual service. A week allows both cities and Wieliczka without adding another long journey.

May, June, September and October suit a mix of walking and museums. Summer can be hot and busy, while winter brings short daylight and cold outdoor stops. Use the indoor museums for poor-weather days, but check weekly closures before deciding the order.

When to go

BestGo with a plan
janColdfebColdmarMildaprMildmayBestjunBestjulBusyaugBusysepBestoctBestnovColddecCold

Independence Day on November 11 changes museum hours and can affect city-center access. Check attraction notices before fixing that day’s route.

Every month in detail: weather and recent fares

Itineraries

The Cloth Hall and Town Hall Tower seen from above Krakow's Main Market Square.
The Cloth Hall's arcades face Krakow's Main Market Square, with the Town Hall Tower rising behind them. · Adapted from Jorge Lascar, source edits by Poeticbent and Ludvig14 · CC BY 2.0
Krakow in 3 daysWawel, Main Market Square, St Mary Basilica, Kazimierz, Schindler museum, Wieliczka, PlantyBalanced pace
Sigismund's Column beside the red Royal Castle on Castle Square in Warsaw.
Sigismund's Column overlooks Castle Square beside Warsaw's Royal Castle. · Adapted from Jorge Láscar · CC BY 2.0
Warsaw in 3 daysOld Town, Royal Castle, Royal Route, Lazienki, National Museum, POLIN, New TownBalanced pace
The Cloth Hall and Town Hall Tower seen from above Krakow's Main Market Square.
The Cloth Hall's arcades face Krakow's Main Market Square, with the Town Hall Tower rising behind them. · Adapted from Jorge Lascar, source edits by Poeticbent and Ludvig14 · CC BY 2.0
Poland in 7 daysWarsaw Old Town, Royal Castle, POLIN, Krakow, Wawel, Kazimierz, WieliczkaBalanced pace

Where to stay

KrakowChoose the Old Town for short sightseeing walks, Kazimierz for evening dining, or the Glowny station area for rail trips and airport access.Best areas to stay in KrakowHotels in Krakow
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WarsawChoose the Old Town for historic streets, central Srodmiescie for transport, or Muranow for POLIN and a less central evening base.Best areas to stay in WarsawHotels in Warsaw
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Getting around

  • Between cities: Use Warsaw Centralna and Krakow Glowny for intercity trains, checking the actual journey and seat reservation before booking your hotels.
  • In Warsaw: Combine walking with buses, trams and metro, validating the appropriate ticket before or when starting the journey.
  • In Krakow: Walk the Old Town and Kazimierz, then use regional trains for Wieliczka or the airport instead of treating either as a city-center stop.
  • Airports: Warsaw Chopin and Modlin are different airports; Krakow Airport has a rail station linked to its terminal by a footbridge.

Before you go

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