Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Though not the capital, Kraków is the cultural and intellectual center of Poland. While it’s Poland’s second-biggest city, the tourist’s Kraków feels small—from the main square, you can walk to just about everything of interest in less than 15 minutes.
Most sights and recommended hotels and restaurants are in the Old Town (Stare Miasto), which is surrounded by the Planty greenbelt. In the center of the Old Town lies the Main Market Square (Rynek Główny).
St. Mary’s Church (Kościół Mariacki) has stood for over 800 years. To see one of the most finely crafted Gothic altarpieces anywhere, it’s worth paying admission to enter the church. The front door is open 14 hours a day and is free to those who come to pray, but tourists use the door around the right side (buy your ticket across the little square from this door).
Watch the full "Rick Steves Poland" youtu.be/70GXfWe3CyA
Though not the capital, Kraków is the cultural and intellectual center of Poland. While it’s Poland’s second-biggest city, the tourist’s Kraków feels small—from the main square, you can walk to just about everything of interest in less than 15 minutes.
Most sights and recommended hotels and restaurants are in the Old Town (Stare Miasto), which is surrounded by the Planty greenbelt. In the center of the Old Town lies the Main Market Square (Rynek Główny).
St. Mary’s Church (Kościół Mariacki) has stood for over 800 years. To see one of the most finely crafted Gothic altarpieces anywhere, it’s worth paying admission to enter the church. The front door is open 14 hours a day and is free to those who come to pray, but tourists use the door around the right side (buy your ticket across the little square from this door).
Watch the full "Rick Steves Poland" youtu.be/70GXfWe3CyA
