A Krakow itinerary with Wawel, Kazimierz and the day trips that need booking
Krakow is easy to walk, but its two big day trips are not. Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Wieliczka Salt Mine use timed entry and can sell out weeks ahead. This prompt has your todo.is agent fit them around the Old Town, Wawel Hill and Kazimierz, and tell you exactly what to book first.
The prompt
- Make me a [NUMBER OF DAYS]-day Krakow itinerary for [WHO IS TRAVELLING] arriving [ARRIVAL DAY AND TIME]. We're staying near [AREA]. Cover the Main Market Square, St Mary's Basilica, Wawel Castle and Cathedral, Kazimierz and Podgorze. Fit in [DAY TRIPS] and tell me which tickets sell out and how far ahead to book them, with the official booking links. Add a food stop each day (pierogi, a milk bar, zapiekanka on Plac Nowy) and one evening idea like [EVENING IDEA]. Put travel times between stops. Send it as a PDF to my email and a short summary on WhatsApp. Don't book anything.
What to change
- [NUMBER OF DAYS]: E.g. "3". Three days covers the city plus one big day trip; four lets you do both.
- [WHO IS TRAVELLING]: E.g. "two friends", "parents with a 12-year-old". The Auschwitz memorial is not recommended for children under 14.
- [ARRIVAL DAY AND TIME]: E.g. "Thursday at 14:00 at Krakow airport" so day 1 is planned around it.
- [AREA]: E.g. "the Old Town", "Kazimierz", "near the main station", or "suggest one".
- [DAY TRIPS]: E.g. "Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Wieliczka Salt Mine", "Zakopane", or "no day trips".
- [EVENING IDEA]: E.g. "a classical concert in a church", "vodka tasting", "jazz in a cellar bar".
Example result
- Krakow in 4 days, two friends
- Arriving Thursday 14:00 · staying in Kazimierz · history, food, one late night
- Book first
- • Auschwitz-Birkenau: free entry passes or guided tours are released online and go fast in summer. Book as soon as your dates are fixed.
- • Wieliczka Salt Mine: timed guided tours in English; book a few days to a week ahead.
- • Wawel: the Royal Chambers and Cathedral have separate tickets and limited daily slots.
- Day 1, Thursday: Old Town at dusk
- • Afternoon: airport train to Krakow Glowny (about 20 minutes), drop bags.
- • Walk the Royal Road: Florianska Gate, Florianska Street, the Main Market Square.
- • Hear the hejnal trumpet call from St Mary's tower on the hour.
- • Evening: pierogi in the Old Town, then a jazz cellar bar off the square.
- Day 2, Friday: Wawel and Kazimierz
- • Morning: Wawel Cathedral and the Royal Chambers; the Dragon's Den exit drops you on the river.
- • Lunch: a bar mleczny (milk bar) for soup and pierogi at local prices.
- • Afternoon: Kazimierz: the Old Synagogue, Remuh Synagogue and cemetery, Szeroka Street.
- • Evening: zapiekanka at Plac Nowy, then bars on Plac Nowy and Estery Street.
- Day 3, Saturday: Auschwitz-Birkenau
- • Full day: bus or tour to Oswiecim (about 1.5 hours each way). Plan 3.5 to 4 hours for both sites.
- • Evening: a quiet dinner back in Kazimierz. Many people prefer a calm evening after this visit.
- Day 4, Sunday: Wieliczka and Podgorze
- • Morning: Wieliczka Salt Mine (about 30 to 40 minutes by train or bus). The tour has around 800 steps, mostly down.
- • Afternoon: Podgorze: Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory museum (timed tickets), the Ghetto Heroes Square, Father Bernatek footbridge back to Kazimierz.
- Good to know
- • May to September is warm; December brings the Christmas market on the Main Square.
- • Pay by card almost everywhere, but keep some zloty for markets.
- • Check opening days and prices on the official sites before you go.
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and add your days, group, arrival time and day trips.
- Send it to your todo.is agent from the Today screen, or by WhatsApp, Telegram or email.
- You get a Krakow PDF with a book-first list, daily routes and transport times, plus a short WhatsApp summary.
- Ask for edits ("move Wieliczka to the morning we arrive") and book the tickets yourself from the links.
Tips for a better result
- Fix your Auschwitz-Birkenau date first and build the rest of the trip around it. It is the hardest ticket to get in summer.
- Do Wieliczka and Auschwitz on different days. Doing both in one day is possible on tours, but it is long and tiring.
- Ask your agent for a milk bar near each day's route. It is the cheapest way to eat Polish home cooking.
- If you visit in winter, ask for indoor backups: the Rynek Underground museum and the National Museum work well.
Krakow itinerary: FAQ
- How many days do you need in Krakow? Two days covers the Old Town, Wawel and Kazimierz. Plan three or four days if you want Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Wieliczka Salt Mine too.
- Can you visit Auschwitz without a tour? Yes. You can book an entry pass on the memorial's official site and take a bus or train to Oswiecim. In peak hours, entry is often by guided tour only, so check the options for your date.
- Is Kazimierz a good area to stay in Krakow? Yes, for food, bars and character. It is about 15 minutes' walk to the Main Market Square. The Old Town is better if you want to be right by the sights.
- Can my todo.is agent remind me when tickets open? Yes. Ask for a reminder on a set date, or a daily check that messages you when slots appear for your dates. You still book them yourself.
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