Top 12 Things to Do in Krakow with Kids + 2025 City Break Guide
Planning a visit to Krakow with children?
There are so many things to see in Krakow, Poland, that it’s hard to know where to begin!
It’s a great idea to add one of the best places to visit in Poland for your holiday, whether with family or friends – and especially with the kids!
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Is Krakow Child Friendly?
Krakow is the perfect place for a family-friendly holiday with children, and you can expect exciting attractions from the main square to the royal castle and beyond. In short, it’s the perfect destination for a family-friendly holiday!
Where to Stay in Krakow with Kids
Budget: Ibis Budget Krakow Stare Miasto
If your family is trying to save money for tours and attractions, why not stay at Ibis Budget Hotel? It is next to the main train station and an easy 15-minute walk to the Barbakan or Florianska gate and the main market square. Close to Stare Miasto and restaurants.
The hotel offers a breakfast buffet, A/C, wi-fi, and clean and basic rooms. Their standard room can sleep 3, but larger families will need to book two separate rooms.
Mid-Range: Rajska Residence
Rajska Residence has multiple apartments for families who want to stay close to the city center and save money on dining out. Each apartment has a kitchenette so meal time is a bit easier.
The apartments are spacious and can sleep from 2 to 4 people. All units have A/C, wi-fi, a dishwasher, and a stovetop. It is within walking distance of the main square, attractions, and restaurants making it a perfect choice for families.
Worth a Splurge: AC Hotel by Marriott Krakow
The luxurious AC Hotel by Marriott Krakow is a mile from Market Square and Wawel Castle. Amenities include an airport shuttle, buffet breakfast, indoor pool, and fitness center. Double rooms are available (some with balconies) and cots are available on request.
Top 12 Things to Do in Krakow with Kids
When finding things to do in Krakow with children, it’s important to find stuff that the kids and family will enjoy. Poland is beautiful – and here are the top twelve things to do in Krakow with your family as you explore together.
1. Explore the Main Market Square
The main square dates back to the 13th century and is the first place to explore when visiting the city. It’s known as the World’s Best Square and is filled with festivals, parties, markets, horse-drawn carriages, and events all year round!
2 . Visit the Old Jewish Quarter
Kazimierz is the old Jewish district south of the Old Town. It was at its highest population before World War 2. Steeped in history, we recommend booking a tour with the kids to explore Kazimierz. It is one of the best things to do in the Krakow city center.
3 . Spend the Day at the Copernicus Science Centre
On the bank of the Vistula River, this science center is an excellent day of fun for the kids. Exhibitions are interactive and in Polish and English. There are over 400 scientific exhibitions to explore and a planetarium for a fantastic show!
4. Visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine
Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of the best places to visit in Krakow. It’s amongst Krakow’s top attractions for a reason! The salt mine is a Polish marvel full of secrets and legends that take you deep into the city’s underground history.
They offer tours specifically designed for families with kids, and the tour takes around 2-3 hours, meaning it can fill a whole afternoon.
5. Roam Bednarski Park with the Whole Family
This lovely park could take up your whole day! Filled with ruins, large grassy areas, beautiful flowers, and Polish history, it’s known as the best park in the city. There’s a playground for the kids and sights to explore like limestone cliffs and a unique view of the city
6. Visit Wawel Royal Castle
The old home of Polish kings sits in Central Krakow, waiting for you and the kids to explore! You can visit old royal chambers, see the view from Wawel Hill, and explore the museum. Get your tickets here
I can’t oversell how great this castle is. Its majesty, beauty, sheer fun of the tour, and the legends surrounding it make it excellent for an afternoon or even a whole day.
The kids will also be thrilled by the Wawel Dragon, rumored to live under Wawel Castle – it actually breathes fire!
7. Dip in the Thermal Pools
Natural hot springs are amazing places to visit near Krakow! Several tours leave directly from hotels to help you explore local thermal pools and enjoy the natural heat of splashing around in nature. They’re usually all-day tours, too, complete with lots of sightseeing and often a cable car ride.
View this tour of the hot bath pools and Zakopane >>>
8. Have a blast at Legendia Theme Park
The biggest amusement park in Poland is sure to be a hit with the kids! There are over 40 rides and attractions to explore, including rollercoasters, haunted houses, and more. Legendia is one of the most fun places to see near Krakow, and you and the family are sure to have a magical time!
9. Spend a quirky day in the Krakow Pinball Museum
Tucked away in a cellar is the Krakow Pinball Museum with 60 pinball machines and 35 arcade machines – all of which you can play! Everything is free, and it will keep the family amused for 2-3 hours!
10. Blow your mind at the Museum of Illusions
Krakil is a historic mansion transformed into a wild and wonderful mystery house. It’s one of the most interesting places in Krakow, filled with illusions of all sorts – from historical illusions to optical confusion.
11. Get Wild at Papugarnia Amazonia
This isn’t well known amongst places to visit in Krakow Old Town, but it is one of the quirkiest things to do in Krakow. It’s a small aviary filled with more than 40 parrots who have free reign of the place. Don’t worry – protective clothing is provided!
12. Tantalize Your Tastebuds at the Żywe Muzeum Obwarzanka
It’s a Polish bagel museum! It’s fully interactive, with a workshop where the whole family can learn to make this delicious local treat together.
When is the best time for children to visit Krakow?
Whether you want to see the beautiful sights of the Tatra Mountains and Vistula River or take on the modern Krakow attractions like the Aquapark Krakow water park, knowing when to go is just as important as why when visiting Krakow.
Poland is beautiful all year round, but two months are the perfect time to visit the country and Krakow’s top attractions. While June-August is popular with tourists, the heat can be too much, and while December is good for the run-up to Christmas, December to February is cold. That’s why May and November are the best times!
Krakow in May
May is the best time to take in the great fun of the main market square, the castle hill, and the old town, as well as more attractions and tours outside the city. It’s the best time to go sightseeing in Krakow. The weather is pleasant, not too hot or cold, making it great for family-friendly outdoor fun!
Krakow in November
There are many things to do in Krakow in winter, but we recommend a visit at the end of November, right before the Christmas markets are in full swing. This is the perfect time to see the city before the crowds arrive in December.
How to Travel to Krakow
Getting to Krakow with kids is pretty easy, as long as you plan your trip well! It’s accessible from pretty much anywhere globally since the city is located close to the international airport.
Flying from Europe or anywhere else in the world is easy. The journey from Krakow Airport to Krakow takes only 20 minutes by train, which comes every half hour and costs just over €2. Car rental is also an option; Krakow is very drivable.
Driving from Krakow to Budapest or another capital in Europe is a fun two-day road trip.
Traveling within Poland is also very easy by train, as the rail service is located centrally and you won’t have to spend a lot to explore and discover Krakow. You can also get a train across Europe, with a rail trip from Berlin to Krakow costing under €35!
Where Should I Eat in Krakow with Kids?
Poland is a land of culinary delights! The best Krakow restaurants serve a wealth of food, from flaki (beef soup) to pierogis, bigos to kluski, and much, much more. These three restaurants are a great place to try it all with the kids!
- Szynk – Tasty food at low prices! Szynk is vegetarian and gluten-free friendly and serves Polish and European food to please everyone.
- Smakolyki – A low-priced but well-serviced restaurant where food is home-cooked and guests are treated like family.
- Kuchnia u Doroty – Cheap Polish food with high value for money and an excellent restaurant for families with kids looking to be entertained.
Krakow Itinerary
From Krakow Sightseeing Tours to visits to the Royal Castle, there’s so much to do in Krakow that it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Don’t worry – this itinerary of my last trip with the family is here to help!
Day 1: 1 Day in Krakow
Morning: We spent the morning in the Main Market Square and took a stroll through Sukiennice Cloth Hall where local merchants sell their goods. This was all free and we saw a live band and dancers playing traditional music!
Afternoon: We had a relaxing afternoon at Berdnarski Park. While the kids played, we adults enjoyed the beautiful views.
Day 2: 48 Hours in Krakow with Kids
Morning: A tour of the Old Jewish Quarter gave us a new perspective. The kids kept asking questions, and we were all eager to learn the answers!
Afternoon: We visited the castle and toured the old royal chambers. Not only was it beautiful, but the tour guide entertained the kids with stories of the Wawel Dragon.
Can you do Krakow in 2 days?
If you’re planning a weekend in Krakow, two days are enough time for a whirlwind tour of the main landmarks, to visit some of the best Krakow parks, and maybe visit an attraction. If you have kids, you may find it hard to fit a lot into two days, but a weekend break in Krakow can be great for teens.
Krakow 3-Day Itinerary
We spent all of day 3 at Legendia Theme Park. The kids loved the rides, and so did we! We took so many pictures of the kids laughing and playing and my son asked if we could come back to the country just to play there again.
Is 3 days in Krakow enough?
Three days in Krakow is enough time to see all the main sights, but if you want to get right into the heart of the city and visit some additional attractions, four or five days in Krakow will give you plenty of time to do this.
Krakow Itinerary 4 Days
On day 4, we explored the salt mine. There’s a museum down there, and even some restaurants for when the kids get hangry.
Krakow Itinerary 5 days
On our last day, we booked a bus trip to one of the thermal spas. A cable car took us up the mountains and the beautiful views will stay with us for the rest of our lives. Relaxing in the hot spring afterward was perfect after so much adventure!
Best Day Trips from Krakow with Kids
Day trips are essential on these journeys, and these amazing holiday moments can’t be oversold. Three of the best day trips in Krakow include:
Auschwitz-Birkenau
If you are visiting Krakow with teens (or even older elementary-aged children), we recommend a day trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau. This isn’t for every child, but if you want to learn about the history of this region during World War 2, this is a significant site that shouldn’t be missed.
Families can take the train from Kraków Glówny to Oświęcim’s main train station, but it is a 25-minute walk from there to Auschwitz. Another option is to take a taxi, but the best option is to book a tour that includes transportation like THIS ONE.
Zakopane
Zakopane is a popular winter destination, but it is a fabulous place any time of year. Located in the Tatra Mountains, the area is perfect for outdoor adventures like hiking, rafting, and winter sports. Be sure to take the funicular ride ride to Gubałówka for spectacular views.
Ojców National Park
From a beautifully preserved castle to many mysterious caves to explore, the hourly 210 bus will get you to this hidden paradise. Many hotels offer guided tours directly from the desk, too. There’s enough to keep you seeing new sights all day!
How to Get Around Krakow
Poland’s public transport is exceptional, and Krakow is no exception. You can reach just about everywhere by bus or train without any trouble. The trains run directly to the airport, and the cities are well interconnected.
Krakow is also drivable if you prefer to rent a car.
Is Krakow Good for Toddlers?
Krakow is a great city to roam around and see all the main sights. Toddlers will be less suited to museums or full-day tours, but there’s still plenty to do.
Roam around some of the best Krakow parks and see some of the best Krakow landmarks. The locals are very welcoming, and there are many facilities for babies, toddlers, and young children.
About the author: This article was originally written by Sylvie Simpson and has been edited by Kirsten Maxwell.