Solo Female Guide to 3 Days in Krakow, Poland
I recently took my first-ever solo trip and picked Krakow, Poland as my first destination. I consider myself well-traveled, but this was definitely nerve-wracking for me. I’d never been truly on my own before. Going into this trip, I had only a vague understanding of Poland from what I’d learned in history classes about WWII and the Cold War, but visiting gave me so much more appreciation for the country’s much longer history. This solo female Krakow guide will help you make the most of your limited time in this city that I can’t recommend enough!
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[RELATED: Solo Female Guide to 2 Days in Gdansk, Poland]
Why I Picked Poland for My First Solo Trip
I had several criteria for narrowing down the destination for my first solo female trip:
- A place I hadn’t been.
- Somewhere that isn’t on my husband’s bucket list.
- Somewhat near Belgium since I wanted to tack this trip on after another trip.
- Very common for locals to speak English.
Most importantly, I wanted to go somewhere I thought I’d feel safe as a solo female traveler. From all my research, I gathered that Poland is a very safe country. Of course, I knew I’d still take precautions and be aware of my surroundings.
Did I make the right decision? 100%. I split my week in Poland between Krakow and Gdańsk and had an amazing time. The people in Poland were friendly and there was so much culture, history, and food to appreciate.
Is Krakow Safe?
This was one of my biggest questions as a solo female traveler because I didn’t want to run into any bad situations. From my 3 days in Krakow, I am happy to report that I found it to be a very safe city.
I will note that I am not a party-goer and I did stay in my hotel when it was dark outside. However, Krakow is a bit of a college town with lots of young people and a great night life scene if you’re looking for it.
How to Get to Krakow
If you’re already in Europe, it may be more efficient (and cost effective) to take the train to Krakow. Otherwise, there’s plenty of flights each day.
LOT Polish Airlines (Poland’s national airline) runs the majority of flights to Krakow, but you’ll probably find yourself routing through Warsaw to get there. I flew from Brussels to Warsaw to Krakow.
Getting Around
From the airport, there are 2 main ways to get into the city center. There is a train that runs to the main station, or you can take a Bolt (AKA European Uber). I was in a hurry when I landed so I took a Bolt, but on my way out I took the train.
Once in the city there are above-ground trams that are the main form of city transit. Tickets are very cheap (trams in the city cost 4 PLN or ~$1 USD). All stations have a kiosk where you can buy a ticket, and there’s usually a kiosk on the tram as well. There’s also an app, but the language barrier may increase your difficulty of using it.
Note that it’s important to validate your tram ticket on the train! I didn’t know this for the first 2 days and just got lucky that no one checked my ticket. There are little slots to insert your ticket and it stamps it and returns it to you.
Like most European cities, Krakow is also very walkable if you’re up for some exercise.
Where to Stay
Sky Hotel Krakow
I stayed at Sky Hotel Krakow, which was a beautiful hotel right near the train station and Old Town. In fact, the only downside was just how close it was to the train tracks, as I could see and hear them from my room. There were earplugs provided but I didn’t end up needing them.
Sky Hotel Krakow also offers 2 single rooms for solo travelers that feature a twin bed and all your standard amenities. It’s a great deal with prices starting at around $50/night.
You’ll find Poland to be very affordable, especially by American standards. I averaged around $100/night for standard hotel rooms in both Krakow and Gdańsk.
Hotel Saski
If you want a more upscale experience (with a price tag to match), check out Hotel Saski Krakow, which is part of Hilton’s Curio collection in the center of Old Town. (Attention travel hackers: you can book this hotel with points!)
Note that there are no cars allowed in Old Town. If you stay there, you have to be dropped off at the edge and walk to your accommodation. For this reason I was also really glad to be at Sky Hotel where a car could drop me off just outside the gates.
Hostels
Hostels are a very common choice for solo travelers. They’re cheap and a great way to meet new people, but you should assess if they’re the right choice for you. I personally really enjoyed having my own space to unwind, journal, and watch TV at the end of each day. I also was able to leave all my stuff scattered around the room, instead of having to lock it up like you would in a hostel dorm.
If you’re looking for the party vibes, check out Greg & Tom Beer House Hostel. I met some people on my tour who were staying there and they confirmed it’s a great place to make friends (but not a great place to sleep).
Day 1
Free Old Town Krakow Walking Tour
If you’re not familiar with free walking tours, the concept is that you pay nothing to sign up and at the end of the tour, you tip your guide what you think is fair. If you absolutely hated it, tipping nothing is always an option. However, your guide does have to pay a small fee to the tour company for each person on the tour, so tipping nothing actually leaves them worse off. If you’re not sure what to tip, I aim for around $10 USD minimum.
I’ve taken several free walking tours around the world and have never been disappointed. The free walking tour I did through Walkative in Old Town Krakow was no exception. As a solo traveler, I enjoyed being on group tours to be around other people.
The tour covered the entire history of the city, dating back about 1000 years and covered everything from Medieval architecture to the communist era. Also, Krakow was never destroyed in WWII, so all the buildings are original!
Explore Old Town
A tour is a great introduction to Old Town, but take some time to explore on your own afterwards. It’s a beautiful area and on a nice day, lots of people will be out and about. This area is a bit more touristy though, so expect slightly higher prices at restaurants.
If you’re up for the challenge, you can climb one of the towers of St. Mary’s Basilica for 15 PLN. It takes about 300 steps to reach the viewpoint.
Day 2
For my second day in Krakow, I booked an all-day tour of the Wieliczka Salt Mine and the Auschwitz + Birkenau concentration camp. This tour was run by Super Crakow and included pickup and drop off at my hotel and an optional boxed lunch. I was picked up at 8AM and returned to my hotel around 12 hours later. Note: it’s also possible to tour these sites separately and/or on your own.
Wieliczka Salt Mine
The Wieliczka Salt Mine is located about 15km southeast of Old Town Krakow and is over 700 years old. The salt used to be so valuable that it was a huge part of Poland’s prosperity for centuries.
Our tour was led by a heavily-accented English-speaking guide. To start off, we descended down ~800 steps deep into the mine (my calves were killing me the next day). The temperature inside is a constant 57-60 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, so despite the hot day outside, I wore a light jacket in the mine.
It was a fascinating tour that showcased the history of the mine and artwork made out of salt, from a statue of Nicolaus Copernicus to several salt chandeliers. You are even welcome to lick the walls if you want!
At the end of the tour, we were taken back up to street level on a traditional mine shaft elevator. There are several dining options, including a small gift shop and cafeteria deep in the mine. Restrooms are located outside as well as in 2 stops underground. Outside, there’s also a beautiful park nearby.
(P.S. be careful if you buy any salt as a souvenir. I put my salt shaker in my checked luggage and it burst all over my clothes!)
Auschwitz + Birkenau
I knew there was no way I could take a trip to Krakow without visiting the Auschwitz concentration camp. Definitely the most infamous of the Nazi death camps, it’s important to visit to learn from the past and never repeat such a horrible history. I’d previously visited the Dachau concentration camp outside of Munich, which prepared me for this visit very well. If you’ve never toured a concentration camp, please understand that it’s a very sobering experience and one that should be treated with respect. Photos are allowed, but this is not the place for silly selfies.
Auschwitz I
To enter Auschwitz I, your ticket must be matched with your ID, so be sure to book with the name on your passport. They only allow you to bring in a small bag about the size of an A4 sheet of paper (because that’s what fits through their scanners). They do have luggage storage if needed. You are allowed to bring in water, which I recommend on hot days as the tour is fairly long and largely outdoors.
Our tour was led by a guide using a mic and we each had headsets to listen. Unfortunately, it was difficult to hear her when we were walking over gravel, so I felt I missed some of the information. There are only 2 rooms where photos aren’t allowed and they are definitely the most impactful rooms on the tour.
During peak season, a guide-led group tour is the only way to see Auschwitz I. Other times of year have the option to explore on your own.
Birkenau
Auschwitz II (also known as Birkenau) is just a short drive from Auschwitz I. Our bags and IDs were not checked entering Birkenau and our guide didn’t use a mic or headsets. Rather, she just spoke to us directly. There was no shade at Birkenau, so plan accordingly if it’s hot and sunny. This is largely because the Nazis destroyed most of the buildings at Birkenau before the camp was liberated.
Auschwitz I has free restrooms outside the main gates near the parking lot. Birkenau has free restrooms inside the main gates, but the toilets by the parking lot are paid.
Day 3
Jewish Quarter
The Jewish Quarter in Krakow is very recognizable if you’ve seen Schindler’s List. In fact, you can walk by Oskar Schindler’s factory in this part of town. The quarter dates back to the Middle Ages when it was actually an island.
I took another free walking tour through Walkative to learn more about the Jewish Quarter. Unfortunately, the Holocaust took the 65,000 Jews who lived in Krakow before the war, so today, there are only around 1,500 Jews in Krakow (that number is slightly higher now than it was due to Ukrainian refugees).
A lot of the synagogues in the Jewish Quarter have been repurposed into other things, such as bookshops or museums. The main square is largely full of Airbnbs catering to tourists instead of being full of locals. However, it’s still worth a visit.
The tour ended at The Empty Chairs of Krakow, a memorial to the Jews lost in WWII. There are 65 chairs, each one representing 1,000 Jews. It’s very powerful to stand there in person.
Pierogi Cooking Class
The final activity I did in Krakow was a pierogi cooking class. I booked this with Delicious Poland and it was held in a backroom at Wavelove restaurant, which is right next to a tram stop and very easy to get to.
My class ended up being a private lesson due to a last-minute cancellation. I learned to make pierogi ruskie (potato & cheese) and blueberry dessert pierogis. As with many cooking classes, some of the ingredients were pre-prepared so that it was possible to put the dish together in a short time. I was surprised how similar making pierogies is to making pasta – they’re essentially just a Polish ravioli.
My instructor, Maria, was so nice and we had a great time chatting, cooking, and eating together during the 2-hour lesson. I wished I’d been staying longer so I could have taken the leftovers home with me!
Final Thoughts
Krakow is an excellent destination for a solo female traveler, especially if you’re interested in history. I loved my time there and would happily go back. I spent 3 days in Krakow, but I really wish I’d had at least one more!
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