Kraków has always been Poland's artistic and cultural centre, but for 500 years it was also the royal capital. Only for 500 years though, and the fact that it’s no longer the capital might be why its beautiful Baroque, Gothic, Romanesque and Renaissance architecture survived WW2. And it’s this architecture, as well as Kraków’s incredible art collection, that many people are coming to see today. That or the food, drink and festival scene. But whatever the reason for your visit we can recommend the best places to stay in Kraków for you, from 5* properties with fine dining restaurants to boutique townhouse hotels and smart apartments that won't break the bank.

Many of our recommendations for the best places to stay in Kraków can be found in the Old Town, and because of this city’s small footprint, you can walk to most of Kraków’s main sights from here. But every stroll around this city offers an opportunity to see more of the gorgeous architecture, and run across more fantastic places to eat and drink. The public transport service is very efficient for anywhere you can’t walk to. Click here for more information on all the different Krakow neighbourhoods.

Kraków really knows how to host an event! The summer is packed with festivals celebrating and showcasing everything from film to opera to street theatre, so this is a really busy time to visit, but a fun time too. If you are planning to attend a festival and you want to stay in one of the hotels we recommend as the best places to stay in Kraków then it’s worth booking in advance.

This city has become an increasingly popular year round destination, so if you want to guarantee a room in one of the best places to stay in Krakow, do your homework, and book well ahead.

The Best Places to Stay in Kraków

For a city break

• Elegant and rather traditional, the Hotel Pod Roza is perfectly positioned, in Stare Miasto, close to the basilica. Its 57 rooms and suites are simply decorated, with heavy wooden furniture and a warm, creamy colour palette. The bathrooms are marble, and despite being old they have every modern luxury. There are two restaurants, one in the property’s former courtyard, which is now protected from the elements by a glass roof.
• The Hotel Grodek is a boutique-style hotel in a quiet Old Town location, also close to the basilica. It has only 23 rooms and suites, traditionally, and individually decorated with varying degrees of chintz. There’s a charming library bar, with a log fire, perfectly cosy on a winter’s evening, and an award-winning restaurant. In the morning you can take your breakfast and coffee on the roof terrace overlooking the spires of St. Mary’s Basilica.

For a romantic stay

• If you want to book somewhere really memorable Hotel Wentzl is ideal. Converted from a 15th century stately home, it’s the only hotel overlooking Rynek Glówny, so you'll not miss any of the action, and there are many other Kraków highlights within a few minutes walk. There are only 18 rooms and suites, all of them individually designed and decorated, the majority with an elegant, bohemian flavour. There’s also a fantastic restaurant.
• The Hotel Stary is a five star hotel in central Kraków: right opposite the Museum Kraków. Its 53 rooms and suites are all uniquely decorated, so if you want frescoes and painted ceilings, you can opt for that, but they also have rooms with polished concrete floors, baths centre stage and sloping roofs with huge skylights. There’s an impressive spa and gym, with a large indoor pool, and the restaurant does not disappoint.
• The Hotel Polski is another Old Town option, located close to the old city walls. This is a large townhouse conversion, and now has 60 good sized rooms and suites, with some really beautiful features. Think large frescoes, marble fireplaces. heavy curtains and tapestries, and some lovely art and antiques. There’s a traditional feel to the place, an atmosphere that fits perfectly into this beautiful, old part of town. Most rooms have floor to ceiling windows with charming views, and there’s a great traditional restaurant too.

Some of Kraków’s Best Luxury Hotels

• The Hotel Copernicus is a truly special place to stay. It’s just below Wawel Castle, in the very oldest part of the Old Town, with a beautiful terrace with castle views. It has only 29 rooms and suites, complete with renaissance frescoes, carved stone portals and statuary, an indoor pool in a vaulted cellar, and Gothic details, like dark wood furniture and huge, sweeping velvet drapes. The roof top bar is quite something, and its Michelin recommended Polish restaurant is very highly regarded.

Off centre

• Modern and comfortable, the 20 room Hotel Benefis is on a quiet street on the other side of the river from Stare Miasto, away from any traffic noise, but still only about 15 minutes walk from the Main Market Square. The rooms are simple, spacious and comfortable, and the best rooms and suites have views of Wawel Castle. Breakfast is served in the elegant cellar, which has contemporary decor and an impressive spread every morning. This is the perfect place to stay if you’re willing to walk a little distance to save a bit of money.

For great value

• The Hotel Amber is an impressive, yet affordable hotel, sitting behind an elegant pink and white Renaissance façade. You’re only minutes from the Main Market Square, and yet the hotel is quite quiet, with just 18 rooms and suites, and a swanky dining room. The decor has an Art Deco twist, and a neutral palette, and some of the rooms are quite grand, despite being included in our ‘great value’ category. There’s also a gym and sauna in the basement.
• Overlooking Plenty Park, the Maltanski Hotel is in a delightfully leafy spot, complete with its own garden. It has 16 rooms and suites which feature parquet floor, wood burning stoves, rounded windows and garden views.

Prefer a Kraków Apartment?

• If you’d prefer to look at other apartments or self-catering accommodation we recommend you visit our online partner, booking.com.

Travel Information

• Kraków Airport, or John Paul II Airport, is the most convenient entry point for international visitors arriving by plane. It’s about 15 kms from the centre of town, and well connected by bus, train, private transfers, which are like taxis arranged in advance, and taxis. Depending on traffic your journey will take between 20 and 30 minutes. Some budget airlines fly to Katowise, which is 110kms to the north west of Kraków, and doesn’t have the excellent transport infrastructure of John Paul II, so you really need to get a shuttle bus, which takes about two hours, or a private transfer or taxi into Kraków. Kraków’s main train station is called Kraków Glówny, and it’s directly linked with Berlin, Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Bratislava and Kiev. The train from John Paul II Airport also arrives into Kraków Glówny. The station is only five minutes from the Old Town, and it’s got its own shopping mall, which makes it quite convenient for visitors.
• If you’re thinking about hiring a car we recommend checking what our online partners, Rentalcars have to offer.
• Kraków is in a really beautiful spot, on the Vistula River at the foot of the Carpathian Mountains, but its weather is known for being temperamental, with bouts of cold and wet when you’re not necessarily expecting it. Winter is very cold, expect many days below freezing, and summer can be rainy, but spring and autumn are comparatively dry and mild, so they’re probably the best times to visit. May, June and September, October are probably the nicest time to visit weather-wise.

Still not sure which is the best place to stay in Kraków?

• If you’ve perused all our recommendations and not found the perfect place to stay you might want to consider our recommendations for the best places to stay in Warsaw?
• or you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.