🇵🇱 Krakow
🇵🇱 WarsawKrakow vs Warsaw: Which Should You Visit?
Poland's historic royal capital and its modern capital. Krakow survived World War II largely intact, with a beautiful old town and Kazimierz. Warsaw was largely destroyed and rebuilt, and today it is a modern city with excellent museums and a growing food scene.
Krakow is the more popular choice for a first visit. Warsaw is less crowded and good for history.
Choose Krakow if…
- You want a beautiful medieval old town
- You plan to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau or the salt mine
- You want lively nightlife
Choose Warsaw if…
- Modern history and museums interest you
- You want fewer tourists
- You enjoy a big-city food scene
At a glance
| Krakow | Warsaw | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | 🇵🇱 Poland | 🇵🇱 Poland |
| Population | 780,000 | 1,860,000 |
| Climate | Oceanic/Continental | Humid continental |
| Best time to visit | April–June, September–October | May–September |
| Budget | € Budget | €€ Moderate |
| Safety (our rating) | 9/10 | 8/10 |
| Known for | Medieval Old Town, Wawel Castle, Jewish quarter | Rebuilt Old Town, WWII history, Chopin |
📅 Best months for both:May, June, September
Where to go in Krakow
Poland's royal capital: a beautiful old town, a lively student scene and good value.
- Main Market Square. One of Europe's largest medieval squares, with the Cloth Hall.
- Wawel Castle and Cathedral. The royal hill above the Vistula.
- Kazimierz. The former Jewish district, now full of cafés and bars.
- Schindler's Factory. A museum about the city under Nazi occupation.
- Auschwitz-Birkenau and Wieliczka. The memorial and museum, and the salt mine, as day trips. Book both ahead.
🛏️ Where to stay
- Old Town: Walk to almost everything.
- Kazimierz: Atmospheric, with the best nightlife.
🍽️ What to eat
Pierogi, zapiekanka from Plac Nowy, obwarzanek bread rings and milk bars.
Where to go in Warsaw
A resilient, modern capital whose old town was rebuilt after World War II, with excellent museums.
- The Old Town. Rebuilt after 1945 and listed by UNESCO for the reconstruction.
- Warsaw Rising Museum. The story of the 1944 uprising.
- POLIN Museum. A thousand years of Polish Jewish history.
- Łazienki Park. Palace on the water and free Chopin concerts on summer Sundays.
- Praga. The district across the river, with street art and bars.
🛏️ Where to stay
- Śródmieście: The centre, well connected by metro.
- Old Town and the Royal Route: Historic and pretty.
🍽️ What to eat
Milk bars, pierogi, pączki doughnuts and the food halls of Hala Koszyki.
Can you visit both?
Express trains connect the two cities frequently, so it is easy to see both.
Journey times are approximate and vary by service. Check the operator before you book. Work out flying times with the flight calculator.
How we compare cities
The table uses the same data as our city guides: our budget and safety ratings, the climate and the months we recommend. The advice on what to see, where to stay and which city to choose is written by our editors. Prices, opening arrangements and timetables change, so check official sources for anything important. To compare any two cities of your choice side by side, use City vs City.