Daily except Sunday, with the freshest produce and the least crowding earlier in the morning.
Discover Authentic Kraków: A Local Travel Guide by Mercure
At Mercure, we believe you shouldn't need a guidebook to feel like you belong somewhere. That's the idea behind Discover Local: since 1973, every Mercure hotel has been built around its neighbourhood, not just dropped into it — from the décor on the walls to the flavours on the menu. Step into any Mercure and our teams are on hand with the kind of tips you won't find in a guidebook: the market stall locals queue for, the bar where nobody speaks English, the walk that skips the crowds. They live here. They know. Discover Local isn't a generic city guide — it's a short, honest list of the restaurants, markets and neighbourhoods our own hotel teams actually recommend to guests, updated as the city changes around us. Below, you'll find our picks for Kraków, an interactive map to help you find your way, and answers to the questions travellers ask us most. So — where will Discover Local take you?
Our map pins local favourites such as the Main Market Square, Kazimierz and the Wieliczka salt mine, alongside our Mercure hotels.
Top 5 Things to Do in Kraków
Stary Kleparz
Kraków's oldest continuously operating market, trading since the 14th century, open daily except Sunday. Look for oscypek, the smoked sheep's cheese from the Tatra mountains, and stalls run by the same families for generations.
Kazimierz
The former Jewish quarter, now full of bars, galleries and food stalls — head to the rotunda at Plac Nowy, a former kosher slaughterhouse, for zapiekanki, Kraków’s answer to street-food comfort food.
Main Market Square & Florian Gate
The historic core of the Old Town, about 15 minutes on foot from the hotel — come early or late to see it without the midday crowds.
Podgórze
Across the Vistula from Kazimierz, this district carries the city’s wartime history and a quieter, more residential feel than the Old Town.
Planty Park
The green ring that traces the old city walls around the Old Town — a easy, shaded loop for walking or cycling between sights.
Explore Kraków's Best Local Spots with Our Interactive Map
What's on the map in Kraków
We've mapped local spots around Kraków, from medieval squares to an underground salt cathedral.
Historic Kraków
Main Market Square (Rynek Główny)
Dating from the 13th century, Europe's largest medieval town square, ruled by the 16th-century Cloth Hall and ringed with cafés, restaurants and shops. Listen for the trumpet call from St Mary's.
Old Town · Square · Perfect for first-time visitors
Kazimierz
The former Jewish quarter, today the heart of Jewish culture in Kraków and a lively neighbourhood of synagogues, museums, galleries and restaurants. Start on Szeroka Street.
Kazimierz · Neighbourhood · Made for culture and dining
Princes Czartoryski Museum
Opened in 1878, one of Poland's oldest museums, holding one of Europe's great art collections – Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and Rembrandt among them.
Old Town · Art museum · Great for art lovers
Plac Nowy
The heart of Kazimierz's counterculture: flea markets and the famous zapiekanki. Grab one from a hatch.
Kazimierz · Square · Perfect for street food
Wodka Bar
A laid-back bar pouring more than 100 flavours of Polish vodka. Na zdrowie!
Old Town · Bar · Made for tastings
Stary Kleparz
Kraków's oldest market, trading for over 600 years just north of the Barbican.
Kleparz · Market · Ideal for local produce
Beyond the centre
Wieliczka Salt Mine
Just outside Kraków, a 13th-century salt mine with a 3.5 km guided route past underground lakes, salt carvings and the ornate St Kinga's Chapel – and a restaurant 125 metres below ground.
Wieliczka · Salt mine · Perfect for an unforgettable excursion
Kościuszko Mound
A 34-metre mound honouring national hero Tadeusz Kościuszko. Climb to the top for the panorama, then visit the museum and cafés at its foot.
Zwierzyniec · Monument and viewpoint · Great for views
MOCAK Museum of Contemporary Art
In part of Oskar Schindler's former factory, Polish and international contemporary art exploring modern society.
Zabłocie · Contemporary art museum · Made for modern art
Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum
A sobering, essential visit to the site of the largest Nazi concentration and extermination camp.
Oświęcim · Memorial · Ideal for remembrance
FAQ
Mercure Kraków Stare Miasto is about a 15-minute walk from the Florian Gate and Main Market Square.
Yes — it's roughly a 20-minute walk from the hotel through the Old Town, or a short tram ride if you'd rather not walk both ways.
Yes. The 13th-century mine offers a 3.5 km guided route with underground lakes, carvings and St Kinga's Chapel.
The Main Market Square, Europe's largest medieval town square, with the Cloth Hall at its centre.
At the Princes Czartoryski Museum, which also holds works by Raphael and Rembrandt.
Where to Sleep in Kraków
See Mercure hotels in Kraków, all within reach of these picks.