# 5 Days in Poland 🇵🇱 Kraków & Gdańsk Poland might be one of the most underrated countries I’ve ever visited. Truly, not enough people go here, but once you do, you’ll get the hype. If you’re short on time, this 5-day itinerary is perfect for hitting the highlights of Kraków and Gdańsk. This trip is heavy on history but still makes room for great views and incredible food. The pierogi making class I did in Kraków is one of my favorite memories from the trip! I visited Poland on my first-ever solo trip and am happy to report it’s a great destination for solo female travelers, but would also be great for friends, couples, or families. For a more in-depth breakdown of visiting Kraków, check out my blog post: https://maximizingmypto.com/solo-female-guide-to-krakow-3-days/ And check out this post for more details on Gdańsk: https://maximizingmypto.com/2-days-in-gdansk-poland/ Canonical: https://www.go-guided.com/en/trips/5-days-in-poland-krakow-gdansk Published: 2025-07-17T09:51:42.169493+00:00 Author: Jackie Swayze [routeCTA: non-text section] [routePlacesList: non-text section] [routeCTA: non-text section] [spacer: non-text section] ## Itinerary places - **MNK Sukiennice** (day 1) - **Muzeum Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego Collegium Maius** (day 1) - **St. Mary's Basilica** (day 1) - **Chimney Cake Bakery** (day 1) - **Museum of the Second World War** (day 4) - **MONO Kitchen Gdańsk** (day 4) - **Jewish Ghetto Memorial** (day 3) - **Wavelove** (day 3) - **Neptune's Fountain** (day 4) - **Archbishop's Palace** (day 1) - **Wawel Royal Castle-State Art Collection** (day 1) - **Wieliczka Salt Mine** (day 2) - **Miejsce Pamięci i Muzeum Auschwitz II-Birkenau** (day 2) - **Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory** (day 3) - **Muzeum Bursztynu. Oddział Muzeum Gdańska** (day 5) - **Basilica of st. Bridget** (day 5) - **Nova Resto Bar** (day 3) - **Old Synagogue** (day 3) - **Remuh Synagogue** (day 3) - **St. Mary's Church** (day 5) - **Crane. Branch of the National Martime Museum** (day 4) - **AmberSky** (day 4) - **Old Town Restaurant and Wine Bar** (day 1) - **Zapiekanki Królewskie** (day 2) - **TYGLE Gdańskie restauracja polska Gdańsk Chmielna** (day 5) - **Piwnica Rajców** (day 5) ## Day notes ### Day 1 Start your trip off with a free walking tour of Old Town Kraków. If you’re not familiar with free walking tours, the concept is that there’s no fee up front and at the end of the tour, you tip what you feel is fair. I’ve done free walking tours all over the world and they never disappoint! Here’s the one I did in Kraków: https://freewalkingtour.com/krakow/old-town-krakow/ Be sure to try a chimney cake while you’re in Kraków - they’re a staple here! ### Day 2 On day 2, get out of the city and visit two important Polish sites: the Wieliczka Salt Mine and Auschwitz Birkenau concentration camp. Salt mining played a huge role in Poland’s prosperity for centuries, as salt was a valuable resource. Now, the mine is open for tours and features impressive ballrooms and statues carved from the salt. Auschwitz is the most infamous Nazi death camp of WWII and this tour is incredibly heavy. However, I believe it’s important to visit these sites and learn about the atrocities that occurred here so that history may never repeat itself. For a seamless day trip to both sites that includes lunch, I recommend this full-day tour that picks up from your hotel: https://gyg.me/ReeayeQ3 ### Day 3 After visiting Auschwitz, you can continue to learn more about the Jewish history of Poland with a free walking tour of the Jewish quarter. You’ll pass by the sites and hear the real stories behind Schindler’s List, as his factory was here in Kraków. This is the free walking tour I did: https://freewalkingtour.com/krakow/jewish-krakow/ In the evening, finish your time in Kraków with a pierogi making class. Pierogis are one of Poland’s signature dishes and these potato-filled dumplings are absolutely delicious. You’ll learn to make both traditional and dessert pierogis! Here’s the small-group pierogi class I recommend: https://viator.tpx.lt/7omqjsqs ### Day 4 In the morning, fly north from Kraków to Gdańsk. After you check into your hotel, stop by the famous Neptune’s Fountain for a photo op before spending the afternoon at the Museum of the Second World War. This is an incredibly well curated museum focusing primarily on the Polish and European experiences during the war. Afterwards, take another free walking tour of Old Town. Gdańsk dates back to the medieval times when it was a prosperous shipping port town. It has a unique history, often not belonging to any country. It is also famously where WWII began and the town was flattened by the Russians towards the end of the war. Everything in Old Town has been rebuilt to look how it did before. Here’s the free walking tour I did: https://freewalkingtour.com/gdansk/main-town-gdansk/ ### Day 5 Amber products have been produced in Gdańsk for centuries, and the Museum of Amber is a great place to learn about this history and see some incredible pieces of amber art. Nearby, you’ll also want to check out the beautiful amber alter at the Basilica of St. Bridget. Afterwards, get some physical activity in by climbing the 400+ steps to the top of St. Mary’s church and finish off your trip to Poland with a sunset kayak tour through the city to see the sites from a new vantage point. Check out the tour here: https://viator.tpx.lt/ssNCBXT3 ## Accommodations - **Sky Hotel Kraków** (days 1–3) - **Hampton by Hilton Gdansk Old Town** (days 4–5)