Kazimierz, Krakow - all you need to know

Kazimierz is a neighbourhood well worth visiting twice. During the day for the synagogues, churches and stories of what was once an independent town; in the evening for a meal, or to visit the cafés and bars around Plac Nowy square.

Alongside Rynek Główny and Wawel, Kazimierz is one of the parts of Kraków that I wouldn’t miss, even on a short weekend visit.

The neighbourhood is best explored without a strict itinerary: choose a few key stops and simply wander between them.

Find accommodation right in the Kazimierz district

How much time to set aside

You can walk through Kazimierz in two hours, but such a visit will mainly involve looking at the sights from the outside. If you want to visit at least one synagogue, a museum and have a leisurely meal, allow half a day.

2 to 3 hours for a stroll without lengthy museum visits
4 to 6 hours for one or two synagogues, a museum and a meal
A full day if combined with a visit to Podgórze and Schindler’s Factory
The best time is from late morning until the evening, when you’ll see both the quieter and livelier sides of the neighbourhood

If you’re interested in the interiors of the synagogues, don’t plan your main visit for a Saturday. Active synagogues are usually closed to tourists on Saturdays and during Jewish holidays.

What to see in the Kazimierz district

Szeroka Street and the synagogues

Szeroka Street is more like an elongated square and forms the historic centre of the Jewish quarter of Kazimierz. It is here that the two most important synagogues are located, along with several restaurants specialising in Jewish cuisine.

If you don’t want to visit all the synagogues, choose one based on what interests you:

The Old Synagogue – the best choice for learning about the history and traditions of Kraków’s Jewish community; it now houses a museum
The Remuh Synagogue – a synagogue that is still in active use, with an old Jewish cemetery
Isaac’s Synagogue – one of the largest synagogues in the district; reopened to visitors in May 2026 following renovation
The High Synagogue – an unusual place of worship situated on the first floor, currently accessible only from the outside
Tempel Synagogue – a more recent synagogue with a colourful interior, which is also used for concerts and cultural events

If you only have time to visit one interior, I’d choose the Old Synagogue.

Remuh makes more sense if you’re interested in the religious tradition that’s still very much alive and would also like to visit the cemetery.

The Jewish Museum of Galicia

The Jewish Museum of Galicia isn’t directly on the main tourist route, but it’s only a few minutes’ walk from Szeroka Street.

Rather than relying on traditional display cases, it focuses mainly on photographs, stories of specific places and the lives of individuals.

If you want to gain a better understanding of Kazimierz and a stroll past the synagogues isn’t enough for you, set aside around 60 to 90 minutes for the museum.

Plac Nowy and Józefa Street

Plac Nowy is the informal centre of today’s Kazimierz. In the middle of the square stands the circular Okrąglak building, around which vendors mainly sell zapiekanki – baked baguettes with a wide variety of fillings.

Think of them as quick street food and part of the local atmosphere, rather than a must-try culinary experience for which you have to queue for ages.

During the day, Plac Nowy is a good spot for a short break; in the evening, the square and the surrounding streets – Józefa, Estery and Beera Meisels – transform into one of the main hubs of Kraków’s nightlife.

The Christian part of Kazimierz

Kazimierz is not just a Jewish quarter. The western part of the former town was predominantly Christian, and it would be a shame to skip it entirely whilst out for a stroll.

Start at Plac Wolnica, where the town hall of the independent town of Kazimierz once stood. Right next to it is the imposing Gothic Basilica of the Corpus Christi, which will surprise you with its richly decorated interior.

Closer to the river stands the church and monastery of Na Skałce, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Poland.

The gardens and surroundings of the church also offer a pleasant, peaceful stop between Wawel and the bustling centre of Kazimierz.

Recommended walking route

The most pleasant way is to walk from Wawel and finish at the footbridge over the Vistula, from where you can continue on to Podgórze.

From Wawel, head towards the Na Skałce Church
Continue via Plac Wolnica and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart
Take a break at Plac Nowy
Walk along Józefa Street, past the High Synagogue and the Isaac Synagogue
Carry on along Szeroka Street to the Old Synagogue and the Remuh Synagogue
If time allows, visit the Galicia Jewish Museum
Finish your walk at the Bernatka footbridge over the Vistula
Open the recommended route in Google Maps

Without visiting the interiors, allow around 2 to 3 hours. With the museum, the synagogues and a stop for a bite to eat, this can easily make for a pleasant half-day out.

With or without a guide?

You don’t need a guide for a meal, an evening out or a leisurely stroll. However, if you’re interested in Jewish history, a good guide can really enhance your visit here.

Many houses and courtyards look unremarkable at first glance, and without context, it’s easy to simply walk straight past them. Tours usually last 2 to 3 hours, and some continue across the Vistula to the former ghetto in Podgórze.

Compare guided walking tours of Kazimierz

If you only have one evening to spend in the neighbourhood and the historic part isn’t your main aim, a self-guided stroll will suffice.

Kazimierz is not a former ghetto

It’s easy to get this mixed up on your first visit.

The historic Jewish quarter was located in Kazimierz, but the Nazi ghetto was established on the other bank of the Vistula, in the Podgórze district, during the Second World War.

It is there that you’ll find Plac Bohaterów Getta, the U Orla Pharmacy and Schindler’s factory.

The two areas are connected by the Bernatka footbridge.

If you have the whole day, spend the morning exploring Kazimierz, have lunch there, and continue on to Podgórze in the afternoon. Book your tickets for Schindler’s Factory in advance, as available slots often sell out several days ahead.

Food and nightlife

You’ll find the widest selection of bars, cafés and fast-food outlets around Plac Nowy and on Józefa, Estery and Beera Meisels Streets.

Restaurants on Szeroka Street tend to cater more to visitors, whilst in the side streets local establishments mix more easily with tourist-oriented ones.

At weekends, the area around Plac Nowy is bustling long into the night. This is an advantage if you want to head to a bar after dinner, but a disadvantage if you’re staying in a room facing directly onto the street.

For a quieter atmosphere, come in the early evening. After 8.00 pm, the area around Plac Nowy gradually transforms from a tourist stop into the neighbourhood’s main evening hub.

Accommodation in the Kazimierz district

Kazimierz is a great base if you want to go out for dinner in the evening whilst staying within walking distance of the historic centre.

You can usually walk to Rynek in 15 to 20 minutes, and Wawel is even closer.

A potential downside is the noise around Plac Nowy and the difficulty in finding parking. If you’re looking for a quieter room, choose accommodation on the eastern or southern edge of the district.

Hotel Estera **** – excellent location between Plac Nowy and Szeroka Street
Hotel Rubinstein **** – a historic hotel right on Szeroka Street
PURO Kraków Kazimierz **** – a modern hotel on the quieter eastern edge of the district

We compare other areas, prices and tips in the chapter on Accommodation in Kraków.

Parking in the Kazimierz district

It’s best to avoid driving into the narrow streets around Plac Nowy and Szeroka. On-street parking spaces are limited, and much of the area falls within a paid parking zone.

The safest option is the large covered car park at the Galeria Kazimierz shopping centre on the eastern edge of the district. It has over 1,500 spaces, and it takes about 10 to 12 minutes to walk from there to Szeroka Street.

Galeria Kazimierz car park on Google Maps
Official information and car park price list
First hour free
Each additional hour or part thereof 5 pln

Closer to the centre is a private car park in a courtyard at Starowiślna 46. Spaces must be booked online; at the time of checking in August 2026, the cost was 7,70 pln per hour or 50 pln for 24 hours.

A brief history of Kazimierz

Kazimierz was founded in 1335 as an independent royal town named after King Casimir III the Great. From the end of the 15th century, a large Jewish community settled in its eastern part, whilst the western part remained predominantly Christian.

For centuries, synagogues, churches, schools, marketplaces and ordinary residential buildings stood side by side here. This development was interrupted by the Nazi occupation, during which the Jewish inhabitants were evicted to the ghetto in Podgórze and subsequently deported to concentration and extermination camps.

After the war, the neighbourhood fell into disrepair for a long time. It began to come back to life mainly from the 1990s onwards, and today, alongside the historical monuments, there are cafés, cultural centres, restaurants and an active Jewish religious community. It is precisely this combination of a difficult history with everyday modern life that makes Kazimierz so much more than just another collection of monuments.