Ample time in Krakow means you can take your time exploring, so book a full-day sightseeing tour for a comprehensive overview of the city, hire a private guide, take the hop-on hop-off bus at your own pace, or make the most of great-value super saver tours and deals. No matter how you go, spend your first day hitting the highlights of Krakow’s Old Town, starting at the main square of Rynek Glowny. Admire Krakow’s stunning architecture as you walk to Cloth Hall (Sukiennice), the Church of the Virgin Mary (Kosciol Mariacki), the Old Town Hall Tower, and the Empty Head sculpture. After a walk through Planty Park and a visit to Wawel Castle, set out along the Vistula River for a scenic sightseeing cruise and watch the sunset from the water.

Learn more about Krakow’s past on a guided tour of Auschwitz-Birkenau, once the largest Nazi concentration camp in Europe. Now a UNESCO-listed memorial and museum, it’s a harrowing reminder of the atrocities committed during World War II and a moving tribute to those who lost their lives. Follow this moving experience with a visit to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, another UNESCO site where you can venture underground into the historic mine. If you’ve still got energy to spare when you arrive back in Krakow, head into the Kazimierz district, the former Jewish quarter, where you’ll find some of the city’s best bars, restaurants, and live music venues.

There are plenty of options for day tours from Krakow, offering a chance to escape the city and explore the Polish countryside. Perhaps head into the Tatras Mountains, where highlights include the ski resort of Zakopane and the funicular ride to the summit of Mount Gubalowka. Or visit some of the beautiful castles and sacred sites dotted throughout the mountain valleys—Jasna Gora Monastery, Pieskowa Skala Castle, and Tyniec Abbey can all be seen on a day trip. You can even visit Warsaw on a day tour from Krakow, and spend the day taking in the must-see sights of the Polish capital.