If there’s one thing that sets Krakow apart from other Polish cities, it’s surely all that amazing history. On every corner of every cobbled alleyway, in every nook and cranny of every church-topped square, the centuries of stories and myths that meet here are palpable.
There are more historic hotels in Krakow than you can shake your guide book at! But which are the best?
That doesn’t have to end the moment you head back to your accommodation, either. There are oodles of historic hotels in Krakow that can leave you feeling like a bona fide Grand Duke or Slavic queen. Most also double as luxury hotels. They also bring dash of class to help crank up the pampering on your city break.
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This is just one part of our ultimate guide to Krakow hotels
Hotel Rubinstein
Set in a gorgeous rowhouse that dates all the way back to the 1400s, Hotel Rubinstein is one of the enduring jewels of Kazimierz. It rises above the bustling Jewish eateries and bistros of Szeroka Street. It’s more of a square than a road, coming to life in the summer months with al fresco terraces and jazz bands. (It looks great in the winter too, though, doused in snow and ice).
Venture inside the hotel to be greeted with grand interiors inspired by Krakow’s royal age, complete with wood-block floors, wide windowpanes, and exposed-timber ceilings. However, the real piece de resistance is surely the roof terrace. That offers views across the tops of the Jewish District to the spires of the Wawel Castle itself.
Stary Hotel
You might say there’s no more a historic hotel in Krakow than the Stary Hotel – its very name means ‘old’ in Polish. It lives up to the moniker, too. Towering over the vibrant streets that filter off the Main Square, it’s huddled between the grand Baroque and medieval buildings of the UNESCO-tagged Old Town.
Go through the lobby and into the 53 rooms and suites and you’ll be greeted with a sumptuous array of mahoganies, velveteen curtains, and elaborate upholstery. Original features abound. There are vaulted ceilings. There are Gothic inlays the norm in the on-site restaurant. It’s enough to have earned the hotel the prestigious first-price at the Prix Villégiatur in Paris for interior design in European hotels!
And below it all? Get ready for a luxurious swimming pool hidden in the cellar. You’ll find it shrouded by brick walls, running through all sorts of alcoves. It’s hardly a wonder that the footballers stay here!
Hotel Pugetow
Housed in the aged stablemaster’s quarters of the neo-Renaissance Pugetow Palace, the Hotel Pugetow can whisk you another time. Here, you’ll literally be staying in the rooms where old dukes and nobless once stayed.
As a member of Poland’s heritage hotels association, it’s – of course – steeped in history. Each suite comes themed to a certain aspect of regional culture – from the Joseph Conrad room to the opulent Madame Walewska suite. Moreover, the walls are dotted with exquisite artworks to catch the eye.
Outside there’s a quaint courtyard, while the downstairs breakfasting room has high arched roofs clad in brick. The location is spot on, too – think midway between the Old Town, Kazimierz, and the Wawel Castle. It’s the perfect pitstop for sightseeing!
Hotel Santi
Just one look at the sleek interiors of the Hotel Santi should be enough to show that it’s up there with the crème-de-la-crème of historic hotels in Krakow.
A mix of somber stucco walls and orientalist rugs adorn the suites. That creates somewhere with the ascetic undertones of a real medieval building, but with the luxuries of something modern and new.
What’s more, the location could not be better for history buffs. You’ll be staying just metres from the main concourse of Grodzka Street, which runs off the Market Square, past Gothic churches, and rigth down to the main gateway of the Wawel Castle.
Hotel Wentzl
There’s more than 500 years of history twisting and turning through the four-poster beds and marble-inlayed ensuites of the Hotel Wentzl. And outside? Well, you’re right on the grand Market Square – the epicenter of the UNESCO Old Town.
At ground level, guests can access the famous Wentzl Restaurant. It’s been cooking since the 19th century, and so expect refined platters of European and Polish cuisine. It’s up there with the best in the city.
Of course, the above is just a taster of the amazing historic hotels in Krakow that are currently available. If you’ve stayed in a venerable princely palace or a hidden tavern in the city of kings, we’d sure love to hear about it in the comments below. Above all, if you’re taken by these gorgeous historic hotels in Krakow, simply click to book via Booking.com.
