Here are eight of our favourite things to do in Krakow at night, from voddie tours to sightseeing cruises to trips to thermal baths. Enjoyo!
Krakow at night is a wonderful, wonderful thing. There’s nothing quite like the Old Town when the sun has gone down. It’s winding alleys and little squares get just a touch more mysterious, while key landmarks like St Mary’s Church and the old city walls look stunning all lit up.
Oh yea, and the darker time of the day also ushers in that legendary Krakow nightlife. We talk a lot about that here, but then we’re pretty sure it’s one of the best darn nightlife scenes on the whole bloody planet. We’ll let you be the judge, but five zubrowka voddies says you’ll agree!
Anyway, this guide is all about things to do in Krakow at night. It focuses on the nocturnal side of the city, offering a curated list of some of the best activities to do post evening, pre-dinner, post-dinner, whatever – just so long as the sun ain’t shining no more.
It’s been handpicked and written up by veritable gurus of Krakow’s nightlife and bar scene, who, between them, have more nights out in this wild city than you can shake a platter of pierogi at!
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This is just one part of our complete guide to things to do in Krakow
Quick-click links to the top things to do in Krakow
- Vodka tasting with Taste Vodka – An evening sampling and learning about Poland’s most iconic tipple
- Krakow ghost tour – A spooky walk-through of the Old Town and beyond with tales of murderers and vampires
- See some jazz – Visit one of the underground jazz bars in Krakow for a show
- Evening river cruise – See the Wawel Castle and other landmarks in a different light
- Krawl Through Krakow pub crawl – The original and best pub crawl in the city
- evening thermal bath tour – Soak in warm waters with visions of the snow-capped Tatra Mountains
- Go out in Kazimierz – The place locals go to party
- Krakow Opera – Some great shows and tickets aren’t expensive
Vodka tasting with Taste Vodka
Number one on our list is something we regularly recommend, but then we’re big vodka buffs and not afraid to say it.
It’s worth knowing that Krakow is one of the main players in the history of everyone’s favourite (or least favourite, depending on who you ask) Eastern European tipple. And, contrary to what certain governments might want you to believe (*cough* Russia *cough*), the drink originated in Poland many centuries ago.
So, where better to do a tasting tour than Krakow, where there are some seriously enchanting vodka bars and even dedicated tours with knowledgeable guides who are like the Dalai Lamas of vodka?
Book yourself onto Taste Vodka’s flagship package and get ready to learn all the ins and outs of this iconic drink. You get a whole platter of shots, a dedicated guide who knows everything about voddie, and even traditional Polish snacks.
We’ve been on the tasting a few times and will say this: It’s fantastic on its own but it’s also often the beginning of a really fun night in Krakow because you’ll meet other people there and whatnot.
Nighttime Ghost Tour
Explore the darker side of Krakow with a ghost tour. These guided tours take you through the Old Town and Kazimierz (the old Jewish quarter), sharing spooky legends, myths, and stories of the city’s haunted past.
We reckon their best around Halloween time, for obvious reasons. But they’re also particularly spooky in the depths of winter when there’s ice in the air and snow on the ground.
Tours will pass some of the main highlights of the Old Town district, including the Collegium Maius where Copernicus studied, and the Gothic church in the Main Square, which is wrapped up in tales of murderous brothers.
You’ll be surprised at what ghosts lurk in moody old Krakow. There are vampires, serial killers, mythical dragons – the whole shebang.
Meeting is outside the Hotel Polski.
See some jazz
As you can probably tell from our uber-long guide to the history and culture of jazz in Krakow, this city has a thriving jazz scene. Along with Warsaw, it was actually one of the jazz hubs of old Communist Europe, and became a big player in the Euro jazz scene following the fall of the wall.
Anyway, that means there are some spectacular bars on offer.
Our all-time favourite has to be the Harris Piano Jazz Bar. It’s on the western side of the main square and has a moody basement with an intimate stage – exactly the sort of jazz experience you’ve been dreaming of. Pre-book tickets if you go there.
Other options include:
- Piec Art Acoustic Jazz Club – A more modern jazz bar on Szewska Street. Usually quite busy but also less formal.
- U Muniaka – The other classic jazz bar in Krakow, owned and run by one of the country’s greatest jazz musicians. We usually go here if we can’t get into Harris.
Night cruise on the Vistula River
Lots of people will stick to the Old Town when darkness falls in Krakow but that’s not always the best way to appreciate the city at night. Truth is, there’s a much better view of the Wawel Castle from the waters of the riverway, which snakes below the great citadel and offer fantastic evening scenes.
It’s one of the most relaxing and romantic ways to get a feel for what Krakow is like after dark. You’ll drift on a two-deck boat from the docks to take in some of the most lovely landmarks that line the river.
Of course, the mighty castle is the most famous of them. It’s all lit up post sunset, with the soaring spire of the Wawel Cathedral dominating all and the 15th century fortifications glowing in different shades.
But you’ll also see the Renaissance Church of the Rock in Kazimierz and the stark brutalist exterior of the imposing Tadeusz Kantor Museum.
Boat trips usually last an hour and can either be timed for sunset or after sunset, to get everything in full darkness.
Check prices and availability on Krakow evening river cruises
The Krawl Through Krakow pub crawl
For the most dedicated hedonists out there, there’s nothing better than the iconic Krawl Through Krakow (KTK).
This is the OG of euro pub crawls and it’s fricking wild.
You begin with a whole “power hour” of unlimited booze in one of the best bars in the Krakow Old Town – usually a pretty atmospheric basement bar.
Then, you move on to do a tour of several legendary nightlife spots in the city under the guiding hand of a local “drunk guide”.
There are quite a few alternative crawls in Krakow but they are all copies, to be frank. The original KTK is the one you want the T-shirt for; not some rubbish knock-off.
They also really do know how to run a crawl. The guides are seasoned in getting strangers chatting and making new mates, run regular drinking games and things, and always seem to make the right venue choices.
We also have more guides to Krakow’s nightlife scene if this is the sort of things you’re after BTW.
Check prices and availability on the Krawl Through Krakow pub crawl
Visit a thermal baths
These guys run a verrrry nice evening excursion that’s perfect for honeymooners, loved-up couples, or anyone who just wants a bit of R&R.
Often, a weekend break in the city is too short to make it out to the stunning mountains that surround Krakow to the south, a region that’s also famous for its hot springs and mineral spas.
However, you can kill two proverbial birds and ensure a super-fun evening with this tour, which includes a pick-up in the city and a two-hour transfer to the acclaimed Chocholowska Thermal Baths.
They are some of the best in Poland, with front-on views of the jagged Tatra Mountains and pools that steam at 30-40 degrees. The complex also has saunas, steam rooms, and indoor cold pools for that full spa experience.
We think this is a doozy in the winter time. You’ll get to swim in hot pools surrounded by snow. The only downside is that it means four hours of transfer, but that’s hardly wasted because the drive to the baths itself is kinda’ pretty!
(Really tempted by this one? Maybe you could consider staying overnight in the fairy-tale mountain town of Zakopane, where there are some seriously lux spa hotels that shouldn’t set you back loads)
Go out in Kazimierz
If you’re keen to sample the legendary Krakow nightlife scene but aren’t one for organized fun and pub crawls, then there’s a simple answer: Head south to the district of Kazimierz.
This is the hipster area of the city and it’s got a much more local nightlife scene than the Old Town. It’s where the KBuzz team usually hit the tiles and the drinks.
Start on the square of Plac Nowy, where summertime evenings can dwindle as you glug beers in the famous Alchemia bar. From there, you can head to HEVRE, a cavernous beer hall in an old synagogue.
Later on, the alt clubs of Propaganda and Piekny Pies are the top choices if you want to continue dancing and drinking until the early hours.
Read more in our complete guide to the district of Kazimierz
A night at the opera
The Krakow Opera has a history going back more than 70 years. It’s now based out of a striking modernist building a short tram ride from the Old Town and the Galeria Krakowska shopping mall – you can even walk it.
For culture vultures, we’d say it’s a fantastic way to spend an evening. Shows range from classics – we last saw a rendition of Carmen – to more unusual ballets and dance troupes, and is nothing if not eclectic.
You’ll need to check what’s on in the box office before you travel and pre-booking is recommended. Prices tend to be very reasonable indeed for such a high-quality operatic performance (think in the region of £15-20 per person!).
One caveat: Operas aren’t often in English, and subtitles will be in Polish. Who needs to know what’s actually happening anyhow!
