Things to do in Krakow at Night

Krakow is a beautiful city full of rich history. But what makes Krakow such a great place to visit is that it also has a diverse and unique nightlife culture. There are many things to do in Krakow at Night; no matter what you are looking for, there is something for everyone. 

Krakow is undoubtedly amazing but sometimes it can be hard to sort out the good from the bad and find a nice bar that is exactly to your liking. We have put together this guide of Krakow by night to find the right option for your night out in Krakow.

We have broken the best things to do in Krakow at night into the following categories: 

• Where to go in Krakow
• A relaxed evening
• I want to go out but still get up before midday
• I want to get home when the sun rises 

Where to go in Krakow

Before we get into Krakow by night, you should be aware of the different districts of Krakow and what each has to offer. There are three districts you need to know about: The Old Town, Kazimierz and Podgórze. Each is enjoyable in its own way and offer something different from one another. However, they are close by, so even if you’ve had a few too many vodka shots, it’s easy to find your way around.

If you are looking for a mix of amazing architecture, stunning churches weaved between overpriced restaurants and great clubs the old town (Stare Miasto) is the place for you. The Old Town is host to some of the best clubs that are open all night. You can also find some amazing and decently priced restaurants. Still, the majority of the venues are overpriced and marketed towards tourists. If you’re interested, the Krakow Crawl has a guide to the Best Polish Restaurants in Krakow. 

Kazimierz and Podgórze are situated on either side of the Vistula river. If you are looking for some more relaxed things to do in Krakow, you will love either one. In Kazimierz you will find a great mix of bars, late-night cafes, restaurants, art shows and everything in between. Podgorze is great for a nice dinner and a late-night relaxed drink by the river. 

Krakow at Night: A relaxed evening 

If you’re the kind of person who likes to be in bed by a reasonable time and get up early for the morning walking tour, this will be for you. On the other hand, if you’re looking for something a bit crazy, then skip ahead to our final section.

Check out one of Krakow’s game pubs

You can’t get very far in Krakow without stumbling past a game pub (board game cafe). Maybe it’s because Krakow is a student city, or maybe it’s because Polish people just love board games! Whatever the reason, Krakow has a variety of fun, and quirky board game bars located all over the city. One of our favourites in the Old Town is Cyber Machina; it has a mix of video games and board games that will keep the whole crew entertained. If you find yourself in Kazimierz, then the one to go to is Domówka Cafe. The name translates to ‘Home Cafe’, and this perfectly encompasses the vibe of the bar. They have a wide range of Polish and English board games.

Experience the darker history of Krakow by night (ghost tour)

Although we’re talking about relaxing things to do in Krakow at night, we think you can have a relaxing (maybe a little bit spooky) evening by joining this tour. City Walks Krakow: A walk with the dead will take you around the city and give you a glimpse into the darker side of Krakow’s history. You’ll hear tales of ghoulish ghosts and gruesome deaths. It’s a great way to see a different side of the city while enjoying Krakow at night. 

 Learn some authentic Polish recipes 

What’s one of the most important parts of any culture? Well, the food, of course, and Polish cuisine is both heartwarming and homely. You could, of course, go out and check out some of the great Polish restaurants around Krakow but an even better way is to roll up your sleeves and get in the kitchen with Babcia (that’s Polish for grandma).  

You can find a range of evening Polish cooking classes, but our favourite is Delicious Poland’s Pierogi Cooking Class. Pierogi is the most famous Polish dish and arguably one of the best. They are small dumplings filled with sweet or savoury feelings and are normally steamed or fried. Polish food is very heavy and rich, it does a great job of soaking up alcohol, so you can have an extra shot of vodka while cooking.

Check out one of Krakow’s food truck parks

If you visit Krakow in the warmer months (April to August) one of the nicer things to do in Krakow at Night is to check out one of the many food truck parks. Krakow has a long history with street food. This stems from Poland’s communist past when people were forced to find cheaper alternatives. The Zapikanka is one item that can still be found all over Poland and is a great late-night snack (think of it as the Polish version of a 3 am kebab).

Krakow has always had many food truck parks, but due to the pandemic and the push to eat outdoors with government restrictions, food trucks and food truck parks have exploded in availability and popularity. Some of our favourites are Bezogródek Tropical Spot which is located just outside the Old Town and has a bar and DJ, and Judah Food Market in Kazimierz. You can check out this full guide to Krakow Food trucks for more information.

Treat Yourself to some fine dining

Krakow is home to many spectacular restaurants. Due to the exchange rate of EUR and GBP to PLN, you can have a fine dining experience at a third of the normal cost. There are too many great places to list them all, still, some of our favourites are Nadwiślańska Resto & Vodka Bar and Art Restaurant. You can expect great food and amazing service at both of these restaurants. You can also check the Michelin Guide for more choices. If you want to double down on a discount, then book your stay during Restaurant Week. This is a week where all the top restaurants in Krakow offer set menus of 3-course meals plus a drink for 59 PLN (13 EUR)

Night Run 

If you are looking to get a workout during your Night out in Krakow, once a year in April Krakow hosts Bieg Nocny. This 10 km race must be completed within 90 minutes. The next edition of the Night Run 10 kilometres is scheduled for April 23, 2022.

Even if you’re not interested in taking part in the run, you can grab a drink at a rooftop bar and spectate.

I want to go out but still get up before midday

This section is for the people who want to go out for drinks, get a little bit tipsy but know their limits and still get up in the morning to enjoy the day without a debilitating hangover.

Comedy show

Before you read any further, don’t worry; you don’t need to do a crash course in Polish because it’s all in English! Krakow Standup Comedy does fortnightly shows in the heart of the Old Town at Szpitalna 1. They host some big names as well as many local favourites. They also host Open mic nights, if you dare to try that out.

Pub quiz

If you are travelling with friends or here with some colleagues, one of the best things to do at Night in Krakow is to show off your obscure knowledge and useless facts in a game of pub quiz.

You can find a few different bars that host pub quiz nights around Krakow, and they range in length and quality, and one of our favourites is TEA time Brew Pub – Mondays at 5 pm.

Food and Vodka tour

Trying to find a great place for dinner and a drink can be tiresome when visiting a new city. Joining a food tour is a simple way to have some great local food and tasty vodka while meeting some fellow travellers along the way. City Walks Krakow offers a tour that takes you to 3 traditional restaurants and lets you sample different polish dishes and vodka. 

Check out some live music in Krakow 

You may know Krakow for its many vodka bars and party Nightlife, but Krakow also has a thriving live music scene. Although most venues are hidden away, down an alleyway or in an obscure venue making them hard to find sometimes. 

Krakow has a very strong Jazz scene which is great for seeing many talented local bands. Still, no matter whatever you are into, you can find something that hits your tone. Check out this guide for a list of the best live music venues in Krakow. One of our favourite places to go in Krakow at night is Stalowe Magnolie.

Watch a game and mingle with the locals

If you’re a sports fan or a football fan in particular, then you are spoiled for choice when it comes to Krakow at Night as there are many great sports bars and pubs all over the city. For football, the best place to go in the Old Town is 442 sports pub, they have more plasma screens than you can count and a basement with a big screen and a mini stand that gives you the feeling of being at the games.

Take a stroll down the Vistula River 

There are many chilled-out beer gardens, rooftop bars and boats with sundecks dotted all across the Vistula river. The ones located closer to the Old town have a great view of Wawel Castle, but anywhere you choose will have a pleasant view. For example, you can start in Kazimierz and work your way down the river until you get to Wawel Castle, having a drink at each bar on the way. Another great option is Forum as it has a beach bar and a big food hall with a variety of options.

I want to get home when the sun rises 

This section is for the real party people who want to go all out and experience the best and craziest things to do in Krakow at Night.

Hype Park – A mini-festival in the city

Hype Park has only just recently opened and is already becoming the number one spot in the city. This is because there is nothing else like it, and it has the feeling of a mini-festival.

Hype Park is located just north of the Old Town and is an all in one nightlife experience. It’s a cross between a food truck park, festival, beer garden and an all-around great place to get drunk. 

They have multiple bars, food stalls, hang out areas, DJs and bands. It’s open all day and night and costs 10zl to enter after 7 pm. It’s best to get in early as the lines can sometimes last hours. 

Party all night in the Old Town

Krakow’s Old Town has some amazing bars and clubs, but finding them and looking for fun and unique things to do in Krakow at Night can be hard for someone new to the city. Joining a pub crawl can solve this problem. You get to visit the best bars and clubs in the city without waiting in line, and you don’t have to worry about trying to meet new people because you will have a group of 20+ people with you. The Krakow crawl hosts a night like no other, but you can check out this Krakow Nightlife guide if you’re looking to visit some of the best bars and clubs on your own.

Get Crazy in Kazi 

The district of Kazimierz, which is also known as the Jewish quarter, doesn’t have any clubs and is mostly bars and restaurants, but that doesn’t stop it from being a great place to let loose. The heart of Kazi is Plac Nowy, which is a small square full of street food stalls and bars. It is a great spot to start off your night of shenanigans.

Pijalnia Wódki i Piwa is one of the best bars at Plac Nowy to warm up as it has 1 EUR shots and is packed with both locals and tourists. You go in any direction from here, and you will find a great bar or pub with a lively atmosphere. The best part is most bars have reasonable prices for drinks. It’s also a great place to go for pre-drinks before joining The Krakow Boat Party. Some of our favourite bars in Kazi are

• Hevre
• Piękny Pies
• Entropia

Final Thoughts 

No matter what you are looking for, Krakow at night has something for everyone. If you’re looking for something else or have any questions about what we have mentioned, please leave a comment or contact us via email, as we love sharing all we know about Krakow. Check out Momondo’s Krakow Guide for travel inspiration.