How to Spend an Amazing Evening in Krakow?

Travelling in and around Krakow is an unforgettable experience in itself. The city has so much to offer it can be a bit overwhelmin–where to start? If you’re looking for a quick introduction packed with delights, there’s no better place to spend a night than this amazing city. A perfect evening could be spent in the main square, Rynek Glowny, enjoying the views and modern atmosphere.

The Rynek Glowny: Krakow’s Historic Heart

The Rynek Glowny is the most famous and oldest part of the whole city. This huge square is surrounded by excellent restaurants, pubs and cafés, as well as the famous landmarks –the beautiful Cloth Hall, Town Hall Tower and the City Walls from where you can take a fantastic view over all of the modern and old buildings that make up this amazing metropolis.

The Cloth Hall or Sukiennice, is a great old marble building built in the 14th century and it is one of the most stunning architecture in Krakow. It was used as a cloth market during the Renaissance period, and nowadays it serves a variety of shops and crafts. There are typically a few street performers or food stands that make their presence know on the square which are big attractions themselves.

The area is also a great place to spend an evening with friends or family. Many pubs and bars have opened up in the old buildings during the last few years, creating a vibrant atmosphere around the square. Now, being drinking age in Poland is 18, so make sure you bring appropriate identifications if you plan on enjoying a nice cold beer at any of these places.

One of our favorite activities here at the Rynek Glowny is appreciating the live music that can be heard from many of the pubs, bars and clubs on any given evening. They showcase all sorts of genres from around Europe which can go from EDM to rock, jazz, pop and classical music. Live music isn’t always easy to come by and definitely adds that special something to your evening in Kraków.

Delicious Polish Food For Evening

There’s nothing quite like trying out traditional Polish foods when you visit a country. It’s also not always easy to come by because many places tend to serve international food but Krakow knows how to deliver. With its rich history, the city can offer some wonderful dishes such as pierogi (dumplings) or bigos (hunter’s stew).

Pierogi is one of those dishes that should not be missed while you spend time in the city. The recipe was created in 12th century Moldavia but it was also served during coronations in Medieval Poland and it has become a timeless classic throughout Eastern Europe. The dumplings are either boiled or fried and can be filled with different ingredients such as cheese, potatoes, cabbage, meat, mushrooms and more.

Bigos is another crowd favorite and it’s also known as hunter’s stew because this recipe used to be cooked by hunters in Eastern Europe during Medieval times for the taste of wild game meat. The ingredients of this dish are much simpler; it consists of sauerkraut, onions, cream and smoked bacon but it’s surprisingly packed with flavor.

Dinner with Traditional Polish Folklore

What would be a perfect evening in Krakow without traditional Polish folklore? Those restaurants have been around for centuries offering local music and dancing in combination with delicious food. Many traditional dances like Polka, Mazurka Oberek etc., have been preserved by these restaurants giving tourists a chance to experience them in their fullest glory.

Local artists come to perform in some of these folklore restaurants, that have been decorated with decorative elements such as old carpets, tapestries and embossed fabrics. They usually start with an evening aperitif just before dinner which includes famous beverages like Żubrówka vodka accompanied with a plate of traditional snacks like herring, pickles, mushrooms and onions.

Once everyone has checked-in, collections of traditional songs from popular Polish composers will be played from assorted sources such as folk band instruments or live choirs singing traditional hits that go all the way back to the 16th Century. It’s truly impressive how much culture is still alive and well in this amazing city!

Krakow Bar Hopping Tour with Polish Vodka Tasting

A great way to finish your evening in Krakow is by going on a guided tour of all the best bars in town matched with some tasting of Polish vodka. This fun activity is organized by GetYourGuide, an online booking platform offering professional guided tours around Krakow.

The tour takes three hours starting from first bar where you will get served shots of locally produced vodka varying from spicy horseradish flavour to caramel flavoured apple vodka from one of the best distilleries in Poland. From there, you will go around Rynek Glowny and Kazimierz districts tasting unique beverages like mixture of traditional herbs or other edible aromas. Whatever your flavour preference might be, you will find something special during this tour that will leave your taste buds tingling.

Moreover, you get a chance to discover hidden gem pubs around town while learning about Polish drinking traditions from your guide who will also share funny stories about local culture turning your adventure into an unforgettable experience in Krakow!

Conclusion

Krakow nightlife encompasses all types of venues offering great experiences for people of all interests and tastes. From traditional Polish restaurant to lively bars or guided tours through all the best spots -the city can make your evening really special. To really appreciate the local culture you should definitely consider joining one of GetYourGuide tours such as Krakow Guided Bar Hopping Tour with Polish Vodka Testing, where you can learn more about this vibrant city while tasting local vodka flavours!