Rainy Day in Krakow – 10 Indoor Attractions

Rain in Krakow doesn’t have to mean a day spent in your hotel. Many of the city’s most interesting places are indoors – and some are even underground – so there’s more than enough to fill a rainy day in Krakow, or even a whole wet weekend.

We’ve picked 10 places that work well in bad weather – from museums in the centre, through historic trams and aircraft, to a salt mine and a water park. We’ve saved one idea for the evening, when a downpour outside only adds to the atmosphere. For each one, we briefly explain where it is and who it suits best.

Museums in the very centre

1. Rynek Underground

Beneath the paving of Rynek Główny (the Main Market Square), a route leads past the remains of the medieval city uncovered by archaeologists, complemented by multimedia displays. It’s the ideal place to start, as the entrance is by the Sukiennice (Cloth Hall), right in the heart of the Old Town. Allow at least an hour for your visit, and at weekends buy tickets in advance.

2. The gallery in the Cloth Hall

Upstairs in the Renaissance Sukiennice is the National Museum’s Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Art, with monumental canvases by Jan Matejko and Józef Chełmoński. The most striking work here is Henryk Siemiradzki’s Nero’s Torches. It’s one of the quieter museums in the centre. Afterwards, head down to the ground floor, where the stalls sell souvenirs.

3. Czartoryski Museum

The star of the collection is Lady with an Ermine, one of the few surviving portraits painted by Leonardo da Vinci. The Muzeum Książąt Czartoryskich (Princes Czartoryski Museum) on Pijarska Street fills 26 rooms on two floors, and alongside Leonardo you’ll see paintings, sculpture and decorative arts from many periods.

4. Main Building of the National Museum

The National Museum’s main building on 3 Maja Avenue houses historic weapons and uniforms, decorative arts and 20th-century Polish art. It’s usually the least crowded of the city’s big museums, so it’s a good choice when the Cloth Hall and the Market Square get packed.

History and technology

5. Schindler’s Factory

The exhibition Krakow under Nazi Occupation 1939–1945, in Oskar Schindler’s former factory, feels more like a walk through a series of stage sets than a traditional museum. It recreates the streets of the occupied city, the ghetto and the Płaszów camp, and Schindler’s office has survived to this day. MOCAK, the Museum of Contemporary Art, is in the same complex. The visit is a heavy dose of difficult history, so plan something gentler afterwards.

6. Museum of Engineering and Technology

For tram fans, this one is a must. The Muzeum Inżynierii i Techniki is housed in Krakow’s oldest tram depot, on Św. Wawrzyńca Street in Kazimierz. Besides historic tramcars, you’ll see cars and motorcycles, and the interactive exhibitions let you carry out experiments yourself. The tram hall is only open at certain times, so check before you go.

7. Polish Aviation Museum

The former Rakowice-Czyżyny airfield, one of the oldest in Europe, is home to an impressive collection of aircraft and helicopters. In the modern main building and the historic hangars you’ll see machines from the First World War and from right across the 20th century. Once the rain stops, take a look at the outdoor display too. The museum is on Jana Pawła II Avenue, a few tram stops from the centre.

Underground and in the water

8. Wieliczka Salt Mine

The best answer to a downpour is to go underground. With a guide, visitors descend more than 100 metres below the surface, passing salt chambers, chapels and underground lakes. The temperature down there stays much the same all year round, so the weather above ground makes no difference at all. Wieliczka borders Krakow, so the trip easily fits into a single day.

9. Krakow Water Park (Park Wodny)

Slides, a wave pool, jacuzzis and a climbing wall – at the water park on Dobrego Pasterza Street nobody minds the rain, because everyone is wet anyway. It’s a good option for a group of friends who have had enough of museums. Groups can get discounts, so it’s worth asking about them at the ticket desk.

An evening under cover

10. A party on a private tram

To round off the day, here’s an idea where the rain outside only adds to the atmosphere. On a private TramParty tram you have a roof over your heads, a professional sound system and club lighting, while the city glides past the rain-streaked windows. We plan the route individually, and the ride can finish close to the restaurant where you’ve booked dinner. An evening like this works for a birthday, a stag do or hen party, or a corporate event. You’ll find all the details on the TramParty Krakow page.

Sample plan for a rainy day in Krakow

• Morning – the Rynek Underground and the gallery in the Cloth Hall
• Midday – the Czartoryski Museum and lunch in the Old Town
• Afternoon – historic trams at the Museum of Engineering and Technology in Kazimierz
• Evening – two hours on a private tram, followed by dinner at one of the restaurants in Kazimierz

Practical tips

• Buy tickets online – for the most popular places, such as Schindler’s Factory, the Rynek Underground and Wieliczka, book ahead, because more people visit on rainy days.
• Closing days – many museums close one day a week, often on Mondays, so check opening hours before you go.
• Logistics – combine places that are close together: the Rynek Underground with the Cloth Hall, and Schindler’s Factory with MOCAK.
• Umbrella and shoes – you’ll still have to walk between the sights, so pack an umbrella and waterproof footwear.
• Plan B – if the rain just won’t stop, try the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology by the Vistula and Cricoteka in Podgórze.

Frequently asked questions

Which museums in Krakow are best to visit when it rains?

In the centre, the easiest combination is the Rynek Underground, the gallery in the Cloth Hall and the Czartoryski Museum – they’re only a few minutes’ walk apart. If you have more time, add Schindler’s Factory or the Polish Aviation Museum.

Where can you see historic trams in Krakow?

At the Museum of Engineering and Technology on Św. Wawrzyńca Street, which occupies a former tram depot. The tram exhibition is only open at certain times, so check that it’s open before your visit.

How long does a party tram ride last?

Two hours as standard – and for that whole time the tram is reserved exclusively for your group. We agree the start, the route and the final stop individually when you book via the TramParty Krakow page.