Excursions from Kraków
By Jérôme R · Visited in July 2026, completed with our research · Updated · How we work
Kraków is an ideal base for exploring the wider region. Here are the day trips we recommend, blending first-hand experience and researched guides. Looking for Auschwitz-Birkenau? We've deliberately kept it separate, in our Kraków Sightseeing page — it isn't a leisure excursion like the others, and we'd rather not present it as one.
Energylandia, for a fun family day out
Halfway between Kraków and Katowice lies Energylandia, one of the largest theme parks in Europe by number of roller coasters — a low-key giant still little known to many Western European visitors, at a noticeably lower price than parks in Western Europe. We spent a full day there as a family. See our full account below.
The Wieliczka salt mine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
About fifteen kilometres from Kraków, the Wieliczka salt mine was one of the very first sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List (1978): 327 metres deep, a chapel carved entirely out of salt, underground lakes with a green shimmer. We did not visit Wieliczka ourselves during our trip — so our guide to this excursion is researched rather than first-hand, but just as thorough on the practical details (see below).
See also
Frequently asked questions
What excursions can you do from Kraków?
The two big classics are the Energylandia theme park in Zator (great for families) and the UNESCO-listed Wieliczka salt mine. Many travellers also go to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial from Kraków; we cover it separately, on our Sightseeing page, because it is a place of remembrance.
Do you need a car for these excursions?
It's not essential: Wieliczka is easy to reach by train or bus from Kraków, and Energylandia runs shuttles from certain departure points. A car remains the most flexible option if you're planning to combine several excursions.