Date ideas in Krakow: a walk, a view and a shared mission

A good date in Krakow doesn’t have to cost much or take all day. For a relaxed chat, the Vistula Embankments below Wawel or Krakus Mound with its view over the city are all you need, and both are free. For a longer afternoon, try the Jagiellonian University Botanic Garden, Kościuszko Mound or a boat trip to Tyniec. If you both like a challenge, you can turn your walk into a city game. Below you’ll find specific places and tips on which one suits which kind of date.

These are ideas for spending time together, not a recipe for a happy relationship. Your choice should suit you both, the weather and how well you know each other.

How to choose a place for a date

• First date: pick a short, public route that makes it easy to move on to a café or to wrap things up at a good moment. The Embankments and Krakus Mound don’t need tickets or bookings.
• A date for a long-term couple: plan something you haven’t done together yet, like a boat trip or a game with a story.
• Bad weather: the glasshouses at the Botanic Garden and the museum at Kościuszko Mound give you part of the plan under a roof.
• Small budget: a walk along the Embankments, Krakus Mound and the steps in Podgórze are all free.

The Vistula Embankments below Wawel

The simplest idea, with no tickets and no booking. The Vistula Embankments are a place for walks and downtime in the city centre, at the foot of Wawel. The city’s tourism portal describes them as open to everyone, step-free and free to visit. Paths and cycle lanes run along the river, so watch out for cyclists in the evening.

To make the walk more than just getting from A to B, you can each point out three things: a detail you’ve never noticed before, a place worth coming back to and a view that reminds you of a personal memory. If one of you knows this part of the city better, swap roles: one plays host, the other the explorer.

Krakus Mound and the colourful steps in Podgórze

Krakus Mound stands in Podgórze, by al. Powstańców Śląskich and ul. Wielicka. It’s 16 metres high and free to visit. It’s one of Krakow’s oldest mounds, and its story is still a mystery: nobody knows for sure when, by whom or why it was built. A good topic for conversation at the top. On the Tuesday after Easter the Rękawka festival takes place here, so on that day expect crowds rather than peace and quiet.

In the same district you’ll find the colourful steps on ul. Tatrzańska (in Polish): 55 steps painted in rainbow colours, with quotes from well-known writers. Next to them is Bednarski Park, a good spot for a short rest. You can combine the steps, the park and the mound into one ticket-free walk around Podgórze.

Kościuszko Mound: a panorama and a museum

Kościuszko Mound is the younger of the two and today the most popular of Krakow’s mounds. Entry is ticketed, and a visit includes the summit with a panorama of the city, a museum with a permanent exhibition about Tadeusz Kościuszko, an educational trail and a garden. The mound is open all year round. Check current opening hours and prices on the Kościuszko Mound website.

It’s a good choice when you want a view but the weather is uncertain: you can spend part of the visit in the museum.

The Jagiellonian University Botanic Garden for a calm day

The Jagiellonian University Botanic Garden at ul. Kopernika 27 has been open since 1783. It offers an unhurried pace, lots of greenery and less going on than the very centre of the city. The garden is open all year round, with opening hours that vary by season, and there’s an admission fee. The glasshouses are closed on Mondays, and dogs aren’t allowed. Check opening hours and tickets in the visitor information (in Polish).

In summer the garden hosts concerts and exhibitions, so take a look at the current programme before you go.

Twardowski Rocks and a boat trip to Tyniec

For a date outdoors, Visit Małopolska (in Polish) recommends a picnic at Twardowski Rocks, among limestone crags with a view of the turquoise water in a former quarry. Bring a blanket and something to eat, and save it for a dry, warm day.

The same site describes a four-hour boat trip along the Vistula to Tyniec, ending with a visit to the Benedictine abbey. It’s an idea for a day off, not for a quick meet-up after work. Check sailing dates in advance.

A city game with a story to follow

If you both like a challenge, a walk can become a mission. This works well on a first date, because a shared goal takes away the pressure to keep the conversation going.

• Krakow Legends is a game in a smartphone app that takes about one and a half to two hours. There’s no time limit and no fixed start time, you can take breaks, and the two of you play on one phone. The site lists couples among the people the game is for.
• Operation Mindfall is a spy city game for teams of 1 to 4 people. It starts and ends at ul. Kościuszki 74, heads towards Wawel (up to 3.5 km on foot) and takes 140 minutes. Your team gets an iPad and a mission kit.

Before you choose, compare the time and distance. Don’t assume that because you can pause one game, you can pause the other. It’s also worth checking that you both fancy racing against the clock.

Leave time to talk after the date

Wherever you go, plan a moment for a meal or a coffee after the main event. In a game for two, it helps to share what you find out loud, and after a walk, to come back to those three things you each pointed out. Going out is fun in itself, but it’s remembering it together that makes it your own.