10 Best Boat Cruises and Rides in Krakow

Krakow is a destination of great historical and cultural importance, considered the second most important city in Poland after Warsaw (the capital). Due to its location on the Vistula River, boat trips are very popular activities. So, if you don't know what to see and do in Krakow, this is a great plan for your stay.

You can sail peacefully along the Vistula and admire a different view of the city and its historical sites by day or by night. You also have the option of enjoying a party on a boat, taking a private cruise or choosing a combination of experiences, such as a boat trip with a visit to the Wieliczka Salt Mines or Schindler's Factory in Krakow, among others.

Any time of year is the best time to travel to Krakow and enjoy a panoramic boat trip on the Vistula River. You will explore the city from a different perspective, taking in its rich landscape: historical monuments, green areas, etc.

As the boat moves away from the mainland, you will notice that the panorama begins to widen, revealing must-see sights such as:

• The picturesque Bernatka Bridge, decorated with dozens of padlocks by locals and tourists.
• The Jewish quarter, which served as the setting for the Oscar-winning film Schindler's List.
• The Manggha Museum, which will immediately catch your eye thanks to its wave-shaped roof.
• The iconic Wawel Castle, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

You will enjoy the surrounding landscape and peaceful atmosphere at all times. You will have a unique experience on this cruise along the Vistula River in Krakow and will be able to take advantage of the different perspectives and natural light to take amazing photographs.

Useful information

• Price: approximately £18 per person.
• Duration: generally one hour.

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There are many cruises you can take in Krakow, but one of the most beautiful is undoubtedly the night-time trip along the Vistula River. From these tranquil waters, you will see the most iconic sights of the Polish city, illuminated by the magical colours of the night.

This trip is ideal if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and relax on the deck of a boat while enjoying the picturesque night-time landscape, breathing in the fresh air and listening to the sound of the water. It is also a great plan for an evening out with your partner, for example, to celebrate Valentine's Day in Krakow in February.

Among the highlights of this night cruise on the Vistula River in Krakow are the following:

• The Rock Church, built in the 18th century and surrounded by beautiful green areas.
• The Norbertine Sisters' Monastery, built over 850 years ago on the banks of the Vistula River.
• The Cricoteka Museum, a space for the performing arts founded in 1980 in honour of Tadeusz Kantor.
• The Ferris wheel, a structure about 50 metres high, which offers a stunning visual spectacle at night thanks to its lighting.

Useful information

• Price: around £21 per person.
• Duration: maximum one hour.

If you want to party in Krakow in a different way, then you should join a boat trip with music and an open bar. You'll have a unique and fun time as you sail along the Vistula River.

Once on board the boat, you'll admire the city skyline. You'll see places of historical and cultural interest such as Krakow Castle, the Bernatek Bridge and Krakow's Jewish quarter, among others. You can also dance and enjoy live entertainment.

When you disembark from the cruise, the adventure continues on dry land, as this boat party in Krakow usually includes visits to at least three pubs accompanied by a guide. After this adventure, you can continue with the activities on your itinerary. Perhaps you'd like to embark on one of the best food tours in Krakow.

Useful information

• Price: from £53 per person.
• Duration: around 8 hours.

Discover the gastronomic and scenic magic of Krakow in one experience. How about dinner at a local restaurant with a direct view of Wawel Castle, followed by a 30-minute boat trip on the tranquil waters of the Vistula River?

This magical evening usually begins at the Aquarius restaurant, located on a boat moored on the banks of the Vistula River and considered one of the best restaurants in Krakow. At this unique destination, you will be served a three-course menu (soup, main course and dessert). For example, you could enjoy a tomato cream soup, duck confit, a cheesecake and a glass of wine.

After delighting your palate, you will head straight to a cruise that will take you through the southern part of Krakow towards the Dębnicki district. As you sail along the waters of this serene river, you will see the city skyline completely illuminated. A simply mesmerising landscape , full of colours and nuances.

Useful information

• Price: approximately £45 per person. Includes dinner and a glass of wine.
• Duration: the activity lasts approximately 2 hours.

If you want to rest your feet and get away from the hustle and bustle, then this boat trip on the Vistula River is a great option. You will take a scenic river route that will allow you to admire the city's main attractions. You will also stop at the Wieliczka Salt Mines to explore and discover this amazing place.

During the cruise, you will see the city's imposing medieval, modern and even futuristic buildings. For example, the Royal Wawel Castle, a complex of sacred buildings; the fortified monastery of the Norbertine sisters, built in the 12th century; the Manggha Museum, whose design is inspired by the waves of the Vistula River, etc.

Afterwards, the boat will stop so you can discover an underground world built out of salt. This short excursion to the Salt Mines from Krakow will take you on a tourist route through galleries, the Chapel of St. Kinga, brine lakes, traces of salt extraction and much more. Together with a group guide, you will delve into Polish history and culture.

Useful information

• Price: £78 is the average price for this activity. It includes admission to the salt mines and a guided group tour of the site.
• Duration: the boat trip and visit to the salt mines lasts approximately 6 hours.

A boat trip on the Vistula River to the Jewish ghetto of Podgórze is another unmissable activity that will allow you to delve into the history of Krakow. You'll also enjoy breathtaking views of the city skyline from the water.

You'll board a catamaran and sail along the Vistula River to the historic Podgórze district, where the Nazis established a Jewish ghetto during World War II. During this 30-minute cruise, you will see Kościuszko Mound, Wawel Royal Castle and Krakow's Jewish quarter, among other sights visible from the river as you travel along.

Upon arrival in Podgórze, you will meet your guide, who will take you on a tour of the former ghetto. You will see the famous monument to the empty chairs in Ghetto Heroes Square, the houses where displaced Jews lived, and part of the wall that surrounded the ghetto, among other sights.

Useful information

• Price: the cost of this tour is £37 per person (approx.). It includes a live guide in the ghetto and a one-way cruise without a guide.
• Duration: The average duration of the experience is 2 hours.

Book a cruise on the Vistula River in Krakow

Sailing along the Vistula River to enjoy the city skyline and stopping at Schindler's factory is another adventure you can embark on during your stay. You will see many places of historical and cultural interest.

From the deck of the boat, you will enjoy a breathtaking view of Krakow, a landscape adorned with a series of iconic monuments such as these:

• Kościuszko Mound, which honours Tadeusz Kościuszko.
• The Church on the Rock, a Baroque enclosure dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel and St. Stanislaus.
• Wawel Castle, an architectural icon of the city.

After this incredible and peaceful panoramic tour, you will visit Schindler's factory in Krakow. In this museum, you will learn about the impact of World War II on Krakow's multicultural population and discover everything Oskar Schindler did to save his employees from death.

Useful information

• Price: from £45 per person. Includes museum tickets and a live guide as you tour the rooms.
• Duration: the activity usually lasts 5 hours.

Making the most of every minute of your itinerary is one of the best tips for travelling to Krakow. This tour by water and land could be a great option for you, as it combines a panoramic cruise on the Vistula River with a tour of the old town in a golf cart.

Land tour

From the comfort of a golf cart, you will take a tour of Krakow's historic centre with an experienced driver. Some of the places you will see include:

• The Barbican, a fortification representative of medieval European military architecture.
• Krakow's market square, considered the largest in medieval Europe and the nerve centre of the city.
• The Sukiennice Shopping Centre, one of the oldest in the city and an example of Renaissance architecture.

Cruise on the Vistula River

After the private golf cart tour of Krakow, you will board a boat to sail along the Vistula River. You will see monuments and places of interest on both sides of the boat.

These include the House of Polish Pope John Paul II, the Camaldolese Monastery in Bielany and St. Catherine's Church. You will also see the imposing defensive walls of Wawel and the Royal Castle and Kościuszko Mound, among other sights.

Useful information

• Price: from £52 per person. Includes a driver-guide during the golf cart tour and an audio guide for the boat trip.
• Duration: approximately 2 hours.

With this tour, you will not only get a unique perspective of the city as you sail along the Vistula River, but you will also visit one of the most important destinations in all of Poland: the Wawel Museum. An ideal activity if you are in Krakow with children or friends.

During this activity, you will be able to explore the interior of the Royal Castle, which houses a series of permanent exhibitions from the Baroque and Renaissance periods. You will also take a guided tour of the Cathedral and learn about the history of this important place.

After visiting Wawel Castle, you will continue your adventure aboard a boat. You will sail along the Vistula River, admiring all the monuments visible from the shore, such as Kościuszko Mound, the Norbertine Convent, the Royal Castle, located on a limestone hill, and more.

Useful information

• Price: from £62 per person. Includes admission to Wawel Castle and a guide.
• Duration: just over 4 hours.

A gondola ride on the Vistula River is another experience not to be missed, whether you plan to spend 1 to 3 days in Krakow or longer. This is an activity you can enjoy with your family or group of friends, offering a unique perspective of the city and its main attractions.

Once you board the gondola, you will take your seat in the designated area and begin an unforgettable river adventure. As the gondolier rows slowly along the Vistula River, you will see some unmissable destinations such as:

• The Church on the Rockel, an 18th-century building located in the Kazimierz district.
• The Dębnicki Bridge, an imposing structure approximately 157 metres long.
• The monastery of the Sisters of St. Norbert, founded by the Norbertine order or Virgins of Zwierzyniec.
• The Manggha Museum, a building with a futuristic architectural style that houses works of art from Japanese culture.

This gondola ride is included in the 24- or 48-hour Krakow tourist bus ticket , so you can purchase the one that suits you best and enjoy this 30-minute experience on the Vistula River. Afterwards, continue exploring the city, but this time by land, on the panoramic bus route.

Useful information

• Price: from £14 per person (ticket for the tourist bus including the gondola ride)
• Duration: the ride lasts 30 minutes.