Kazimierz Guide
Krakow's historic Jewish Quarter — centuries of heritage, world-class food, vibrant nightlife, and the soul of the city
Kazimierz is Krakow's most atmospheric and culturally rich neighborhood, a place where seven centuries of Jewish history, bohemian creativity, and modern gastronomy converge in a compact district of cobblestoned streets and beautifully weathered buildings. Once an independent town and then the center of one of Europe's largest Jewish communities, Kazimierz is today the beating heart of Krakow's food, art, and nightlife scene.
Founded in 1335 by King Casimir III the Great, Kazimierz served as a separate town with its own market square and city walls until it was absorbed into Krakow in the 19th century. The Jewish community, which had settled here since the 15th century, built magnificent synagogues, schools, and a thriving commercial district. The Holocaust devastated this community — the entire Jewish population was forced into the Krakow Ghetto across the river. Since the 1990s, fueled partly by the filming of Schindler's List, Kazimierz has experienced a remarkable revival as a cultural and culinary destination while honoring its profound Jewish heritage.
24/7
Neighborhood Access
Free
Street Exploring
Afternoon
Best Time
1335
Year Founded
Essential Information
Kazimierz is a public neighborhood accessible 24 hours a day. No entry fee for the streets and squares. Individual synagogues and museums have their own hours and ticket prices: Old Synagogue (15 zł, free Mondays), Remuh Synagogue and Cemetery (10 zł), Galicia Jewish Museum (18 zł). Most heritage sites open 9-10 AM and close 4-6 PM depending on season.
Late morning to early afternoon for Jewish heritage sites and museums. Late afternoon for cafe culture and the best light on the atmospheric streets. Evening for restaurants with live klezmer music on Szeroka Street. Friday-Saturday nightsfor the Plac Nowy nightlife scene. The weekend flea market at Plac Nowy runs Saturday-Sunday mornings.
Walk 15 minutes south from the Main Market Square along Grodzka Street and past Wawel Castle, or 10 minutes from Wawel across Stradomska Street. Trams 1, 6, 8, 13, 18 stop at Miodowa or Starowiślna on the neighborhood's edge. From Podgorze (Schindler's Factory), cross the Father Bernatek Footbridge for a scenic 10-minute walk into Kazimierz.
Budget half a day (3-4 hours) to visit the main synagogues, walk Szeroka Street, browse Plac Nowy, and have lunch. A full dayallows you to add the Galicia Jewish Museum, Schindler's Factory across the river, and a leisurely dinner with klezmer music. Kazimierz rewards slow exploration — the best discoveries happen when you wander its side streets.
What to See
Old Synagogue (Stara Synagoga)
The oldest surviving synagogue in Poland, dating from the 15th century, now serves as a branch of the Krakow History Museum dedicated to Jewish history and culture. The beautifully restored Gothic and Renaissance building houses permanent exhibitions on Jewish religious traditions, festivals, and the history of Krakow's Jewish community from its founding through the Holocaust. Highlights include a reconstructed bimah (prayer platform), historic Torah scrolls, and menorah collections. The building itself is architecturally significant as one of the finest examples of Jewish sacred architecture in Central Europe. Entry costs 15 zł (free on Mondays).
Remuh Synagogue and Cemetery
One of only two active synagogues in Krakow, the Remuh Synagogue was founded in 1553 by Israel Isserles and named after his son Rabbi Moses Isserles (known as the Rema), one of the most important figures in Jewish religious law. The adjacent Renaissance cemetery is one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Europe, with beautifully carved tombstones dating from the 16th century. During the Nazi occupation, the cemetery was desecrated, but after the war, recovered tombstone fragments were used to create the powerful Wailing Wall memorial along the cemetery boundary. Entry costs 10 zł and includes both the synagogue and cemetery.
Plac Nowy (New Square)
The vibrant heart of modern Kazimierz, Plac Nowy is a circular square centered around a former ritual slaughterhouse (now converted into food stalls) that serves as the neighborhood's social gathering point. By day, browse the weekend flea market for vintage clothing, antiques, and curiosities. By night, the square transforms into Krakow's liveliest nightlife district with bars, pubs, and clubs filling the surrounding buildings. The iconic zapiekanka (Polish open-face baguette pizza) stalls inside the rotunda are a must-try — order the classic mushroom and cheese version for 8-12 zł.
Szeroka Street (Ulica Szeroka)
This wide, square-like street is the historic center of Jewish Kazimierz and home to the neighborhood's most important religious and cultural sites. The Old Synagogue anchors one end, with the Remuh Synagogue and several other historic prayer houses along its length. Today, Szeroka Street is lined with Jewish restaurants and cafes where you can enjoy traditional Jewish-Polish cuisine while listening to live klezmer music in the evenings. During the annual Jewish Culture Festival in June-July, the street becomes the main stage for one of the world's premier celebrations of Jewish arts and music.
Photography Tips
Street Photography Paradise
Kazimierz is one of the most photogenic neighborhoods in Krakow thanks to its mix of weathered facades, colorful street art, vintage shop fronts, and lively cafe culture. The streets around Plac Nowy — particularly Jozefa, Meiselsa, and Bozego Ciala — are covered with murals and graffiti that make excellent backdrops. Shoot in the late afternoon when warm light rakes across the old building facades and the streets fill with locals heading to cafes and bars.
Heritage and Sacred Sites
When photographing the synagogues and cemetery, be respectful. Photography is generally permitted at the Old Synagogue museum and in the Remuh Cemetery, but flash is prohibited inside sacred buildings. Men are required to cover their heads when entering synagogues and the cemetery — paper kippot are usually available at the entrance. The cemetery tombstones with their intricate carvings photograph beautifully in dappled light filtering through the trees.
Plac Nowy After Dark
The circular rotunda at Plac Nowy, lit up at night with the warm glow of zapiekanka stalls, makes for atmospheric night photography. The neon signs of surrounding bars reflect on wet cobblestones after rain for moody compositions. For the best nightlife atmosphere shots, visit on Friday or Saturday evenings when the square is at its most vibrant. Use a fast lens to capture the candid energy of this buzzing neighborhood hub.
Nearby Food & Cafes
Starka
One of the best restaurants in Kazimierz, Starka combines Polish and Jewish culinary traditions in a beautifully designed space on Jozefa Street. Try the beef cheeks braised in Starka vodka, the goose liver pate, or the Jewish-style carp. The restaurant is famous for its extensive Polish vodka collection with over 80 varieties. The intimate cellar atmosphere and consistently excellent food make reservations essential on weekends.
Ariel
Located on Szeroka Street in the heart of the Jewish Quarter, Ariel has been serving traditional Jewish cuisine since the early 1990s. The menu features classics like gefilte fish, cholent (Sabbath stew), roast goose, and excellent matzo ball soup. Live klezmer music performances on most evenings create an authentic atmosphere. The interior is filled with Jewish art, photographs, and antiques. Request a table near the musicians for the full experience.
Plac Nowy 1
A stylish cocktail bar and restaurant on the corner of Plac Nowy that perfectly represents the modern face of Kazimierz. Creative cocktails, natural wines, and a menu of well-executed small plates draw a fashionable local crowd. The outdoor terrace overlooking the square is prime people-watching territory. Try the signature cocktails featuring Polish spirits and seasonal ingredients. A great spot for a pre-dinner drink or late-night nightcap.
Pro Tips
Walk from Wawel Castle
The natural route through Krakow flows from the Old Town south to Wawel Castle and then into Kazimierz. After exploring the castle in the morning, walk downhill and across Stradomska Street to arrive in Kazimierz for lunch. This 10-minute walk connects the two biggest highlights of Krakow seamlessly and saves you from backtracking later in the day.
Try Zapiekanka at Plac Nowy
The circular rotunda building at Plac Nowy is lined with stalls serving zapiekanka — Krakow's beloved open-face baguette topped with mushrooms, cheese, and various toppings then baked until crispy. At 8-15 zł for a generous portion, it is the quintessential Kazimierz street food. The classic version with mushrooms and cheese is the local favorite. Stalls operate from late morning until late at night.
Cross to Podgorze
Walk across the Father Bernatek Footbridge (with its acrobatic sculptures) to reach Podgorze on the south bank of the Vistula. Here you will find Schindler's Factory Museum (one of Krakow's best museums, 28 zł), the Ghetto Heroes Square with its haunting empty chair memorial, and remnants of the Krakow Ghetto walls. This combined Kazimierz-Podgorze walk creates a powerful half-day exploration of Jewish Krakow.
Evening Klezmer Music
Several restaurants on Szeroka Street host live klezmer music performances most evenings, typically starting around 7-8 PM. Ariel and Klezmer Hois are the most popular venues. The music is included with your meal — no cover charge. Book a table in advance for weekend evenings. Even if you do not dine, you can often hear the music drifting through the open windows as you stroll along this atmospheric street after dark.
Frequently Asked Questions
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