Walk to Krakow’s Main Square, Wawel Castle, Cloth Hall, the Old Town, restaurants, and nearby transport from this central base.
What guests mention
Guests tend to rate this as a strong all-round Krakow base, especially for its walkable position near the Old Town, central square and major sights. Rooms are widely described as roomy, clean and properly equipped, while staff receive frequent credit for being pleasant and willing to help. Breakfast is a particular highlight, with plenty of choice. A few visitors have noticed small signs of wear, such as marked carpeting, and on-site meals and drinks can feel expensive. Even so, most consider the overall stay good value.
Your stay, step by step
Advice from guests who actually stayed at Holiday Inn Krakow City Centre By IHG — the single most helpful tip for each part of your trip, in the order you'll need it, from booking to your last morning.
Join IHG or book through IHG, then request an upgrade; membership and loyalty status may help secure a premium or executive room.
Arrange parking in advance or elsewhere; the small hotel garage has limited spaces and costs 90 zloty per night.
Choose a higher floor to reduce noise; the fourth and fifth floors were particularly quiet.
Add breakfast to your stay; the buffet is extensive, includes Polish options, and saves searching for food later.
Book a massage or spa treatment if you have time; it was considered worthwhile.
Walk to Krakow’s Main Square, Wawel Castle, Cloth Hall, the Old Town, restaurants, and nearby transport from this central base.
Ask the responsive staff for help with special requirements.
Bring Polish zloty for tips and small purchases, and avoid repeated cash withdrawals because fees can be high.
What guests who stayed here recommend
Real advice grouped by theme — drawn from guest reviews of Holiday Inn Krakow City Centre By IHG.
Request an executive room for extra space, a king bed, and a quieter, better-equipped stay.
Join IHG or book through IHG, then request an upgrade; membership and loyalty status may help secure a premium or executive room.
Request a quiet back- or courtyard-facing room; these tend to be peaceful even when front rooms face the road.
Add breakfast to your stay; the buffet is extensive, includes Polish options, and saves searching for food later.
Choose a higher floor to reduce noise; the fourth and fifth floors were particularly quiet.
Request a quiet room at the back, away from the street, lifts, stairwells, and housekeeping cupboards; higher floors may be quieter.
Compare the breakfast price with nearby cafés or the town square, especially when it is not included in your room rate.
Walk to the Main Square in about five to ten minutes, and reach the Jewish Quarter in roughly fifteen minutes.
Arrange parking in advance or elsewhere; the small hotel garage has limited spaces and costs 90 zloty per night.
Explore every breakfast buffet table and try the cooked-to-order omelettes or egg station.
Ask for a walk-in shower if you have mobility concerns, and take care when stepping in or out of the tub shower.
Ask about the room’s wing, floor, and outlook before accepting it because layouts and views vary considerably.
Book a massage or spa treatment if you have time; it was considered worthwhile.
From the airport, take the train to Krakow Główny and walk to the hotel, or use Uber or Bolt; the drive takes about 30 minutes depending on traffic.
Request smaller pillows through reception if the standard pillows feel too large.
Use Bolt or Uber instead of private taxis, and choose Polish currency when paying by card for a cheaper exchange rate.
Check parking availability and cost before driving because hotel parking is limited and relatively expensive.
Request an inward-facing room when booking for quiet; city-centre views are limited.
Try the hotel bar’s outdoor seating area at the back, and remember that the bar closes at 11:00 pm.
Walk about 15 minutes to Kazimierz, Krakow’s beautifully restored Old Jewish Quarter.
Take a taxi from Krakow train station for under $10, or expect about 129 PLN from the airport late at night.
Request your preferred bathroom setup at check-in, especially if you want a separate shower rather than a bathtub combination.
Choose a room in the new block for better furnishings and views, but expect a longer walk from reception.
Use the in-room kettle, tea and coffee machine, refrigerator, and complimentary bottled water.
Book Auschwitz tours well in advance and confirm that tickets and the tour language are secured.
Wear comfortable shoes for extensive walking, and choose grippy footwear plus warm layers during winter.
Bring Polish zloty for tips and small purchases, and avoid repeated cash withdrawals because fees can be high.
Bring your own shampoo if you have blonde or long, thick hair, and pack your own hair dryer if needed.
Ask staff to check the air conditioning during hot weather if it feels weak.
Choose a top-floor room if you want skylights or a chance of good sunset views, but do not expect a guaranteed city view.
Book a deluxe room if you are willing to pay more for additional value and a possible patio outlook.
Book a premium room for more space.
Use Krakow’s trains and trams for reliable, good-value transport, and check the tram stop locations for your direction.
Ask the responsive staff for help with special requirements.
Request room 512 for a quiet back-facing room on the fifth floor.
Request room 501 for a spacious executive-room option on a higher floor.
Avoid floor C if you want to maximize your chances of having a view.
Ask for floor B or C in the older section if you specifically want a street-facing view.
Ask for a room in the new block overlooking the garden for a particularly quiet outlook.
Pack lighter by using the complimentary toiletries and slippers provided in the room.
Confirm the exact pickup location before joining an arranged tour.
Ask the staff to arrange taxis when you need to travel beyond the nearby attractions.
Ask about early check-in if you arrive before the scheduled time; it may be available when your room is ready.
Use the bathroom scale before your return flight if you are concerned about luggage or weight changes.
Borrow one of the hotel’s large umbrellas during rainy weather.
Consider the Owl Cave experience and a classical concert at St Peter’s Church.
Visit the Polish Airforce Museum and the waxwork museum while exploring Krakow on foot.
Visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine independently by train: walk to the station, buy a return ticket, and walk about two minutes from the mine station.
Use the water coolers on each floor for drinking water.
Ask the hotel for a free packed lunch if an early excursion means you will miss breakfast.
Use the hotel’s baggage storage when arriving early or leaving after checkout.
Use trams 3 or 24 to reach Galeria Krakowska and the train station.
Take tram 3 from Krakow Główny station to the hotel in about five minutes, or walk in roughly 25 minutes.
Ask about adding breakfast to your room rate or paying separately; the reported separate price was about 100 PLN per person.
Confirm excursion reservations and tickets directly with the hotel or tour company rather than assuming they are prebooked.
Reserve popular restaurants before arrival because the best tables fill quickly.
Use the hotel’s halal and kosher dining options if required.
Visit Bania Luka opposite the road from St Mary’s Basilica for an inexpensive pint.
Reserve Starka Restaurant for Polish cuisine.
Walk about five minutes to the Vietnamese restaurant nearby, despite its plain interior.
Try Indian Flame just outside the hotel for excellent Indian food.
Use the hotel’s restaurant when you want a convenient, reasonably priced dinner without going back out.
Avoid peak breakfast crowds between 8:00 and 9:00 am.
Ask for extra milk because the room supply may only cover one coffee.
Request room 603 if you want a quiet room.
Consider room 402 for a peaceful night’s sleep.
Consider room 228 for a large, very quiet room.
Consider a premium room for its high ceilings.
Bring a warm coat for visits in late October.
Compare excursion prices before booking through reception, as they may not always be cheaper.
Eat at the bar or restaurant for good-value food.
Ask for room 306 if you want a particularly large, quiet room.
Request a higher-floor room for a better view.
Request a room facing the parking area above the lobby.
Expect firm mattresses and allow time to adjust if you prefer a softer bed.
Choose a standard room if you are on a budget; it should still provide adequate space and comfort.
Request room 148 if it is available.
Book tours before arrival and bring comfortable footwear for the amount of walking involved.
Put out the Do Not Disturb sign if you want to sleep late, as room staff may knock from 9:00.
Cover the bright blue standby light on the desk lamp at night.
Check the heating before booking if room temperature is important to you.
Avoid room 502 if you are sensitive to nighttime noise until approximately 23:30.
Avoid room 331 if having a view matters to you.
Choose room A-10 for convenient elevator access without noticeable elevator noise.
Consider rooms 222, 223, or B25 for reportedly good room options.
Ask for rooms 504 or 505 if you prefer a private-feeling wing overlooking the car park.
About Holiday Inn Krakow City Centre By IHG
Holiday Inn Krakow City Centre is a polished, dependable base with an easygoing city-hotel feel. It leans practical rather than boutique, but the appeal is in the generous room sizes, well-kept interiors and the sense that everything is set up to make a Krakow stay run smoothly. Higher-category rooms add a little extra comfort for those making a longer visit or celebrating a special break.
Its central Krakow setting puts the Old Town, Main Market Square and Wawel Castle within an easy stroll, while the Jewish Quarter and railway station are also conveniently close. That makes it a particularly useful choice for first-time visitors keen to cover the essentials on foot, as well as business travellers who want a comfortable, reliable hotel between meetings. Day trips, including excursions towards the salt mines, are straightforward to arrange from here.
Guests regularly single out the helpful, welcoming team and the notably clean bedrooms and shared spaces. Many also appreciate the roomy accommodation and substantial morning spread. The occasional worn patch on a carpet is mentioned, and some feel dining and drinks cost more than expected, but the prevailing view is of a comfortable, well-located hotel that delivers good value in a beautiful city.
Facilities
- 24-hour front desk
- 24-hour security
- Airport transportation
- ATM on site
- Baggage storage
- Banquet room
- Bar / lounge
- Board games / puzzles
- Breakfast available
- Breakfast buffet
- Breakfast in the room
- Business Center with Internet Access
- Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
- Children's television networks
- Coffee shop
- Complimentary Instant Coffee
- Complimentary tea
- Concierge
- Conference facilities
- Couples massage
- Dry cleaning
- Express check-in / check-out
- Facial treatments
- First aid kit
- Fitness Center with Gym / Workout Room
- Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
- Full body massage
- Gift shop
- Highchairs available
- Hiking
- Ironing service
- Kids' meals
- Laundry service
- Massage
- Meeting rooms
- Neck massage
- Newspaper
- Non-smoking hotel
- Paid private parking on-site
- Patio
- Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
- Photo copier / fax In business center
- Restaurant
- Shared lounge / TV area
- Shoeshine
- Snack bar
- Spa
- Street parking
- Taxi service
- Video game console
- Water park offsite
- Wifi
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Location
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