Holiday Inn Krakow City Centre, an IHG Hotel

Hotel Description

You know what struck me first about the Holiday Inn Krakow City Centre? It’s actually got that confident, polished vibe you don’t always expect from a Holiday Inn – and I mean that in the best way possible. This place knows it’s sitting pretty in one of Europe’s most gorgeous cities, and honestly, they’ve stepped up their game to match.

The location alone is worth talking about. I mean, you’re literally in the heart of everything that matters in Krakow. Walk five minutes in any direction and you’ll hit something incredible – whether it’s the Main Market Square (which, by the way, gets absolutely magical around sunset when the horse carriages are clip-clopping across the cobblestones) or those winding streets that lead toward Wawel Castle. The staff actually knows their stuff too, which is refreshing. When I asked about getting to Kazimierz – the old Jewish quarter that’s now this amazing mix of history and hipster cafes – the concierge didn’t just point me toward a tourist map. She told me which tram to catch and mentioned that Szeroka Street has the best pierogi place that locals actually eat at, not just tourists.

The rooms themselves are surprisingly spacious for a city center hotel. I stayed on the sixth floor and could actually see across the red-tiled rooftops toward the castle – though honestly, even if you get a courtyard view, you’re not missing much since you’ll be out exploring most of the time anyway. What I really appreciated were the little touches: the shower pressure was actually decent (you’d be surprised how often that’s an issue in European hotels), and they’ve got proper blackout curtains, which matters when those summer nights stretch until nearly 10 PM. The breakfast spread is solid without being overwhelming – good Polish bread, local cheeses, and yeah, they do serve scrambled eggs that don’t taste like rubber. Pro tip: grab coffee and pastries there, then walk over to the Cloth Hall market for your real breakfast adventure.

One thing that genuinely impressed me was how they handle the busy season. Krakow gets absolutely packed from May through September, and most hotels turn into chaos during check-in. But these folks have their system down – I never waited more than a few minutes, even when I showed up during what was obviously a tour group avalanche. The elevator situation can get interesting during peak hours (there are only two), but honestly, that’s pretty much every hotel in this part of the city. After a few days of climbing those medieval stairs around Old Town, a couple extra flights won’t kill you. The neighborhood does get lively at night – not rowdy exactly, but you’ll hear people walking by, maybe some laughter from the bars nearby. If you’re a super light sleeper, pack earplugs, though the windows do a decent job of muffling things. Really though, if you’re staying in central Krakow and expecting monastery-level silence, you’re doing it wrong anyway.

Best hotels in Krakow range from charming boutique properties in the historic Market Square to elegant converted palaces with stunning views of Wawel Castle and the Vistula River.

Facilities