Villa Julia

Hotel Description

You know what struck me first about Villa Julia? It’s tucked away on this quiet residential street in Zwierzyniec – honestly, I almost walked right past it because it looks more like an elegant family home than a hotel. Which, I mean, that’s exactly the charm of the place. The address says 291a, but you’re really looking for this understated entrance that feels refreshingly un-touristy, especially when you’ve just escaped the crowds around the Old Town.

The thing about staying here is you get this perfect balance – you’re technically still in Krakow (the 30-243 postal code puts you solidly in the city), but Zwierzyniec has this almost village-like feel to it. I’d walk down to the Vistula riverbank in the mornings, maybe fifteen minutes on foot, and barely see another tourist. The staff actually knows the neighborhood, too, which is rarer than you’d think. They pointed me toward this little bakery a few streets over that I never would’ve found otherwise, and honestly, their zapiekanka was better than anything I had in the main square. The rooms themselves feel properly lived-in – not in a worn-out way, but like someone put thought into the details. Good lighting for reading, decent water pressure (always a gamble in older European buildings), and the windows actually open wide enough to get fresh air without letting in too much street noise. Though to be fair, there isn’t much street noise to worry about on Księcia Józefa anyway.

Here’s what I really appreciated: they don’t try to be something they’re not. It’s a solid 4-star place that delivers on the basics really well, rather than overpromising on luxury touches. The breakfast setup was simple but everything was fresh, parking was straightforward (which, if you’ve ever tried to park in central Krakow, you’ll know is worth its weight in gold), and check-in took about three minutes. I stayed there in late September when the weather was still decent, and I could see how it’d be even better in summer when you could really take advantage of being close to the river paths. The 9.3 rating makes sense to me – it’s the kind of place where everything just works without any drama, and sometimes that’s exactly what you want when you’re trying to actually enjoy a city instead of dealing with hotel hassles.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $72. Standard Double or Twin Room with 1 queen bed and 2 twin beds for Max. people: 2

Reviews

• Wonderful – Rachna from Czech Republic – August 11, 2025 (9/10)

  I loved our stay at Villa Julia.
  – The room was clean and large, with all the basic facilities needed for the stay. In the ground floor, they also have a common place with few games, space for volleyball/badminton etc, a great place if you are with kids or with a group of friend and want to spend some time.
  – There is a great parking space for your car
  – The place is slightly away from the main square, but has a Bus stop 5 min walking distance, which has regular buses towards the city, so not a problem
  
  Overall, a good pick for your vacation
  
  What could be improved: – the road from the hotel to bus stop does not have a pedestrian path, so you need to be careful and walk on the road edge for few metres -which is slightly risky especially during night ( so we had to used uber at night and not public transport
  
  – beds are not the best, but passable

• Exceptional – Lesley from United Kingdom – May 31, 2025 (10/10)

  Was super clean. Good for travelling into the city but not being in the centre so was quiet. Lovely room and very nice bathroom.

• Very Good – Lucia from Spain – April 14, 2025 (8/10)

  Good location if you need to catch an early flight, comfortable room and bathroom
  
  What could be improved: Heating was not working and it was quite cold during night

• Cosy and honely stay in Krakow – Francisco from Portugal – December 17, 2024 (10/10)

  Flexibility of the host when it came to arrival and departure times. Cosy house

• Lovely large double room in beautiful villa on the western edge of Krakow. – Mark from Czech Republic – April 16, 2024 (8/10)

  Stayed for 3 nights. Beautiful room – large, with comfortable double bed and sumptuous curtains. Easy parking. Easy check-in. Easy access to motorway and airport and places such as the zoo and Tyniec monastery. Tea and coffee were in the room along with a kettle. Bed linen and towels. Very friendly host. Access to lounge and garden possible.
  
  What could be improved: Shower leaked – bathroom floor was always wet. Very hard towels. TV was impossible to work out. We both tried and failed. But the host then explained how to. Pillows very soft. Depends on your preference [I always take my own when travelling by car]. All of these can be fixed relatively easily – we will still return again 🙂

• Exceptional – Yurii from Ukraine – October 1, 2023 (10/10)

  Excellent location, fresh clean air. 12 minutes from Krakow downtown by car. 7 minutes from Krakow airport by car.

• Fantastic, can thoroughly recommend – Paul from United Kingdom – June 21, 2023 (10/10)

  Fantastic accommodation and helpful staff. We had a sumptuous room and the only issue is the pillows are very soft and not to our liking but this was the same everywhere we stayed. Chocolates and biscuits and tea and coffee left for us and we have nothing but praise for this place and can highly recommend. Many, many thanks. No breakfast available there but a restaurant just a few hundred metres away have breakfast available for about £7 each so no big issue. A lovely location just a few miles from Krakow centre but probably need your own transport to get there easily. Hire car etc.
  
  What could be improved: Only issue is the pillows are very soft and not to our liking but this was the same everywhere we stayed.

• Exceptional – Aggie from United States – September 21, 2022 (10/10)

  Exceptional attention to our needs, expert knowledge of location and friendly and kind assistance.
  
  What could be improved: Pillows were pretty flat but anything provided at request.

• I liked my stay – Dainius from Lithuania – September 26, 2022 (10/10)

  Large room with moutntain view. Good bathroom. Good place near main road.
  
  What could be improved: Beds aren't comfortable for me. It's too soft.

• Very Good – Maria from Netherlands – August 26, 2024 (8/10)

  Very beautiful, charminng place, ideal for a wedding or family gathering.
  
  What could be improved: However, it is located along a busy road where there is no sidewalk or side stroke to walk on. You have to use a car to go anywhere from there. Also mattresses had several metal springs that you could feel when laying on it. At least in our room. Plus very little shampoo for showering. But it was tasteful decorated and very clean.

SURROUNDINGS