Krakow Bingo: Spot 30 Typically Krakow Things
Walk the largest medieval square in Europe, tick off the card, snap a photo of every typically Krakow thing you can find. From an obwarzanek pretzel ring to the dragon below Wawel hill, this is a 30-item Krakow bingo that turns any walk into a treasure hunt. No fixed route. Just keep your eyes open.
Challenges (30)
Spot an obwarzanek pretzel ring
Find an obwarzanek (Krakow ring-shaped bread) at a street cart on Rynek Główny. The poppy-seed or sesame ring. Photograph one.
Spot Krakow pierogi
Find a plate of pierogi (Polish dumplings) at a restaurant or milk bar in Krakow. Photograph the plate.
Spot a zapiekanka
Find a zapiekanka (open-faced baguette with mushrooms and cheese) at the Plac Nowy round building in Kazimierz. Photograph the long bread.
Spot a Polish flag
Find a Polish flag (horizontal white-red) flying on a building, balcony or government facade. Photograph it.
Spot an amber jewellery window
Find an amber shop (especially in Kazimierz and around Rynek Główny) with rows of orange-and-gold amber jewellery. Photograph the window.
Spot a Polish vodka
Find a Polish vodka bottle (Belvedere, Żubrówka with grass blade, Wyborowa) in a window or on a bar. Photograph the bottle.
Spot a bigos plate
Find a Polish bigos hunter's stew on a restaurant table. Photograph the stew.
Spot a milk bar (bar mleczny)
Find a Krakow bar mleczny with the cafeteria sign and chalkboard menu. Photograph the storefront.
Spot a Polish marigold or flower stall
Find a Krakow flower stall, especially around Rynek Główny or Mariacki square. Photograph the colours.
Spot a Krakow horse-drawn carriage
Find a Krakow horse-drawn carriage (dorożka) waiting on Rynek Główny. Photograph the horses.
Spot the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice)
Find the Sukiennice (Cloth Hall) in the middle of Rynek Główny, with its arcaded shopping passage. Photograph the long facade.
Spot St. Mary's Basilica twin towers
Find the two unequal-height towers of St. Mary's Basilica (Mariacki) on Rynek Główny. Photograph the towers against the sky.
Spot a hejnał trumpeter
On the hour, a bugler plays the hejnał from the top of St. Mary's Basilica (interrupted mid-tune, as legend has it). Photograph the open window or the moment.
Spot a Cloth Hall souvenir stall
Walk through the Sukiennice arcade and find a souvenir stall with amber, wooden chess sets or painted boxes. Photograph one stall.
Spot the Wawel Castle silhouette
Find the Wawel Castle on its hill above the Vistula. Photograph the castle silhouette from the city or the river.
Spot the Wawel Dragon
At the foot of Wawel Hill find the bronze Smok Wawelski dragon statue. The dragon breathes fire every few minutes. Photograph it (or the flame).
Spot the Town Hall Tower
On Rynek Główny find the Town Hall Tower (Wieża Ratuszowa), the leaning brick tower that's the only remnant of the old town hall. Photograph the tower.
Spot the Barbican
Find the gothic Barbican (Barbakan) at the northern end of Floriańska Street. Photograph the brick fortification.
Spot St. Florian's Gate
Find the Brama Floriańska, the 14th-century gate at the top of Floriańska. Photograph the arch.
Spot a Krakow tram
Find a Krakow tram (MPK) on its route. Photograph one passing a heritage building.
Spot a klezmer band reference
In Kazimierz find a klezmer band poster, a fiddle in a shop window or a klezmer venue. Photograph the reference.
Spot the Plac Nowy round building
Walk into Plac Nowy in Kazimierz and find the round market building. Photograph the wooden roof.
Spot a Kazimierz Jewish heritage facade
Walk into Kazimierz and find a heritage shopfront with old Polish or Yiddish lettering. Photograph the painted sign.
Spot a Polish folk-art shop
Find a Polish folk-art shop with wycinanki paper-cuts, painted wooden boxes, hand-painted ceramics. Photograph the folk craft.
Spot a Polish pope reference (John Paul II)
Find a reference to Pope John Paul II (his statue near Wawel, a portrait in a religious shop, a postcard). Karol Wojtyła was Archbishop of Krakow. Photograph the reference.
Spot a Krakow rooftop view
Climb up Wawel Hill or a viewpoint and photograph the Krakow rooftops with St. Mary's towers in the panorama.
Spot a vodka shot glass set in a shop
Find a shop selling Polish-pattern vodka shot glasses or amber-tinted decanters. Photograph the display.
Spot a Krakow paczki shop
Find a pączki shop (Polish jelly donuts) with rows of dusted donuts. Photograph the donuts.
Spot a Krakow vintage Trabant or Fiat 126
Find a vintage Polish car: the Fiat 126p (Maluch) or a Trabant on a sightseeing tour. Photograph the car.
Spot a Krakow bagel stand at Rynek
Find the obwarzanek street stand on Rynek Główny with the stacked pretzel rings on a glass case. Photograph the stand.
Frequently asked questions
The duration is up to the organizer when they set up the adventure. As a guideline, a focused day across Rynek Główny, Kazimierz and Wawel ticks off most of the easy items, and stretching across a weekend lets a determined group complete all 30.
Each of the 30 items is a camera challenge. When you spot the thing, take a photo and submit it; the bingo card tracks progress. Play solo, with friends or split into teams and race to tick off the most items.
Some items (a hejnał trumpeter on the hour, a klezmer band) need timing. Sweep Rynek Główny for the easy items, Wawel for the castle and dragon, Kazimierz for Jewish heritage cafés and the Vistula river path.
Rynek Główny (the main square) and the surrounding Old Town hit the most items. Add Wawel Hill for the castle and dragon, Kazimierz for the cafés and street art, the Vistula river for views.
Yes. Kids love spotting the Wawel dragon, obwarzanki, the trumpet call and pigeons; adults enjoy hunting pierogi, vodka and Kazimierz cafés. No alcohol stops are required.