Krakow

Ancient Walls, Modern Chaos. Football Lives Here.

Kraków might be famous for its medieval beauty and student nightlife, but don’t be fooled — beneath the postcard-perfect streets lies a city divided by one of Europe’s most intense rivalries. This is a place where football isn’t just a pastime — it’s tribal, emotional, and woven into everyday life.

Welcome to Kraków, a city of history, rivalry, and relentless passion.

The City

Kraków is the soul of southern Poland — a city that somehow balances ancient charm with underground grit. It’s home to kings and poets, students and ultras, pierogi and pyro. You’ll walk from Gothic towers to graffiti-covered underpasses in minutes, and every corner tells a story.

Wander through:

Old Town (Stare Miasto) – the fairytale centrepiece: cobbled streets, church bells, street musicians, and more pubs than you can count.
Kazimierz – the city’s old Jewish Quarter turned bohemian heart; packed with bars, murals, and late-night energy.
Podgórze – across the river, full of industrial charm, riverside hangouts, and echoes of WWII history.
Nowa Huta – the socialist-era district where concrete, history, and hardcore football culture meet.

Kraków’s beauty hides its bite. Underneath the spires and squares is a rivalry that splits families, friendships, and entire neighbourhoods.

Things to Do & See

Kraków’s one of those cities where the past and present collide perfectly. Between matches (and beers), you’ve got plenty to explore:

Wawel Castle – Poland’s royal heart and skyline icon.
Rynek Główny – one of Europe’s biggest and busiest market squares, lined with bars and restaurants.
Schindler’s Factory Museum – a powerful look at Kraków’s WWII history.
Nowa Huta – Stalin’s “model communist city,” now a time capsule of brutalist architecture and underground clubs.
Kazimierz – street art, smoky dive bars, and some of the best nightlife in Central Europe.

And when the sun sets? Kraków gets wild. Student bars, live music, and all-night clubs — it’s one of the liveliest cities in Europe once the beers start flowing.

Eat & Drink

Fuel for football weekends, Polish style. Kraków’s food is as hearty as its fans.

Must-try classics:

Pierogi – the city’s unofficial currency; grab them fried, boiled, or stuffed with everything imaginable.
Zapiekanka – Kraków’s cult street food, a baguette pizza from the stalls in Kazimierz’s Plac Nowy.
Obwarzanek Krakowski – a chewy pretzel-ring sold from street carts all over town.
Żurek and Bigos – soups and stews built for cold matchdays.

Where to eat like a local:

Plac Nowy stalls (Kazimierz) – late-night zapiekanka central.
Pod Wawelem – classic Polish food with huge portions and cheap beer.
Pierogarnia Krakowiacy – old-school pierogi joint that never disappoints.
Hala Forum – riverside food hall and bar complex with a view (and atmosphere).

Beer? It’s everywhere. Try Tyskie, Żywiec, or local craft brews from House of Beer or Tap House near the Old Town.

The Rivalry: Wisła vs. Cracovia

Few derbies in Europe match the ferocity of the Kraków Derby — known locally as the Święta Wojna (“Holy War”).

It’s Wisła Kraków (the “White Star”) on one side of Błonia Park, and Cracovia (the “Pasy”) on the other. The two stadiums are barely 800 meters apart — closer than anywhere else in Europe — and the rivalry runs deep.

Wisła Kraków are the bigger name — 13-time Polish champions, a club with serious history and a massive following. Their fans, the Sharks, are notorious across Poland for their intensity, loyalty, and love of pyro. The atmosphere at a Wisła home game is pure chaos — banners, smoke, and songs that rattle through the city.

Cracovia, Poland’s oldest club, carry just as much pride. Their fans are loud, stubborn, and fiercely traditional. The derby between these two isn’t just football — it’s identity. It’s Kraków split in two.

On derby day, the whole city holds its breath. Streets close, pubs fill, and for 90 minutes, Kraków becomes the loudest place in Poland.

Matchday in Kraków

Whether it’s Wisła or Cracovia, matchday here is an experience.

Before kickoff, locals flood the bars around the stadiums — beers in hand, scarves round necks, voices ready. Once inside, expect nonstop chanting, drums, and flares that turn night into red smoke.

For Wisła home games:

Head to House of Beer or Omerta Pub & More in Kazimierz for pre-match drinks.
Grab a tram toward Reymonta Street and join the march of scarves and smoke.

For Cracovia:

Start at Multi Qlti Tap Bar or CK Browar near the Old Town.
Then make the short walk to Józefa Kałuży Stadium, following the buzz.

After the final whistle, it’s back to Kazimierz or the Old Town — where match talk blends into another round.

Beyond the Pitch

Kraków’s more than just its derby. The city’s full of sport and stories — from hockey nights with Comarch Cracovia to basketball, volleyball, and even futsal. And if you’ve got an extra day, take the easy train to Katowice or Tarnów for another dose of Polish football culture.

Or, for something special, head south to Zakopane in the Tatra Mountains — skiing, hiking, and plenty of beer in wooden chalets.