Krakow Hotels

1) Hotel Copernicus

Insiders will know that Hotel Copernicus is the sister hotel of Hotel Stary (both in Krakow), and wonder why we haven't chosen the latter for our top 5. Both are great choices in the luxury bracket, but the Copernicus just shades it both in terms of its location and quality of its rooms. Nestled majestically in the picture postcard perfect Kanonicza Street (Krakow's prettiest?), Hotel Copernicus has a mixture of rooms, from elegant suites at the front of the building, which retain magnificent elements of the old building such as painted wooden beams, to a more modern addition at the rear - all cool marble, leather and glass. Both parts are joined by an impressive glass-roofed atrium. To round it off, you'll find a small swimming pool in the medieval cellar basement, missing just a swimming shark to be a suitable Bond villain's lair. And boy, what a view from the roof-top terrace. Congratulations. With Krakow's Wawel Castle right in front of you, you've just booked the finest view in the city.
ul. Kanonicza 16
hotelcopernicus.com

2) H15 Palace

While Krakow has always had its fair smattering of 5 star hotels, with a few noticeable exceptions, these have been rather old-fashioned affairs. You know the sort - an erstwhile 4-star number slaps on a pool and elevator, and suddenly ticks all the boxes to be rated 5 stars, but never quite lives up to them (whisper - Hotel Grand). Not so with H15 Palace, which is the quirky name given to the recently fully modernised and renovated Lubomirski Palace, a hodgepodge of elegant townhouses in Krakow’s Old Town. The designers have kept the charm of the old buildings, but infused them with modern and, frankly stunning touches. Restored items of period furniture are juxtaposed with the clean and clear lines of new marble and glass - ie yesteryear elegance with modern comfort. And boy, what a mashup it is. H15 includes a spa, great dining and a range of rooms that are on the pricey side, but well worth it. Not the ideal base for your mate’s stag do in Krakow, but for a wedding, conference or special occasion, H15 is absolutely spot on.
Św. Jana 15

3) Hotel Saski

This erstwhile mid-priced hotel right next to the Market Square has recently undergone a substantial renovation. No longer the slightly drab but economic and reliable choice for visiting school groups and families, the hotel's renovations have also extended to its name. No longer simply 'Hotel Saski', it now goes by the pithy 7-word title 'Hotel Saski Krakow Curio Collection by Hilton'. Whilst the hotel's marketing department will carry this keyword-packed shame to their graves, you and I can simply continue to call it 'Hotel Saski' and enjoy an amazing central location, much improved rooms with much-inflated prices to match. The look is clean and efficient, with a passing attempt at a modern twist on art nouveau, but being a 5 star Hilton, the key is cleanliness and quality, and this place has it in spades. Look out for the time-warp elevator, one of the few remaining features of the old hotel, and one of its most endearing.
Sławkowska 3
hotelsaski.com

4) Puro Kraków Kazimierz

The Puro hotel brand has swept into Krakow (twice - both in Kazimierz and the Old Town), blowing away the legacy of poorly-run and shabby hotels and replacing them with outstanding service, sleek and modern rooms, and a refreshing lifestyle approach to the whole scene - the overriding impression is of a brand sharing experiences rather than simply trying to fill beds. In short, the future has arrived. Hotel Puro feels more like a community or club than simply a place to rest your head for the night. Open spaces encourage guests to interact with each other, the resulting vibe more akin to a co-working space than anything else, and all the more refreshing for it. Light, clean, active and funky, Puro's approach spells doom to the dusty accommodation providers of the past, and a hopeful vision for the future of hotels everywhere.
Halicka 14a
Puro Krakow Kazimierz

5) Bonerowski Palace

Launched back in 2008 as the Boner Palace, it didn’t take long for the management to raise they had made a true cock-up. Although it raised a few laughs, it was quickly re-named as the Bonerowski Palace, and here we are, years later, with Krakow’s premier hotel located right on the Market Square. The hotel boasts Europes largest chandelier, which is a frighteningly difficult claim to factcheck, but probably still worth a selfie. As a 5 star hotel, with a perfect location, rooms don’t come cheap, but for a special occasion, Bonerowski can’t be beat. During the summer months, there is also a restaurant / beer garden which spreads out onto the pavement in front of the hotel, offering a spectacular view of the Market Square in Krakow’s Old Town, and a chance to sit down and relax amid the bustle of the city.
Św. Jana 1
Bonerowski Palace

You may alse be interested to read about the cream of the crop in our article about boutique hotels in Krakow?