Poland has 13 public holidays, and Krakovians are experts at turning them into long weekends by bridging single days with annual leave. Understanding the calendar helps you plan around crowds and closures.
Major holiday weekends to note: May 1 (Labour Day) and May 3 (Constitution Day) often bridge into a "Majowka" super-weekend where half of Poland travels. Corpus Christi (late May/June, date varies) creates another long weekend with street processions. August 15 (Assumption of Mary/Polish Army Day) is mid-summer peak. November 1 (All Saints') and November 11 (Independence Day) bookend a week that many take off.
On public holidays: museums are typically closed or have shortened hours, most restaurants remain open, shops in malls close (but Old Town shops often stay open for tourists), and public transport runs on a Sunday schedule. Banks and government offices close.
Best strategy: long weekends mean domestic tourists flood Krakow. If you're visiting from abroad, these are actually times to AVOID — hotel prices spike and restaurants fill up. Conversely, the weeks between long weekends are often quieter than normal as locals have traveled elsewhere.
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