Famous Cracovians — the biggest names linked with Kraków
Famous people from Kraków include the painter Zofia Stryjeńska, painter and philosopher Leon Chwistek, anthropologist Bronisław Malinowski, poet Ewa Lipska, actors Maciej Stuhr and Maja Ostaszewska, and musicians Zbigniew Wodecki and Grzegorz Turnau. Kraków has nurtured talent for centuries — and since 1818 it has honoured its most distinguished figures with honorary citizenship, awarded to more than 115 people so far. Here are the biggest names linked with the city.
Born in Kraków: artists and writers
Those born in Kraków include Leon Chwistek (1884–1944) — painter, art theorist, philosopher and mathematician, Zofia Stryjeńska (1891–1976) — Art Deco painter, poet Ewa Lipska (b. 1945) and writer Leon Kruczkowski (1900–1962). The avant-garde poet and theorist Tadeusz Peiper (1891–1969) was born in Podgórze — then a separate town, now part of Kraków.
Actors from Kraków
Kraków-born actors include Maciej Stuhr (b. 1975), Paweł Deląg (b. 1970), Artur Dziurman (b. 1964), Jacek Poniedziałek (b. 1965), Maja Ostaszewska (b. 1972), winner of two Polish Film Awards, and Leszek Teleszyński (b. 1947). Jerzy Stuhr (1947–2024), long-time rector of Kraków’s drama school, and Jan Frycz (1954–2026) were also born in Kraków. Jan Nowicki (1939–2022) was linked with Kraków through some 30 years at the Stary Teatr, although he was born in Kowal.
Musicians
Musicians from Kraków include Ewa Demarczyk (1941–2020), legend of the Piwnica pod Baranami cabaret, pianist and composer Jan Ekier (1913–2014), Zbigniew Wodecki (1950–2017), conductor Antoni Wit (b. 1944), singer Grzegorz Turnau (b. 1967) and producer Robert M (Robert Mączyński, b. 1982).
Science and sport
Great names in science include anthropologist Bronisław Malinowski (1884–1942) and literary historian Professor Henryk Markiewicz (1922–2013). Kraków is also home town to boxer Mariusz Wach (b. 1979), sprinter Marcin Urbaś (b. 1976), 200 m gold medallist at the 2002 European Indoor Championships in Vienna, chess player Bogdan Śliwa (1922–2003), six-time Polish champion, and journalist Grzegorz Miecugow (1955–2017).
Honorary citizens of Kraków
Honorary citizenship of Kraków has been awarded since 28 May 1818, to more than 115 people (since 2015 the list has also included honorary citizens of the former town of Podgórze). They include Józef Majer, president of the Academy of Learning (1881), Jan Matejko (1882 — he returned the diploma ten years later), composer Władysław Żeleński (1912), Józef Piłsudski (1933), Cardinal Adam Sapieha (1937), actor Ludwik Solski (1951), Sławomir Mrożek and Lech Wałęsa (1990), Margaret Thatcher (1991), Czesław Miłosz (1993), Ronald Reagan (1994), Ryszard Kukliński and Wisława Szymborska (1997), Ryszard Kaczorowski (1999) and historian and politician Władysław Bartoszewski (2012). The most recent are Anna Dymna (2024), Father Adam Boniecki (2025) and Krystyna Zachwatowicz-Wajda (2026).
In 1992 the city council revoked titles granted under communism, including those of Marshal Ivan Konev (honoured in 1955 “for the manoeuvre that saved Kraków” — a story historians regard as a propaganda myth), Józef Cyrankiewicz, Ludvík Svoboda, Michał Żymierski and Henryk Jabłoński.
Where to stay in Kraków
To follow in the footsteps of famous Cracovians, a convenient base is Best Western Plus Kraków Old Town at Świętej Gertrudy 6, about 500 m from the Main Square. A characterful alternative is Hotel Regent in a historic townhouse in Kazimierz.
Frequently asked questions
Which famous actors are from Kraków?
Among others, Maciej Stuhr, Maja Ostaszewska, Paweł Deląg, Artur Dziurman, Jacek Poniedziałek and Leszek Teleszyński, as well as the late Jerzy Stuhr and Jan Frycz.
How many honorary citizens does Kraków have?
More than 115 since 1818; the most recent, since 2026, is Krystyna Zachwatowicz-Wajda.
Which famous people were born in Kraków?
Among others, Leon Chwistek, Zofia Stryjeńska, Bronisław Malinowski, Ewa Lipska, Ewa Demarczyk, Zbigniew Wodecki and Grzegorz Turnau.
Updated in October 2026.