Yes — you can spend two days in Krakow visiting Wawel, the Main Market Square, Kazimierz and a few museums while keeping stairs and steep climbs to a minimum. The city is expanding its “barrier-free” offer (for example parts of the Royal Route include tactile models and audio guides) and publishes accessibility information that makes planning much easier.
In practice it pays to plan deliberately: choose sites with ramps, level entrances or elevators; use low-floor trams and taxis; and book tables or museum tickets in advance. With a well-designed 48-hour plan you’ll get the rhythm of the city and see its key attractions without facing steps at every turn.
If you’d like, guide Małgorzata Kasprowicz can prepare a route tailored to your needs — contact details and service information are available on the guide’s webpage.
Check which venues have level entrances, lifts or alternative access points. Krakow publishes guides and maps describing accessibility (including municipal publications) — download these before you arrive.
Book accommodation with a room adapted for mobility needs, confirm that parking for badge holders is available along your planned route, and note where wheelchair-accessible restrooms are located. For museums and larger attractions check elevator access and the availability of loan equipment that can make visiting easier.
Bring comfortable shoes, a phone power bank and a short priority list (what you definitely want to see). Reserving a table at a well-reviewed restaurant and buying museum tickets ahead of time will save time and stress.
Start in the morning at the Main Market Square — it’s a largely flat space with many resting spots and easy access to cafés. The Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) and the market area are accessible for wheelchair users if you stick to firmer pavements and level crossings.
Then make your way to Wawel using routes with accessible entrances. Many institutions on Wawel Hill publish information about level entrances and lifts to exhibition areas; if needed, plan to visit museum sections that explicitly offer step-free access or elevator access first.
After lunch walk along the Planty — the green belt surrounding the Old Town is flat and pleasant. In the evening book dinner at a recommended, well-rated restaurant that offers accessibility features so you can finish the day comfortably.
Kazimierz is full of historic sites and atmospheric venues; you can explore its centre along level streets and avoid steps by choosing the key spots on even surfaces. Many cafés and galleries have ground-level access or ramps.
The Oskar Schindler’s Factory (Schindler’s Factory Museum) offers adapted entry and facilities for visitors with disabilities — it’s wise to reserve tickets and check internal lift access and circulation routes.
In the afternoon enjoy a walk along the Vistula boulevards or relax in a riverside park. The riverside paths are flat and allow you to end the day in one of the best cafés or wine bars with an easy entrance.
The city’s tourist guide for visitors with disabilities is a great source — it lists accessibility details for venues, hotels, restaurants and cultural institutions with clear pictograms to help your choices.
Look for places marked “barrier-free” or ask in advance about back or side entrances, ramps and lifts. In the centre you’ll also find tactile models, touch panels and audio recordings as part of accessibility initiatives that help blind and partially sighted visitors learn about monuments.
Key city amenities include lists of designated parking for disabled badge holders and public transport infrastructure that increasingly relies on low-floor trams and buses — always check which vehicle type runs on the line you plan to use.
When choosing where to eat, pick places with good reviews and confirmed accessibility features. Examples that appear in city guides as friendly to visitors with mobility needs include Miodova, Pod Baranem, Cyrano de Bergerac, Leonardo, Rynek 44 and Szara Gęś — each is known for solid food and accessible entry to varying degrees.
For hotels pick properties with adapted rooms, lifts and convenient access to the centre. Practical rankings frequently list options such as Qubus, Vienna House Andel’s Cracow and Hotel Stary — always check availability of the specific room and facilities before booking.
Remember to confirm in advance that a particular entrance and bathroom meet your expectations. Hotel and restaurant staff are usually willing to provide details and prepare for guests with additional needs.
Assuming “the centre is level” — not all pavements and entrances are step-free; check photos of entrances and ask about thresholds or lowered entrances.
Not booking ahead — tickets for popular museums or dinner at recommended restaurants often require advance reservation, especially when you need extra assistance.
Not asking about alternative entrances — many historic sites have service or side entrances without steps; simply ask staff or check accessibility information on the venue’s page.
Use city publications and apps that include pictograms and accessibility descriptions — they shorten planning time and reduce the risk of unpleasant surprises.
If you travel with a blind or partially sighted person, look for sites with tactile models and Braille descriptions; the Royal Route in the centre includes points with tactile displays.
Consider breaking your sightseeing into shorter blocks with more frequent rests: Krakow rewards slow discovery — you’ll often get more from two shorter walks than from one long trek.
Is Wawel accessible without stairs? Many parts of the hill and some museum displays have facilities, but check details for the specific exhibition and consider booking an arrival time with museum staff.
Is public transport in Krakow friendly for wheelchair users? Many trams and buses are low-floor, but check timetables and plan your route to avoid older vehicles without ramps.
How do I book a table at a restaurant with space for a wheelchair? Call or message ahead, ask for a description of the entrance and request confirmation that the table area has the required space.
If you want to explore Krakow easily, without stairs and tailored to your needs, I can write a detailed 48-hour itinerary for you or adapt shorter walks — all taking into account accessibility and your daily rhythm. On guide Małgorzata Kasprowicz’s page you can find private tour offers and contact details — I encourage you to get in touch to discuss specifics and prepare the perfect plan.
If you found this article helpful, share it with friends or on social media so more people can discover that Krakow can be toured comfortably without stairs.
