The Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) is one of Kraków’s most recognizable landmarks — at night its arcades and façades turn into theatrical light stages that look great in photos. Few people know that parts of the exterior still have historic gas lighting preserved as a curiosities — a good reason to look at the building more closely and search for unique details. Before you start shooting, take a moment to watch the light: which areas are lit most brightly, where shadows fall, and how the lamp colors harmonize with the sky after sunset.
Night light reveals textures, arches and vaults differently than daytime light — sculptural details and ornaments gain depth, and the Market Square’s paving can beautifully reflect illuminations after rain. Lit arcades create natural leading lines in the frame, which makes composing shots easier. In the evening the tourist crowds often thin out, so it’s easier to get calmer shots or leave a tripod set up for longer. Shooting at night is also a great opportunity to experiment with long exposures, light trails and contrasting color temperatures (warm façade light against a cool sky).
Blue hour (about 15–45 minutes after sunset) is the moment when the sky has an intense, deep blue and the lit façades look spectacular. This is often the best time for wide shots of the Market Square with the Cloth Hall centered in the frame. If you want to emphasize the arcades on the south side, watch the direction and intensity of the lighting — lights and shadows change with the seasons.
If your goal is long exposures with people blurred into motion, choose later hours when foot traffic is lower but passersby still add dynamism to the shot. After rain the paving reflects light and creates an extra effect — it’s worth going out after passing showers.
If you want to photograph the interior of the arcades (stalls, details under the colonnades), check the opening hours of the Cloth Hall — ground-floor stalls are open at different times than the upstairs Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Painting (a branch of the National Museum) — and observe the museum rules, since gallery areas follow different regulations than the Square.
Tripod – an absolute must for long exposures and low-light shots. Choose a stable tripod that won’t shake in gusts of wind; if it’s windy you can hang a backpack from the tripod hook for extra weight.
Lenses – a wide-angle (about 16–35 mm on full frame, adjusted for your sensor) for shots showing the whole Cloth Hall and Market, a standard 24–70 mm for versatile framing, and a short tele (85–200 mm) if you want to isolate architectural details or compress the arches.
Remote shutter release / cable release / self-timer – to avoid camera shake when triggering the shutter.
Flashlight / headlamp – useful for setting up gear and for light painting during creative long exposures.
Spare batteries and memory cards – night sessions drain batteries quickly. Shooting RAW gives the most flexibility in post.
Wind cover / tripod weight – helpful in stronger wind to reduce vibrations.
Manual mode (M) – lets you control aperture, shutter speed and ISO. For night architecture shots, start with ISO 100–400, aperture f/5.6–f/11 (for maximum sharpness across the frame) and shutter speeds from 1 to 15 seconds depending on the light. These are starting points — test and adapt.
If you want to blur people or car movement clearly, lengthen the exposure (10–30 s or more). To “freeze” people or details in low light, raise ISO and use a faster shutter (1/60–1/250 s), but remember noise increases.
Focus: focus manually or use Live View and magnify the image to set focus precisely on the edge of an arcade. Autofocus can struggle in low light.
White balance: you can set Tungsten if the scene is dominated by warm lamps, or shoot RAW and adjust later. A common appealing look is the contrast of warm façade light against a cool-toned sky.
Exposure bracketing (AEB) or RAW + HDR — with high contrast (bright lamps and dark details) take multiple exposures to blend in post and preserve shadow detail while avoiding blown highlights.
Use the arcades as leading lines — position the camera so the arches guide the viewer’s eye into the frame. Symmetrical compositions often work well, but don’t be afraid to offset the center to add dynamism.
Look for natural framing: arcades make a perfect frame for parts of the Square or people. Placing a person or a detail inside that frame adds narrative to the photo.
Low-angle perspective – set the camera low, close to the paving, to emphasize reflections on wet cobbles and to elongate the arches toward the top of the frame. Remember to maintain sharpness from foreground to background (a smaller aperture helps).
Architectural details – close-ups of column capitals, decorative bricks, gargoyles or coat-of-arms details work well with shorter telephoto lenses and selective focus. A telephoto lets you isolate details without getting into the crowd.
Long exposures and blurred people – set the shutter for several seconds to get the “soul of the city” with moving figures as soft streaks while the building stays sharp.
Light painting – useful inside the arcades: with a flashlight you can selectively illuminate darker areas during a long exposure for more balanced lighting.
Night panoramas – if you want to show a wide part of the Square, take a series of vertical frames on a tripod and stitch them in panorama software. Watch for shifted lights and moving people between frames.
HDR and bracketing – take 3–5 exposures at different shutter speeds and blend them to keep shadow detail while protecting bright lights from blowing out.
Stacking and noise reduction – for very high ISO situations, take several frames of the same composition and stack them in software to reduce noise more effectively than a single exposure.
Too-high ISO – this leads to ugly noise. It’s usually better to use lower ISO and longer exposures on a tripod when possible.
No remote or self-timer – touching the camera when you press the shutter creates micro-shake. Use a remote or set a 2–5 s delay.
Blown highlights from lamps – bright lamps burn out quickly. Use bracketing, reduce exposure, and rely on RAW/HDR masking in post.
Dirty lens – spots and dust on the glass are especially visible with point light sources. Wipe lenses with a microfiber cloth before the session.
Ignoring the histogram – relying only on the LCD can be misleading. Check the histogram to avoid blown highlights and overly crushed shadows.
The Market Square is public, but with large equipment keep a low profile and avoid blocking pedestrian flow. If you set a tripod in a walkway, be mindful of others — it’s usually easier to position yourself at the edge of the Square or along the arcades.
Museum interiors and the Cloth Hall gallery have their own regulations. In museums tripods and flash are often prohibited — check rules at the National Museum or ask staff. Outdoors, if you plan commercial shoots or a large crew, consider asking the city or the relevant authorities for permission.
Protect your gear: carry your bag close to your body, use anti-theft straps and don’t leave equipment unattended, especially after dark. If you’re shooting alone, tell someone your plan and expected return time.
Be courteous to residents and stall vendors under the arcades — don’t obstruct their work or set up in stall areas.
After a night shoot it’s nice to take a short break at classic spots around the Square. Café Noworolski (inside the Cloth Hall) is a historic place with tradition; Wierzynek — the famous restaurant on the Market — offers unique interiors and can be a pleasant way to end the evening. If you prefer a cozy café a little further away, Café Camelot on Świętego Tomasza street is known for its atmosphere and is a good place to review photos.
If you want to continue photographing, the Wawel area, Kazimierz streets and the Vistula boulevards also offer beautiful night views and different perspectives on the city.
Can I use a tripod on the Market Square? — In public spaces you usually can, but be careful not to block pedestrian traffic and be prepared to move if asked. For larger commercial setups it’s best to check with city officials.
How do I focus in low light? — Use Live View, zoom in on the image and set focus manually on an arcade edge. If your camera has AF assist, you can try it, but manual focus is often more precise.
Can I photograph the exhibitions inside the Cloth Hall? — Museums usually forbid tripods and flash. Always check at the ticket desk or on the National Museum’s website.
How do I avoid blown streetlights? — Use lower exposure, bracket shots and edit RAW files. You can also accept some highlights as part of night aesthetics and expose for shadows while letting small highlights clip.
Watch for mixed light colors: the blend of warm lamps in the arcades and the cool sky gives pleasant contrast — find spots where the two temperatures meet and use them in your composition.
Reflections aren’t only after rain: shop windows and stall displays can create interesting layers in the frame — play with reflections to create a picture‑within‑a‑picture effect.
Sometimes it’s worth deliberately keeping small overexposed points as compositional elements — used sparingly they give a spark and focal point in night photos.
If the Cloth Hall at night has stolen your heart — share your photos on social media or send links to friends. If you’d like to explore the Market with commentary and practical, on-site tips, I invite you to use the services of private guide Małgorzata Kasprowicz — information and offerings are available on zwiedzaniekrakowa.com. Good luck with your night shots and enjoy strolling around Kraków!
We encourage you to share this article with friends planning a photography trip to Kraków — may everyone find their favorite Cloth Hall shot.
