Beneath the Cloth Hall lie traces of Kraków’s oldest settlement — a visit to the Main Market Underground is really a short journey back to the 12th–13th centuries. On the surface, the Cloth Hall combines a history of trade with a 19th-century art gallery — together they make for a compact, varied day of sightseeing.
If you only have a few hours in central Kraków, a well-planned route links both places without rush and with pleasure: archaeology and multimedia underground, then paintings and a terrace overlooking the Market above.
Both sites are immediate neighbours — the entrances are right next to each other, so moving between them takes literally a few minutes. Together they offer a varied experience: from archaeological excavations and multimedia displays underground to the elegant interiors of the gallery and the lively atmosphere of the Market at the Cloth Hall on the ground floor.
A day that includes both attractions strikes a good balance between material culture (souvenirs and handicrafts on the ground floor of the Cloth Hall) and museum history and art (the gallery upstairs and the exhibition underground). It’s also a practical choice for families — the underground museum has interactive elements for children, and once you come up it’s easy to find a place for lunch or coffee.
08:30–09:00 - a short walk around the Market, photos from outside and buying any tickets online or at the ticket office.
09:00–10:30 - visit the Main Market Underground. It’s worth going in the morning to avoid crowds and have better conditions for watching the multimedia displays.
10:45–12:15 - the Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Art at the Cloth Hall. A visit upstairs is a calm viewing of selected works; you don’t need a whole day — pick 6–8 works you want to look at more closely.
12:30–13:30 - lunch at one of the nearby well-rated restaurants or a short break on the Cloth Hall terrace (when open seasonally).
Afternoon - a walk through the Old Town, optionally a visit to the Town Hall Tower, Wawel or other sights depending on time and energy.
The Cloth Hall (the Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Art) is sometimes closed on Mondays — if your day in Kraków falls on that day, start with the ground-floor stalls and then visit the Main Market Underground, or simply change the order: stroll the Market first, then go underground. Conversely, if the Underground has altered hours (e.g. shorter visiting hours), check current information before planning.
If one of the places is closed that day, I recommend using the time for nearby museums, a café with a view of the Market, or a short walk to Wawel. The short distances in the centre give many alternatives.
Main Market Underground: plan about 60–90 minutes. The exhibition combines historic foundations, archaeological objects and multimedia zones that are worth seeing without rushing.
Cloth Hall: browsing the souvenir stalls can take 20–40 minutes, while a visit to the gallery upstairs usually takes 60–90 minutes depending on whether you want to see the whole collection or focus on a few works.
If you prefer a relaxed pace, allocate 3–4 hours total for both sites including a break for food and photos.
Buy tickets online if possible — it’s the most reliable way to avoid queues, especially in high season. Museums often offer online sales on their official sites.
Ticket prices change over time, but remember discounts: family, student, city cards and special reductions. Some institutions have days with free admission to permanent exhibitions (often Tuesdays), though free tickets for those days can be limited and usually need to be collected at the ticket desk in advance.
Groups can often book official guided tours led by museum staff — these are formal tours with prices and conditions set by the museum. If you plan to visit with a guide, it’s best to arrange it in advance.
Both sites offer facilities: the Cloth Hall has an elevator providing access to the gallery and terraces, and routes and rooms are prepared with people with limited mobility in mind. The Main Market Underground also has an elevator, barrier-free routes and an accessible toilet.
Families with children will appreciate interactive elements in the Underground and rest areas. For larger groups it’s worth asking in advance about storing a stroller or using a cloakroom adapted for people with mobility impairments.
If someone needs a sign language interpreter, contacting the museum staff in advance usually gives the best chance of arranging support.
Don’t plan both visits for the last hour of opening. Last admissions are often much earlier than closing time, so check how long before closing they let the last visitors in.
Avoid peak tourist times (weekend mornings, high-season afternoons). If you can, come in the morning or late afternoon. This will help you see exhibits and take photos without the crowd.
Remember the rules for photography inside museums — in some rooms photos may be prohibited or allowed only without flash. Keep valuables secure in crowds and watch children at souvenir stalls, as the Market is busy.
Around the Main Market you’ll find many well-rated places, from traditional Polish cuisine to modern bistros. A few reliable options often recommended by visitors include Wierzynek, Pod Baranem and Szalone Widelce — remember to reserve a table in season.
For something lighter and quicker, the Cloth Hall terrace (when open seasonally) and cafés around the Market offer coffee and snacks with a view of the square. After a busy visit, it’s pleasant to sit at one of the venues by the Planty or on Grodzka Street.
The current level of the Main Market Square is much higher than it was several hundred years ago — that’s why beneath the surface you’ll find remains of older buildings and wooden huts. It’s impressive to compare the modern space with the archaeological discoveries.
Over the centuries the Cloth Hall served many functions: from cloth trading, through representative balls, to being one of the first seats of a major museum in Kraków. The upstairs gallery is the result of a long tradition of culture and collecting in the city.
Can you see both exhibitions with a single ticket? - Sometimes combined tickets or promotions are available; it also happens that a ticket to the Underground allows visiting other branches within a specified period. It’s best to check current offers at the institutions before your visit.
Do I need to reserve in advance? - In season and on weekends online booking is recommended to avoid long queues. On free-admission days (for example some Tuesdays) tickets can be limited and are often distributed at the ticket desk, so check the rules for those days.
Will children enjoy the Main Market Underground? - Yes, the exhibition includes multimedia elements and reconstructed workshops that interest younger visitors. Plan a short break during the visit.
Not checking opening hours and closed days. Museums sometimes have technical breaks or special closures — always verify official information before you arrive.
Relying on free admission without planning. Free-entry days exist, but they often come with limits on the number of tickets; if a specific date is important to you, don’t count only on free admission.
Assuming the ground floor of the Cloth Hall and the gallery are the same. The ground floor (stalls) is typically accessible without a ticket, while the Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Art upstairs is a separate museum branch and usually requires a ticket.
Check current opening hours and admission rules on the official pages of the National Museum (Cloth Hall) and the Museum of Kraków (Main Market Underground). Information about accessibility, ticket prices, group tours and cloakroom rules is available at the visitor services of these institutions.
If you need help with access or want to book an official museum-led tour, contact the Visitor Service Centre in advance.
Combining the Main Market Underground and the Cloth Hall is an ideal way to feel the scale of Kraków’s history in a short time: from everyday trade and craftsmanship to a long tradition of art and museology. It’s a day that blends education with the pleasure of walking and sampling local cuisine.
If this article was helpful, share it with friends or tag someone heading to Kraków. If you prefer to explore with comfort and confidence, consider booking a private guided tour with Małgorzata Kasprowicz, an experienced local guide. Have a great trip in Kraków!
