Kraków’s Main Market Square is the city's calling card; the combination of the Cloth Hall and St. Mary's Basilica creates an iconic, instantly recognisable motif. Perspective, textures (arcades, cobbles), the height of the towers and everyday life — all of this makes a photo with St. Mary's in the background look great both on a phone and on a professional DSLR. Below I’ve gathered proven spots and tricks that will help you make a photo you’ll remember long after you leave Kraków.
If you want an original shot — don’t try to make a postcard immediately. First look around, try a few frames from different heights and distances, then pick the one perfect image. Practice and patience matter more here than expensive gear.
Middle of the square, opposite the Cloth Hall - classic, symmetrical frame. Stand centrally on the Market Square (but don't block the way) and set your camera a little lower — this emphasises perspective and the cobbles in the foreground, while the Cloth Hall and St. Mary's become a clear focal point.
Under the Cloth Hall arcades - framing and details. Step into the Cloth Hall arcades and use the arches as a 'frame' for St. Mary's tower. This is a great spot for a portrait or an architectural shot with strong accents. Watch out for vendors and passers-by, and try different focal lengths: a wide angle adds drama, a longer lens pulls out façade details.
Upper floor of the Cloth Hall / gallery windows - a subtle view from above. Entry to the Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Art lets you see the Market from the gallery windows on the upper floor and often gives a pleasing, 'soft' perspective. It’s an excellent option when you want to capture roofs, the square’s layout and St. Mary's slightly 'from above'.
Town Hall Tower - panorama from above. If you want a wide shot showing the whole square with St. Mary's as one element of the panorama, climb the Town Hall Tower. This vantage point gives a different context than street-level photos.
St. Mary's tower (hejnał) - a view from the trumpet's place. From the height of the tower you can get an unusual angle showing the Cloth Hall, the square and the Old Town roofs. Access to the tower can be seasonally limited, so check opening hours in advance.
Floriańska Street and the area around St. Florian's Gate - a side, more 'stretched' frame. If you want to avoid the typical head-on shot and prefer a natural urban context (shops, townhouses, passers-by), shoot walking from the direction of St. Florian's Gate.
Kanonicza / Grodzka streets - long perspective with historic façades. These streets let you photograph St. Mary's in the background but with more depth and a 'story' in the frame. Great for moody portraits.
Early morning (just after sunrise) - the Market is least crowded, the light is soft and golden, and the townhouses take on warm tones. This is the best time for a classic, clean frame without the crowds.
Golden hour and late afternoon - if you can’t be there early, late afternoon gives nice light, long shadows and atmospheric colours. In the evening building illuminations add mood, but remember the Market can be very crowded on weekends and at night.
Blue hour (just after sunset) is great for shots with lit façades and a deep blue sky. Use a tripod if you want to bring out details with longer exposures.
Avoid midday if you want to escape harsh shadows and high contrast. But if you’re after city life - pigeons, street performers and crowds - midday has its charm too.
Mind the horizon line and verticals. St. Mary's and the Cloth Hall have strong vertical elements; a straight horizon and corrected verticals (or deliberately skewed ones if you want that effect) will improve how the photo is read.
Use a low perspective to emphasise the cobbles. Shooting from a slight low angle adds foreground and depth. Even placing a phone close to the paving can create a cinematic frame.
Wide angle for architecture, short tele for portraits. A wide-angle lens (24–35 mm full-frame equivalent) shows the square and perspective well. For portraits with St. Mary's in the background, 50–85 mm gives pleasant background blur.
Pay attention to framing. Arcades, candelabras, street lamps or tree branches can serve as natural frames. Using foreground elements gives context and depth.
If you have a tripod, use it in the morning and during blue hour. In busy places keep the tripod to the side and set it up briefly — don’t block passage. If in doubt use shorter exposures and higher ISO.
A phone with a good manual mode and a wide lens handles most situations very well. Modern smartphones also offer night modes, HDR and ultra-wide cameras that are useful on the Market.
An interchangeable-lens camera gives more control. Useful lenses: wide 16–35 mm, versatile 24–70 mm and portrait 50–85 mm. A telephoto (for example 70–200 mm) helps compress the scene and pull out façade details.
A small tripod or monopod is handy for long exposures and night shots. Remember to fold it quickly when foot traffic increases.
Light-planning apps (for sunrise/sunset times) and weather apps will help plan your session. Also install an editing app (for example Lightroom Mobile) to gently adjust contrast and colours after shooting.
Access to St. Mary's tower and the Town Hall Tower is possible, but there may be seasonal limits and restrictions on the number of visitors. If you want shots from above, check opening hours on the day of your visit; access is paid and usually available at set times.
The Cloth Hall houses the Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Art on the upper floor and is a great place if you want to see the Market from the gallery windows. The museum has its own opening hours and sometimes offers free-entry days - plan ahead if this matters to you.
Tourist photography (selfies, family photos) in public spaces is allowed. Keep in mind that commercial shoots with large equipment, models or crews may require permission or notification to city offices or site managers. If you plan a commercial session, contact the city office or site administrator beforehand.
In recent years there have been regulations limiting photography of certain infrastructure or military units - these do not apply to the Cloth Hall or the Basilica in practice, but watch for 'no photography' signs nearby and respect them.
Show respect in places of worship - if you enter the church or areas meant for prayer, keep silence and follow dress norms. Interior photography may have additional restrictions set by the parish or museum.
Wierzynek - the historic restaurant on the Market Square, well regarded by visitors, offers classic Polish dishes and a special atmosphere. It’s a choice for those who want to feel the historic ambience and dine in a representative place.
Cafe Camelot - a cosy café near the Market, ideal for coffee after a morning walk and a quick review of your photos. Check current opening status before you go, as it can be busy.
Small cafés and patisseries on side streets (Grodzka, Kanonicza) often have pleasant interiors and shorter queues than places directly on the square. They’re good spots for a break and editing photos in a calmer atmosphere.
Standing in the middle of a path while setting up your shot - don’t block traffic. Find a moment of free space or place your model slightly to the side so you don’t disturb others.
Too-tight framing with large buildings - if you want to show architecture, give it some 'breathing room'. Over-tight cropping can ruin the proportions of Gothic towers and Renaissance arcades.
Ignoring the urban context - the Market is not just monuments but city life (stalls, artists, passers-by). Sometimes including people adds authenticity to the photo.
Do I need permission to take photos on the Market? Tourist and private photos are allowed. Commercial sessions with large equipment may require permission. When in doubt contact the city office.
Can I use a tripod? A tripod is useful especially in the morning and at night, but in crowded places avoid blocking passage and fold it up quickly after use. For commercial shoots check the requirements.
Can I go to the upper floor of the Cloth Hall to take photos? Yes - the Cloth Hall houses the Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Art; visitors can see the Market from the upper-floor windows. Check the museum's opening hours before your visit.
The hejnał (trumpet call) from St. Mary's tower played on the hour is not only an auditory attraction - the moment the melody stops has its own history and can be an interesting element in reportage photography, especially if you capture the playing moment or listeners' reactions.
The Cloth Hall still serves its old trading function - in the arcades you can buy local crafts, posters and souvenirs. The colours and goods on the stalls often compose nicely in frames, but try not to block the stalls while photographing.
Some buildings around the Market have restored façades in varied shades - experiment with white balance and colour profiles to get natural tones in golden light.
Check the weather forecast and sunrise/sunset times.
Charge batteries, bring spare memory/phones and a powerbank.
Pack a small tripod or monopod if you plan low-light photos.
Plan alternative shots in case of crowds or sudden scene changes.
Don't forget a good mood - the Main Market Square is full of life, let it inspire you.
If you want custom photos, personalised photo routes around the Old Town or on-the-spot advice, contact guide Małgorzata Kasprowicz (Margaret Kasprowicz) - contact details are on the site. The guide can suggest the best times, help organise a short session and tell the stories behind the frames you want to create.
If you found the article helpful, share it with friends or on social profiles - it will reach other photography and Kraków travel lovers. Thank you and happy shooting!
