If you plan to visit Cogiteon on New Year’s Eve, an important note: the institution schedules closed days during holiday and technical periods, so you cannot rely on standard opening hours on December 31 or January 1. For that reason it’s best to schedule your Cogiteon visit for one of the earlier days of the three-day stay and reserve New Year’s Eve for dinner, a walk and evening events in the city.
Cogiteon is a modern science centre with an interactive permanent exhibition, workshops and laboratories. When planning a visit, count on about 2 hours for the permanent exhibition, and more if you book workshops or science shows. The centre also has conference rooms and an on-site restaurant called Na Polu, which helps with group logistics.
For groups of 7–30 people, Cogiteon is an excellent complement to a classic Kraków sightseeing programme: it engages participants, combines fun with education and works well for groups with mixed ages. The offer includes a permanent exhibition, laboratories, themed workshops and demonstrations — so you can tailor the programme to the group profile: children, families, corporate groups or schools.
A practical advantage: the venue was built with organised visits in mind. There are group booking options and dedicated activities, plus catering facilities and multi-purpose rooms. This makes coordinating arrival and activities for a medium-sized group easier, with fewer delays and lower logistical stress.
Day 1 — Old Town and Kazimierz: morning walk from the Main Market Square, Cloth Hall, St. Mary’s Church and the historic architecture; visit to Wawel Castle and the cathedral; lunch at a well-rated restaurant by the Market; afternoon in Kazimierz: synagogues, atmospheric cafés and museums. In the evening suggestion: a group dinner at one of the restaurants popular with visitors.
Day 2 — Cogiteon and nearby areas: morning visit to the Małopolska Science Centre Cogiteon (reserve at least 2 hours for the exhibition and extra time if workshops are booked); lunch at the Na Polu restaurant or a nearby venue; the afternoon can be devoted to the Aviation Museum, a walk through Nowa Huta or rest time. For larger groups it’s worth planning transport from the centre to Czyżyny and booking tickets in advance.
Day 3 — cultural options and departure: morning visits to themed museums, e.g. the Oskar Schindler Factory (book in advance) or a quick walk along the Vistula Boulevards; time for coffee and souvenir shopping; transfer to the train station or airport. If New Year’s Eve falls during your stay, move the Cogiteon visit to the day before and keep the New Year’s Eve day for events and dinner.
Booking: for groups of this size, book Cogiteon tickets and any preferred workshops several weeks in advance — holiday and weekend slots fill up quickly.
Time and transport: allow 20–30 minutes by road from central Kraków to Cogiteon (Czyżyny), depending on traffic. For a group of 7–30 people it’s best to arrange a driver or hire a minibus for the day to keep flexibility and punctuality.
Meeting points: choose a clear meeting point, preferably at Cogiteon’s main entrance or your hotel reception; keep a participant list and one person responsible for attendance.
If you want to celebrate New Year’s Eve with your group you have several safe and comfortable options: book a New Year’s dinner at a restaurant (a gala with a set menu and music), rent a hotel function room for a private party, or take an evening walk to the Vistula Boulevards and viewpoints with a stop for sparkling wine and snacks. I strongly discourage planning visits to institutions that are likely to be closed on December 31 — it’s better to be sure a place will be available.
Top-rated restaurants in the centre to consider for a New Year’s dinner include Wierzynek, Szara, Pod Aniołami and Starka in Kazimierz. Remember to reserve early and inform the restaurant about dietary preferences and the number of tables you’ll need for the group.
Scheduling Cogiteon for New Year’s Eve — mistake. The centre closes on some holiday dates, so it’s better to visit the day before or after.
Not booking transport and tickets in advance — for groups this risks delays and no availability. Book minibuses, group tickets and workshops early.
An over-tight schedule — always leave 30–60 minutes of buffer between programme items, especially with groups of a dozen to several dozen people. This allows for calm breaks and possible delays.
Cogiteon has a green roof and an event space, which allows for part of a meeting to be held outdoors if the weather is good.
The recommended time for the permanent exhibition is about 2 hours, but groups with workshops should allow more time, especially if planning laboratory sessions or science shows.
The centre offers conference facilities and an auditorium for 280 people, which makes it easier to organise lectures or an evening integration block for larger groups.
Pre-arrival checklist: confirm opening hours and holiday closures; order and confirm group tickets; book transport; plan meeting points; prepare a contact list of participants and note any dietary requirements.
FAQ: Do you have to pay for workshops in advance? - Usually yes; workshops are best confirmed with the organiser. Are there group discounts? - Cogiteon offers group options; ask for specific terms when booking. What if someone is late? - Keep an emergency number for the driver and the on-site coordinator and have a backup plan (coffee, a short walk).
Contacts and documents: keep booking confirmations in electronic form and a named participants list; inform participants about event durations and any age restrictions for workshops.
Food: for group meals choose restaurants with steady reputations and experience handling groups. Around the Main Market Square, Wierzynek and Szara are reliable, and in Kazimierz places like Starka are good options. The Na Polu restaurant at Cogiteon is a convenient solution for a quick lunch after workshops.
Accommodation: for groups of 7–30 people it pays to book rooms in one hotel or in several nearby hotels to reduce logistics. Hotels in the centre provide easy access to attractions and better options for gathering the group before departures.
When planning a group stay in Kraków during the New Year period, the most important things are early confirmation of venue availability, booking transport and accounting for institutions’ closed days. That way you’ll avoid stress and create a smooth, interesting itinerary for participants.
If this guide was helpful — share it on social media or send it to friends. If you’d like help planning a tailor-made route for your group, consider private guiding services by Małgorzata Kasprowicz. Contact details for the guide are available on the zwiedzaniekrakowa.com website. Have a great trip and a wonderful New Year’s Eve in Kraków!
