Kraków offers excellent places to experience contemporary art — from the well-known MOCAK to the intimate Cricoteka and the established Bunkier Sztuki. With a medium-sized group (7–30 people) you can organise an interesting, comfortable route, but it’s worth planning the visit to avoid queues, access issues or unnecessary rushing. In this article you’ll find ready-made route suggestions (2–3 hours, half day, full day), practical information about bookings and tickets, logistical tips, food recommendations and answers to frequently asked questions.
Visiting with a larger group can be a fantastic experience but it requires preparation. With a few proven rules (book in advance, split into smaller subgroups if needed, use an audio system) your group will see the most important exhibitions without stress and in an engaging way. Let’s start with suggested routes.
For guests who only have a few hours, I recommend a route concentrated in the city centre or within a single district to limit travel time. Example: start at Bunkier Sztuki (Plac Szczepański) — visit a temporary exhibition for 45–60 minutes with a short guide commentary, then walk around the Planty and take a coffee break at a nearby café. This programme works well for groups of 7–20 people.
If the group prefers a focus on a single artist: choose one venue (for instance Cricoteka) and plan a themed tour of 60–90 minutes plus discussion in a café. This model is great when you want to present a specific movement, author or technique and leave time for conversation.
A short route is also ideal for the first day of stay — it helps ‘get comfortable’ with contemporary art without tiring participants and leaves the rest of the day for a stroll through the Old Town or Kazimierz.
One of the most natural combinations is MOCAK and the nearby historical branch: Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory. Both are located in the Zabłocie area, which simplifies logistics and minimizes transfers. In practice you can plan 60–90 minutes for MOCAK (permanent or temporary exhibition) and about 60 minutes for Schindler’s Factory, plus a short coffee break or light lunch in the museum café.
MOCAK has a café and a bookshop in the building, which is very convenient for group breaks. When planning a half-day route, allow an extra 30 minutes for moving between sites and possible ticket lines.
This programme works for groups of 10–30 people, provided you book tickets and, if needed, a guided tour in advance.
If you have a full day available, build a programme that combines different experiences: MOCAK in the morning (contemporary displays + café), then lunch in Zabłocie or Kazimierz, an afternoon visit to Cricoteka (the museum-workshop of Tadeusz Kantor) and a walk through Kazimierz ending at one of the recommended restaurants.
This schedule gives participants contrasts: contemporary art in museum spaces, then a more intimate, artistic experience at Cricoteka and a culinary finale in the heart of the former Jewish quarter. It’s a great option for groups of 12–30 people, provided you make reservations for museums and restaurants ahead of time.
Also plan a plan B for bad weather (especially if part of the programme is outdoors) and reserve a larger table at the restaurant or a dedicated space in a café.
Many Kraków museums have clear rules for groups: minimum group size, mandatory reservations, visit size limits and requirements regarding sound systems. It’s good to check each institution’s policy in advance and confirm the booking by email or phone.
Practical rules to remember: museums usually offer group tickets from around 7–10 people; some institutions require guided-tour bookings well in advance (for example at least 4–7 days); for organisational and safety reasons many venues recommend a single guide per 25–30 people.
In some places (especially historical routes or heritage interiors) a tourguide system (headsets) is required above a certain number of participants — ask about the possibility of borrowing equipment or the rules for using your own. Booking tickets online and confirming reservations a few days before the visit greatly reduces the risk of unpleasant surprises.
Book group tickets and guided tours with advance notice — ideally several days, and in the high season even 1–2 weeks beforehand. For Cricoteka it’s customary to book guided visits at least a week before; other institutions often have similar guidelines.
Confirm payment terms and cancellation policies. Many museums require payment by a set date or charge the group if it fails to cancel in time. Check whether the guide fee covers only the guide service or if entrance tickets for participants must be added.
If you arrive by coach, check the drop-off points and parking options near the museum. Not all institutions have dedicated coach parking, so arrange this ahead of time to avoid wasting time searching for a spot.
Good pacing and interaction are essential. For groups of 15–30 people consider: - splitting the group into smaller subgroups (e.g. 10–15 people) with short guide rotations, - using tourguide/headset systems to maintain attention and avoid disturbing other visitors, - a 5–10 minute introduction before entering the exhibition so participants know what to expect and which themes will be discussed.
Ask questions and engage: include short prompts, invite people to share opinions, but watch the time so you don’t linger too long at a single work. For groups of 20+ it’s good to plan one longer break for discussion or coffee.
Adapt language and level: if the group is mixed in age or language skills, prepare a simpler introduction and invite interested participants to a deeper part. For international groups consider a tour in English or arranging translation.
When planning lunch and coffee breaks, choose places that can handle larger groups and accept reservations. Consider: MOCAK Café (the MOCAK building café also has an outdoor area and can cater to larger numbers), Bunkier Café (after renovation the café operates in a refreshed space near Bunkier Sztuki), and well-regarded restaurants: Bottiglieria 1881 (for an exceptional meal), Zazie Bistro (Kazimierz), Orzo, Nolio and other popular spots often recommended in food guides.
For groups seeking a quicker, informal option, Plac Nowy in Kazimierz offers many street-food choices and smaller bars that often accept groups. If you plan a full sit-down meal for 20+ people, reserve in advance and confirm the menu and service times to avoid long waits.
If you’d like a private event after the visit, some museum cafés can offer exclusive hire — for bigger groups this is a comfortable solution.
Not booking in advance — in season this is the most frequent mistake. It results in long queues, no free slots for guided tours or the need to split the group at the last minute.
Trying to include too many stops in too short a time — the result is a tired group and no real engagement with the art. It’s better to plan fewer stops and allow more time for conversation.
No communication plan — with a dozen or more people it’s easy to get scattered. Appoint a contact person from the group, keep a list of participants, a phone number for the guide and set meeting times.
Ignoring museum requirements (for example headsets, visitor limits) — check the chosen venue’s rules before you go and ask about equipment and group-size requirements.
MOCAK and Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory operate within the same historic Zabłocie area — this makes combining both attractions in one programme easy.
Many institutions offer discounts or special conditions in cooperation with city programmes or cards such as local sightseeing cards — check whether any card applies to your group.
Museum cafés can accommodate fairly large groups and often offer group menus — ask about these options when booking your visit.
Is a group of 7 already considered a ‘group’ by museums? - In many institutions yes — group tickets typically start from about 7–10 people, but check the rules of the specific museum.
Do we need our own guide? - You can use an institutional guide or hire an external private guide. In either case confirm the maximum number of people per guide and any technical requirements (headsets).
How much time to allocate for MOCAK? - For the permanent exhibition plus one temporary show plan about 60–90 minutes; groups who want to discuss or take notes should allow more time.
What to do if the group is 25–30 people? - Consider splitting into subgroups with two guides, renting a tourguide system or planning shorter, rotating visit blocks.
1) Confirm museum bookings (tickets + guided tour) at least a few days before the visit. 2) Check rules about minimum group size and single-entry limits. 3) Reserve a lunch/coffee spot if you plan a group break. 4) Prepare a participant list, the contact phone number of the person in charge and a contingency plan for delays. 5) If you plan to use audio equipment, check rental conditions with the museum in advance.
If you found this guide helpful, share it with friends or on social media. If you would like a guided tour led by an experienced private guide — Małgorzata Kasprowicz is happy to create a tailor-made programme for your group. Contact and offers are available via the ZwiedzanieKrakowa website. Good luck with your planning and enjoy the artistic experiences in Kraków!
