The Planty are the green belt encircling the Old Town — an ideal place to begin a school outing because they give children and teenagers space to stretch their legs while naturally leading to the main historical sights. Walking the Planty is comfortable in a variety of temperatures and easy to organize — it doesn't require tickets or long queues, and the route is relatively short and safe for school groups.
St. Florian's Gate is a symbol of Kraków's former defensive system and a great starting point for stories about the medieval city — its silhouette, the walls and the nearby Barbican spark students' imaginations. At the same time the area is close to the Market Square and other attractions, which allows flexible planning of the next stages. Beginning at the Planty and the Gate also helps avoid the biggest flows of tourists heading straight to the Market Square.
If you want to tour with a class in an easy-to-organize and substantively interesting way, this is a good place to begin — especially when you care about moving smoothly without long waits.
In the next sections you'll find a ready route plan, ideas for hidden gems, organizational tips and a FAQ that will make preparing the trip easier.
Remember — as an experienced guide I help design routes so they are lively, engaging and matched to the group's age.
1) Start: meeting at the Planty — a short warm-up and safety rules (5–10 minutes).
2) Short talk about the city's historic fortifications — walk toward St. Florian's Gate and discuss the function of city gates (15–20 minutes).
3) Stop at St. Florian's Gate and the Barbican — photos, legends and a task for students (15–20 minutes).
4) Walk toward the Market Square along Floriańska Street — note the townhouses, architectural details and local curiosities (20–25 minutes).
5) Short rest on the Planty or in the shade near one of the gates — questions, mini-quizzes, distribution of small educational materials (10–15 minutes).
6) Finish and practical information: reminder of rules, tips for the rest of the stay in the city (5–10 minutes).
This plan can be easily extended to 3–4 hours by adding a visit to the Royal Castle (Wawel), St. Mary's Church or a nearby museum — it all depends on the program and the group's stamina.
- Fragments of the old walls and towers — a perfect moment to show how the city's defenses used to work and compare that with today's urban planning.
- Small chapels and roadside altars by passages — places that hide local stories and anecdotes. Students enjoy short, surprising tales that stick in their memory.
- The greenery of the Planty — some paths have their own stories and people commemorated with plaques or sculptures. It's also a good chance to talk about the role of green spaces in a city.
- Floriańska Street — townhouses and shop windows with interesting displays, which you can use in a task like "who finds the oldest inscription or the smallest detail?".
- Spots less obvious to tourists — alleys and courtyards visible from the street that hide unexpected architectural details and traces of past city life.
- Choose off-peak times: mornings are usually calmer than afternoons. For school groups, mornings or early afternoons work best.
- Divide the class into smaller subgroups when visiting narrow spots — this makes supervision easier and improves comprehension.
- Use short, dynamic educational stops instead of long lectures — you'll keep students' attention and move through the highlights faster.
- If you plan to enter paid attractions, book tickets in advance — this saves time and avoids queues.
- Comfortable headset sets for groups help everyone hear the guide without crowding close — in practice they speed up the pace and improve order during the walk.
When organizing a school trip it's good to keep basic rates and service options in mind. Guided tours are offered in various pricing options depending on group size and tour length. For small groups (up to around 35 people) typical prices for Polish-language guiding start with rates for 2, 3 and 4-hour options — when booking, arrange details in advance.
For larger groups (over ~35 people) prices are often calculated per person — this helps with budgeting the school trip. Optionally you can use headset sets that improve delivery and comfort — these are available as an extra service. I always recommend agreeing on the exact route, number of hours and payment terms before departure so everything runs smoothly on site.
If you want, I can prepare a personalized offer and price list tailored to a specific class, the students' age and the time you have available.
Organizational note — when planning the outing remember to provide supervisors (according to your school's internal rules) and the simple essentials like a first aid kit, a contact list and a contingency plan in case of bad weather.
Sample items to confirm when booking: number of participants, students' ages, route length, possible entries to attractions, need for headset sets, and preferred start time.
- Younger children (grades 1–3): focus on short interactive stories, legends and simple tasks — aim for 60–90 minutes of active touring with breaks.
- Older pupils (grades 4–8 and high school): you can add more historical context, observation tasks and short discussions — 2–3 hours usually works well.
- For classes with special needs: discuss route accessibility and possible alternatives in advance so everyone feels comfortable.
- Include simple educational activities along the way — mini-quizzes, searching for architectural details, drawing tasks — this engages students and helps retention.
As a guide I adapt pace and storytelling to the group — the students' energy and curiosity are my compass.
- Comfortable shoes and clothing suitable for the weather — Planty and the Old Town's cobbles require stable footwear.
- A small first aid kit and basic dressing supplies.
- Water and small snacks — a short break on the Planty is a great time to refuel.
- A phone with a charged battery and a list of supervisors' contacts.
- A copy of the participant list and parental consents if required by the school.
- A notebook, pens and any educational materials the guide may provide or that the supervisor will prepare for the students.
Is the walk safe for a class? - Yes, the Planty–St. Florian's Gate route is well used and suitable for school groups. It's important to assign supervising adults and agree on simple rules for moving along streets.
How much time do we need? - A well-planned walk lasts from 1 to 4 hours, depending on whether you plan to enter attractions. A standard school program with warm-up and several stops is about 2 hours.
What if it rains? - We have alternative, more sheltered stops and shorter route variants. We agree on a contingency plan together before departure.
Will the guide prepare teaching materials? - Yes, I can provide short task cards or quizzes appropriate to the students' age.
How do I book a date? - It's best to send an e-mail or call in advance, provide the number of participants, ages, preferred date and time, and information about any planned entries to attractions.
- "Detail detectors" — students pair up and look for the smallest architectural detail, then write down what they found.
- Short legend theater — the group performs a chosen local legend in a 3-minute sketch.
- Observer's map — hand out a simple map with a few points to find and a small symbolic prize for the best pair.
- "True or Myth?" quiz — a short series of statements about Kraków; students hold up cards with their answers.
Those activities increase engagement and help fix the most important information.
If you're planning a school trip to Kraków and want it to be lively, safe and tailored to the students' ages — I will be happy to help. I prepare themed programs, teaching materials and organize routes to avoid queues and make the most of your time.
Write or call, give me the most important group details and I'll prepare a route proposal, pricing options and a packing list. Together we'll create a trip students will remember for a long time — without boredom, with humor and interesting facts.
See you on the Planty! - Małgorzata Kasprowicz, licensed guide in Kraków.
If you wish, I can also prepare a short version of the program adapted to a specific class — tell me which grade is coming and how much time you have.
Happy trip planning!
