Krakow is a city that loves to tell stories — it has countless monuments, legends and places full of character. Coming with a guide lets you quickly discover the most important sights and hear stories you won’t find in an ordinary tourist leaflet. I, Małgorzata, have led thousands of people around the city and I’m happy to help you plan the perfect day in Krakow — from museum visits, through St. Mary’s Church and the hejnał, to a day trip to Zakopane.
If you’re visiting with a school group or booking a corporate trip, it’s worth deciding in advance what the priority is: short, energetic tales full of curiosities for children, or longer, deeper visits to museums. That way we can plan a route adapted to the participants’ ages and pace. When booking, please provide the number of participants, an approximate duration and thematic preferences — this helps me prepare materials and any headset sets.
We usually meet at the Main Market Square — a convenient starting point that’s easy to reach from anywhere in the city. If you have special requests (for example entry to a specific museum, a Wawel tour that includes selected chambers, or a trip to Zakopane), please tell me in advance so I can reserve tickets and plan logistics.
Remember comfortable shoes, water and documents that give entitlement to discounts (school ID, student card, senior card). For school groups I have ready-made scenarios and educational activities that engage pupils and turn the trip into an adventure.
Krakow has over fifty museum branches, so choosing can be difficult. The most universal picks for a first visit are Wawel (castle and cathedral), the National Museum, the Czartoryski Museum and the Main Market Square Underground. Each has a different character — from royal treasures, through fine art, to the everyday history of city residents.
- Wawel: ideal for those interested in Poland’s history and architecture. Some chambers are available only with a guide, so factor that into your plan.
- City museums and thematic exhibitions: great if you want to explore a specific topic, e.g. modern art, the history of Krakow’s Jewish community or sacred art.
How to plan museum visits? I recommend starting with one or two museums per day so the tour doesn’t tire participants. For school groups I often combine shorter outdoor stories with an organized museum visit to keep younger listeners engaged. From experience: quality over quantity — one well-guided museum visit is worth more than three rushed ones.
For large groups I offer headset sets (audio guides) — this is comfortable for participants and makes work easier in crowded places. With group reservations I can help purchase tickets in advance, which saves time and stress on the day.
St. Mary’s Church is one of Krakow’s most recognizable symbols. Inside you’ll find, among other treasures, the famous altarpiece by Veit Stoss — a masterpiece of Gothic sculpture best appreciated with a guide who explains the scenes and details.
The Hejnał mariacki has been part of Krakow’s identity for centuries — the tune played from the tower of St. Mary’s Church rings out across the Main Market Square and evokes the city’s history. I tell the legend of the hejnał, explain why the abruptly interrupted melody became a symbol of memory and courage, and describe what the trumpeter’s job looks like in practice.
Practical note: access to the church tower is regulated and depends on opening hours and current restrictions. If you dream of going up the tower, it’s worth requesting this in advance, and for larger groups we should plan an alternative in case entry is not possible. Even without going up, the story of the hejnał and the histories connected to St. Mary’s can captivate participants of any age.
A practical reminder for school groups — silence and appropriate attire are expected inside the church (especially when visiting sacred monuments). I remind groups of simple behaviour rules before entering and suggest brief guidelines so the visit is comfortable for everyone.
A trip to Zakopane is a classic: mountains, oscypek (smoked sheep’s cheese), wooden architecture and a stroll along Krupówki. You can get there from Krakow in one day and see the main attractions; I help plan the trip to be safe and interesting for the whole group.
A typical one-day itinerary: depart Krakow in the morning, walk around Zakopane (Krupówki, Villa Koliba or other examples of Zakopane-style architecture), a short mountain walk — for example Strążyska Valley or Gubałówka — and return to Krakow in the evening. Depending on interests, the program can be adjusted: more time for a mountain walk or more time for shopping and local cuisine.
For school groups and larger parties I recommend: - agreeing departure and return times in advance - booking transport suited to the group size - preparing an alternative plan in case of bad weather (museums in Zakopane, open-air museums or shorter walking routes).
If you want to tour Zakopane with me, I’ll help with bookings and propose a route matched to the group’s age and fitness. For pupils I prepare regional educational activities so the trip is not only a walk but also a valuable lesson.
A school trip is more than sightseeing — it’s a lesson in history, culture and cooperation. When working with young people the most important things are activity dynamics, clear rules and tasks that activate students. I have ready scenarios for different ages — from classic legend-filled stories for the youngest to in-depth historical activities for older students.
A few practical tips for teachers and supervisors: - Prepare a participant list and contact numbers for supervisors. - Remind students about suitable clothing and the weather — in Krakow or Zakopane conditions can change quickly. - If you plan to enter a museum, inform me in advance — I can help reserve group tickets. - For larger groups we use headset audio-guide sets, which greatly facilitate communication.
I organize trips interactively — quizzes, short field assignments and elements of historical drama help keep attention and make knowledge stick. Teachers often say that pupils return to school retelling funny anecdotes — that’s the best sign the trip was successful.
When booking a tour bear in mind a few practical points: - Prices depend on group size and tour duration; I offer special rates and packages for school groups. - I provide headset sets that I loan to groups — ideal for conferences and large tours. - Bookings are best made in advance, especially during the tourist season and for trips to Zakopane.
If your budget is limited, decide priorities: is a museum visit more important, or a longer city walk? I can suggest compromise routes that combine both elements without rushing.
Also remember discount documents — pupils and students often have reduced museum fares, so keep those IDs handy. For groups booking a tour with me I prepare clear logistical information before departure: meeting point, approximate duration, and suggestions for breaks and meal locations.
I tell stories with passion, focusing on curiosities and anecdotes that engage every participant — from children to seniors. I like to blend historical facts with humour and interaction so the narrative flows naturally and remains easy to understand.
I hold a state guide’s license for Krakow (since 2012) and have experience leading tours for many types of groups — school classes, corporate trips and international guests. I also have the knowledge and access needed to organize entries to selected museums and chambers on Wawel.
For large groups I provide sound equipment and headset sets, which simplifies guiding in crowded places and ensures everyone hears the story clearly. My goal is that each person leaves the tour with a new curiosity and a smile.
- How long is a standard Old Town tour? - Usually 2–3 hours, depending on how many attractions we want to visit and whether we plan museum entries.
- Will you help with booking museum tickets? - Yes, with advance booking I can purchase group tickets and check availability for selected chambers.
- Is it worth going to Zakopane for one day in winter? - Yes, provided the group has appropriate clothing. In winter mountain routes require more caution, so we choose safe, shorter walks or attractive indoor options in Zakopane.
- What are the rules of conduct in churches and museums? - A simple rule: respect and quiet where required, and appropriate clothing. I remind the group of the main rules before the visit so everything goes smoothly.
- What if the weather spoils outdoor plans? - I prepare alternative plans: routes less dependent on weather, extra museums or shorter walks. Flexibility helps keep the group in good spirits.
Krakow is a dream city for photography: the Market Square, Wawel and Kazimierz offer countless frames. A few suggestions: - Early mornings and late afternoons provide the most beautiful light and fewer people in photos. - Check photography rules inside museums — it’s not allowed everywhere. - For group photos it’s useful to agree on a meeting spot in advance, because the crowd on the Market Square can be disorienting.
If you have special photo wishes (for example a shot in front of a particular townhouse or with a view of Wawel), tell me in advance — I’ll suggest the best spots and times to avoid the crowds.
