Yes — in most cases you can significantly reduce waiting time or skip long lines altogether. The key is planning, using official ticket systems, choosing the right time of day and staying flexible with your schedule. The biggest bottleneck is usually Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory (Fabryka Schindlera), one of Kraków’s most visited museums. If you take a few steps ahead of time, you can save hours and spend that time on a relaxed walk through Podgórze and Kazimierz.
Before I list specific tricks, a short rule of thumb: plan in advance, buy tickets from official channels, avoid resellers who mark up prices, and pick off-peak hours (early mornings on weekdays or late afternoons outside the high season). If you want to visit several branches of the Museum of Kraków connected to the ghetto’s history, consider combined tickets — they’re often more convenient and faster.
If you’re visiting Kraków in season (May–September, long weekends, holidays) or on days with big events, book even more carefully — that’s when the difference between “waiting” and “actually visiting” is biggest.
Buy your ticket online from the museum’s official website — that’s the most reliable method. The Museum of Kraków has been introducing rules for online ticket sales, including limited advance windows, so check availability early.
Choose dates and times outside peak hours: weekdays (Tuesday–Thursday) and early mornings are usually best. Avoid Saturday mornings and midday hours during the high season. If possible, visit right after opening or in the later afternoon.
If you plan to visit several memorial sites nearby, buy a combined ticket (Memory Route) — it saves time and gives you more certainty of entry to multiple Museum of Kraków branches without separate queues.
Check limits and online purchase rules: rules about sale windows, number of tickets per transaction and whether tickets are named can matter. For named tickets you may be asked for ID, so bring it with you.
If you buy at the ticket office, know the rules: sometimes cash-desk tickets are valid only for a short period (e.g., 15 minutes) and are issued for the next available entry. That option suits visitors with a flexible schedule who want to try their luck on-site.
Schindler’s Factory is the spot where lines are usually longest. If it’s a priority for your visit — plan ahead and use only the Museum of Kraków’s official ticketing channels.
Check the museum calendar for the exact moment online sales open (tickets sometimes appear in the system at a fixed interval before the visit date). When purchase limits per transaction apply, buy as soon as the sale opens.
If you can’t get an online ticket, you can try the ticket office on the day of your visit — but be prepared to wait. Tickets sold at the box office are often for the next available entry, so patience is required.
The Pharmacy Under the Eagle is a small, moving museum and is often visited by people who’ve already been to Schindler’s Factory or are following the Memory Route. Because of its size, entries are sometimes organized in small groups; peak waits are usually shorter than at large exhibitions, but it’s wise to reserve a place if you visit with a bigger group.
Ghetto Heroes’ Square is an open public space rather than a ticketed site, but it attracts tourists and local ceremonies. To view the monument and the surroundings calmly, come early in the morning or in the late afternoon. During official commemorations or anniversaries the square can be crowded.
Combine visits when possible: see the Ghetto Heroes’ Square, enter the Pharmacy Under the Eagle, then go to Schindler’s Factory or MOCAK — spreading stops across time reduces pressure from queues.
Buying tickets from random resellers without checking credibility. Some resellers buy ticket blocks and resell them at inflated prices; it’s better to buy officially or choose a different time.
Assuming you’ll get in immediately on a weekend or in season. That’s a common mistake — plan it as a morning item or reserve an earlier slot.
Ignoring named-ticket rules. If the museum issues named tickets, you’ll typically need ID at entry. Being unprepared can lead to refusal of entry.
Trying to bypass queues through unofficial entrances or “skip-the-line” offers from unverified operators. These often end in confusion and extra cost.
Set an alarm on the day online ticket sales open — tickets sometimes go live at specific times and vanish quickly.
If you travel in a very small group, buy individual tickets rather than group ones — limits and rules can differ, and small groups are easier to fit into remaining slots.
Arrive in the area early and have alternatives planned: a walk along the Vistula, MOCAK, or coffee in a nearby café. Even if your entry is later, you’ll still enjoy the neighborhood.
After your visit pick one of the well-rated cafés or restaurants nearby — a few tried-and-true places around Kazimierz and Zabłocie: Massolit Books & Cafe (great for coffee and cake with a bookish atmosphere), Manoa Green Resto (plant-based options, near MOCAK/Zabłocie) and several trusted Kazimierz restaurants serving Israeli and Middle Eastern cuisine. These spots are well-regarded and perfect for relaxing after an intense visit.
If you prefer traditional Polish fare, consider well-reviewed restaurants on Kazimierz; reserving a table is a good idea, especially on weekends. After a long day a riverside view or a cozy interior is a nice reward.
Remember that local cafés often have friendlier atmospheres and shorter lines than places right at the main attractions — a great choice for a relaxed break.
Schindler’s Factory is only one stop on the Museum of Kraków’s Memory Route — a combined ticket lets you visit the Pharmacy Under the Eagle and Pomorska Street as part of a single purchase. That pairing simplifies planning and reduces the need for multiple separate tickets.
From time to time the museum and city authorities change ticketing rules to counter resale and ticket blocking — check official announcements before your trip.
Ghetto Heroes’ Square is a place of strong symbolic meaning and is used for civic commemorations and educational events — if you want to avoid crowds, look up the city events calendar before visiting.
Can I buy a ticket on-site without queuing? In practice, rarely — box-office tickets are often for the next available entries and may be limited. The safest option is to buy online.
What if I can’t find tickets online? Try changing the date or time, check combined tickets, or come early to the box office on the day of your visit and ask about released allocations. Have an alternative plan for the day.
Do named tickets mean someone else can’t use my ticket? If tickets are named, you’ll usually need to show ID at entry. It’s not worth risking using a ticket issued in another person’s name.
Can I visit Ghetto Heroes’ Square without a ticket? Yes — the square is public. However, some nearby branches of the Memory Route require tickets, so check opening hours and admission rules for the Pharmacy Under the Eagle and other sites.
If the museum introduces new ticket rules (for example online sales opening 90 days in advance or named tickets), plan to buy as soon as the sale opens. That’s often the only chance to get in on popular dates.
If someone offers “guaranteed tickets” outside official channels, be cautious — these offers can be expensive and unreliable.
When a place is closed or tickets are sold out, consider alternatives: a walk through Podgórze, MOCAK, the Vistula boulevards or other museums and exhibitions in the city — Kraków has many attractions that will make the day worthwhile.
Do you have your printed/digital ticket or purchase confirmation? Do you know the rules for named tickets and have an ID with a photo? Have you checked opening hours and possible seasonal closures? Do you have an alternative plan in case you can’t enter at the planned time (café, walk, another exhibition)? Are you planning to visit other points on the Memory Route and have you considered a combined ticket?
A small note: wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing — the Podgórze and Zabłocie area are ideal for walking, so it’s better to be prepared for a longer route than for standing in line.
If you found this article helpful — share it with friends or on social media so others can visit thoughtfully and comfortably.
If you’d like to explore Kraków’s memorial sites with a local guide, I invite you to use the services of Małgorzata Kasprowicz (Margaret Kasprowicz). As a local guide she can help plan a route that avoids queues and deepens your understanding of Podgórze and Kazimierz — contact details are available on zwiedzaniekrakowa.com.
Wishing you a calm and meaningful visit to Kraków.
