Yes — if you focus on outdoor memorials and a few small museum branches. In Krakow many of the most significant traces of the occupation are visible from the street or exist as outdoor monuments and plaques; a few places — like the Pharmacy Pod Orłem or Pomorska Street — are small museum branches that can be visited quickly. If you want a full visit to Oskar Schindler’s Factory, plan for a longer stay and buy tickets in advance.
The route I suggest concentrates mainly on Podgórze, Zabłocie and the area along the Planty — this is where the memory of the war is particularly visible and many points are close together, so you won’t waste time commuting. At the end you’ll find practical tips on avoiding queues, what to check before you go and a short FAQ for visitors. Enjoy — but remember to show respect at sites of memory.
Estimated walking time: 1.5–2 hours (without entering Schindler’s Factory exhibition). If you plan to enter Schindler’s Factory, add at least 1–1.5 hours and reserve a timed ticket online.
1) Ghetto Heroes Square (Plac Bohaterów Getta, Podgórze) — 10–15 min: The center of this space is an expressive installation that recalls the deportations of ghetto residents. This is one of the places from which people were taken to camps; today a field of chairs and the expressive layout encourage reflection. A perfect starting point for the route.
2) Pharmacy ‘Pod Orłem’ (branch of the Museum of Krakow) — 20–30 min: A small museum in the former pharmacy building that operated within the ghetto. The story of Tadeusz Pankiewicz and his assistants is concentrated and moving — the visit is short and the exhibition complements the context of Ghetto Heroes Square very well.
3) Pomorska Street 2 (branch of the Museum of Krakow, former Gestapo) — 20–30 min: The former Dom Śląski building used by the Gestapo; in the cellars you can see cells with prisoners’ inscriptions. This is a place of silence and powerful testimony, where the exhibition introduces the history of occupational terror against Krakow residents.
4) Site of the former camp and the KL Płaszów Memorial Site — 20–25 min (walk around the area and visit the Monument to the Victims of Fascism): The former concentration camp area in Podgórze is a memorial landscape with monuments, preserved remnants and an outdoor exhibition. This place invites reflection; much of the display is outdoors so it can be seen without long queues.
5) Monument to the Victims of Fascism (Płaszów) and the so‑called “Martyrology Monument” — 10–15 min: The central commemorative point on the former camp grounds; its history and symbolism are essential for understanding the scale of the tragedy connected to Płaszów.
6) the “Grey House” and fragments of post‑camp buildings (Płaszów) — 10–15 min: Nearby you can still find buildings that were part of the camp infrastructure or connected to prisoners’ fates; today these spots help complete the picture of the memorial area.
7) Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory (Lipowa, Zabłocie) — from outside 10–15 min; full visit 1.5–2 hours: The museum tells the story of life in occupied Krakow and the fate of Krakow’s Jewish community. If you prefer a short walk without queues, look at the factory façade and the surrounding Zabłocie area (MOCAK/industrial Zabłocie); enter only with a reserved timed ticket.
8) Fragments of the ghetto boundary and commemorative plaques around Podgórze/Kazimierz — 10–15 min: Several spots mark the former line of the ghetto, with plaques and small memorials — an easy stretch of the route that helps orient you to the city’s wartime layout.
9) Collegium Novum and academic memorials (Sonderaktion Krakau) — 10–15 min: An important point for the memory of Krakow’s academic community — in November 1939 professors were arrested in a criminal action. At Collegium Novum and nearby cemeteries there are plaques and memorials that are quick to visit.
10) Remains of the Fortress Krakow fortifications (view from outside, e.g. Fort Benedykt) — 10–15 min: Although parts of the fortifications predate World War II, the forts and their 20th‑century modernizations recall the city’s military history and were used in the 20th century as well. From the outside this is an interesting endpoint for those interested in military history.
Start: Ghetto Heroes Square (Podgórze) – 10 min (chairs, context of deportations).
Next: Pharmacy Pod Orłem – 20 min (short, moving museum interior).
Short walk to Pomorska Street 2 – 20 min (cells, introductory exhibition).
From Pomorska walk to the Płaszów area: Monument to the Victims of Fascism and former camp grounds – 25 min (outdoor exhibition, monument).
Finish: cross the Vistula to Zabłocie — view Oskar Schindler’s Factory from outside and explore the area (MOCAK/industrial Zabłocie). If you have an extra 30–90 min and a reserved ticket, enter Schindler’s Factory.
- Plan ahead: Schindler’s Factory has timed entries — if you want a full visit, buy a timed ticket online. Without it, it’s better to limit the visit to the exterior.
- Timing: The best times for the route without crowds are early morning (museum openings) or late afternoon on weekdays. Weekends and holidays bring more visitors to Schindler’s Factory and Ghetto Heroes Square.
- Small museums: Pharmacy Pod Orłem and Pomorska Street are small branches — visiting them outside peak hours (for example just after opening) gives you the best chance to see them without waiting.
- Transport: Zabłocie and Ghetto Heroes Square are well served by trams — this helps you hop between points without spending extra time on long city walks. Check current tram schedules and any route works before you go.
- Reservations and tickets: Official museum sites and city portals have the most reliable opening hours and availability info. Check them before your visit, especially during holidays and the summer season.
- Respect: Memorial places (Płaszów, Pomorska, Pharmacy Pod Orłem) require quiet and restraint. Avoid loud behaviour, gatherings and inappropriate conduct near monuments.
- Photography: Outdoor photography is usually allowed; in small museum branches check the rules at the entrance — flash or interior photography may be restricted. If unsure, ask staff.
- Accessibility: Not all memorial sites are fully accessible for people with reduced mobility — check in advance about entrances and alternative routes.
- Clothing and shoes: Parts of the Płaszów area and some post‑camp fragments include unpaved and muddy paths — comfortable closed shoes are recommended.
- Time and weather: Much of this route is outdoors — rain can make the walk longer or less comfortable. Always carry a bottle of water.
- Zabłocie and Podgórze have several friendly cafés and restaurants — plan a short break at one of the riverside cafés to catch your breath after an emotional walk. Check opening hours before you go.
- If you want a longer break after visiting Płaszów and Podgórze, there are simple bars and cafés nearby offering local snacks and coffee — a calm place is a good choice to unpack the emotional weight of the visit. Recommendation: choose a venue with a neutral atmosphere; avoid noisy places directly adjacent to memorial sites.
- Alternative: To feel the city buzz after the walk, head to the Main Market Square (Rynek Główny) or Kazimierz — there you’ll find the widest dining options, but expect more tourists and crowds.
Q: Can I visit Schindler’s Factory within this 2‑hour plan? - A: A full visit to Schindler’s Factory usually takes about 1.5–2 hours and requires a timed ticket. If you want to keep the itinerary to 2 hours without queues, it’s better to view the factory from the outside and spend time at Pharmacy Pod Orłem, Pomorska and the Płaszów area.
Q: Is the Płaszów area free to visit? - A: Parts of the former camp area and many monuments are on open land (free access), while certain exhibitions or newer museum branches on the site may have access rules — check current information before your visit.
Q: Are these places suitable for families with children? - A: Yes, but the subject matter is heavy and may be difficult for younger children — decide based on your family. Museums sometimes offer displays adapted for different audiences, but many exhibits related to Płaszów, Pomorska and the Pharmacy deal with serious and moving topics.
Q: How much time should I spend at each place? - A: The plan gives approximate times; if you plan to enter Schindler’s Factory, add time for the ticketed visit. Pharmacy Pod Orłem and Pomorska are shorter visits (up to 30 min each), and the Płaszów area is worth a calm 20–30 minute walk.
- Remember you are visiting places of memory related to human suffering — behave respectfully, do not sit on monuments and avoid loud accessories (loud conversations, music).
- Take photos respectfully: document but don’t sensationalize. Avoid taking selfies in particularly sensitive spots — a quiet moment of reflection is often a better souvenir than a social media image.
- Check in advance: opening hours, guided tour times and days when branches may be closed.
- If you want to go deeper: after a short walk like this it’s worth dedicating a separate day to a full visit to Schindler’s Factory or a trip to the Auschwitz‑Birkenau Memorial — both require more time and advance reservation.
