Yes — and it’s easier than you think. Krakow has plenty of ready-made photo locations, but you’ll get the best results planning a route for a small, nimble group of 2-6 people. A small group moves faster, finds space in narrow streets more easily and can enjoy short shoots at several spots in one day without stress. In this guide you’ll find 20 places that combine the city’s classics with the Jurassic scenery of Ojcow National Park, plus practical advice to optimize time, travel and composition.
I use well-known facts about the places (for example what’s worth seeing in Ojcow National Park, how the Zakrzówek bathing area is organized, the Sukiennice café terrace), but everything is written in clear, practical language — so you can immediately plan a trip and a photo session for your group. If you’re unsure about anything before you go, check opening hours and any required tickets online.
1. Wawel — classic shots from the courtyard, the terraces above the Vistula and the hill; aim for sunrise or just before dusk to catch soft light and green reflections in the river.
2. Main Market Square and the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice terrace - Cafe Szał) — a panorama from the terrace gives a unique bird’s-eye feel; it’s a great stop after a morning session in the Old Town.
3. Kanonicza Street — cobbles, historic townhouses and narrow passages; perfect for portrait and architectural frames in the soft morning light.
4. Kazimierz (Szeroka Street, Plac Nowy) — atmospheric courtyards, murals and café gardens; lantern light in the evening creates a warm backdrop.
5. Vistula boulevards and Bernatka Footbridge — excellent for sunset; river reflections plus a Wawel view make an easy recipe for successful photos.
6. Zakrzówek — turquoise water, limestone cliffs and wooden piers; it’s a spectacular setting. In season the bathing area operates with specific rules and visitor limits, so plan off-peak visits or check local info before you go.
7. Kościuszko Mound (or Krakus Mound) — a panoramic viewpoint ideal for wide cityscapes at dawn or at night when the city lights come on.
8. Planty — the green ring around the center; lanes lined with chestnuts are very Instagram-friendly in May and in autumn when colors pop.
9. Floriańska Street and St. Florian’s Gate — strong urban frames with historic flair; use the contrast of old brick and contemporary passersby.
10. Podgórze and the Square of the Heroes of the Ghetto — a raw aesthetic, fewer crowds outside peak hours, powerful historical and modern frames.
11. Benedictine Abbey in Tyniec — calm, picturesque views of the Vistula with monastic details; midday light here can highlight the buildings and river.
12. Kraków Gate (Dolina Prądnika entrance) — a distinctive rock formation at the entrance to Ojcow National Park, a great first ‘Jurassic’ shot after leaving the city.
13. Pieskowa Skała Castle — Renaissance walls and terraces overlooking the Prądnik Valley, beautiful both from outside and at close range.
14. Maczuga Herkulesa — the emblem of Ojcow National Park; silhouette shots from the valley work best against a clear sky.
15. Łokietek Cave and Ciemna Cave — cave interiors can make moody photos, though visits often require a guide or have photography restrictions.
16. The “On the Water” Chapel in Ojcow — a unique wooden chapel next to the river, great for delicate, nostalgic frames.
17. Prądnik Valley viewpoints and rock formations — small rocks and clearings provide natural backdrops away from crowds; ideal for small photo teams.
18. Hidden Kazimierz courtyards — hunt for colorful doors, old stairways and graffiti; the best shots are spontaneous, small staged scenes.
19. New riverside spots and urban installations — quick, punchy frames with modern architecture and bridges in the background.
20. Small cafés and terraces with a view — a coffee break often produces better everyday-life shots than big staged scenes. Look for terraces with a view or cozy interiors for natural city-life frames.
Plan your route in time blocks: morning for monuments and terraces (Wawel, Kanonicza, Sukiennice), afternoon for the boulevards and Kazimierz, and a second day for Ojcow National Park and Zakrzówek. Small groups can easily change plans and enjoy short sessions at several spots.
Best times are sunrise (empty streets, soft light) and the evening “golden hour.” If you don’t want to wake up very early, choose less obvious places (courtyards, mounds, Prądnik Valley) outside peak tourist times.
Getting to Ojcow: by car the drive usually takes around 30–40 minutes from central Krakow, depending on traffic. There are also public and suburban bus connections serving the park’s outer areas; check timetables before you travel.
Parking and limits: popular spots in the park and at Zakrzówek have visitor limits and traffic organization in season; Zakrzówek operates as a bathing area with seasonal regulations and limits for piers. Verify current local information before you go.
Tickets and restrictions: some caves and exhibits in Ojcow National Park are ticketed and limit visitor numbers; keep this in mind if you plan to enter cave interiors with a small group.
Equipment: a phone plus a spare battery or powerbank is enough for most situations. If you plan to use a tripod in museums or on terraces, check site rules — in some places amateur photography is allowed but tripod or flash use may be restricted.
Café terraces and well-reviewed venues are great for a break and extra frames. The Sukiennice terrace (Cafe Szał) gives a Market Square view, and many cafés in Kazimierz and along the Vistula offer atmospheric interiors and gardens. If you want classics, traditional restaurants in the center usually have good reviews and beautiful interiors worth photographing.
Accommodation: for a small group it’s best to choose compact apartments in the center (Old Town, Kazimierz) or small hotels near the boulevards; this makes it easy to move quickly between photo spots and saves travel time.
Recommended examples: the Sukiennice terrace (Cafe Szał) for a morning coffee with a view, cafés in Kazimierz for afternoon shots, and several restaurants near the Market that are popular for their value and interiors. Always check reviews before booking and consider reserving a table for a specific time after your session.
Maczuga Herkulesa and many rock formations in Ojcow National Park have legends — adding a short note about the Łokietek legend or tales of Mistrz Twardowski can give your photos a storytelling edge.
Zakrzówek’s new bathing organization makes the place seasonally accessible for those who want to combine relaxation with photography — remember there are limits on the piers and seasonal opening hours.
In central Krakow sometimes just turning into a single gateway leads you into a completely different world: the hidden courtyards of Kazimierz and the Old Town offer many unexpected frames without crowds if you enter them between 10:00 and 15:00.
Trying to “do everything in one day” — it’s better to spread top spots over two days than rush and waste time on travel. Small groups should plan for walking time and short breaks.
Not checking opening hours and tickets — especially caves and exhibits in Ojcow National Park can be ticketed or guided at set times.
Wrong footwear and ignoring the weather — Ojcow has rocky paths and short climbs; wear comfortable shoes and layered clothing, especially outside summer.
Is Ojcow National Park suitable for a small group? Yes — it’s an excellent choice. Small groups can move comfortably along trails, see the main sights and quickly change the route depending on weather.
How much time do I need for the top spots? If you want the main highlights in Krakow and to add Ojcow National Park, plan 1.5–2 days. OPN’s key attractions (Pieskowa Skała, the Maczuga, caves) usually take half a day to a full day depending on pace.
Can I swim at Zakrzówek? In season Zakrzówek operates a municipal bathing area with specific hours and limits; access has sometimes been free, but rules and organization change seasonally — check current local information before visiting.
Do I need permission for group photos? Amateur photography in public spaces generally doesn’t require consent. For commercial shoots or using a tripod in some museums, check regulations in advance and contact the venue if necessary.
Day 1: early morning — Wawel and Kanonicza (morning light), late breakfast on the Sukiennice terrace (Cafe Szał), a stroll through the Planty, afternoon and evening in Kazimierz (courtyards, Plac Nowy).
Day 2: morning drive to Ojcow National Park (Maczuga Herkulesa, Pieskowa Skała), easy hike through the Prądnik Valley, return via Zakrzówek for afternoon relaxation or additional riverside frames.
If this guide helped you plan a photo trip around Krakow and Ojcow National Park, share your pictures with friends — a good practice is to send the article to people you’re planning the trip with.
If you prefer to entrust planning and guiding to a local expert, check the private guiding services offered by Małgorzata Kasprowicz; contact details are available on her website. Małgorzata can tailor a route perfect for small groups and adapt it to your interests. Good luck capturing beautiful frames — and enjoy discoveries off the beaten track!
