Arriving for a long weekend and want nice photos but don’t feel like queuing or pushing through crowds? You’re in the right place — I prepared a simple, pleasant route that combines the most photogenic spots in the city with places where it’s easier to catch your breath and take calm shots.
The route I recommend is a loop that takes about 2 hours at a relaxed pace with short stops for photos. You can shorten or extend it — I’ll also suggest alternatives if you prefer nature over busy streets.
Start: Planty / St. Florian’s Gate - 0–5 minutes. Begin at the green ring of the Planty park — a great, quiet introduction to the walk and a lovely frame for urban shots.
Main Market Square and Cloth Hall - 20–30 minutes. Photograph from the outside: symmetries, facade details and the square panorama. If you want quiet photos, come very early in the morning.
Kanonicza Street - 10–15 minutes. One of the most atmospheric lanes in the Old Town — cobbles, doors and street lamps create an ideal background for portraits and detail shots.
Wawel — ramparts and Vistula boulevards - 15–20 minutes. Photos of Wawel from the ramparts or from the boulevards along the Vistula give classic panoramas and beautiful reflections in the water.
Vistula Boulevards - 20–25 minutes. A walk along the river offers many natural compositions: bridges, benches, steps to the water and soft light near sunset.
Kazimierz — Szeroka Street, Nowy Square and side alleys - 20–25 minutes. Atmospheric courtyards, murals and charming cafés make a perfect setting for street photography and natural portraits.
Total: about 100–120 minutes, depending on pace and coffee breaks.
The route combines the most recognizable shots with places where it’s easier to find space for photos. We move from the center (where most of the frames are) toward the river and Kazimierz — a natural 'relief' from the biggest crowds.
That way you can get the most important shots without entering paid attractions or waiting in long lines. And importantly — you can adapt it to the weather and your fitness level.
Time of day matters most: morning (approx. 6:00–9:00) has the fewest people and the softest light. If you don’t get up that early, choose late afternoon and the golden hour before sunset — the light is fantastic then, but there are more people.
Long weekends bring increased tourist traffic. My tips: - avoid the central Market between 11:00 and 16:00, - if possible, shift your shoot to very early hours, - plan Zakrzówek and other nature spots outside Saturday afternoons.
Be flexible: if the center is too crowded, move to the Vistula boulevards, a mound (kopiec) or Wola Justowska — you’ll find more peace there.
Zakrzówek - beautiful turquoise frames and nature in the city. It gets popular in season, so choose early hours or weekdays.
Kościuszko Mound and Krakus Mound - great viewpoints with city panoramas and plenty of space for calm photos.
Decjusz Villa and Decjusz Park (Wola Justowska) - elegant, green backgrounds with fewer tourists than the center.
Zabłocie and the area around the Schindler Factory Museum - industrial, graphic backdrops, murals and modern spaces ideal for alternative shots.
Gear: a good phone with HDR mode is enough for most frames. If you have a camera, take a light wide-angle lens and a powerbank for your phone or lights.
Settings: on the street look for leading lines and natural frames (doors, arches, branches). For portraits use portrait mode or a wide aperture for shallow depth of field.
Composition: vary the camera height — low angles dramatize, higher angles create nice perspectives. In the center use symmetry and facade details.
Private shoots: if you’re doing a professional session, be courteous to residents and get permission if you enter private courtyards.
Don’t block sidewalks, and don’t set up tripods where they hinder passage. Narrow streets and courtyards are residents’ spaces — keep a respectful photography culture.
Watch out for pickpockets in crowded places; keep your phone and documents in a safe place.
Drones: the historic center has flight restrictions. If you plan aerial shots, check regulations and secure permissions where required.
- phone/camera + powerbank,
- comfortable shoes (cobblestones can be uneven),
- a light jacket or layer for changing weather,
- water and small change for coffee,
- offline map or saved points in your maps app,
- a smile and respect for locals — good rapport sometimes opens the best frames.
Want more nature and fewer people? Choose Zakrzówek + Kościuszko Mound instead of the busy Market. It requires a short transfer but gives space and great backdrops.
Looking for an industrial vibe? Zabłocie and the Schindler Factory area offer murals, concrete and new architectural frames.
Only have an hour? Focus on the Planty, Kanonicza and a short walk to the Wawel ramparts — it will give you the essence of Krakow and a few nice shots.
Krakow can be full of people, but it also has many quiet, beautiful places — you just need a bit of planning and flexibility. If you’d like, I can tailor the route to your preferences: shorter, longer, more natural or more urban.
Enjoy your walk and great shots! - Małgorzata Kasprowicz
