Yes — you can visit the Market Square Underground, walk across the Main Market Square, spend a few hours in the atmospheric Kazimierz district and finish the day at Schindler’s Factory. The key is good time planning, booking tickets in advance and leaving yourself margins for breaks and walks between sites. The route is intensive but very rewarding - it combines urban archaeology, a centuries-old city center and a modern museum of 20th-century memory.
If you want to visit more slowly, split the route over two days; if you only have one day, set priorities and book the earliest time slots.
1) Start early - Market Square Underground: book the first entry at opening. This is a multimedia exhibition under the pavement of the Main Market Square that gives a great introduction to the city’s history and provides useful context for a walk around the Old Town. Plan 60–90 minutes.
2) Short walk around the Main Market Square: a quick look at the Cloth Hall, St. Mary’s Basilica and an optional stop for coffee or a obwarzanek (traditional bagel-like snack). Allow 30–45 minutes.
3) Walk to Kazimierz (about 15–25 minutes on foot): in Kazimierz spend 1.5–2.5 hours visiting old synagogues, Plac Nowy, the Remuh cemetery and the atmospheric side streets. Include time for a lunch or coffee break.
4) Schindler’s Factory (late afternoon or early evening): touring the exhibition about Kraków during the war usually takes 60–90 minutes. It’s worth booking entries in advance — during busy periods tickets sell out quickly.
Walking time and safety margins: leave 60–90 minutes for transfers, toilet breaks, possible queues or plan adjustments. If you want to add places (Wawel, MOCAK, Galicia Jewish Museum), include them only by shortening time spent in Kazimierz cafés.
Buy tickets online where possible. The most reliable slots are early morning and early afternoon; weekends and the summer season are the busiest times.
Check each museum’s current opening hours and entry rules — some branches limit daily visitor numbers and have specific last-entry times.
The Market Square Underground often offers shorter individual visits and occasionally has free-admission days — if you happen to visit on such a day, book your spot in advance because without a reservation it can be crowded.
For groups and school visits remember there are limits per guide; in such cases museums may require splitting the group or renting audio equipment.
Start early — first time slots reduce queues and give the quiet comfort of nearly-empty exhibitions and monuments.
Wear comfortable shoes and light layered clothing. Even short walks between attractions can be tiring, and museum interiors can be cooler.
Plan meal and toilet breaks. On an intensive day a well-timed 30–45 minute lunch break recharges you for more exploring.
Check luggage storage or cloakroom availability — backpacks can become a nuisance on a packed route.
Book tickets that allow cancellation if your plans might change; that flexibility helps when you need to adjust the day.
Kazimierz is full of highly recommended cafés and restaurants. For quick local snacks head to Plac Nowy - the famous zapiekanka (Polish open-faced baguette) stands are a classic choice.
A few well-known places often suggested to visitors: Mleczarnia (a cozy café), Wierzynek (historic restaurant at the Main Market Square, an option for a special meal) and Café Camelot (atmosphere and good desserts). Check current reviews before you go, as popularity can change with the season.
If you prefer something more modern, Kazimierz offers many bistros and fusion restaurants — pick a place with good ratings and the option to reserve a table, especially on weekends.
Trying to see everything in a short time — set priorities and, if needed, shorten the visit in one place instead of rushing without focus.
Not booking tickets for Schindler’s Factory and the Market Square Underground — this can mean long queues or missing your preferred slot. Buy tickets in advance.
Ignoring opening days and hours — some museums have irregular closures or special hours; check before you leave.
Not leaving buffer time for transfers and breaks — always allow an extra 30–90 minutes between the day’s main stops.
Beneath the surface of the Main Market Square there is a real city of historical layers - the Market Square Underground displays artifacts and the layout of medieval streets that are not visible from the square’s surface.
Schindler’s Factory is today a modern narrative museum - the exhibition mixes multimedia with stories of everyday life in Kraków under occupation, making the visit both engaging and emotionally powerful.
Kazimierz, although now full of cafés and galleries, was for centuries the center of Jewish life in Kraków and still preserves many sites of memory that you can visit almost 'within arm’s reach'.
Can I see all three sites in the same day? Yes, with good planning and advance ticket bookings it’s realistic.
How much time to reserve for each place? Market Square Underground: 60–90 min; Main Market Square quick walk and highlights: 30–45 min; Kazimierz: 90–150 min; Schindler’s Factory: 60–90 min.
Are there discounts and free days? Many museums offer student, family or reduced tickets and occasionally free-admission days - check the museum rules before your visit.
Is the route suitable for children? The Market Square Underground and Schindler’s Factory cover strong historical themes — consider the age and emotional readiness of children for heavier topics.
If you want to make the most of the day, book tickets in advance and pick one site as the main 'pillar' of your visit — give it the most attention and treat the rest as complementary.
If you prefer unplanned wandering, consider spreading this programme over two days — Kraków rewards slower exploration with more calm and deeper discovery.
If you’d like help planning a personalised route, I’m happy to assist - contact information for private guide Małgorzata Kasprowicz is available on zwiedzaniekrakowa.com. If you found this article helpful, share it with friends or on social media - you’ll help others plan a better visit to Kraków.
