Two days are enough to see the most important places of the Old Town, feel the atmosphere of Kazimierz and visit the Dominican Basilica and its museum. You only need to plan the route wisely — choose sites close to each other, leave time for breaks and check which entrances are step-free when you're traveling with a stroller. This text is a ready-made day-by-day plan with accessibility tips and practical New Year's Eve information.
Day 1: Old Town, Main Market Square, the Dominican Basilica (Stolarska Street), Wawel Castle and the Vistula boulevards. Day 2: Kazimierz — stroll the side streets, Wolnica Square, the Bernatka footbridge and Podgórze. The route is arranged so most stretches are flat or have ramps, and the museums and exhibition centres worth visiting generally offer step-free entry or lifts.
Leave time between points for coffee, a warm obwarzanek and short rests — that’s the key to a successful weekend with a small child or with someone who has mobility difficulties.
Start from the Planty — a convenient, even promenade that leads straight to the Florian Gate and the Market Square. On the Market you’ll get the best photos, see the Cloth Hall and hear the trumpet hejnał. The Dominican Basilica (entrance from Stolarska Street) is more than a church — the complex includes a museum which has specific opening days and often free admission, but it’s worth checking hours before you arrive and, if needed, reserving a guided visit in advance.
Entrances to the monastery grounds and to some exhibition areas are often adapted, but this depends on renovation work and how a temporary exhibition is arranged. If you have a stroller, ask staff for the easiest entrance — they will usually point out a ramp or a lift. After visiting, walk along Grodzka Street toward Wawel; to avoid steep steps you can use a short section of the Vistula boulevards, which also offer excellent views of the castle.
Note that the Dominican Museum keeps seasonal opening days and hours — check them before your trip because not every weekday is open to visitors. If you plan a guided tour, bookings usually require a few days' notice.
Kazimierz is best explored along side streets: Izaaka, Jakuba, Wąska — this is a flat, photogenic route with many places to sit. Wolnica Square gives you a breather, and the areas around Szeroka and Miodowa have cafés with easy access. Many venues here have step-free entrances or just a single low step and staff willing to help with a stroller.
Crossing the Bernatka footbridge to Podgórze is a good alternative to the crowded centre. The Vistula boulevards are wide, even promenades — perfect for an afternoon rest with a stroller and for nice shots of Wawel in the background. If you want to enter underground museum spaces, ask in advance about lift access and step-free routes; not all parts of exhibitions are directly accessible with a stroller.
If you plan to visit one museum on the second day, pick the one with the simplest access and a shorter exhibition route so you don’t tire the youngest or oldest members of your group.
The Planty and the Vistula boulevards are the safest, even routes in the centre. Avoid narrow stepped passages at some gates and the steep climbs to the castle — you’ll get excellent views from the boulevards without climbing many steps.
Important: many museums offer alternative entrances for people with limited mobility — always ask for directions at the ticket desk. If you plan to enter smaller chapels or cloisters, check in advance because not all spaces are fully adapted. Bring a small mat or thin blanket, handy for short stops on the grass or on the boulevards.
Common mistakes include planning too-long routes without breaks, assuming every castle or museum entrance is step-free, and not checking the opening hours of churches and exhibitions. Avoid them by scheduling breaks every 1–2 hours and asking about the best entrance at each attraction.
The Dominican Basilica on Stolarska Street is an important city landmark — a sacral site with valuable artifacts and a museum section. The museum operates on selected days of the week and often runs guided tours by prior arrangement. Entry to the complex can be free in certain visiting formulas, but rules may change depending on events and temporary exhibitions.
If you plan to visit the interior or attend Mass, check the service schedule and chapel availability — not every Mass is held daily and some services have fixed times. For families with strollers: at the complex entrance it’s a good idea to ask about the most convenient entrance or whether you can use a step-free gate.
On New Year's Eve the city usually offers public events and special restaurant offers. In recent years some outdoor seating areas of restaurants have stayed open later than usual — on New Year's night some garden terraces have operated until around 3:00 a.m. This can be useful if you plan an outdoor dinner for safety reasons or to avoid crowds.
If you want to attend Mass on New Year's night, remember: December 31 is not a holy day of obligation in the Catholic Church unless it falls on a Sunday — then the faithful are obliged to attend the Sunday Mass. In practice it’s better to check the Mass schedule of your chosen church beforehand to adapt your sightseeing or dinner plans before midnight.
The best strategy for New Year's Eve is to reserve a table in advance, avoid the most crowded spots on the Market Square itself and choose a restaurant with a reliable reservation system so you don’t end up in queues with a child or a stroller.
If you’re looking for reliable, well-rated spots, consider cafés and restaurants with a long-standing local reputation and positive reviews. In the centre check small cafés near the Planty and on Kazimierz — these places usually have friendly entrances and quick snacks for a family. In Kazimierz you’ll find bars and restaurants serving regional dishes in a pleasant atmosphere; many are family-friendly and happy to help with strollers.
For the evening choose a place with an easy reservation system and a tested menu — that reduces surprises for a family with a small child. Book ahead for New Year's Eve to secure a comfortable seat and avoid long waits.
Many visitors don’t realise that the best views of Wawel can be had from the Vistula boulevards without climbing numerous stairs. This saves time and effort, and photos look just as impressive.
A frequent mistake is planning too many museums in a short time. It’s better to focus on one or two places and spend the rest of the time walking and enjoying a coffee break — that gives a much better impression of a short stay. Another mistake is not checking the opening hours of churches and museums — some sacred spaces have limited visiting hours and the Dominican Museum is open on selected days.
Is the Dominican Museum paid? The museum often offers free admission in specified formats, but guided tours usually require prior reservation. Check hours and rules before you come.
Do you have to go to church on December 31? According to Catholic rules, December 31 is not a day of obligation unless it falls on a Sunday — in that case participation in Sunday Mass is required.
How to avoid stairs with a stroller? Choose the Planty, the Vistula boulevards and Kazimierz side streets, and ask ticket desks about the easiest entrances or lifts.
Should I book a table for New Year's Eve? Yes — especially when travelling with a child or a stroller. A reservation brings peace of mind and keeps you out of queues.
Checklist before the trip: comfortable shoes, a small backpack for a bottle and snacks, a powerbank, a light cover for the stroller in case of rain, printed or offline maps showing short step-free stretches and reservations for museums and restaurants. If you plan to visit the Dominican Museum with a guided tour, book in advance because some timeslots require earlier arrangements.
If this article helped you — share it with friends or on social media. If you’d like to explore Kraków with personal assistance, consider booking a private guide with Małgorzata Kasprowicz — she organises tailored tours and can help design stroller-friendly routes. Good luck with your planning and enjoy your stay in Kraków!
