Yes — you can plan an intensive but comfortable two days in Krakow so you see the most important spots of the Old Town and visit Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory without wasting time in long lines. Follow a few simple rules: book tickets in advance when possible, choose less crowded times of day, and split attractions sensibly between mornings and afternoons. Below you will find a concrete plan and practical tips tailored to visitors who have only a short time but want to get to know the city well.
St. Mary's Basilica and Schindler's Factory are two of the busiest places — I will suggest when to visit them, how to buy tickets and which common mistakes to avoid. The article also includes food suggestions and a practical FAQ.
Day 1: Old Town and St. Mary's Basilica. Start early at the Main Market Square, admire the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) and the façades of the townhouses, and before noon enter the tourist area of St. Mary's Basilica — visits to the tourist section are scheduled at specific times, so it is best to come either just after the tourist area opens or in the late afternoon. After touring, have lunch at one of the recommended cafés or restaurants nearby (for example Café Camelot, Massolit Books & Cafe, Zazie Bistro). In the evening take a walk along the Vistula River or a short ride on the water tram if the weather allows.
Day 2: Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory and Kazimierz. Start with a morning visit to Schindler's Factory — the museum operates with timed entries, so having an online ticket for your chosen hour is the safest option. After the museum head to Kazimierz: the synagogues, Plac Now with its local bars and famous zapiekanki, and the cafés make an excellent complement to the historical experience. If you have time left, visit the Eagle Pharmacy (Apteka pod Orłem) or Pomorska Street — some combined tickets allow visiting several related sites over a few days.
Visits to the tourist part of St. Mary's Basilica take place at strictly defined times; part of the church remains freely accessible to worshippers. The tourist entrance usually requires purchasing a small charity-entry ticket (a small donation to support the church), which you can buy at the visitor service point at Plac Mariacki 7. The service point stops ticket sales 15 minutes before the end of visiting hours.
Most visitors enter the tourist areas from the south side; the main nave entrance is reserved for worshippers and is not the typical visitor entrance. Access to the tower (and the trumpeter who plays the Hejnał) is a separate attraction — places are limited, visits run in groups, and tower tickets are sold on site. Remember to dress respectfully and keep silence during your visit, especially when masses are taking place.
Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory (a branch of the Museum of Krakow) uses timed tickets; the surest way to avoid queues and missing available entries is to buy tickets online in advance. The museum opens online ticket sales with a certain advance window (sometimes tickets appear in the system up to several weeks or months in advance).
The museum ticket office also sells tickets on the day, but the offer is limited and there is no guarantee you will get the preferred hour. When buying online pay attention to the strict entry time — usually there is only a small tolerance window (a few minutes before or after the time on your ticket). To minimize crowds choose a morning hour on weekdays or a late-afternoon slot outside weekends.
In recent years the Museum of Krakow has introduced changes to ticket sales for some branches to improve accessibility and reduce resale. Examples include introducing named tickets in online sales and combined ticket options that allow visiting several related sites on one pass over a few days. These changes affect how you should plan a visit — so before your trip check the museum's official information about ticketing rules and current prices.
Buy your Schindler's Factory ticket online as soon as reservations open — that is the best way to avoid disappointment. If the system releases tickets for a specific window (for example many museums publish tickets a set number of days in advance), set a reminder and reserve right away. When entering the museum keep your reservation confirmation (printed or digital) with you.
For St. Mary's Basilica approach it so you have time to buy the small entry donation at the visitor service point before noon or in the late afternoon; avoid the peak tourist hours on the Main Market Square (approximately 11:00–15:00 on weekends). If you plan to climb the tower, arrive early — places are limited and tower tickets sell out quickly.
Plan your visits according to crowd rhythms: see museums in the morning while crowds are still minimal, and visit the Old Town in the afternoon when the light is gentler on the façades. Reserve museum tickets in advance, and buy entry donations for religious attractions before or after masses to avoid closed parts of the basilica.
If you want to avoid congestion at the basilica entrance, remember part of the church is always open to worshippers — do not try to enter through the main doors during services. For Schindler's Factory, arrive about 10 minutes before the time on your ticket; this gives enough time for entrance checks while not blocking the area for the next groups.
Massolit Books & Cafe (near the Market) is a great place for coffee and a quick pastry after a morning of sightseeing. Around the Main Market Square and Kazimierz you will also find highly rated restaurants: Zazie Bistro serves tasty European dishes, and Miód Malina offers a pleasant interior and traditional flavors. For local street snacks while strolling Kazimierz, stop by Plac Now for the famous zapiekanka.
For a short break choose a place with good reviews — in the center it is easy to find cafés and small restaurants of reliable quality. At lunchtime consider reserving a table or moving slightly away from the busiest tourist flows to avoid long waits.
Schindler's Factory deals with difficult and emotionally heavy topics related to the occupation and the fate of Krakow's residents — for this reason the museum is often described as less suitable for very young children; some organizers suggest the exhibition is more appropriate for teenagers aged around 13–14 and up. If you travel with children, plan your route and consider shortening the visit.
The museum generally cares about accessibility: many spaces are adapted for people with limited mobility (lifts, accessible routes), but always check current information on the museum's website before arrival. In St. Mary's Basilica access to some parts can be limited due to historic architecture.
Mistake 1: Assuming you can easily buy tickets on the day. At popular attractions (Schindler's Factory) ticket-office availability is limited — it is better to reserve in advance. Mistake 2: Entering through the main doors of the Basilica expecting to see the altarpiece. The main entrance leads to the worship area — the tourist section has a separate entrance. Mistake 3: Planning everything for the weekend without alternatives — if possible, schedule a morning time on a weekday to avoid the highest crowd levels.
The trumpeter's call from the basilica (the Hejnał) stops suddenly — one of Krakow's best-known legends says the melody breaks off in memory of a medieval watchman who was said to be shot while warning of an attack. The Veit Stoss Altarpiece in St. Mary's is one of the greatest achievements of Gothic sculpture in Poland and is worth spending a moment to admire. Schindler's Factory is not only the story of one man — the exhibition shows the wider context of life in occupied Krakow and connects the city's story with the fates of its inhabitants.
New ticketing solutions introduced by museums often aim to increase security and fairness of sales — one method is issuing named online tickets and combined tickets that allow entry to several branches within a defined period.
Do I have to buy a ticket for St. Mary's Basilica? — A small entry donation is charged for the tourist section and is the simplest way to see the presbytery and the altarpiece; part of the church remains free for worshippers.
Do I need a ticket for Schindler's Factory? — Yes, Schindler's Factory uses timed tickets. The safest option is to reserve online in advance.
What if tickets are sold out? — Check availability for different times and consider visiting on a weekday or in the late afternoon; as a last resort check the museum ticket office on the morning of your visit — sometimes there are still entries available on site.
From the Main Market Square you can walk to Schindler's Factory in about 20–30 minutes or take a tram (several lines stop near the Main Station, from where it is a short walk to the museum). Krakow's tram and bus network is well developed — use a transport app or timetable to match travel time with your ticket reservations. Remember that walking in the center is often the fastest way to move between sights.
Krakow in two days is ambitious but doable. The key is a good plan: reserve tickets for the main sites in advance, choose morning hours for museums and schedule Old Town for a calmer afternoon. This way you will see the Veit Stoss Altarpiece, hear the Hejnał and visit the moving exhibition at Schindler's Factory — all without tiring waits in queues.
If this article was helpful — share it with friends or on social media. If you would like to tour with a local, experienced guide, consider booking with Małgorzata Kasprowicz (Margaret Kasprowicz) — contact and details are available on the guide's website. I wish you a wonderful stay in Krakow and many unforgettable moments!
