We want children to learn the truth about the past, but we don’t want to frighten them. A few well-chosen places and short stories are enough to sow understanding and empathy. In Kraków there are family-friendly places of remembrance: spaces with short, clear narratives, interactive displays and outdoor monuments you can approach on a calm evening walk. The evening plan has the added advantage that the city is less crowded and it’s easier to reflect after a full day of sightseeing.
Rule of thumb: choose short stops (20–60 minutes), let children ask questions and speak in simple terms. Don’t go into graphic details — focus on the history of the places, memory and the people who helped others. If you see the subject is too hard for a child, change the tone to more universal themes (courage, helping, remembering).
In the suggested plan I combine evening walks, one longer museum visit with a good exhibition for younger visitors, and open-air and cultural places that look pleasant in the evening and invite children to explore calmly. All locations can be visited with a stroller; where necessary I add a short practical tip.
Start: Kazimierz — a neighborhood where history is visible at every step and which has a calmer atmosphere in the evening. Begin at Plac Nowy and walk toward ul. Szeroka and the Square of the Ghetto Heroes. This is an excellent kilometre to “tame” the topic: short stories about how people of different religions and cultures once lived here and how the war interrupted their everyday life.
Eagle Pharmacy (Plac Bohaterów Getta) - a short introduction: tell the children that this was a place where someone helped their neighbours in very difficult times. Inside you can see a reconstructed interior and photographs — it’s a good spot for a calm explanation of what it means to help others. Suggested visit time: 30–50 min. Check opening hours in advance, as this branch of the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków can be closed on selected days.
Evening ending: stroll toward the Vistula river boulevards or have a light meal in one of Kazimierz’s family-friendly cafés. Children often process new information better with a small ritual — for example ice cream or hot chocolate.
Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory is a place that tells the story of Kraków during the occupation — it hosts the exhibition “Kraków — the time of occupation 1939–1945” and separate materials for younger visitors. It’s not a purely “dark” site: much of the information is presented narratively, with exhibits and multimedia that help explain the context. I recommend planning this visit so it finishes in the evening, when the exhibition is less crowded.
For children: look for the parts of the exhibition called “Children of the War” or micro-histories — these personal stories are the easiest way to talk about war through individual experiences. Suggested duration: 60–90 min (you can leave earlier if the children are tired).
Practical: it’s a good idea to reserve tickets in advance and check opening hours — some days may have reduced hours. After the visit, take a short walk around Zabłocie — the area has a calm, artsy feel and several family-friendly places for dinner.
The former KL Płaszów camp area is an outdoor place of remembrance. It’s a serious space but accessible — many information boards and monuments are written clearly enough to be described to children in an understandable way. For younger children, limit the time and focus on the meaning of remembering and respecting places that honour people.
Important note for parents: the former camp area is not an amusement park — approach the topic with sensitivity. If you have preschoolers, choose a short route and simple sentences — for example, “Here we remember people who suffered a lot.” For older children you can tell more about the camp’s history, but avoid graphic details.
What else to know: the city is developing the site into a Museum — Place of Remembrance of KL Płaszów; investments are intended to tidy the area and enrich the outdoor exhibition. On site you’ll find monuments and information boards that can be read to children as parts of local history. The walk takes about 30–60 min, depending on pace and breaks.
If the children are tired after one of the visits or the topic is too heavy, have some gentle activities ready: a walk along the Planty, a short tram ride across the city, a visit to the Main Market Square (leave the underground museum for another time), or a climb up Krakus Mound for sunset — children enjoy small “expeditions” with a reward at the end.
Another idea: evening workshops or family tours offered by museums — check the programme of Oskar Schindler’s Factory and the Eagle Pharmacy; sometimes there are special family sessions or guided tours. If you prefer less general history and more personal stories, choose short, themed tales about specific people (for example the story of Tadeusz Pankiewicz and his pharmacy) rather than discussing the whole war.
Opening hours and tickets: check the official museum pages before you go — some branches have limited entry on particular days. Online booking for Oskar Schindler’s Factory is recommended in high season.
Transport: Kraków is compact — most of the places described above can be reached by public transport, on foot or by a short taxi ride. Trams and buses run regularly in the evening, but check timetables in an app or with your accommodation host. Many sites are stroller-accessible, but it’s wise to carry a small backpack with snacks and drinks for the children.
Emotional safety: ask open questions and give information in small doses. If a child asks for details, you can answer simply: “It was a very bad thing that happened to many people. We remember them and learn so this doesn’t happen again.” That is enough and leaves room for further conversation at home.
Day 1: Kazimierz - Plac Nowy, ul. Szeroka, Eagle Pharmacy (short visit).
Day 2: Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory - exhibition “Kraków — the time of occupation” and family-friendly materials (book tickets in advance).
Day 3: Former KL Płaszów site - outdoor place of remembrance and information boards.
Additionally: a short walk along the Vistula boulevards, Main Market Square for a sweet break, Krakus Mound for sunset.
For a preschooler: “A long time ago very difficult things happened in our city. Some people helped others, and we come here to remember them.”
For a younger schoolchild: “This part of the city was changed — people could not live here like before. Some neighbours helped, and others had to leave. We learn to be kind to others and to remember what happened.”
For a teenager: “These are places of remembrance that show the consequences of political decisions and violence. It’s worth knowing what happened to better understand the modern world and to remember the victims.”
Visiting traces of World War II with children is not a race. It’s better to see fewer places with attention and time for conversation. Evening walks in Kraków have a special atmosphere — soft lights, less traffic and a quiet that encourages reflection.
If you want, I can prepare a version of the route tailored to the age of your children (preschool / younger / teenagers) and provide exact opening hours and booking links — tell me the ages and which days you plan to spend in Kraków. Enjoy the planning and have a calm trip!
