Yes — and without rushing. With a well-thought plan you can combine the Old Town’s main sights, short trips outside the centre and several proper coffee breaks over three days. The key is to concentrate routes (for example Wawel — Royal Route — Kazimierz) and to schedule breaks at reliable places that accept groups or have comfortable outdoor seating. In summer, booking ahead saves the day and avoids long waits for tables.
For groups of 7–30 people the best approach mixes short walks with cafés where coffee + dessert or a simple lunch can be ordered quickly and efficiently.
Start at Wawel in the morning, then walk the Royal Route through the Main Market Square toward the Floriańska Gate. Near Floriańska take time to see the surviving fragment of the medieval city walls and the Barbican — the only place in Kraków where parts of the medieval fortifications with towers and the massive Barbican structure remain. The Barbican and Floriańska Gate are not only a beautiful photo backdrop but also a convenient orientation point on the route between the Market and Kazimierz.
After this stretch it’s a good idea to plan a coffee break where your group can sit comfortably. Around the Main Railway Station and the Planty there are cafés with more indoor and outdoor seating, including places serving specialty coffee and simple desserts — perfect for a first day when the pace is a little faster. In summer look for shaded gardens or air-conditioned interiors.
The Church of the Transfiguration, commonly known as the Piarist Church, stands on Pijarska Street and was built in the early 18th century. Erected in 1718–1728 with a façade completed in the mid-18th century, the building is one of the more interesting examples of late Baroque sacred architecture in Kraków. The interior is decorated with rich polychromes and sculptural ornamentation, and the lower part of the church — the crypt — today hosts exhibitions and cultural events.
The crypt contains restored paintings and is sometimes used for temporary exhibitions. The church also holds an urn with the heart of the priest Stanisław Konarski — a lesser-known historical detail often appreciated by visitors. For medium-size groups a short visit inside the church is a great way to show a richly decorated Baroque interior off the usual tourist track. If you plan to enter the crypt with a group, check opening hours and any rules or limits for larger groups in advance.
Kraków has a strong specialty coffee scene and excellent patisseries offering high-quality desserts — from French pâtisserie to local pastries. Choose places with good organisation and experienced staff so the break is pleasant for everyone and does not take too long. Look for cafés and bakeries that appear on local lists and reviews — they usually maintain consistent quality and often know how to handle larger groups.
Examples of types of places to consider and a few well-known names: specialty cafés and roasteries (for example Karma Coffee Roastery, Soho Coffee, or Coffee Proficiency), book-cafés like Massolit Books & Café, historic coffeehouses such as Café Noworolski or Café Camelot in the Old Town, Jewish-culture cafés in Kazimierz like Cheder, and French-style bakeries like Charlotte for pastries. Many of these venues offer shaded terraces or indoor spaces suitable for groups in summer.
For guests looking for particularly high-end sweets, local patisseries often accept group orders or can prepare tasting sets on request. If you plan a dessert tasting for 7–30 people, notify the venue ahead of time and ask about group options and delivery times to make the break efficient.
Not every bistro or small café by the Market can seat a dozen people at once, so pick places that explicitly mention group reservations or have larger rooms/terraces. Venues used to group bookings often offer a group menu, table arrangements and order coordination, which speeds up service and reduces chaos. Before booking ask about setting a fixed menu, managing allergies and diets, and expected waiting time.
Types of group-friendly places: restaurants with separate banquet rooms, hotel restaurants, venues that partner in group services (able to take 10–150 guests), and patisseries that can prepare take-away dessert boxes for larger numbers. In summer many cafés expand with outdoor seating — a big advantage when serving groups on hot days. If you want a quick, stress-free break, request table layout and pre-prepared drinks so guests can be served on arrival.
Locals sometimes jokingly call the Barbican the “rondel” — a friendly little anecdote that lightens the mood during a walk and works well with photos for younger and older guests alike.
The Piarist Church hides unexpected details: the urn with the heart of Stanisław Konarski and illusionistic polychromes referencing Italian traditions — small discoveries that appeal even to visitors who didn’t expect Baroque stories. Over coffee it’s also nice to tell how fragments of the city walls were preserved and why most of the fortifications were taken down in the 19th century.
No reservation — the most frequent mistake. In summer terraces and popular cafés fill up quickly. Simple fix: call ahead and confirm a booking for a specific time.
Scheduling breaks in the busiest hours — avoid 1:00–3:00 PM as the only lunch slot; if possible split the group into two turns or plan a lighter coffee-and-dessert break in that period.
Not accounting for diets and allergies — ask participants about dietary needs before booking; good venues will prepare alternative menus.
Neglecting arrival/coach logistics — if the group arrives by coach, check drop-off and parking rules; in the centre it’s often best to drop people off and park a bit further away.
Book ahead — especially if you are a group of 10–30. Ask for a phone confirmation the day before the visit.
Choose places with a garden and shaded zones — summer heat can spoil the mood even for the most enthusiastic sightseers.
Plan shorter breaks — 45–60 minutes is the optimal time for coffee and dessert with a group; it allows you to continue the route without pressure.
Have a plan B in case of rain — check options to move the booking indoors or to order drinks and pastries to-go.
Do you have to reserve a table for 7 people? Definitely yes in the summer season; a phone reservation reduces the risk of long waits.
How long should a coffee-and-dessert break last? For groups of 7–30 plan 45–60 minutes; if some people will order main-course dishes add 15–30 minutes.
Will specialty cafés handle larger filter and pour-over orders? Most speciality cafés can prepare larger numbers, but for group orders it’s best to arrange a backup plan (espresso-based drinks plus drip as an alternative) in advance.
What to do with group luggage and backpacks? Choose places with enough room at the tables or nearby storage (hotels, some museums).
Day 1: Wawel in the morning, Main Market Square and the Royal Route, the fragment of the city walls by Floriańska, break in a café near the Planty. The day ends near Kazimierz.
Day 2: Kazimierz — synagogues and charming streets, a longer break at one of the recommended cafés or patisseries (ideal for dessert tasting). Finish the day with a group-friendly restaurant dinner.
Day 3: Short trips outside the city (for example Ojców National Park) or in-depth visits to museums and galleries, with several short coffee-and-cake breaks.
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If you want to minimise organisational work and add historical context to your visits, consider private guiding with Małgorzata Kasprowicz. A private service makes it easier to skip queues, schedule coffee breaks and reserve places for groups. Thank you for reading and see you in Kraków!
