Yes — a sensible three-day plan is very achievable if you set priorities and leave time for walks and coffee breaks. Podgórze is a part of the city that’s easy to skip but offers a very different perspective on Kraków’s history — from local craft traditions to 20th-century traces. The Podgórze Museum is an intimate, well-composed place worth visiting if you want to better understand the history of the right bank of the Vistula. In the plan below I’ll show how to fit the key points and schedule roughly two hours for a route that includes a tram ride, a museum visit and a short walk around Podgórze.
If you want to save time: start mornings with the most popular attractions (Wawel, the Main Market) and leave afternoons for less crowded areas such as Podgórze or the smaller museums. Check opening hours and ticket availability in advance — some guided shows or curator-led tours have limited places.
Day 1: Old Town and Wawel - walk the Royal Route, visit Wawel or the Cathedral. Day 2: Podgórze - Podgórze Museum, Oskar Schindler’s Factory (if time), panorama by the Vistula; evening in Kazimierz. Day 3: Kazimierz, synagogues and culinary discoveries, time for shopping and café breaks.
If you want to devote less time to the Podgórze Museum, reserve about 2 hours: tram ride from the centre, visit the permanent exhibition and a short stroll to nearby highlights (the Ghetto Heroes Square and the view of Wawel from the river). A longer version can take half a day if you add Schindler’s Factory or a longer walk through Podgórze.
Start at the Main Market Square - Cloth Hall, St Mary’s Basilica, Town Hall Tower. Allow 2-3 hours for a relaxed walk along the Royal Route if you only want to see the main sites from the outside. If you plan to visit Wawel Castle interiors or the Cathedral crypts, book tickets in advance.
Coffee and snacks: take a break in one of the popular cafés by the Market or choose a quieter, atmospheric spot on Grodzka Street. In the evening I recommend Kazimierz for dinner - it’s a great place for a first evening stroll among restaurants and bars.
This plan is for visitors who want to combine a tram ride with a short visit to the Podgórze Museum: allocate roughly 2 hours for this part of the day. That’s usually enough time for travel from the centre, a tour of the permanent exhibition and a short walk around parts of Podgórze.
The Podgórze Museum is located at ul. Limanowskiego 51. The permanent exhibition “The Town under Krak’s Mound” tells the story of Podgórze — from legends to the present day — across several rooms on the ground floor and a -1 level; the display is intimate and well thought out, so an average visit takes 45 to 90 minutes depending on your interest.
How to get there by tram: from the centre (Main Market / shopping centres) multiple tram lines connect to Podgórze. Several day lines serve stops close to the main Podgórze sites. From the tram stop you can walk to the Podgórze Museum or get off closer to Oskar Schindler’s Factory if you plan to visit both in the same block of time.
After the museum: a short walk along Limanowskiego toward Ghetto Heroes Square and the Vistula boulevards offers a nice contrast between Podgórze’s intimate streets and the Wawel panorama. If you have more time, add Schindler’s Factory — it’s often a longer, separate visit.
Kazimierz is a perfect way to finish a three-day stay: synagogues, atmospheric cafés, market flavours at Plac Nowy and many galleries. Reserve time for a relaxed lunch at a well-rated restaurant and for shopping local products.
If you have an evening flight: leave at least 2 hours of buffer time to reach the airport, accounting for traffic or waiting for transport - it’s better to plan your departure from the city with margin.
Opening days and hours - the Podgórze Museum is typically open Wednesday to Sunday with daytime hours around 10:00-17:00; some days may have extended hours or free admission to the permanent exhibition on selected weekdays. Check current opening times before you go.
Ticketing and visit length - the permanent exhibition usually takes 45-90 minutes. The museum offers normal, reduced and family tickets; prices at municipal branches are modest, but check the current price list at the museum ticket desk or on the museum’s official site before your visit.
Accessibility - the exhibition is set up for diverse visitors. The museum has an elevator, accessible restrooms and solutions to ease visiting such as audio recordings and descriptive texts. The museum sometimes introduces quiet hours for autistic visitors and highly sensitive guests - check the schedule for such times if this is important to you.
Bookings and guided tours - the museum organizes curator-led tours on special occasions. If you want to join a group tour, it’s best to reserve a place in advance.
In Kazimierz and around the Market you’ll find many great restaurants and cafés. A few recommended, well-liked places: Mleczarnia (an atmospheric café in Kazimierz), Starka (traditional Polish cuisine in Kazimierz), Massolit Books & Cafe (bookshop-cafe ideal for a break), Szara (café/restaurant by the Market Square).
In Podgórze near the museum there’s a small café perfect for a quick rest after the exhibition. If you’re looking for accommodation choose a place between the Old Town and Kazimierz - you’ll be within easy walking or tram distance of most attractions. Pick properties with good reviews and convenient transport links.
Surprise: Podgórze is not just an "add-on" to Kazimierz - it has its own distinct history and identity, which the Podgórze Museum tells in an engaging way. Small exhibitions and local stories often stay with visitors longer than the major mass attractions.
Common mistakes to avoid: 1) Trying to see everything in a single day - it’s better to focus on chosen areas and leave time to enjoy the atmosphere. 2) Not checking museum opening hours - not all branches are open every day. 3) Ignoring the walks between districts - many interesting details hide on the streets connecting the main points. Avoid frustration by planning short breaks and booking tickets in advance.
How long does a visit to the Podgórze Museum take? Usually 45-90 minutes; if you want to stroll around the area add 30-60 minutes. Do I need to reserve tickets? For regular entry usually not, but for curator-led tours or special events it’s best to reserve in advance. How do I get from the Main Market to the Podgórze Museum? By tram - several tram lines connect the centre with the right bank of the Vistula; travel typically takes 10-25 minutes depending on the route and stop. Is the museum family-friendly? Yes - the exhibition is intimate and the museum often runs educational events and workshops for children.
If this plan was helpful to you - please share it with friends or on social media; that helps others plan a great visit to Kraków. If you prefer to explore with someone who knows the city inside out, you can book a private guiding service with tour guide Małgorzata Kasprowicz - contact and reservation details are available on zwiedzaniekrakowa.com.
If you like, I can prepare a shortened map-style plan with times and suggested tram lines - tell me how you prefer to travel: on foot, by tram or with a short taxi/ride-hail transfer.
