Start by clearly establishing exactly how many people will come and how much time you can spend sightseeing each day. For groups of 7–30 people three things matter most: reserving tickets to popular attractions, deciding how you’ll move between points (on foot vs. tram/bus) and having a backup plan if someone is late.
Many museums and exhibitions limit the number of people in a single group and have reservation rules — sometimes you need to book an entry a week or several days in advance, and some places require prepayment for reservations. So plan the first days around the most popular attractions (e.g. Wawel, the Underground Market, major museums) and make reservations as soon as your travel dates are fixed.
If you plan to visit with a guide, remember some venues limit group size — consider splitting into smaller subgroups or ask the venue manager for permission to admit a larger group.
In Kraków the cheapest options for short trips are time-limited tickets (20-, 60-, 90-minute) and 24-hour or multi-day tickets, which allow unlimited transfers during the ticket validity. For intense one-day sightseeing a 24-hour or 72-hour multi-ride ticket is often the most economical.
There is a group ticket valid for groups of up to 20 people in one vehicle. If your group is 21–30 people, you can buy two group tickets or split the group across two vehicles. It normally pays to compare costs: time tickets for some members can in practice be similar or cheaper than several group tickets.
Tickets can be bought at stationary machines, on-board validators, sales points and via popular mobile apps (for example iMKA, SkyCash, mPay, moBiLET). Before departure check where and how a ticket must be validated — on board or before boarding, depending on the ticket type. For groups it’s worth designating one person responsible for tickets and for checking validation.
Assign one or two leaders who will watch transfers and keep the timetable. In large groups it’s easy to have delays when boarding or exiting a tram, so plan time buffers for each journey.
If you plan trips outside the centre (for example Wieliczka, Nowa Huta), check in advance whether a regional train or bus/tram is better. Some agglomeration connections are covered by joint or regional tickets — check fare zones and choose the ticket that matches your route.
For evening or early-morning trips with a large group it’s better to plan using several vehicles rather than crowding at a single stop. On weekends and holidays tourist traffic can increase demand for tickets and seats — consider buying time tickets in advance via apps.
Kraków’s centre is compact — many key points (Wawel, the Main Market, Floriańska Street, St. Mary’s Church) are within a short walking distance. An optimal pace for groups of 7–30 people is a 2–3 hour loop for a larger circuit, or 3–4 hours if you include museum visits.
A sample budget-friendly plan: a morning walk on Wawel Hill, a short coffee break, walk along Grodzka to the Main Market, visit the Cloth Hall and St. Mary’s Basilica, lunch break in Kazimierz and an afternoon tour of Kazimierz and Podgórze. This loop minimizes transfers and leaves plenty of rest time.
For a group it’s wise to plan shorter alternative versions (for example a 1.5-hour cut) when weather or participants’ pace doesn’t allow the full plan.
Many museums offer group tickets or discounts for organized groups (usually from a defined number of people, e.g. from 10). At the same time venues often limit the maximum number of people visiting with a guide — typically 20–30 people per guide, and some places have lower limits.
Some institutions require advance reservation and payment several days before arrival. In practice the best strategy is to reserve museum slots and special attractions as soon as the visit date is set, and confirm payment terms and meeting points.
For very popular exhibitions or in high season consider hiring tour guides or audio guide systems — especially if the group is over 15 people. In some venues use of audio guides is mandatory.
Check if participants are eligible for concessions (pupils, students, seniors, people with disabilities) and have the necessary documents ready. Concession tickets are often significantly cheaper, and for large groups combined offers or family tickets can reduce the per-person cost.
Compare individual and group ticket prices — sometimes a group ticket becomes advantageous only above a certain number of people. In other cases splitting the group or buying time tickets for transport and individual museum entries instead of group packages can be cheaper.
Look for combined passes (e.g. entry to several museums on one ticket) and seasonal promotions. Also ask about discounts for organizations, schools or companies — institutions often have dedicated terms for organized visits.
If you plan a meal for the whole group, reserve tables in advance; the best-rated restaurants can be full, especially on weekends. For groups of 10–30 people choose places with private rooms or the ability to offer a group menu.
In Kraków you’ll find local classics and restaurants recognized by guides. Well-reviewed and trusted venues are worth booking early — it avoids long waits and disappointment. For lighter breaks try well-known bakeries and cafés in the Old Town and Kazimierz; for larger meals choose restaurants that offer a group menu.
If you want a quick and inexpensive meal consider places with a specific specialty (pizza, pierogi, burgers) or order catering to eat outdoors in a park or courtyard — this is often a quick and economical solution for medium groups.
The Old Town is relatively small — most major sights are within a walk of a few to several minutes, which helps reduce public-transport trips.
The St. Mary’s trumpet call (Hejnał) sounds every hour from the tower of St. Mary’s Church and for many visitors it’s a symbolic moment of a visit — plan a short stop at the Market Square to hear it.
At some museums you get 1 free ticket for every 10 group tickets purchased — this is a simple benefit for very large groups, so ask about such rules when you reserve.
Neglecting reservations: late bookings for museums and restaurants are the main source of frustration. Book with sufficient lead time and always reconfirm reservations a few days before the visit.
No designated responsible person: each group should have one or two coordinators — for tickets, time and meeting points. This avoids chaos and delays.
Mismatched pace: not every group keeps the same pace. Have a shorter route option and places for longer breaks. If you plan many museum entries allow more time than the suggested minimum.
Can one person buy public-transport tickets for the whole group? Yes, but remember the group-ticket limit (usually up to 20 people) and the rules for using that ticket on board. For larger groups buy the appropriate number of tickets.
How large groups do museums accept? Museums typically accept groups of 20–30 people under one guide, but limits vary by venue. Always confirm the maximum number of people when booking.
Is it worth using apps to buy tickets? Yes — mobile apps speed up purchases and help avoid queues. They’re especially useful when buying many tickets at once or when time is limited.
Good planning is half the success: reserve the most popular entries, assign people responsible for tickets and timing, and distribute a short daily plan with meeting place and time before departure. This organization will save time and money and, most importantly, make the group enjoy the trip more.
If you want your visit to be truly stress-free and tailored to the group’s needs, consider using the services of private guide Małgorzata Kasprowicz — you can find her contact on zwiedzaniekrakowa.com. If this article was helpful, please share it with friends or on social media so others can benefit from these practical tips!
