Yes — Kraków has many places adapted for wheelchair users and visitors with diverse needs, and a route for 2-6 people gives a lot of flexibility: you can slow the pace, shorten walks between points and more easily ask staff for help. The city also publishes official guides and maps such as “Kraków for the tourist with a disability,” which describe accessibility of many popular sites. Keep in mind, though, that “accessible” doesn’t always mean “without any issues”: historic streets can have uneven pavements and cobbles, and some entrances to monuments require ramps or lifts. The best strategy is to choose a few well-documented places and match the pace to your group.
In this article I offer ready-made route ideas and a list of places that are often wheelchair-friendly — I also explain where to check toilets and ramps before you visit, how to use public transport, and which food venues usually have facilities for guests with limited mobility. Everything is presented in a friendly, practical tone so a small group can feel that Kraków is truly manageable.
Start: Main Market Square (Rynek Główny) — the heart of the city, an easy meeting point. The Museum of Krakow’s Rynek Underground has an adapted route for wheelchairs and lifts; the area also has parking spaces reserved for people with disability permits. The surface of the square is historic cobble which can be a bit uneven, but distances between attractions are short and there are many places to rest.
A short move to Kazimierz or a ride on a low-floor tram — Kazimierz is an intimate district with interesting museums (for example, the Jewish Museum Galicia) and many cafés; many museum spaces are adapted for wheelchairs, with wide passages and accessible toilets.
Southern stretch: Vistula Boulevards (Bulwary Wiślane) — a flat, easy-to-travel route along the river, great for an afternoon stroll or a coffee outdoors; a welcome break from busy streets and a way to experience the city from another perspective.
If the group likes art: MOCAK (Museum of Contemporary Art) — a building designed with accessibility in mind: level thresholds, wide entrances, lifts, accessible toilets and the possibility of arranging guided visits tailored to your group’s needs.
End of day: dinner at a restaurant with facilities — many Kraków venues participate in initiatives to improve access (in selected, highly rated places you may even find menus in Braille). For a small group it’s worth booking a table in advance and asking for a step-free seating arrangement.
For groups who prefer fewer crowds and shorter distances: Jagiellonian University Botanical Garden — a large green space with greenhouses and paths, ideal for a peaceful visit; most alleys are passable and ticket rules often include concessions for a companion of a person with a disability.
Parks and the Planty — these encircle the historic center and offer benches and level ground for short wheelchair rides between points; great when you want to split sightseeing into short segments.
Nowa Huta — a different city vibe, with wide avenues and modernist spaces that are sometimes more wheelchair-friendly than parts of the Old Town; accessible itineraries and tours in Nowa Huta are becoming more common.
Rynek Underground (branch of the Museum of Krakow) — a route adapted to visitors with mobility limitations: lifts, accessible toilets and largely obstacle-free circulation; when planning a visit, check where parking spaces for people with disability permits are located.
MOCAK — a modern museum designed with accessibility in mind: no steps at key entrances, wide passageways, lifts, induction loops for visitors with hearing difficulties and programs and workshops adapted to different needs. The museum also offers staff support and sometimes a simple wheelchair to borrow.
Jewish Museum Galicia — a Kazimierz space prepared for wheelchair users (no stairs at main routes, wide passages, accessible toilet); staff are helpful and some displays include solutions friendly to partially sighted visitors and those with other needs.
In practice, choose museums that describe their facilities on their information pages — that is a good indicator the institution thinks about accessibility and can assist your group during the visit.
Kraków runs programs and initiatives encouraging restaurants to improve access — some venues offer Braille menus, wide entrances and facilities friendly to visually impaired guests. It’s worth picking highly rated restaurants that are also praised for accessibility.
A few well-known names that often appear in local recommendations and accessibility projects (book ahead and mention a need for a step-free table): Miodova, Pod Baranem, Plac Nowy 1, Biała Róża. These places have good reputations and are frequently involved in local accessibility efforts.
If you prefer social enterprises or cafés run by organizations supporting people with disabilities, look out for community cafés and projects that promote employment of people with various limitations. These places are often especially welcoming and offer an authentic local experience.
When choosing a hotel or apartment for a group of 2-6 people, check whether the property has rooms adapted for people with disabilities (wide doors, bathrooms with grab bars), whether there is an elevator and whether the street-level entrance is step-free. Some places near the train station or the Main Square offer specially adapted rooms — ask about specific equipment and the possibility of early check-in if travel is tiring.
City guides list hotels with adapted rooms — if you’re arriving by car, confirm availability of a parking space for a person with a disability permit.
Public transport: many trams in Kraków are low-floor vehicles that make boarding and alighting easier; before you go, check which lines run on your planned route and consider using a stop that is more convenient for your itinerary.
Special transport: the city provides door-to-door transport services and other support programs for people with disabilities — useful if a walking route is too long or you need to be dropped directly at a destination.
Parking and toilets: central attractions often indicate parking spaces reserved for people with disability permits — check maps beforehand and reserve if possible. It’s also important to locate accessible toilets in advance — many museums and larger institutions provide them.
Assuming “the whole Old Town is inaccessible” — that’s a myth. Some central institutions are well adapted, but you need to choose specific places and routes. Instead of giving up, plan around museums and parks that declare facilities.
Not informing a venue or museum about your needs before arrival — it’s better to call or write in advance to request an accessible entrance, a parking spot or staff assistance. This often resolves most problems on site.
Wrong pace of sightseeing — small groups have the advantage of slowing down: you can rest longer in a café. Plan breaks every 45–90 minutes and have a backup plan in case of bad weather.
Kraków runs city initiatives and publications titled “Kraków for the tourist with a disability” — these are guides and pictograms that show facilities at specific sites; it’s worth getting them or checking online before your trip.
More venues in the center now offer Braille menus and train staff in serving guests with different needs — a sign that Kraków’s hospitality scene is moving toward greater accessibility.
In some museums and institutions you can arrange guided tours adapted for blind visitors, deaf visitors or people with autism — ask in advance because preparation may take time.
Is the entire Main Market Square wheelchair-friendly? - The surface of the square is historic cobble and can be uneven, but nearby there are many facilities (museums with lifts, accessible toilets); when planning, choose sites that describe their accessibility.
How long does it take to tour MOCAK or the Rynek Underground? - For a small group, a relaxed visit to an exhibition usually takes 1-2 hours, depending on pace and extra activities (workshops, guided tours).
Do you need a special card or certificate to use some facilities? - Some conveniences (for example free parking spaces in paid city zones) require the appropriate document; museums and parks often offer a free or reduced ticket for a companion of a person with a disability — check the rules of each place.
1) Check websites and accessibility statements of chosen museums and venues and call to confirm details. 2) Reserve a table and ask for step-free seating; if driving, ask about a parking space for a person with a disability permit. 3) Plan breaks and alternative routes (a park, Vistula boulevards) in case of fatigue. 4) Bring phone chargers and the contact number of a person at the museum or hotel — small groups are easier to coordinate than large ones.
If you’d like, I can help tailor a route to your accessibility needs and pace — remember that a private guided tour offers the greatest flexibility and comfort for small groups. For personalized tours and contact details, please refer to the guide Małgorzata Kasprowicz.
Thank you for reading — if this guide was helpful, share it with friends or on social media, and if you need a ready-made route adapted to your needs, contact the private guide Małgorzata Kasprowicz (contact visible on her website).
