If you plan an intensive but intimate exploration of Krakow accompanied by a guide and you are a group of 2–6 people, this two-day program was designed to make the most of your time while keeping a comfortable pace. The route combines the main highlights of the Old Town with a focus on the former Krakow ghetto — visits to Kazimierz and Podgórze, plus stops at exhibitions and memorials connected to the city’s wartime history.
In practice this means: long full-day touring sessions (with breaks for meals and rest), a flexible pace adjusted to the group, and visits that include both open-air sites and museums that require tickets and reservations.
This program works well for families, small groups of friends, history enthusiasts, and anyone who prefers a private guided experience over crowded mass tours. With a guide you get a narrative that blends historical facts, local anecdotes, and practical city tips.
A small group of 2–6 people brings several key advantages: better conversational dynamics with the guide, the ability to adjust pace and route, more time for questions, and easier access to smaller sites. A guide can adapt the narration on the fly, focus on the group’s interests, and look after participants’ comfort during long walking days.
For routes that deal with difficult historical subjects — such as places connected with the ghetto or Oskar Schindler’s Factory — a small, quiet group helps create the right atmosphere and allows for reflection without rushing. The guide also handles logistics: ticket reservations, choosing a route that mixes walking with short tram or taxi rides, and arranging meal breaks in reliable local spots.
Morning - Old Town and Wawel: meet at an agreed point (most commonly the Main Market Square or nearby), walk the Royal Route with historical context, and visit Wawel Hill — exterior commentary on the castle and a visit to the Cathedral. If preferred, you can reserve entry to the castle interiors and museum rooms — note that some areas have group limits and timed tickets.
Lunch break: recommended local restaurant around the Market Square or in Kazimierz — a chance to rest and exchange impressions. Recommended names to consider: Szara (Market Square area), Pod Aniołami, or a cozy cafe on Szeroka Street in Kazimierz.
Afternoon - Kazimierz: walk through the former Jewish quarter, visit the main synagogues and Jewish cemeteries while discussing the history of the community. The route can include Szeroka Street, the Old Jewish Cemetery, the Remuh and Izaak synagogues, and Plac Nowy.
Evening - optional: dinner at a Kazimierz restaurant or a short evening stroll at the Market Square, depending on the group’s energy and opening hours of attractions.
Morning - Podgórze and the former ghetto area: meet and walk the memorial route — Bohaterów Getta (Ghetto Heroes) Square, remnants and markers of the ghetto territory, with stories about daily life in the closed district and its consequences. The program can include lesser-known sites connected with Podgórze residents’ stories.
Midday - Oskar Schindler’s Factory (Museum of Krakow branch): visit the exhibition devoted to Nazi-occupied Krakow and Schindler’s factory. Because the museum is very popular, book tickets in advance — in high season places are limited and entries are often timed.
Afternoon - walk or short transfer linking Podgórze with Kazimierz across the bridges: discuss postwar transformations, memorial points, and contemporary adaptations of historic spaces. Finish the program at a convenient place for the group — a hotel or a restaurant.
Many popular sites in Krakow have group limits and require timed tickets. This applies to, among others, some Wawel exhibitions and chambers, the Cathedral, and museum displays such as Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory. For small groups it’s recommended to reserve earlier to avoid waits or having to change the day’s plan.
If you plan to enter several indoor sites in one day, coordinate reservations with your guide — a guide often helps with ticket purchasing and logistics. Remember that on weekends and during the high season the most popular museum tickets sell out days in advance.
Guiding fees for small groups vary — they depend on duration, the guide’s experience, the depth of the commentary, and whether help with tickets is included. Shorter tours (2–3 hours) for a private small group often start at a few hundred zlotys for the whole group, while full-day programs (5–8 hours) generally cost more. Some local offers list prices per group up to 5 people separately from offers for larger groups.
When comparing offers pay attention to: - whether the price is for the whole group or per person, - whether the guide assists with ticket reservations and whether that service is included, - the guide’s reviews and licensing (important for tours inside museums), - any extra transport costs or headset rental if those are necessary.
Book tickets to the most important museums in advance — especially Oskar Schindler’s Factory and some exhibitions on Wawel.
Agree on the meeting time and place with the guide — in a small group it’s worth starting on time to use the whole day.
Dress comfortably — a full day of sightseeing means lots of walking on cobbles and stairs. Bring comfortable shoes, a water bottle, and appropriate headwear for the weather.
Ask the guide about pacing and breaks — for a full-day plan it’s usual to schedule one longer lunch break and several shorter rests. If someone in the group has mobility limits, notify the guide ahead of time so the route can be adjusted.
Is the program too intense for older visitors? - The route is flexible. For older visitors or those with limited stamina the guide can break attractions into shorter segments or plan extra rests and transfers.
Are all ghetto-related sites reachable on foot? - Most memorial points and exhibitions in Podgórze and the former ghetto area can be visited on foot, but the program can be mixed with short tram or taxi rides to save time and energy.
Are there extra fees for having a guide inside museums? - Some museums have specific rules for guides and groups — there may be limits on group size or additional fees for guided visits. It’s best to confirm this before buying tickets.
What about food and coffee stops? - Krakow has many excellent options. Near the Market Square try Szara or Pod Aniołami; in Kazimierz popular choices include Hamsa, Zazie Bistro or Zielone Drzwi; for a quick coffee there are many cafes on Szeroka and around Plac Nowy. Let your guide know dietary preferences in advance so they can recommend suitable places.
Can the itinerary be adapted at short notice? - Yes. One of the advantages of a private small-group tour is flexibility — the guide can shorten, lengthen, or rearrange parts of the program to match the group’s energy and interests.
