An online consultation is today the fastest and most convenient way to plan a stay in Kraków tailored exactly to you. Instead of wasting time wandering undecided, you can clearly set interests, pace of sightseeing and mobility limits — and the guide will prepare a route perfectly matched to your expectations.
Through an online conversation or message exchange before arrival, the guide will check availability for museum entries, suggest optimal visiting times (to avoid queues) and recommend food and accommodation options that suit your preferences. This saves time and makes sightseeing more comfortable and efficient.
Online consultations also allow you to agree alternative variants — shorter routes for families with children, “slow” routes for older visitors, or an intensive plan for those who want to see as much as possible in a short time. This works well for individual, group and school visits.
First contact usually comes by email, a form on the website, or a social media message. In that message you state your arrival date, number of people, preferred language of the tour and the approximate duration (e.g. 2-3-4 hours).
Next the guide will ask a few simple questions: what are your interests (history, art, food, places connected with people), the desired pace, any mobility limitations, whether you plan to enter specific museums, and whether you need an invoice. Based on that an initial route proposal is prepared.
After you accept the proposal the guide can send a map with the route, an approximate schedule with times for museum entries, a list of dining options and a cost estimate. Finally you agree on payment method and the meeting place and time. If you need an invoice, it’s best to send company details at the reservation stage.
Goals and interests of the group: what is most important to see and what you expect from the tour.
Group size and composition: number of adults, children, seniors and any health or dietary restrictions.
Preferences regarding museums and paid entries — do you want to reserve tickets in advance (for example visits to Wawel or St. Mary’s Basilica)?
Pace and format: walking tour, route with breaks for coffee/meals, a route with transport (car/bus) or a hybrid variant.
Formalities: issuing an invoice, cancellation policy, weather contingency plans and a plan B in case of bad weather.
Traditional guided walk through the Old Town or Kazimierz — route planned online, meet on site.
Hybrid option: part of the information is provided as digital materials (map, notes, links) and the rest is carried out live with the guide.
Virtual and live-streamed tours — ideal for international groups or corporate events. These sessions can be ordered and arranged online; there is often an option to record the walk for later playback.
Audio guides and mobile apps — a good addition if you like independence. The guide can recommend reliable apps and ready-made routes to download that complement the guided tour.
If you plan to enter museum areas that require official museum guides (for example some exhibitions on Wawel Hill), the guide will inform you about the need to reserve and coordinate with museum staff.
Many museums in Kraków have limited slots for specific hours; for popular exhibitions booking ahead is recommended. The guide will check availability and advise which entries are worth reserving in advance.
In some places (for example certain Wawel exhibitions) museum-employed guides lead tours — these are official museum guides. An independent guide will help coordinate the time and entry method so everything complies with the venue’s rules.
If you plan to include interiors (the Cathedral, Castle chambers, popular exhibitions), discuss it during the consultation — the guide will consider walking times and possible queues so the route is logical and doesn’t disperse the group.
Don’t leave reservations to the last minute — in high season (spring–autumn) and on long weekends good slots fill up fast.
Don’t assume every group wants the same thing — give the guide clear expectations but allow some flexibility: a local guide often knows less obvious attractions worth visiting.
Don’t forget formalities: if you need an invoice or a special educational set for a school, mention it right away — it’s better to have everything ready at booking.
Don’t ignore mobility limitations. People with mobility challenges should have a route adjusted to avoid steep stairs and long standing sections.
Check museum opening hours and closed days — many institutions are closed on Mondays or operate reduced hours during holidays.
If you want to include a meal break, ask the guide for recommendations of well-rated places with good table availability. In the center classic restaurants with traditional Polish cuisine and cozy cafés ideal for an afternoon break are often recommended.
One of the historic and highly rated restaurants near the Main Market Square is Wierzynek — it offers a unique atmosphere though it can be pricier. Other popular cafés near the Rynek include Café Camelot and Café Noworolski; the guide will advise which places are worth booking and which to avoid at peak times.
For accommodation, the best locations for sightseeing are around the Old Town, Kazimierz and the Dębniki area near Wawel. If you plan intensive sightseeing, choose places with easy access to public transport and short walks to common meeting points with the guide.
Can I change the route during the tour? Yes — the guide usually adapts pace and content based on the group’s mood and energy. If the change requires extra time or tickets, agree on terms in advance.
Does the guide arrange tickets for us? The guide can help with reservations and advise what to buy in advance. Sometimes tickets are bought individually online, other times it’s more practical for the guide to handle them — discuss this during the consultation.
How does payment work? Common methods are bank transfer, card payment or cash. If you need an invoice, provide company details at booking.
What if the weather is bad? Have a plan B — shorten the route, add museum or café visits. The guide will suggest weather-appropriate alternatives.
Does the guide speak my language? Choose a guide who offers tours in your preferred language — during the consultation confirm the language level and any translation needs.
Many attractions in Kraków have free days or discounted days — the guide can include such sites in the route to get the most out of your budget.
Some museums require not only an entry ticket but also a timed reservation for a limited number of places; planning this ahead avoids disappointment.
Ask about short themed add-ons — for example a route focused on Kraków’s legends, street art or culinary history. Small thematic tweaks can change the character of a tour dramatically.
Prepare dates and approximate times of your stay and the number of participants.
Think about priorities: what you absolutely want to see and what’s optional.
Gather information about limitations (children, seniors, strollers, food allergies).
If you need an invoice or have formal requirements (school, institution), prepare necessary details in advance.
Decide if you prefer a walking route, one with transport, or a hybrid — describe this briefly in your first message.
If you like this way of planning your stay, feel free to contact the guide — contact details and the booking form are available on zwiedzaniekrakowa.com. The easiest way is to send an email with the date, number of people, preferred language and the proposed duration of the tour; the reply will include a suggested route and a cost estimate.
For school groups and organized visits, the guide prepares organizational instructions: meeting point, maps and a daily plan. If you need an invoice or have formal questions, write this in the booking message.
If this article helped you, share it with friends or on social media. If you want a personalized route around Kraków — the guide welcomes a conversation. Contact details are on the website.
Tipping: a tip of around 10% in restaurants is common if the service was good; small change for café staff is appreciated.
Public transport: trams and buses cover most of the city; single tickets must be validated on board. Consider a day pass if you plan to use public transport a lot.
Cash and cards: credit and debit cards are widely accepted, but keep some zloty for small vendors or historic cafés that may prefer cash.
Basic Polish phrases: "Dzień dobry" (good morning/hello), "Dziękuję" (thank you), "Przepraszam" (excuse me/sorry) go a long way and are appreciated by locals.
Safety: Kraków is generally safe for tourists, but watch for pickpockets in crowded areas like the Main Market Square and on busy trams.
