Yes — it’s possible. The key is choosing the right sites, keeping a sensible pace and making a few practical decisions before you go. The aim isn’t to see everything at once but to visit places that best tell the story of Jewish Kraków and the city’s wartime experience while leaving room for conversation and rest.
The suggested route mixes museum interiors with short outdoor walks: Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory (timed entry), the Ghetto Heroes Square and the Eagle Pharmacy in Podgórze, a quick look at the Płaszów memorial area, and selected, gentler places in Kazimierz — the Remuh Synagogue and Cemetery. For families it’s vital to prepare children appropriately and pick the most important stops rather than trying to “tick off” every single place.
Morning: start at Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory — it gives the fullest, multimedia introduction to the occupation and the fate of Kraków’s Jewish community. Buy a timed-entry ticket and arrive about 10–15 minutes early.
After the museum visit, walk around Podgórze: Ghetto Heroes Square, sections of the ghetto wall and a visit to the Eagle Pharmacy (Apteka pod Orłem), where you can tell stories of everyday courage on a human scale. If the children are tired, take a longer break here — there are cafés and places to rest nearby.
Afternoon: a short transfer to Kazimierz. Visit the Remuh Synagogue and the adjacent cemetery — a calm, valuable place that offers a different perspective than a museum. If time and energy allow, finish with a brief stop at the Płaszów monument (this can be a reflective moment or be skipped depending on the group’s mood).
This site best frames occupied Kraków: the exhibition combines objects, photos, films and narratives that help explain what happened between 1939 and 1945. In high season and on weekends the museum can be very busy, so timed entry is the simplest way to avoid long queues.
Families should remember that some parts of the exhibition deal with difficult topics. For younger children it helps to prepare a short, gentle introduction before entering — explain that they will hear stories about people and about helping others. It’s also useful to check the museum’s ticketing rules and opening hours before your visit.
Ghetto Heroes Square was the central point of the Kraków ghetto and today is a memorial space with installations, plaques and room to pause. Nearby is the Eagle Pharmacy, where stories are told about help offered to ghetto residents by Tadeusz Pankiewicz and his staff.
You can adapt the walk to the children’s ages — short stops at the main plaques and sculptures are enough to convey the importance of the place without overwhelming emotions. When planning, check whether any conservation work or events are taking place on the square that might change its appearance.
The Remuh Synagogue dates to the mid-16th century and is one of the Kazimierz sites where religious tradition continues to the present day. Right next to it is the Remuh Cemetery, with gravestones from the 16th–19th centuries — a peaceful, reflective place worth visiting with older children.
When entering the cemetery and synagogue, briefly talk with children about appropriate behaviour: quiet voices, gentle steps, no running and no photos where clearly forbidden. A visit here shows that history is not just dates but people and the memory we care for.
The area of the former camp and its monument is emotionally heavy. For many families this will be too much for very young children; if you plan a short visit, consider viewing the monument from outside and having a calm conversation about why memorials exist.
If you have teenagers or older children, you can spend 20–30 minutes walking by the main information panels and the monument, allowing space for questions. Make sure to follow this with a meal or rest break — visits to “darker” sites often need a moment of decompression afterward.
Prepare a short age-appropriate narrative: instead of detailed descriptions of violence, tell stories about people who helped others and about the importance of empathy and memory. Let children ask questions and answer simply without dramatizing.
Offer choices: say that if anything becomes too hard, you can step outside and have a rest in a café. Bring something to ease the mood — a small snack, a favourite toy, or plan a short playful break after visiting.
Buy a timed-entry ticket to Oskar Schindler’s Factory in advance — it brings peace of mind and saves time. Check ticketing rules and opening hours on the institutions’ websites before you go, because schedules and access can change during peak season or conservation works.
Best times: early mornings or late afternoons on weekdays outside weekends — those times are usually quieter. It’s smart to start the one-day plan in the morning with the museum and leave the afternoon for shorter outdoor memorials and a gentle finish in Kazimierz.
Around Kazimierz and Podgórze you’ll find many family-friendly places. In Kazimierz consider Hamsa — a popular Middle Eastern restaurant with a family-friendly menu; it’s a quick and tasty option after visiting the synagogue and cemetery.
For coffee and cake choose one of the atmospheric cafés near the Market and in Kazimierz where children can rest. If you want to avoid very touristy places, pick cafés with strong local reviews and short lines — that usually means better quality and a more pleasant atmosphere.
Trying to fit too many sites into one day — result: tired children and a lack of depth. It’s better to choose fewer stops and tell the story of each place well.
Not booking timed-entry sites in advance — this often costs time in queues. Book ahead and keep your ticket on your phone.
Not preparing children for the subject matter — a short, age-appropriate introduction reduces shock and helps understanding. Plan breaks and small comforts after visiting “darker” points.
Is Schindler’s Factory suitable for small children? The museum advises caution — some content is difficult. For the youngest visitors, the outdoor stops and human-centered stories about help may be more appropriate.
How much time does the route take? A compact version (Schindler’s Factory + Podgórze) can fit into about 1–1.5 hours, but if you add Kazimierz and Płaszów, plan for 3–4 hours including breaks.
How should we behave at memorial sites? Quiet voices, no running, thoughtful photos and no flash where prohibited. At graves and monuments model respectful behaviour and explain briefly to children why we act that way.
There are memory sites embedded in the city fabric — for example, fragments of the ghetto wall in Podgórze are visible from ordinary streets; this shows how history is part of everyday city life.
The Remuh Synagogue is not only an historic monument — it’s also a place of an active religious community. That shows history lives on and culture continues.
If you liked this plan, share it with friends or on social media — it will help other families plan their visit. I can also personalize the route for your children’s ages, pace and preferences.
If you’d like to tour Kraków with a private guide, consider booking with Małgorzata Kasprowicz — a guide who focuses on historically accurate and family-friendly visits; contact details are available on her site.
