This question comes up often when organizing themed tours for large groups of 30, 40 or 60 people. The short, clear answer is: no — not if you mean visiting the grounds of the State Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau. Trips from Krakow to Oświęcim that include transport and a museum visit usually take a whole day (often about 6–7 hours), because touring both parts of the camp takes several hours and you also need time for travel and group logistics. However, you can run a very worthwhile 2-hour walking tour in Krakow focused on street art and murals.
When planning a program for a large group you must decide whether the priority is a visit to a site of memory (which requires much more time and careful preparation) or a city walk — artistic and educational — through neighborhoods known for murals (Kazimierz, Podgórze, Zabłocie, Nowa Huta). Both types of tours are extremely valuable but require different time and logistic resources.
For groups of 30–60 people an optimal two-hour route should be limited to one or two neighboring districts to minimize walking and squeezing through crowds. The most commonly recommended areas are Kazimierz — Podgórze (including Zabłocie) and selected parts of Nowa Huta. A route like 'Kazimierz — Zabłocie — the River Boulevards' lets you see large, impressive murals and hear short stories about the places without long transfers.
In Nowa Huta it’s worth planning a separate, focused walk — the district has its own dispersed mural trail (for example the large-scale works around NCK and other pieces across housing estates) and works best as a standalone experience. Local foundations and projects have produced guides and maps of street art routes for years, which makes it easier to compose a route that fits your time and the group size.
Meeting and introduction (10 minutes) — gather at an agreed, easy-to-access and spacious meeting point (for example at Main Market Square, Plac Nowy or in front of a selected mural). The guide briefly outlines the route, rules for moving as a large group and ethical issues related to street art.
First walking segment (30–40 minutes) — presentation of 4–6 selected murals: the artist, the context of the place, technique and year of creation. For large groups it’s worth arranging a sound system or splitting participants into 2–3 smaller subgroups with assigned chaperones so everyone can hear the guide.
Thematic stop (15–20 minutes) — a short talk about legal painting areas and city initiatives, and the role of festivals and projects (local projects and maps help with orientation). You can plan a short group task here — for example point out the most interesting detail or take a group photo with the mural.
Second walking segment (25–30 minutes) — finish the route with a few more murals, discuss changes in urban space and suggest further places to visit (museums, galleries, or a separate visit to Nowa Huta).
Closure and Q&A (5–10 minutes) — practical information, thanks, a reminder about respectful documentation of street art (respect authors, do not damage works) and tips on where to continue exploring the city.
Divide into smaller subgroups — groups of 30–60 people should definitely be split into smaller teams, each with an assigned chaperone or a second guide. This helps communication and movement, shortens waiting times and improves safety.
Sound systems and headsets — for large groups it’s worth using a portable amplification system or a radio headset system with receivers for participants. An experienced guide can manage large groups, but the equipment greatly improves information reception.
Meeting points and time buffers — plan meeting points in spaces where you won’t block pedestrian traffic or public transport. Add a 5–10 minute buffer between stops for unexpected delays.
Permissions, access and entrances — most murals are visible from the street, but if your route includes sites on private property or entrances to cultural institutions, obtain permissions in advance and check opening hours.
Insurance and first aid — for school or corporate groups it’s good to have contact information for medical services and a first aid kit. If additional activities are planned, make sure organizers have appropriate notifications and insurance.
Different contexts require different approaches — sites of memory (for example Auschwitz-Birkenau) need different preparation and conduct than a mural route. If the group plans to visit a museum of memory, do it with sufficient time and substantive preparation for participants.
Respect and photos — on street art walks photography is encouraged, but always respect local rules (don’t enter private property, don’t block works, and don’t use drones in historic areas without permission). Sites of memory have stricter codes of conduct and often prohibit photography in certain spaces.
Provide social context — murals and graffiti are often social commentary. The guide should explain the historical and social context of works so participants understand the message and local references.
Krakow has a developed street art scene: initiatives and guides documenting murals and legal painting spots have been active for years. Local projects gather lists and maps of works, which makes composing theme routes that match time and group size much easier.
Districts to choose from — you’ll find the most large, visible murals in Kazimierz, Podgórze (including Zabłocie) and Nowa Huta, which has an extensive mural trail of its own. City projects and festivals have contributed to large-scale murals on tenement buildings and post-industrial structures.
Variety of forms — in Krakow street art is not only painted walls: it includes installations, posters, stencils and urban interventions. The guide can use this diversity to tell a story about the transformation of urban space.
A separate, full-day program — a visit to the State Museum Auschwitz-Birkenau requires reservations and a dedicated block of time — the museum activities themselves take several hours, plus transport to and from Krakow. For large groups the best solution is to plan a full-day trip with coach transport or several minibuses and to reserve a museum guide or audioguides in accordance with museum rules.
Prepare participants in advance — because of the emotional weight of the subject, inform participants in advance about the nature of the visit, provide a short substantive introduction and explain how to behave at the site of memory. For school and corporate groups it’s recommended to send preparatory materials and rules of conduct beforehand.
Museum logistics for large groups — the museum has its own restrictions regarding numbers and how tours are conducted; coordinate with museum administration ahead of time to avoid problems with entry and long waits.
Different pricing models are available: hiring a licensed guide for 2 hours often comes with the option to equip the group with a headset system or an extra chaperone. For groups above 30–35 people guides usually offer per-person rates or group rates — it’s worth negotiating the price in advance and asking about equipment costs (headsets, microphone).
Additional logistical costs — for bigger groups you may encounter fees for booking spaces, possible permissions to enter private land or transport costs between route segments. Always include a budget margin for unforeseen expenses.
Can I combine a mural tour with a short overview of Auschwitz history? — Yes, in a substantive sense: the guide can briefly introduce the historical context and talk about memory during the walk, but a real visit to Auschwitz requires a separate, full-day program.
How many stops can you see in 2 hours? — Depending on mural density along the route: usually 6–10 locations at a comfortable pace with commentary and short stops. If the group is large and you don’t use a sound system, plan fewer stops so everyone can hear the guide.
Can the guide provide headsets? — Yes, many guiding teams offer rental of headset/receiver sets, which significantly helps working with large groups.
If you only have 2 hours and a group of 30–60 people — choose a mural and street art walk in one well-selected district. Arrange subdivision into subgroups, a sound system and a short, substantive introduction. If visiting a site of memory is your priority, plan it as a separate, full-day trip with proper reservations and preparation.
Good logistical preparation, clear instructions for participants and cooperation with a licensed guide will allow you to run an intense, valuable program even for a large group — just remember to divide roles and allow enough time for each planned activity.
