Krakow has a fantastic advantage: the most important monuments are close to each other, so even a short stay lets you feel the city’s history. When planning a weekend it’s useful to think in terms of routes — the classic Royal Route passes the most recognisable sites and gives a logical sequence for the city’s story. A guide helps you do this smartly: she will tell anecdotes, point out shortcuts, suggest the best times to visit and save time when buying tickets and avoiding queues.
A guide can also tailor the programme to your group — families with children, older visitors or fans of technical museums. If you want to fit the Museum of Engineering and Technology (MIT) into your plan, that flexibility is often key, because it lets you combine the “classics” with a more interactive, family-friendly attraction. If you need help with booking or designing an itinerary, contact information for guide Małgorzata Kasprowicz is shown on the zwiedzaniekrakowa.com website.
Start at Matejko Square — a short talk about historic fortifications and the Barbican. Walk through the Florian Gate onto Floriańska Street, reach the Main Market Square (St. Mary’s Basilica, Cloth Hall, Town Hall Tower). Stroll along Grodzka and Kanonicza to Wawel — courtyard, cathedral, Dragon’s Den. In the evening travel or walk to Kazimierz.
This no-interior-entries version usually takes about 2–2.5 hours on foot; if you plan to enter the Basilica, the State Rooms or the Market Underground, allow 4–6 hours or split the programme over two days.
Day 1: The Royal Route with visits to St. Mary’s Basilica and a short tour of Wawel. Evening on the Market Square or in Kazimierz. Day 2: Morning in Kazimierz — synagogues, Nowy Square and cafés; afternoon: the Museum of Engineering and Technology or Oskar Schindler’s Factory in Podgórze, depending on interests. Alternatively, an afternoon trip to the Wieliczka Salt Mine (half a day).
Splitting the visit into two days lets you explore at a calmer pace, find time for café breaks and visit one or two museums without rushing.
MIT is an excellent choice if you travel with children or are interested in engineering and urban transport. The main seat is in the Zajezdnia at ul. Św. Wawrzyńca 15 in Kazimierz — the former tram depot building is full of historic trams, buses, machines and devices that tell the story of the city’s engineering.
The museum runs themed exhibitions, workshops for children (including a Brick Zone) and family guided tours. Educational activities and demonstrations often take place, so it’s worth checking the current programme before you visit.
Practical note: the Zajezdnia site and some branches (for example the Stanisław Lem Experience Garden) have specific opening hours — the museum usually posts availability and hours on its official channels. Group bookings and museum lessons may be paid and often require advance reservation.
If you want to visit MIT on the same day as the Royal Route, plan the museum for the afternoon of day two or for the morning of day one instead of a long visit to Wawel. The museum is a great way to vary the programme for children after a morning of monuments.
Check opening hours in advance and consider booking (especially for groups). During the school year and holidays the museum offers extra activities — a good opportunity to time your visit to a thematic workshop.
Buying tickets online for the State Rooms at Wawel, the Market Underground or popular museums saves a lot of time. The best hours for walking around the centre are early morning (around 8:00–10:00) and late afternoon. Expect bigger crowds and longer queues in the high season.
Krakow’s centre is easy to cover on foot, but many streets have cobblestones and uneven surfaces — bring comfortable shoes. Trams and buses make reaching more distant places easier (Nowa Huta, Zakrzówek). People with limited mobility should check access to specific entrances and available accommodations in advance.
On the Market Square watch out for pickpockets — keep your luggage, documents and wallet safe. In churches and places of worship dress appropriately and keep quiet; some sites restrict photography indoors.
The Market and Kazimierz areas offer a wide range of restaurants and cafés — from elegant places to budget-friendly bistros. For traditional and notable cuisine consider historic or highly rated venues in the centre. In Kazimierz I recommend restaurants known for their local atmosphere and good reviews.
A few popular and well-regarded places in the centre and Kazimierz: Jama Michalika (a café with a long tradition), Cafe Camelot (a cosy café), Starka (a Kazimierz restaurant with regional dishes), Wierzynek (historic restaurant by the Market). When choosing a place, pay attention to guest reviews and book a table for the evening, especially on weekends.
As for accommodation, the strict centre is more expensive but saves travel time. If you prefer a quieter location consider Kazimierz or neighbourhoods a bit further from the Market with good tram connections.
Trying to see “everything” in one day leads to rushing and fatigue — it’s better to pick key highlights and enjoy them without pressure. Another frequent mistake is not buying online tickets for popular museums and exhibitions — this ends with long waits.
Not planning coffee and rest breaks can make a day tiring. Also check opening hours on holidays and Sundays — some sites change their schedules. When visiting with children, have a plan B (an interactive attraction, a park, ice cream) in case one of the places doesn’t interest the little ones.
The Museum of Engineering and Technology operates in former depots and presents not only exhibits but fragments of local transport history — so a walk around the building itself can be interesting. On Kanonicza Street and around Wawel there are many “quiet corners” with historic townhouses that often escape the main tourist routes.
The St. Mary’s trumpet signal played from the Basilica tower is a daily Krakow ritual — it’s worth learning the short legend about its broken note as a curious story during your walk. Locals often recommend an evening stroll around the Planty — it’s a calmer view of the city compared with the daytime crowds on the Market Square.
Is one day enough for Krakow? One day lets you see the key points from the outside (the Royal Route), but to enter several interiors and visit museums you should plan at least 2 days.
Is MIT good for children? Yes — the museum has interactive exhibits and special workshops for younger visitors, and the displays of trams and old buses are usually a big hit with kids.
How to avoid queues at Wawel and the Market Underground? The safest way is to buy tickets online in advance and come early in the morning. In high season consider splitting visits over two days.
Do I need a guide? A guide isn’t necessary, but greatly enriches the visit — stories, context and practical tips that are hard to find in paper guides. If you’d like a personalised itinerary, ticket booking or a guided tour, you can use the services of Małgorzata Kasprowicz — contact details are visible on zwiedzaniekrakowa.com.
If you found this plan useful, share it with friends or on social media — it will help others plan their stay in Krakow. If you want a personalised route, ticket reservations or a guided tour, feel free to take advantage of Małgorzata Kasprowicz’s offer — contact details are visible on zwiedzaniekrakowa.com. Wishing you a pleasant and stress-free weekend in Krakow!
