Yes — but it’s worth planning every step and taking the specifics of a large group into account. For 30–60 people the key things are: transport (one coach or two smaller coaches), pre-booked entrances to the main sites, a clear schedule with time buffers for breaks, and a fixed meeting and departure point. With a well-planned day you can see the most important parts of Kraków’s Old Town and Wawel, then visit Wadowice — the Family Home of John Paul II and the market with its characteristic pastry shop where you should definitely try the kremówka.
For the comfort of a group of several dozen people it’s better to choose a few highlights rather than trying to see everything. In practice this means: a short but substantive guided walk around the Market Square and Wawel in Kraków, coach transfer to Wadowice, longer visit to sites connected with John Paul II and a lunch break. With that arrangement the day will be intense but feasible.
Remember: extra time is your best friend with large groups — traffic jams, toilets, photos and organised entrances can take more minutes than you expect. Plan scheduled breaks and a time buffer for every point in the programme.
Below you’ll find a sample schedule, tips on arranging transport, booking tickets and where to organise a meal for a large group. Everything in a simple, guide-style tone — so you can quickly put together an offer for your participants.
Organisational note: if the group has special needs (people with reduced mobility, children, seniors), plan an easier route and notify in advance the sites you plan to visit.
This is a “realistic” plan with time buffers. You can shorten or extend it depending on the group’s pace and the coach’s availability.
07:45 – Meeting at the agreed place in Kraków (give clear directions for the coach driver and participants).
08:00 – Departure/start: short briefing with the guide and the driver.
08:15–10:45 – Guided walk in the Old Town and Wawel (about 2.5 hours) — main stops: Main Market Square, Cloth Hall (Sukiennice), St. Mary’s Church (outside/short entry), Wawel Hill and the Cathedral (exterior commentary + optional entrance to the cathedral).
10:45–11:15 – Return to the coach, time for toilets, souvenir shopping, photos; prepare for departure to Wadowice.
11:15–12:15 – Coach transfer to Wadowice (travel time approx. 50–70 minutes depending on traffic).
12:15–13:30 – Arrival in Wadowice, group lunch or catering at a pre-booked restaurant (reserve in advance).
13:30–15:00 – Visit to the Family Home Museum of John Paul II and the Basilica (best visited with pre-booked time blocks for the group or split into smaller subgroups).
15:00–16:00 – Optional: ride the small tourist train around Wadowice or walk around the market, coffee and the famous Wadowice kremówka.
16:15 – Departure back to Kraków.
17:15–18:00 – Return to Kraków (time depends on traffic).
Important: this is an indicative plan — for large groups plan an extra 30–60 minutes buffer for unforeseen events.
Coach: for 30–60 people it’s convenient to book one large coach (or two smaller ones if you keep to a 50-seat limit). Ask the operator about the exact pick-up location, parking and stop possibilities, on-board toilet and driver working hours. Agree the pick-up and return point in Kraków with a precise address and a simple map.
Parking and drop-off points: in Kraków choose a meeting point near the Old Town that allows coach stops. In Wadowice there are coach parking areas — the most convenient for visitors are stops near the Market Square and E. and K. Wojtyła Street; it’s worth informing the local tourist information office about your arrival in advance.
Splitting into subgroups: when visiting interiors (museums, the cathedral) large groups often need to be divided into smaller teams with staggered entry times. Arrange this with the museum staff and the guide to avoid long waits.
Time etiquette: inform the group that punctuality is crucial. With large groups a 5–10 minute delay by one person can postpone the whole schedule.
Coordination with venues: always reserve time slots well in advance and confirm them 3–7 days before the trip. Ask about group size limits, group-entry rules and any accessibility arrangements.
Family Home Museum of John Paul II: for organised groups it’s best to reserve entries in advance. In busy periods there may be limits on the number of simultaneous visitors or guided visits may be arranged in allocated time blocks — book the slot and confirm the number of participants ahead of time.
Guide and tour leader fees: for a large group it’s a good idea to have a guide for the Kraków part and a local guide in Wadowice, or a single person leading the whole trip. Often venues or restaurants offer a free place for supervisors once a certain participant threshold is reached — check this in your agreement.
Payments and invoices: prepare clear payment terms (deposit, final payment, cancellation). For catering or restaurant bookings it’s advisable to pre-pay or confirm in advance to avoid misunderstandings on the day.
Small on-the-spot costs: coach parking, extra guide fees in museums (if special licences or fees apply) and possible entrance tickets — include these in the budget and inform participants in advance.
If you plan to sell the trip (e.g. for a school or company), prepare a basic and an extended option (for example: with lunch, cathedral interior entry, ride on the Wadowice tourist train). This helps participants choose a price that suits their expectations.
Booking lunch for 30–60 people requires early contact with a restaurant or catering service. In Wadowice and the surrounding area there are group-friendly places — the best are those that accept table reservations and offer two, at most three, hot main course choices (fewer options = faster service).
Catering option: if you want to eat quickly and without crowds, order catering to a hall, community centre or a buffet set up near the coach stop. This works well for school and corporate groups.
Coffee breaks and the kremówka: in Wadowice the kremówka is practically a must — plan a short coffee and dessert break at the market. For a large group tell the patisserie in advance the expected number of guests to avoid long queues.
Diets and allergies: collect information about special diets before the trip and pass it on to the restaurant or caterer. It’s a small effort that makes a big difference for participants.
Lunch time: plan 45–60 minutes for lunch with organised groups. This gives enough time to eat and enjoy a short break before the next programme item.
Communication plan: choose one clear method of communication for the trip — a megaphone, a notice board with the leader’s phone number, or vouchers with emergency contacts. Large groups disperse easily, so clear instructions are invaluable.
Supervisors: for 30–60 people it’s worth having 2–4 supervisors/coordinators within the group to help keep the pace, count participants and watch meeting points.
Documents and safety: make sure everyone knows the meeting point, the guide’s phone number and the procedure in case someone gets lost. For school or youth groups bring a participant list and parental permissions if required.
Insurance: check whether you have travel insurance covering the whole group — this is standard practice for organised trips.
Plan B for bad weather: have an alternative shorter indoor programme (museums, cafés, conference rooms) and flexible visiting times. Book places that allow fast relocation under cover.
Photos and selfie time: include 10–15 minutes in the schedule for photos at the key spots. Large groups need time to arrange and take group shots.
No advance reservations — the most frequent mistake. Museums, restaurants, tourist trains and coach parking often need notification, especially in season.
Underestimating walking and entry times — always add at least 15–30 minutes buffer to each programme point.
No clear meeting points or instructions — every participant should know where and when to meet. It’s useful to give a paper copy of the programme to each participant.
Too ambitious an itinerary — it’s better to see less without rushing than to hurry from place to place and lose the pleasure of the trip.
Not informing the driver and venue staff about the group’s special needs — report people with reduced mobility or special meal requests in advance.
Start early: morning hours in Kraków are calmer traffic-wise and it’s usually easier to position a coach near the Old Town.
Set up a “checkpoint” at the Market entrance — a board with the bus number and departure time helps gather the group after breaks.
Divide the group into smaller teams before arriving at the museum and give the lists to the guide — this saves time on entry.
Include the kremówka as part of the programme — it’s a nice local touch participants will remember.
Designate a photographer or a person in charge of photos: this way no one misses out on souvenirs and you don’t lose time organising group pictures.
A Kraków + Wadowice trip in one day for 30–60 people is a great idea as long as you take care of transport, bookings and a realistic schedule with time buffers. Main takeaways: book tickets and lunches in advance, set clear meeting points, provide supervisors and don’t forget the kremówka in Wadowice!
If you’d like, I can help prepare a personalised plan for your group: I will adjust visiting times, assist with contacting venues and suggest tried-and-true places to eat. Tell me how many people you have, who will be travelling (children, seniors?), where you’ll depart from and what your expectations are — I’ll prepare an offer tailored to your group.
Wishing you a successful trip and many beautiful views — Kraków and Wadowice combine grand history with warm local atmosphere that participants will remember for a long time.
Best regards, Małgorzata Kasprowicz — Kraków guide.
PS. If you prefer, I can prepare a programme version with longer Kraków sightseeing and no trip to Wadowice — it’s good to have an alternative when the group’s time or energy is limited.
