The Main Market is the heart of Kraków and the perfect place to start a full-day walk. It is a vast medieval square with the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) at its centre and from here the Royal Route leads toward Wawel. Together we will visit the key spots: the Cloth Hall, the Rynek Underground museum, St. Mary's Basilica and nearby streets — and, if time and interest allow, parts of the Royal Route and the Planty park.
This article is written for mid-size groups of 7–20 people. That number is a great compromise: intimate enough so everyone can hear stories and ask questions, while still easy to handle logistically for a full-day programme without unnecessary crowds.
The best times on the Market are early morning and late afternoon on weekdays. In the morning the square breathes more freely — the light is gentler, it’s easier to take good photos and to tell the stories of the places without competing with the crowds.
To visit without long queues, it’s worth booking museum entries in advance and setting confirmed time slots before arrival. Many popular attractions (for example the Rynek Underground or Wawel) have fixed entry times, so I plan the day so the group has reserved slots and can enter smoothly without waiting.
The Cloth Hall is a former trade hall in the spirit of the Renaissance — a place of commerce and craftsmanship. Today it’s a popular spot for souvenirs but also a building with an interesting architectural history and later renovations. Walking through the arcades and pausing at stands, I tell the story of how urban trade changed and what lies behind the building’s façade.
For groups of 7–20 I usually propose a short stop under the arcades to tell the Cloth Hall’s history and point out architectural details, then a walk inside or a visit to the souvenir stalls — all adapted to the group’s pace and interests.
The Rynek Underground is a unique, multimedia exhibition beneath the square. It shows former trade routes, remains of stalls and archaeological research results. It makes a great complement to the stories about the Market’s role in medieval times.
Entries to the Underground have set times and places can be limited. To avoid queues and disappointment it’s best to book tickets for a specific hour. In practice I assign a slot in the day so the group moves smoothly from the surface into the exhibition and back out again.
This suggested plan balances walking pace, museum visits and rest and meal breaks:
- 09:00 - Meet at the Main Market Square; short orientation and introduction — the hejnał, layout of the square, history of the Cloth Hall.
- 09:30 - Walk along the arcades, stories about the townhouses and the Adam Mickiewicz monument; short photo break.
- 10:15 - Entry to the Rynek Underground (with reserved tickets).
- 11:30 - Walk toward Wawel or free time for coffee; if we go to Wawel — guided visit of the hill with reservations.
- 13:30 - Lunch at one of the restaurants near the Market or around the Cloth Hall — I recommend places that offer a daily menu and comfortable seating for groups.
- 15:00 - Walk around the Cloth Hall and the Planty park — a moment of rest on benches and stories about the city’s green ring.
- 16:00 - Optional entry to St. Mary’s Basilica, talk about the hejnał and the interior; optional time for souvenir shopping.
- 17:00 - End of the programme and a brief summary of the day.
This is only an example — I always adapt the programme to the group’s tempo, interests and opening hours of the chosen sites.
Groups of 7–20 can move easily on foot around the Market and nearby streets. It’s important to set a clear meeting point and keep the guide in a central place so nobody is left behind and transitions between stops remain smooth.
If you want to use headsets or audio sets, I can provide comfortable devices — they are useful on noisy days. For most 7–20 person groups a natural narration suffices, but audio sets are a helpful backup when street music is playing or when traffic makes it harder to hear.
The key to queue-free visiting is planning. We reserve museum tickets and set confirmed entry times in advance. If you want to see Wawel, the Rynek Underground or other busy sites — those visits go into the plan with exact slots.
I often recommend choosing one main museum per day instead of trying to ‘tick off’ many places — a longer, calmer visit is more satisfying and helps avoid repeated queues. If the group needs priority entry I arrange that during booking to minimise waiting time.
The route and pace can be easily adapted. For families with children I introduce game elements and short tasks during the walk. For seniors I plan more breaks and choose places with seating, and I limit long stretches of walking.
If the group includes people with reduced mobility we choose a ‘layered’ route — a short talk from a viewpoint, a gentle walk through the Cloth Hall arcades, then the Planty where it’s easy to rest. It’s also worth checking accessibility options like lifts and ramps at museums in advance to avoid surprises.
For a full day I recommend comfortable shoes, water bottles, light snacks and a charged phone. A paper map or a screenshot with the confirmed meeting point is useful too.
Scheduling breaks every 60–90 minutes saves the group’s energy. Reserve a lunch spot where the kitchen serves quickly — this shortens downtime and lets you get back to exploring without stress.
My name is Małgorzata Kasprowicz — I have been a licensed guide in Kraków since 2012 and have shown the city to thousands of visitors. I enjoy telling Kraków’s stories with humour, anecdotes and practical tips so every day of sightseeing is interesting and relaxed.
If you’d like to plan a full-day visit to the Market and the Cloth Hall for a group of 7–20, I’ll prepare a detailed programme, reserve tickets for the chosen museums and adapt the pace to your needs. Contact me through the ZwiedzanieKrakowa website and I will prepare an offer tailored to your date and group expectations.
Q: How far in advance should we book? - A: For mid-size groups it’s best to book at least 2–4 weeks ahead for popular dates; earlier for holiday weekends or special events.
Q: Can you reserve a restaurant? - A: Yes — I can recommend and reserve places that handle groups smoothly. Near the Market try cafes and restaurants that offer a fixed daily menu for faster service.
Q: Is St. Mary’s Basilica accessible? - A: Parts of the basilica are accessible, but some areas have steps. I check access and lifts in advance and adapt the visit if needed.
Q: What about payments and tipping? - A: Most restaurants accept cards, but it’s good to have some cash for small purchases at market stalls. Tipping in Poland is customary for good service (around 10%).
Extra tip: If you want local flavours, try classic Kraków dishes like zurek (sour rye soup), pierogi, or pork knuckle at trusted restaurants near the Market. For coffee and cake choose a cosy café with seating inside so the group can relax between visits.
