If you come to Kraków and want to see its most important faces — from the medieval Main Market, through the elegant Cloth Hall, to the stark but fascinating spaces of Nowa Huta — you’ve come to the right place. In this guide I’ll suggest what’s worth seeing, when to take the best photos, opening hours of the main sites and how to book a tour.
I’m Małgorzata Kasprowicz; I’ve guided thousands of people around Kraków and I’m happy to show you places that offer both historic background and great photographic frames. This text will help you plan your day — whether you prefer a morning photo session on the Market or a contrasting trip to Nowa Huta.
You’ll find practical tips here — from meeting points and advice on photographing the Cloth Hall to information about tour length and prices.
Welcome!
— Małgorzata
The Main Market is the heart of Kraków — a vast historic square surrounded by townhouses, with St. Mary’s Basilica and its tower from which the hejnał (trumpet signal) is played. Here you’ll find the Adam Mickiewicz monument, cafes, trams nearby and crowds at any time of year.
The Cloth Hall stands in the centre of the Market — a building with a long history, once a place for trading cloth and now home to souvenir stalls and beautiful galleries. Upstairs there is an exhibition devoted to 19th-century painting (museum display), and on the ground floor you’ll find stalls with handicrafts.
Around the Market there are also interesting side streets: Floriańska, Grodzka and Kanonicza — each hides charming architectural details and nice spots for a coffee break.
Many attractions in and around the Market are open at set times — so it’s worth checking opening days and hours of specific museums before your visit.
The public space of the Market is accessible at all times, but individual venues (for example exhibitions in the Cloth Hall) have fixed opening hours — typically morning and afternoon hours during the tourist season.
The Cloth Hall (museum section and exhibitions) has set visiting hours — in season standard hours are usually 9:00–17:00. Remember that schedules can change during special seasons or holidays, so if you plan to visit an exhibition, check current opening hours in advance.
Tourist information points (InfoKraków) in the city centre typically operate around 9:00–17:00, and some locations extend hours in high season. They’re a good place to pick up a map, ask about tickets and current changes to attraction opening times.
The public Main Market is available for walkers 24/7, but shops, stalls and galleries have their own opening hours.
If you plan to enter specific sites (churches, museums), check their current hours before your visit — during holidays or special events restrictions may apply.
If in doubt you can also contact me directly about the tour: phone +48 501 962 037 or email kontakt@zwiedzaniekrakowa.com.
The Main Market offers countless photographic opportunities — here’s a practical route and tips for planning a session:
- Morning (sunrise) — the best time for calm, wide shots of the Market without crowds. Golden light gives soft colours to the townhouses and long shadows add depth to compositions.
- St. Mary’s Basilica — consider a shot of the façade from the Cloth Hall perspective or from a Market corner, paying attention to sculptural details and the sky behind. Watch for people in the frame — the best shots are early morning or late afternoon.
- The Cloth Hall — portrait shots by the arcades and details of roof cornices and attics. On the ground floor you can make colourful photos of handicraft stalls, and from the gallery terrace (if open) you can capture a bird’s-eye view of the Market.
- The Mickiewicz monument and café terraces — great for lifestyle and street photography. Try lenses in the 35–85 mm range for natural portraits and 16–24 mm for wide cityscapes.
- Side streets and alleys — Floriańska, Grodzka and the picturesque passages offer atmospheric frames with details, doors, small restaurants and varied light.
Extra tip: if you want to photograph interiors (for example St. Mary’s Basilica), check the rules for indoor photography and any flash restrictions.
Nowa Huta is a contrast to old Kraków — a planned, socialist-realist district with wide avenues, monumental squares and historic housing estates. My route mixes history, anecdotes and places perfect for photography.
During the tour you’ll see, among others: Central Square (often called the heart of Nowa Huta), the Nowa Huta Cultural Centre (Nowohuckie Centrum Kultury, NCK), the Wandy and Willowe housing estates — the two oldest estates, characteristic blocks (so-called Swedish Block and French Block), Aleja Róż (Avenue of Roses) and the former site of the Lenin monument, the legendary Stylowa restaurant, the Nowa Huta Cross, Teatr Ludowy, the Arka Pana church and a fragment of the Tadeusz Sendzimir steelworks.
The route is planned to combine architectural shots (geometric, symmetrical frames), portraits in an urban environment and details of socialist-realist ornamentation. There is also an option to enter air-raid shelters beneath parts of the district — this lengthens the tour by about an hour and provides unusual, atmospheric photo spots.
Standard tour duration: 3 hours — enough to calmly visit key places and take good photos.
If you want to focus strictly on photography, we can adjust the pace and breaks so you have time to change lenses and camera settings.
To book a tour, it’s best to contact me directly: phone +48 501 962 037 or email kontakt@zwiedzaniekrakowa.com. After booking we agree on the meeting place and time as well as a route tailored to your expectations.
Sample prices (seasonal promotions): for small groups (1–35 people) 2-hour, 3-hour or 4-hour options — prices depend on duration; seasonal promotions may apply on certain dates. Exact rates are set when you book and may differ for Polish- and English-language tours.
The usual meeting point is central — a popular start is the Main Market by the Adam Mickiewicz monument, but we can arrange another convenient place.
Tours take place regardless of the weather. In case of very bad weather the route may be modified so we spend more time indoors and in museums.
Bring comfortable shoes, a spare camera battery, a small light or tripod for evening photos (if you plan to shoot after dark) and an ID, as some places may require identity checks for entry.
I can run tours in a family-friendly version — with curiosities and tasks for the little ones, keeping a pace suitable for school groups.
Regarding accessibility — some historic sites and city centre areas have good access for people with limited mobility, but for particular routes (especially when planning entry to shelters or certain interiors) it’s worth notifying me in advance so I can adapt the itinerary.
For school groups and corporate groups I prepare special programmes — with humour, educational inserts and interactive tasks.
If you need detailed information about accessibility on the route, write or call before booking and we will arrange everything.
Contact: +48 501 962 037 | kontakt@zwiedzaniekrakowa.com
Is the tour available in Polish and English? - Yes, I conduct tours in both Polish and English.
How long is the Nowa Huta tour? - Standard duration is 3 hours; it can be shortened or extended depending on needs.
Are entrance tickets included in the price? - The tour price covers guiding services; tickets to museums and special exhibitions are usually paid separately. I can assist with ticket purchase on site.
Where do we meet? - Usually at the Main Market near the Adam Mickiewicz monument, unless we agree on a different meeting point after booking.
What if it rains? - Tours run regardless of weather. In case of heavy rain we change the plan to include more interiors and museums.
- If you want photos without people in the foreground, plan a morning start or late evening session.
- For architectural photography a wide-angle lens is useful; for portraits and details use a 35–85 mm range.
- Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the forecast — the route combines walking around the Market and wider spaces in Nowa Huta.
- If you have specific photographic requests (for example night photos, portraits in particular places) mention them when booking and we’ll plan the schedule so you have time for the best shots.
I’m looking forward to guiding you through my city — Kraków has many faces, and each deserves a great photo and an interesting story.
If you want to book the Market and Cloth Hall route, choose a specially planned photography route or set off for a Nowa Huta expedition — write or call. Together we’ll tailor the route to your expectations and photographic level.
Booking contact: +48 501 962 037 | kontakt@zwiedzaniekrakowa.com
See you in Kraków! — Małgorzata Kasprowicz
