If you are planning a photographic walk through the heart of Kraków - the Main Market Square and the Cloth Hall are places where almost every glance becomes a frame. This route is written to help you use the light, avoid crowds and see both classic and less obvious photo spots.
My name is Małgorzata Kasprowicz. I am a licensed guide in Kraków (since 2012) and I have led thousands of people around the city. In this article I share practical tips and a ready route you can follow on your own or use as inspiration before a walk with me.
The route is friendly for photographers of different skill levels - from smartphone to DSLR and lenses. Let's get started!
Remember - the Cloth Hall also houses museum exhibitions on the upper floor, and there is an InfoKraków tourist information point inside the building - it's worth checking opening hours before your visit.
Typical time to complete the proposed route is 60-90 minutes, depending on how many photos you take and how many breaks you make.
The golden hour in the morning and late afternoon gives the most beautiful, soft light on facades and architectural details. If you want to capture an empty or barely crowded Market - choose early morning or the hour just after the main tourist points open.
The blue hour (just before sunrise or after sunset) gives photos atmosphere - the illuminated mass of St. Mary's Basilica and the Cloth Hall arcades look especially dramatic then.
During the day, photographing details in the Cloth Hall arcades or the narrow streets leading off the Market requires attention to contrast and shadow - it's useful to have a polarizing filter or a plan for framing in stronger light.
Watch out for crowds at midday and around lunch - if you want clean frames, consider visiting earlier or later.
1) Start: Adam Mickiewicz Monument - a wide view of the whole Market. This is a classic spot to make a "panorama" with St. Mary's Basilica in the background. In the morning you will get nice oblique light on the townhouses.
2) The Cloth Hall - arcades and stalls. Photograph the arcades from different heights and perspectives - a low angle will emphasize the arches, while shots along the stalls will show the rhythm and texture of the place. Inside the Cloth Hall on the ground floor you will find souvenir stalls - great for details and street-style photos.
3) Upper floor of the Cloth Hall - the Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Art (a branch of the National Museum). Views from the ground floor to the exhibitions and the gallery interiors give different, more 'museum' frames. Entrance requires a ticket - if you plan to photograph interiors, check the museum rules and any restrictions on tripods.
4) Arcades and side passages - Floriańska Street and the alleys going out from the Market. Look for interesting leading lines and architectural details: cornices, portals, mascarons.
5) Perspectives from the Planty and the Market corners - exterior shots give space in the frame and show the Market as a civic square. Try wide-angle shots and 35-50 mm focal lengths for a natural perspective.
6) Details - stalls, lanterns, paving stones, townhouse ornaments. Small elements create the atmosphere - look for textures and light-shadow contrasts.
7) Evening shots of St. Mary's Basilica and illuminations - finish the walk with a night photo when lights give buildings a theatrical expression.
The InfoKraków point inside the Cloth Hall is a good information base - it sells tickets, has tourist materials and helps with orientation in the city. In practice the information point and some services in the Cloth Hall are open during daytime - most often in the morning and afternoon (often around 9:00-17:00), but hours can change seasonally.
On the ground floor of the Cloth Hall there are stalls with souvenirs and handicrafts - it's a good place for detail photos, but remember to respect sellers and their merchandise.
On the upper floor is the Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Art - if you want to enter and photograph paintings or interiors, check the museum's photography rules and tripod restrictions.
Practical tip - before your planned visit check the current opening hours and any temporary closures of the information point and exhibition hours. During the tourist season schedules may change.
InfoKraków also offers maps and help with booking tours - it's worth using these services if you want to match your visit to the opening hours of specific places.
Lenses: wide angle (16-35 mm on full frame or equivalent) for architecture and square shots; 35-85 mm for portraits and details; a telephoto to compress perspective and pick out facade details.
Tripod: useful for night shots and long exposures, but in crowded arcades and urban interiors keep it under control and don't block passageways. Museums often have tripod restrictions - check the rules.
Settings: architecture likes smaller apertures (f/5.6-f/11) for depth of field; for details and creative blur use faster shutter speeds and wider apertures.
Composition: look for leading lines (arcades, building edges), symmetry and contrasts of light and shadow. Choose a perspective that tells the story of the place.
People in the frame: sometimes the presence of people adds scale and life, and sometimes you want an empty background - choose your time and framing intentionally.
Respect commercial space and sellers - do not block stalls, do not touch goods without permission and ask if you want to take close-up photos.
Churches and museums have rules about photography - flashes and tripods are not always allowed. Ask staff before using a flash.
Consider other tourists - do not set up gear where it hinders movement, and remember to keep your camera and equipment secure.
If you want to photograph during special events (markets, concerts) - expect larger crowds and possible changes in access to spaces.
Where to meet at the start of the route? - The most convenient meeting point is the Adam Mickiewicz Monument in the middle of the Market or the front entrance to the Cloth Hall. It's also a good orientation point when meeting a guide.
Do I need a ticket for the Cloth Hall? - There is no ticket for the ground-floor stall area. Entrance to exhibitions on the upper floor (Gallery of the 19th century) usually requires a ticket. If you plan to visit the gallery, check opening hours and entry rules.
Can the guide help with ticket reservations? - Yes, as part of my guiding service I can help organize entry to selected sites and advise when best to plan them.
Is the route suitable for families with children? - Yes, the route is flexible - you can shorten or lengthen it, and add breaks for coffee or ice cream. For families it's good to plan shorter sections and stops at nearby cafés.
Do I need a permit for commercial photography? - If you plan commercial shoots (wedding, advertising) in public spaces or inside a museum, check the venue regulations and possible permit requirements.
Look for details that tell the city's history - fragments of roofs, mascarons, old drains and vintage tiles often create unexpected compositions.
Pay attention to seasonality - in winter with market lights you will get different atmospheric shots than in summer with blue skies and café umbrellas.
If you like, combine the photographic route with a short walk along the Planty or the cobbled Floriańska Street - you will get variety of shots within a small area.
If you prefer to tour with a guide, I can tailor the route to your photographic interests - tell me what you like to photograph and we'll plan the best time and pace.
If you'd like me to guide you along this route in person - you're welcome to contact me through ZwiedzanieKrakowa.com. Together we'll choose the best time, pace and the places you want to photograph.
Good luck with your frames! Kraków can surprise you - just look carefully.
See you at the Market!
- Małgorzata Kasprowicz
