The Market Underground is a place where Kraków’s history appears almost "under your feet." For students it’s a great opportunity to see authentic remains of the medieval city, learn about trade and everyday life of former residents, and understand how Kraków gained prominence in medieval Europe.
A private tour with a licensed guide brings advantages: the stories are tailored to the group’s age, engaging and interactive, and the pace is adapted to the class’s needs (stops, short tasks for pupils, time for photos and questions).
If you’re planning a shorter, intensive program - 2 hours is an optimal length to combine a brief walk around the Main Market Square with a visit to the Underground and a meaningful educational segment below ground.
This article contains a practical 2-hour itinerary, information about a typical route in the Underground, up-to-date tips on tickets and reservations, and practical advice on how to prepare a class for the visit.
I personally run the tours - with energy, humor and attention to safety and educational elements that stay with students long after the trip.
The main museum route in the Market Underground is known as "Tracing Kraków’s European identity." It combines an archaeological reserve with an exhibition telling the story of trade, crafts and Kraków’s contacts with other cities of medieval Europe.
The Underground covers a large archaeological reserve - a space where you can see excavated fragments of market buildings, remains of streets and artifacts. The exhibition is presented in an accessible way, often using display panels and reconstructions, which helps younger and older visitors understand the historical context.
In practice, for school groups a visit to the Underground usually takes a significant portion of the trip (about 45–75 minutes, depending on students’ interest and age). That is why, within a 2-hour format, it’s good to plan time both for going below ground and for a short walk on the Market surface.
During special events (festivals, Night of Museums) visiting hours and route availability may vary - it’s worth checking this in advance when booking.
Because the archaeological reserve is unique, there are sometimes limits on the number of people allowed on the route at one time - we account for this when planning and organizing school trips.
Opening hours of the Market Underground can change depending on the season and city events. Public materials have shown opening windows roughly from about 10:00 to 20:00 on most days, with shorter hours on Tuesdays and special free-admission days.
Because museum schedules can change (seasonally, for conservation works or during special events), I always recommend confirming hours and route availability before the planned visit - I will help with this when you make a booking and will check current information for your group.
When booking for schools it’s also worth considering special hours for organized groups and preferences for group entries (smaller or staggered entries) to avoid long waits.
If you plan to visit during big city events (for example Night of Museums), let’s check together whether special time slots are available and whether tickets must be reserved in advance.
I handle the logistics of entry to the Underground and advise when it’s best to schedule the visit depending on your trip date.
Below is an example of a tried-and-true dynamic 120-minute plan that works well with school classes:
- Minutes 0–10: Meeting under the Cloth Hall arcades (facing St. Mary’s Basilica). Brief welcome, safety rules reminder, and an introduction to the topic of the visit.
- Minutes 10–30: Short walk on the surface of the Main Market Square - Cloth Hall, St. Mary’s Church (history and a child-friendly curiosity), a quick introduction to the medieval market.
- Minutes 30–35: Entry to the Underground, group organization, preparing pupils for the visit (brief quieting down, guidance on moving safely).
- Minutes 35–95: Tour of the route below ground - stops at the most interesting reconstructions and excavations, interactive questions for students, educational tasks adapted to age (e.g. recognizing objects, a short source-analysis mini-task).
- Minutes 95–110: Return to the surface, brief synthesis of key observations, time for students’ questions and a short thematic summary.
- Minutes 110–120: Farewell, tips about other nearby attractions, and practical notes (where to eat, where the bus will wait).
This schedule balances on-site work with active student participation - it’s not a lecture but a walk with tasks and stories that stick in memory.
Minimal preparation for the class: a short reminder of museum behavior rules, comfortable shoes (there are uneven surfaces and stairs in the Underground), and a small backpack instead of large suitcases.
Tickets and reservations: The Underground often requires group ticket reservations in advance - I will help contact the museum staff and arrange a suitable entry time. There are special ticket rates and group entries for school classes, but the rules should be confirmed when planning the trip.
Group size and equipment: For groups above about 30 people it’s often recommended to use an additional guide or audio sets. On my website you’ll find information about handling larger groups - I offer guiding for small classes and cooperation for bigger school trips.
Safety: During entry to the Underground we pay attention to stairs and potentially slippery sections; please ensure proper supervision (teachers) and that accompanying adults follow school regulations.
Accessibility: Because the exhibition is underground, people with limited mobility may face difficulties - it’s worth consulting availability and possible alternatives before booking.
My website contains current rates for guided tours. As a guideline I can give example prices commonly used for school trips: a standard 2-hour tour for a small group (up to 35 people) - price as shown on the site (seasonal pricing applies).
For larger groups billing can be per person and often includes an extra guide or rental of audio headsets. When booking for schools I always propose the most convenient logistical and financial option, adapted to the number of pupils and time frame.
If you want, I will check available promotions and provide a ready calculation when you contact me - I present everything clearly on the booking page.
Important: ticket fees for the Market Underground are charged by the museum; the guide fee is a separate service. I take care of both arranging museum entry and running the educational activities.
When booking during the school season and for larger classes it’s often possible to spread costs into favorable terms - contact me for details and I will prepare a quote.
Booking: simply contact me via the contact form or email available on ZwiedzanieKrakowa.com - during the conversation we’ll agree on a date, preferred program scope (more history, workshop elements, tasks for pupils), number of participants and required Underground tickets.
Organizational support: I assist with formal matters - contact with museum staff, confirmation of entry times, tips about bus arrival and meeting points. This gives teachers fewer things to handle and more time to focus on supervising the class.
Additional materials: on request I prepare short materials for work before or after the trip (brief task cards, questions for discussion) that help reinforce knowledge gained during the visit.
I invite you to contact me - together we’ll plan a stress-free and valuable program for your class.
Booking contact and details are available on ZwiedzanieKrakowa.com - I’m happy to answer specific questions about dates, educational needs or logistics.
1) Book the date in advance - schools and organized groups often plan months ahead, especially during the school season.
2) Arrive a few to several minutes before the scheduled time - this allows you to assemble calmly under the Cloth Hall and avoid rushing at the Underground entrance.
3) Make sure pupils wear comfortable shoes and a light outer layer - it can be cooler underground than on the surface.
4) If you have specific educational expectations (e.g. links to history, art or Polish language), let me know - I will prepare activity elements tailored to the curriculum.
5) After the trip I’ll gladly suggest other Kraków sites that fit the theme (museums, themed routes, places with educational workshops) - it’s worth planning what comes next depending on time and pupils’ age.
As a licensed guide experienced in running school trips I combine solid knowledge with an accessible way of presenting it. The Market Underground is a place that comes alive through storytelling and active work with students - that is precisely what I offer during 2-hour programs.
I will help plan logistics, reserve appropriate entries and prepare activities so that the trip is safe, interesting and meets teachers’ expectations. If you wish, I will prepare a personalized plan for your class.
I invite you to get in touch - let’s make a trip that leaves students curious about history and with lasting memories of Kraków.
See you under the Cloth Hall!
Małgorzata Kasprowicz - ZwiedzanieKrakowa.com
