This route is an evening, themed walk through Nowa Huta led by a licensed guide — me, Małgorzata Kasprowicz. It is aimed primarily at school groups, but it also works very well for high-school students, university trips and teachers looking for an engaging story about post-war Poland and 20th-century architecture. This is not the traditional “Main Square and Wawel” tour — it’s sightseeing off the beaten path, with stories, anecdotes and contrasts between the socialist realist plan and the everyday life of residents. The route can be done partly on foot and partly using transport (coach/MPK) depending on the group’s needs. Three hours is the optimal time to calmly see the most important points and keep students’ attention.
Why in the evening? Because Nowa Huta takes on a special character after sunset — illuminated squares, the Stylowa restaurant and the cinema gain a very different atmosphere, and stories about the past are easier to place in the mood of that era. An evening walk is also great for groups that arrive in Krakow in the afternoon and want to spend the evening on something meaningful and original.
I adapt all routes to the age and interests of the group — for younger classes more curiosities and games, for older students discussions about history, urban planning and social consequences of city design.
Note — if you plan a night trip in winter, remember warm clothing and shorter outdoor breaks.
If you want to book a date — please contact me in advance, especially during the school season and on weekends.
The route includes the most characteristic and at the same time less obvious places in Nowa Huta — a mix of architecture, public space and local stories. The program typically includes, among others:
- Reagan Central Square (Plac Centralny im. Reagana) - the main square planned with social life and parades in mind.
- Nowa Huta Cultural Centre (Nowohuckie Centrum Kultury, NCK) - an example of adapting cultural space in a post-industrial city.
- Wanda and Willowe housing estates - the oldest estates showing different residential concepts of the time.
- the “Swedish Block” and the “French Block" - small urban curiosities that students often like to photograph.
- Aleja Róż (Avenue of Roses) and the site of the Lenin monument - places that tell about the symbolism of public space.
- Stylowa Restaurant - a cult spot that connects the past with the present.
- The Nowa Huta Cross (Krzyż Nowohucki) - the story of the struggle for a church, showing local emotions and social resistance.
- Ludowy Theatre and Arka Pana Church - an ideological and architectural contrast in the heart of the district.
- Cistercian Monastery in Mogiła and the industrial complex area - to understand how industry and religion coexisted here over the years.
Additionally — on request of the group — there is the possibility to descend into one of the local air-raid shelters (if open) — this provides an excellent backdrop for conversations about everyday life in the People's Republic of Poland and the civil defense preparations of past decades.
The standard tour lasts 3 hours — the optimal time to combine walking with commentary and small educational tasks for students. The route is flexible — I can shorten it to 2 hours or extend it to 4 if the group needs it.
The program can be organized as:
- A walking tour with several stops — suitable for active and mobile classes.
- A walk with short coach or tram transfers — if the group is larger or wants to see wider parts of the district without excessive walking.
Meeting place and time are arranged individually after booking — most often we meet in the city centre and travel together by public transport or coach to Nowa Huta. For evening tours I plan the route so that the most interesting stops occur after dark — this gives a better narrative and photographic effect.
- Prepare brief information before the trip — a few curiosities or questions we want to raise during the walk; this helps students be more engaged.
- Clothing and footwear — comfortable shoes and layered clothing (especially in the evening), a small backpack with a snack and a bottle of water.
- Safety — please remind students of basic rules for moving in traffic and behaviour in large groups. I take care of safety during the route, but cooperation with supervisors is key.
- Educational materials — I can prepare short task cards or quizzes for students (upon teacher’s request). These simple activities help focus attention and consolidate knowledge.
- Number of participants — I run tours for small classes up to large school trips; for big groups audio-headset sets (audio-guides) are available to improve audibility and comfort.
- Audio-headset sets — available for larger groups, improving listening comfort without crowding close to the guide.
- Plan B in case of bad weather — if it rains the route can be modified to spend more time in indoor venues (NCK, museums, theatres).
- Shelters and special entrances — there is a possibility to enter some underground air-raid shelters beneath the city — this requires prior arrangement and a small extension of the program.
- Pace and breaks — I adjust the pace to the group; for school classes I plan shorter storytelling blocks and more frequent breaks to maintain students’ attention.
- Tour language — I run tours in Polish and can conduct them in English if the group needs it.
To book a date or ask for details — please contact me by phone or email. When booking we agree the program, start time, number of participants and any additional needs (e.g. headset sets, shelter entry, transport).
Prices depend on route length and group size — the standard school tour can be run as a 2–4 hour option; for larger groups there is a per-person pricing table. During the school season it’s worth booking in advance — evening slots can be in high demand.
If you want to quickly check availability — write to kontakt@zwiedzaniekrakowa.com or call +48 501 962 037. After booking I will confirm route details and prepare a short list of practical tips for supervisors.
If needed I can prepare an offer tailored to your educational program — themed programs and student tasks are available on request.
Promotions and current prices are set individually — please ask when booking.
Is the tour safe for school classes? - Yes. From experience I know how to work with young people; I cooperate with supervisors, apply clear rules of conduct and have a prepared safety plan.
How long is the "Nowa Huta" route? - Standard 3 hours, but I can adjust it to 2 or 4 hours depending on the group’s needs.
Do we need to buy tickets in advance? - The price covers the guiding service; entrance tickets to museums or special sites (if included) are extra. I will help with ticket purchases and advise when it’s worth getting them beforehand.
Can we go into an air-raid shelter? - Yes, that is possible, but it requires prior agreement and may extend the tour by about an hour.
Is the route suitable after dark? - Yes — that’s actually an advantage of this version. The evening atmosphere adds drama to the stories and helps students better immerse themselves in the described era.
- Think about simple field tasks for the class — a mini-quiz, a photo challenge or a short exercise comparing Nowa Huta with Krakow’s historic centre — these engage students and help consolidate learning.
- Class photographers — I recommend selecting a few students to document the route; evening shots of squares and modernist buildings work very well.
- Time for reflection — plan 10–15 minutes at the end of the tour for questions and a summary with the class; this is when students usually ask the most interesting questions.
- Book in advance — especially if you need access to a shelter or want headset sets for a large group.
You are warmly invited — discover Nowa Huta with us off the beaten path and see how interesting and full of contrasts Krakow can be.
