Nowa Huta is not only socialist-realist housing estates and the Central Square — it also includes the areas of former villages, battlefields, cemeteries and camp memorial sites that retain traces of events from 1939–1945. A walk following World War II traces lets you see places connected with mass executions, forced labour camps, graves and memorials scattered across neighbourhoods such as Mogiła and Bieńczyce.
In this article you will find a practical itinerary for groups of 7–30 people, a sample route for 2–4 hours, springtime logistics, food recommendations and the most common mistakes to avoid. If you are planning a school trip, corporate outing or a private tour with family or friends — this guide is for you.
This area of Kraków combines many layers of history: pre‑war villages, wartime tragedies and the postwar story of building the “ideal city” — all embedded in the everyday urban environment and easily reachable by public transport. Stories told by local guides and museum staff connect places with residents’ biographies, giving a deeper understanding than a standard old‑town tour.
The walk also reaches sites that have no large official exhibitions but are important for local memory — graves, plaques, fragments of infrastructure and visible traces of wartime activity in the landscape. This makes the visit more personal and moving.
The routes discussed here are optimised for medium groups: from small company outings through school groups to friendly gatherings. Groups of 7–30 allow comfortable movement on foot or by public transport, effective narration by a single guide and possible entries to small memorial sites.
In practice: for 7–15 people it is easiest to combine walking with tram rides and shorter walks; for 16–30 people consider hiring a minibus or splitting into two smaller subgroups that visit spots simultaneously so as not to block memorials and trams.
When planning, consider the group’s pace, presence of older people or those with limited mobility, and include breaks for rest and refreshments.
1. Start: Museum of Nowa Huta / Osiedle Centrum — a short introduction and historical context. Possibility to visit the “Underground Nowa Huta” exhibition and shelters if the group wants to extend the program.
2. Mogiła and the area of former labour camps — site of mass executions and victims’ graves. The guide tells local stories of resistance, conspiracy and repression.
3. Bieńczyce and surroundings — fragments of memory about expulsions, documentary sources and commemorative plaques.
4. Krzesławice / Pleszów — memorial sites related to repressions, graves and local wartime tragedies. Opportunity to visit memorials and cemeteries.
5. Shelters and defensive remains — a story about air‑raid shelters and Cold War legends of the “underground city.” In Nowa Huta there are nearly 200 shelters of various sizes, and some are opened to visitors as historical exhibits.
6. Finish: reflection at an important memorial site or a quick return to the centre with food recommendations.
A typical themed walk lasts 2 to 4 hours — depending on the number of stops and visits to small museums or shelters. Spring is a great time: days are longer, nature adds context, and temperatures favour walking.
Keep in mind that museum and city walks are sometimes limited to protect sites and for participants’ comfort — for example some historical events in the past had limits of around 25 people, so for larger groups it is recommended to reserve in advance and possibly split the group.
If you plan visits inside shelters or small museums, check availability and whether prior administrative permissions are required.
Transport: the best tram and bus connections link Kraków city centre with Nowa Huta — check timetables and ticket zones, especially if the group needs group tickets.
Clothing: spring weather can be variable — plan layered clothing, comfortable shoes and light rain gear. Temperatures in shelters and underground spaces are lower, so bring a thin jacket.
Safety and respect: memorial places require silence and proper behaviour — ask participants to silence phones and avoid inappropriate posing near graves and monuments.
Guiding: for medium groups one guide can lead the whole tour, but in tight spaces consider using a small microphone or dividing into smaller teams so everyone can hear the stories.
Nowa Huta has its culinary traditions: milk bars, bakeries and local diners known for homestyle dishes and reasonable prices. For a pleasant break plan a stop at a local bakery like Pingwinek or one of the popular milk bars — a great way to taste local cuisine and keep the mood of the visit.
If the group prefers a more upscale place, you can return to Kraków’s centre where there are many highly rated restaurants and cafés. For reservations for 10+ people it’s best to book in advance.
If you’d like, I can recommend specific venues and help with reservations, taking into account your group’s dietary preferences.
- Nowa Huta contains a network of shelters and defensive structures often called the “underground city” — this consists of hundreds of objects with different purposes and states of preservation; some hide very unusual exhibits and stories.
- Many memorial places do not have large information boards, but local archives and residents’ memories allow reconstruction of individual fates — a good guide combines archival sources with oral history.
- Some WWII‑related objects were later adapted during the People’s Republic of Poland to other functions — the walk reveals these layers of change and continuity in urban history.
1. Not reserving visits to shelters or small exhibitions — solution: check availability and book in advance, especially on weekends.
2. An overly ambitious route without time for breaks — solution: plan realistic timing (add a 20–30% time buffer).
3. Not preparing for spring weather — solution: inform participants about comfortable footwear and layered clothing.
4. Failing to ensure silence and respect at memorial sites — solution: give a short briefing before entering and remind the group of visit etiquette.
Is the route suitable for children? — Yes, but some topics may be difficult for the youngest; for family groups it is worth informing parents about the nature of the stories and adjusting the content if needed.
Do we need tickets? — Entries to some shelters or dedicated museum exhibitions may require advance booking or a fee; a standard walk through public spaces is free.
Is the route accessible for people with limited mobility? — Some points are accessible, but shelters and certain cemeteries have limitations; when planning a group with people with reduced mobility, choose a route with fewer underground entries and check access in advance.
Visiting Nowa Huta in the footsteps of World War II is a different experience from classic Kraków sightseeing — full of local stories, memorial places and overlooked fragments of history. In spring the route gains extra scenic value and comfortable weather, making it an ideal time for a trip for groups of 7–30 people.
If you found this article helpful, share it with friends or on social media — you’ll help others discover the lesser‑known parts of Kraków. I also invite you to use the services of private guide Małgorzata Kasprowicz — professional guiding, tailoring the route to your group and logistical support. Contact details for Małgorzata are available on zwiedzaniekrakowa.com.
