The Old Town is the historic centre of Kraków, ringed by the green belt of the Planty. City life is concentrated here, and the medieval street plan has survived almost unchanged. This area is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as an exceptionally well-preserved example of a European town centre. In practice it means a walk through layers of time, where every street corner can tell a different story.
The Main Market Square measures roughly 200 by 200 metres and is one of the largest medieval town squares in Europe. In the middle stands the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice), nearby rises the slender Town Hall Tower, and on the eastern edge of the square the twin towers of St. Mary’s Basilica dominate the skyline. All of this is tied together by the city’s geometric plan and the soft shade of the Planty.
The Market is alive from early morning until late at night. Coffee drifts from the arcades, street musicians play in the centre, and at the corners locals move more calmly, using the square as a shortcut. The houses around the square show a mix of styles from Gothic and Renaissance to nineteenth‑century updates — their cornices and portals reward a little upward attention.
The best way to start is at the square’s edge and slowly circle around. From that vantage you can see a conversation of volumes: the horizontal line of the Cloth Hall, the vertical Town Hall Tower, and the angled presence of St. Mary’s — a church that stood here before the new square was laid out.
On the ground floor of the Cloth Hall you’ll find rows of stalls selling crafts and souvenirs. Take a short loop to compare quality and finish, then sit under the arcades and watch the square. Upstairs is the Gallery of 19th‑Century Polish Art, with paintings and sculptures that show Poland through artists’ eyes of that era. From the windows you get a lovely elevated view of the Market — a great photographic frame.
After rain the cobbles in front of the Cloth Hall turn into a mirror reflecting the arcades and the colourful façades. It’s one of the best moments for a sheltered photography walk.
St. Mary’s Basilica is a Gothic jewel of the Old Town. The interior is half‑dark, with blue vaults and coloured light from the stained glass. The most famous treasure is the Veit Stoss (Wit Stwosz) altarpiece — an exquisitely carved wooden retable with incredible attention to detail. For calm and better appreciation, visit early in the morning or just before closing when the church is quieter.
Every hour a trumpet call — the hejnal — sounds from the basilica’s higher tower. The best place to hear it is on the axis between St. Mary’s and the Town Hall Tower. The melody cuts off suddenly, a tradition connected to a well‑known Kraków legend.
The Town Hall Tower is the lone remnant of the old town hall. It leans slightly, which gives it character and makes photos taken from the square’s corners more interesting than straight‑on shots. At times the tower is open as a viewpoint with a panorama of roofs and street lines.
The tiny St. Adalbert’s (św. Wojciech) Church at the south‑eastern corner of the Market is a time capsule. Differences in the pavement level around the church show how the square rose over the centuries with new layers of cobbles.
From the northern side of the Market the Floriańska Street leads to the Florian Gate and the Barbican. This is the best‑preserved fragment of the city’s former fortifications. Walking from under the Town Hall Tower’s helmet along Floriańska gives a cinematic perspective — the open square gradually narrows into a street framed by façades, and the gate silhouette appears on the horizon.
Between the towers you’ll find stretches of the old wall and galleries that remind you this place was once a defensive line rather than a park. Here it’s easy to understand why the Planty were later laid out around the city.
The Planty are the park that encircles the Old Town. The nicest time to walk their outer edge is early morning, when light filters through lindens and chestnuts and the benches are still empty. They’re also the shortest way between sightseeing nodes without squeezing through the Market’s crowd.
On hot days the Planty offer shade and relief; after rain they smell richer than the streets of the Old Town. Good rest spots are the stretch by the Słowacki Theatre and the section between Franciszkańska and Grodzka streets.
A few steps from the Market hides the Collegium Maius with its Gothic cloistered courtyard. Brick, arcades and a well in the middle make a peaceful scene that contrasts nicely with the bustle of the square. Spend a short moment here to see how scholarship has been woven into the city for centuries.
Nearby you’ll find other academic and church courtyards where you can catch your breath and hear your footsteps echo on the stone.
Beneath the Market’s paving stretches the interactive Market Underground route. You can see remains of stalls, old thoroughfares and objects excavated during archaeological digs. Visits run on scheduled entry times, so it’s best to book a ticket in advance and make the Underground a central point of your day.
The exhibition guides you with light and sound and moves through successive rooms at a set pace. For families and school groups it’s an excellent way to feel what commercial life here was like several hundred years ago.
The most intimate Market experience is early morning until about 9 a.m. and in the late afternoon after 4 p.m. At midday head to the Planty or the courtyards of Collegium Maius, and return to the square when the light softens. If you plan to enter churches, aim for times outside services and remember to dress modestly.
On weekdays museums are usually quieter; at weekends it’s wise to plan one major attraction per day and spend the rest of the time strolling. Your feet — and your head — will thank you.
The cobbles can be challenging for strollers and small wheels. Many places have ramps and lifts, and central museums offer facilities for visitors with limited mobility. In churches, photograph only where allowed and without flash. Public toilets are available in museums and in cafés around the Market, and you’ll easily find a shady bench in the Planty.
Card payments are widely accepted. During busy hours keep your bag close, avoid leaving your phone on the table edge, and take short breaks every 60 to 90 minutes.
90 minutes: Circle the Market — hear the hejnal — arcades of the Cloth Hall — St. Adalbert’s Church — Town Hall Tower — a short stretch of the Planty — return to the square from Szewska Street.
3 hours: Market — St. Mary’s Basilica — Market Underground at your reserved time — coffee break under the arcades — Florian Gate and the Barbican — Planty toward Collegium Maius — finish near Franciszkańska Street.
Look for merchants’ metal measures by the Cloth Hall and traces of old shop signs on house façades. Many passageways hide small courtyards with stone steps and galleries — natural settings for a short pause. After dark, the lamps under the arcades cast soft shadows and accentuate the rhythm of the columns.
A walk around the Old Town without paid entries — about 2 hours with one break in the Planty.
With entries to St. Mary’s and the Market Underground — roughly 3 to 3.5 hours plus a coffee break.
A long day including the Cloth Hall gallery and the stretch of walls with the Barbican — around 4 to 5 hours at a relaxed pace.
If you want to learn the Old Town’s secrets and plan a route that’s beautiful and unhurried, book a guided tour with Małgorzata Kasprowicz — contact her to arrange a date and tailor the visit to your interests. A guide makes the stories come alive and helps you fit the most memorable moments into your time in Kraków.
