The Planty is a green belt surrounding Kraków's historic centre — an ideal place to begin a walk before heading up to Wawel. Where city defensive walls once stood, the Planty today form a promenade over a kilometre long with benches, sculptures and several very Instagram-friendly viewpoints.
Florian Gate (Brama Floriańska) is one of the best-known remnants of the old fortifications. Its Gothic silhouette, the neighbouring Barbican and preserved sections of the city walls make a great backdrop for stories about medieval Kraków and the origins of the Royal Route.
A walk that starts at the Planty, passes through Florian Gate and continues to Wawel combines pleasure with purpose: a touch of green, a lot of history and a good introduction to visiting Wawel Hill.
During this walk I tell short stories and curiosities that help you understand the context of the monuments — and later, when we reach Wawel, the symbolism and historical events start to fall into place.
This text was created to help you plan: you will learn how to reserve tickets, what to pay attention to and what practical things are worth keeping in mind before meeting the guide.
- Start: walk through the Planty (short introduction, most interesting sculptures and ‘Instagram’ spots).
- Walk toward Florian Gate and the Barbican — a story about the defensive walls, the function of the gates and the inhabitants of the medieval city.
- The Royal Route toward Wawel — stops at the Main Market Square (brief overview of the main buildings, the Cloth Hall and St. Mary’s Church), then on to Wawel.
- Wawel Hill: an exterior overview of the castle and cathedral, and depending on reservations — a guided visit of selected Wawel routes (museum routes require separate tickets).
Duration: usually 2–4 hours depending on whether the plan includes entry to Wawel interiors or only exterior commentary.
Planty: I talk about the transformation of the old moat and walls into a park, show the most interesting sculptures and meeting places, and share short stories connected to the names of lanes and monuments.
Florian Gate and the Barbican: I explain how medieval fortifications worked, why Florian Gate looks the way it does and which architectural details are worth noticing.
The Royal Route and the Main Market Square: anecdotes about the Cloth Hall, St. Mary’s Church (the trumpet call — hejnał) and city customs — all presented accessibly and with humour.
Wawel: the history of the hill, the role of the cathedral and the castle, and a short introduction to the most important exhibits. If we reserve interior visits, I guide the chosen museum route — always following the current rules and visitor limits.
For families with children I have special stories and tasks that make the walk engaging and dynamic — kids usually love the anecdotes and historical puzzles.
Wawel consists of several separate parts (the castle museum and the cathedral), which may have different entry rules and separate tickets. Daily entry limits often apply — I therefore recommend booking in advance on busier days (weekends, long weekends, holiday periods).
Tickets for selected Wawel routes are best bought through the official online ticket sales. That guarantees entry at a specific time — important because some routes have a limited number of places.
If you plan to visit Wawel interiors accompanied by a guide, it’s worth arranging this ahead of time — some exhibitions and routes require additional permissions or special conditions for guided tours. As a licensed guide I am authorised to lead on Wawel Hill and I help organise entries in accordance with current rules.
Practical tip: even if you do not enter the interiors — arrive early so you can pass through entry procedures comfortably and be on time for the agreed meeting.
If you need help, I can assist with ticket reservations and advise which routes are best depending on time, interests and the group's fitness level.
My tour pricing is flexible depending on language and group size. For small groups (1–35 people) the standard offer includes hourly options — prices on the website are given in hourly packages. Polish and English versions have separate rates.
For convenience, audio-headset sets are available for larger groups — these systems make commentary audible in a crowd and are usually available for a small additional fee per person.
Museum admission fees (e.g. Wawel) and any entrance charges are not included in the guide fee — tickets are purchased separately in accordance with the venue's regulations.
If you want exact prices for a specific date and number of people, I can send a tailored offer — write or call and I will provide a quote and help with booking.
All information given here is indicative and may be subject to seasonal promotions — I always confirm current rates before booking.
We usually agree on a convenient spot near the Market Square or at an entrance to the Planty — the exact meeting point is set when booking. Meeting in the city centre allows us to start immediately and move comfortably between attractions.
Before the walk I will give you details: meeting place, time, expected duration and information on whether the plan includes entry to Wawel (if so, we will confirm tickets are reserved).
For groups that need headsets, I organise the equipment — this ensures the commentary is audible even in a crowd.
If someone in the group has special needs (e.g. limited mobility), please let me know when booking — I will adapt the route and pace so everyone is comfortable.
In case of bad weather we adjust pace and content — I have many indoor stories that work well when we need to move faster into museum interiors or cafés.
Do I have to buy a Wawel ticket before the walk? - If you plan to visit the interiors (museum routes), I strongly recommend buying online in advance. Exterior commentary and a walk around Wawel do not require tickets.
How long is the walk? - Usually 2 hours if we stay outside. If we include interior routes at Wawel, the whole tour can take 3–4 hours depending on selected exhibitions.
Does the guide help with ticket reservations? - Yes, I advise which tickets to choose and support the booking process so everything fits the tour plan.
Is the route suitable for children? - Yes — all my walks are family-friendly. For the youngest I prepare engaging stories and simple tasks.
What happens if the weather changes? - Changes are normal — I adapt the route. If you want to cancel or reschedule, we arrange it individually.
Comfortable shoes — Kraków requires a lot of walking on cobbles and stone surfaces.
Weather-appropriate footwear — on rainy days the cobbles can be slippery and an umbrella makes it harder to hear. A light waterproof jacket is a good choice.
Documents and tickets — if you have electronic tickets for Wawel, keep them handy on your phone (a screenshot is useful).
Water and small snacks — especially in summer when the walk may be longer. There are many cafés in the centre, but it’s good to have something quick on hand.
Charger or powerbank — if you take many photos or use online maps.
Planty: the areas around sculptures and the alleys early in the morning or late afternoon give soft light — ideal for photos without crowds.
Florian Gate and the Barbican: wide shots showing the gate with a fragment of the walls are most dramatic at lower light angles (golden hour).
Wawel: the view from the Vistula riverside promenade opposite Wawel offers a classic perspective of the hill and reflections in the water — I recommend sunrise or evening.
If you want a group photo — tell me in advance, we will pause in a convenient spot and I’ll take time to frame the shot.
Remember: in some museum interiors photography may be forbidden or restricted — I always inform the group before entry.
Some monuments have steps and uneven surfaces — please inform me in advance if you have limited mobility so I can choose the most comfortable route.
At Wawel some routes may have restrictions on the number of people in a group, so planning ahead helps.
I take care of participants' safety: the walking pace is adapted to the group, I supervise street crossings and follow the rules in museums.
If someone needs an invoice, confirmation or special documents for a tour organiser — I prepare them on request.
If you have specific accessibility questions (e.g. wheelchair access, dietary needs during a break) — write that in your booking and we will agree the details.
If you want to visit the Planty, Florian Gate and Wawel with a guide, I can plan a route tailored to your needs — family, school, business guests or individual tours.
I help with Wawel ticket reservations, organise headset sets for groups and prepare a programme that is interesting, dynamic and adapted to participants' ages.
If you have a date in mind — write or call, I will confirm availability, send a proposed route and a cost estimate.
See you on a walk around Kraków — I will gladly show you the Planty, Florian Gate and Wawel in a way you will remember!
Guide: Małgorzata Kasprowicz — licensed guide for Kraków.
