Szołayski Palace (a branch of the National Museum in Kraków) is an excellent place for an intimate, private visit — suitable for school groups and tourist groups alike. If you plan a trip of 7–30 people, it’s worth booking the guided tour in advance and arranging lunch at a venue suited to a medium-sized group. Good preparation saves time and stress — both yours and the participants'.
I prepared this guide to walk you step by step through booking a guided visit at the MNK, choosing a restaurant for lunch, and avoiding the most common organizational mistakes. At the end you'll find a practical FAQ and a short list of recommended venues that reliably serve groups of 7–30 people.
A private guided tour gives structure and quality to the visit: the guide adjusts pace and content to the group, highlights topics that interest participants, and makes it easy to ask questions. The National Museum’s branches, including Szołayski Palace, offer guided tours on request in several formats and typically handle groups up to about 30 people — a perfect fit for your group size.
Museums also often have safety rules and limits on the number of people in a room. Even if your group is smaller than the maximum, reserving a tour provides certainty of entry and a comfortable visiting experience.
Book guided tours at MNK well in advance. In practice the museum asks for reservations at least 5 days before the planned visit; for popular dates or school programs it’s wise to reserve 2–4 weeks ahead.
A fixed fee is usually charged for the guided service (depending on the branch typically around 150–170 PLN for Polish-language tours; some formats and foreign languages may cost more) — in addition participants pay admission tickets. The museum will inform you of room capacity limits for specific branches, so giving an accurate headcount during booking avoids mismatches.
How to reserve: contact the Museum’s Information and Reservations Centre (contact details are published by MNK). Provide the date, chosen branch (e.g., Szołayski Palace), number of participants, preferred language of the tour, and any accessibility needs or special requirements.
1) Venues with ready-made group packages (fast, economical) — ideal when you value speed and simplicity. Many city restaurants and caterers offer “group” sets at attractive prices (from simple student-style meals around 16–25 PLN up to standard set menus 35–50 PLN). These packages work well for school and tourist groups.
2) Restaurants with a fixed group menu (comfort and quality) — a common solution for tourist groups of 7–30 people: the venue prepares a set of dishes to choose from or a pre-ordered menu. Service is quicker and the staff can plan the timing for serving courses. You can find Polish, regional and international cuisine in this category.
3) Premium / historic places (for special occasions) — if you want an exceptional experience, choose a restaurant with atmosphere (for example on the Main Market Square) or a venue with larger private rooms and experience serving groups. Book very far in advance and agree on menus, payment terms and coach logistics.
- Historic and representative restaurants: venues near the Main Market Square often have multiple dining rooms and can host 20–200 people — a good choice if you want lunch to be part of the Kraków experience.
- Restaurants on Kazimierz: great for intimate groups of 7–25 people — here you’ll find cuisines from Polish to Mediterranean and Middle Eastern. Remember popular Kazimierz places can be busy, so reserve ahead.
- Venues with group offers (bistros/hotels/caterers): if you focus on economy and fast service, choose a place that serves groups daily and has ready-made packages. This option is convenient for groups of 20+.
In practice, before choosing a space ask about: exclusive use of tables, the possibility of splitting menus for children/adults, vegetarian and gluten-free options, payment conditions (do they accept one group invoice?), and the expected service time.
- Budget/group-focused: restaurants and cafeterias offering school-style sets or affordable fixed menus — good for groups that want a quick, inexpensive meal after sightseeing.
- Mid-range restaurants: trusted venues in the Old Town and Kazimierz praised for quality and group service. Look for restaurants with a separate room or the ability to arrange tables together for the whole group.
- Premium and historic venues: Main Market Square restaurants with long experience serving tourists — if you want to show guests a representative side of Kraków, these are excellent choices.
Some real venues to consider (check availability and book ahead): Wierzynek (Main Market Square), Morskie Oko (Old Town), Stara Zajezdnia (Kazimierz), Pod Wawelem (near Wawel) — all are experienced with larger groups. For casual and local options near Plac Szczepański try Kluska na Placu or local “bar mleczny” (milk bar) spots for quick, traditional meals. Always call to confirm private rooms and group menus.
1. Book the MNK guided tour and confirm the tour’s end time — this lets you synchronize arrival at the restaurant.
2. Choose a venue along or near your walking route to avoid long transfers and delays.
3. Contact the restaurant in advance: confirm participant numbers, set the group menu, inform about allergies and special diets, and agree payment and tipping arrangements.
4. Plan buffer time for walking and short delays — 10–20 minutes of margin is sensible for larger groups.
5. Prepare a participant list or payment list if the organizer pays. Also agree whether you will receive one invoice or individual payments.
- No advance reservation — leads to long waits or refusal to accept the group. Always reserve at least a few days ahead, and 2–4 weeks in high season.
- Unclear menus and diets — collect information about allergies and special diets (vegan, gluten-free, etc.) and pass it to the restaurant in time.
- An overly tight schedule — give the group time to move between the museum and the restaurant and include a margin for delays.
- No arranged coach/parking — if arriving by coach, check parking and stopping rules at the chosen venue; some city centres have restrictions.
Do I have to book the guided tour and lunch separately? Yes — museum and restaurant bookings are done separately. Make sure the times match.
How far in advance should I book the restaurant? In season, ideally 7–14 days ahead; out of season 3–7 days is usually enough.
How much does a guided tour at MNK cost? The guide fee is typically a fixed amount for the service (practically around 150–170 PLN depending on the branch and language) plus admission tickets for participants.
What if someone in the group has a special diet? Collect dietary requirements before the trip and pass them to the restaurant — most venues serving groups will prepare alternatives.
- To speed up service, ask the restaurant to prepare a shortened group menu with two main-course choices — this significantly shortens waiting time.
- For groups of 20+, appoint a contact person from your side who will coordinate attendance and orders on site — it simplifies communication with the staff.
- Not all popular Main Market restaurants have good coach access — sometimes it’s better to choose a place a few streets away with easier arrival.
If you plan a private visit to Szołayski Palace or other MNK branches and want everything to run smoothly — book the guide and the restaurant with enough lead time, agree the menu, arrange transport and collect dietary info from participants.
If you found this guide helpful, share it with friends or on social media. If you would like to use the services of the private guide Małgorzata Kasprowicz — contact details are available on the ZwiedzanieKrakowa website. Good luck organizing your trip and enjoy your meal after the visit!
