The Royal Route is a classic Kraków experience — a string of the city’s most important places from Florian Gate to Wawel, surrounded by the green belt of the Planty and full of history, anecdotes and hidden gems. It’s a walk that combines monumental landmarks with intimate lanes, ideal if you want to feel the rhythm of the city and understand its past. As a guide I lead this route in a lively, humorous and detail-focused way — so both adults and children leave the tour with something valuable and memorable.
This guide contains practical tips: how to plan the route to avoid queues, where traces of World War II are visible, and what’s worth seeing in the Planty and at Florian Gate. There’s a FAQ at the end with answers to the most common questions.
You can treat the walk like an adventure — I’ll show places that are hard to find on your own, tell residents’ stories and suggest the best photo spots. The tour is available in Polish and English and usually lasts about 4 hours (optimal). The price covers guided services — tickets to specific attractions are purchased separately. I help with ticket purchases and planning to minimize time spent in lines.
Planty, Florian Gate, the Market Square and Wawel are a treasury of both architecture and traces of major history — so it’s worth walking with awareness.
1) Planty - the green ring around the Old Town: an easy walk and the first stories. The Planty is a park encircling the historic centre; a perfect place to introduce the city and briefly outline the tour plan.
2) Florian Gate and the Barbican - guardians of the medieval walls: this is where the Royal Route begins. The Gate and the nearby Barbican recall former fortifications and the ceremonies that accompanied royal entries.
3) Floriańska Street - townhouses and themed curiosities: one of the most characteristic streets of old Kraków, full of architectural details and former addresses of important families and guilds.
4) Main Market Square and the Cloth Hall - the hub of city life: we’ll talk about the market’s historical role, trade, royal ceremonies and what hides behind the Cloth Hall’s façade.
5) St. Mary’s Church - treasures of sacred art: I’ll tell you about Veit Stoss’s altarpiece and the legend of the trumpet call from the tower; visiting the interior usually requires a ticket.
6) Grodzka and Kanonicza Streets - the road to the cathedral and the old city elite: charming townhouses, palaces and stories of the canons.
7) Wawel Hill and the Cathedral - the heart of statehood and culture: the Castle and Cathedral are where coronations happened and kings are buried, full of symbols and curiosities. Interior visits require separate tickets.
The Planty are not a single park but a series of “soft” public spaces — pathways, benches, trees and monuments. It’s a great spot for a short break between route points, a quick chat with the guide, or a photo without the crowd.
I recommend entering the Planty right after the tour starts — I use that time to explain how the medieval city was shaped, how the Planty were created from the former defensive belt, and point out small, often overlooked architectural details of the houses facing the park.
To avoid crowds, it’s a good idea to start the walk early in the morning (before 10:00) or in the late afternoon; the Planty are most pleasant then. On rainy days I have a plan B that moves more of the time into indoor attractions.
The Planty are also a handy orientation point for families with children — you can calm the pace of the tour here.
Florian Gate is the symbol of the entrance to medieval Kraków and the natural start of the Royal Route. In the past royal processions passed through this gate; today it’s worth looking at it not only from the outside but also hearing stories about the ceremonies and rituals that gave the city its rank.
Right next to it stands the Barbican — a fragment of former fortifications that protected Kraków from invasions. Here I tell stories about medieval defensive techniques and how the role of fortifications changed over the centuries.
Floriańska Street is full of details worth stopping for: townhouses, old guild shops and places that once formed the backdrop of city life. It’s also a good place for a coffee before heading to the Market Square.
The Main Market Square is the largest medieval square in Europe and the centre of Kraków’s social and economic life. I talk here about trade, the role of the Cloth Hall and the customs that shaped residents’ lives for centuries.
St. Mary’s Church is worth visiting inside — Veit Stoss’s altarpiece is a masterpiece, and the trumpet call (hejnał) from the tower has a moving history. Entrance to the interior usually requires a ticket — it’s worth planning timing to avoid waiting.
There’s always something interesting on the Square: street performers, souvenir stalls and snippets of history written on the façades of townhouses. It’s also a good place for a lunch break — I’ll gladly suggest local spots for a good meal without overpaying.
Grodzka and Kanonicza Streets tell the story of power and religion in old Poland. Intimate courtyards, refined portals and houses that once belonged to officials and canons create an atmosphere you won’t feel on the main tourist stage.
Wawel Hill and the Cathedral are the tour’s culmination. Here I speak about the symbolism of the place, coronations, royal tombs and the art you encounter in the castle interiors. Visiting the cathedral and the castle is possible, but remember that entrance tickets are paid separately.
If you’re short on time I’ll adjust the route so the most important interiors can be seen without hurry while avoiding the longest queues to the busiest sites.
Traces of World War II in Kraków are not always visible as “marks in stone” — they often hide in stories, memorial plaques and places that recall the fate of residents before 1939. Along the Royal Route and nearby you should pay attention to a few types of traces:
- Memorial plaques and monuments commemorating victims of the war and occupation — you’ll find them in public spaces and by selected buildings.
- Stories of townhouses and addresses — many houses have wartime stories about residents whose lives were interrupted or changed; I tell these with respect and historical context.
- The proximity of Kazimierz and Podgórze — although the Royal Route runs through the historic centre, it’s a short walk to areas where the memory of WWII is particularly strong; I can tell you about nearby museums and sites that can be added to the route.
During the walk I treat the subject sensitively — the memory of the war and people’s fates is a part of history I tell in a factual and empathetic way, pointing out places where you can learn more from exhibitions and information plaques.
- We start early or during less busy hours — mornings (before 10:00) and late afternoons are when places like the Market Square or Wawel are less crowded.
- Booking and help with tickets — I help clients plan visits inside attractions with timed tickets so waiting is minimised.
- Route optimised for crowds — we use less busy passages and take advantage of quiet moments in the Planty or side streets so key points are seen at the most convenient times.
- Audio headsets — for larger groups we use comfortable audio sets so the group isn’t distracted and everyone can hear without crowding the guide.
- Plan flexibility — I have a plan B in case of closures, city events or bad weather so the tour time is used effectively and without frustration.
- Duration: typically 4 hours — this is an optimal time to calmly walk the Royal Route and visit selected interiors. Shorter options (2–3 hours) are available depending on the group’s needs.
- Languages: the tour is available in Polish and English.
- Entrance tickets: tickets to interiors (for example St. Mary’s Church, Wawel Cathedral) are paid separately and it’s wise to plan their purchase in advance. For orientation: St. Mary’s Church and Wawel have paid entries with different ticket categories; the guide assists with purchasing tickets and informs about current rates.
- Audio sets: there is an option to use comfortable headset sets (small additional fee) — very helpful for larger groups.
- Meeting point: we usually meet at the Main Market Square by the Adam Mickiewicz monument or at another prearranged central spot. Exact meeting details are confirmed after booking.
- Reservations and contact: please contact by phone or email to arrange the date and details — I will gladly tailor the route to your needs.
- Weather and clothing: the walk is adapted regardless of weather; in heavy rain we change the plan to spend more time indoors. Comfortable shoes and a light jacket are essential.
Is the tour suitable for children? - Yes. I adapt pace and storytelling to engage both the youngest and adults. We include short stops, puzzles and anecdotes that help keep attention.
Are entrance tickets included in the price? - The guiding fee covers the guide service. Tickets to interiors and museums are paid separately. I help buy tickets and advise how to reserve entries to avoid queues.
Do you run tours in English? - Yes, the tour is available in Polish and English.
How many people can be in the group? - I run intimate tours for families and small groups as well as larger groups. For bigger groups we use audio headsets so everyone can hear well.
What if it rains? - Tours run regardless of weather. I have alternative solutions that move part of the narrative indoors so the walk is enjoyable even in rain.
How far in advance should we book? - The earlier the better, especially in the high season. If you have a specific day and time, I recommend booking several days or weeks in advance.
- Photos: the best light for Market Square and Wawel is early morning and late afternoon; avoid the midday peak if you want cleaner photos.
- Local food: I can recommend nearby places for a quick lunch or a good coffee along the route — it’s worth trying traditional pierogi and other regional specialties.
- Pace: if you’re tired after travel, we can split the route into two stages — a shorter first part and a longer second part on another day.
- Respect for memory: when we speak about WWII and residents’ fates, please allow a moment of silence and reflection — many places have emotional and memorial value.
If you want to discover the Royal Route with someone who loves this city and can tell its stories with passion, I invite you to book a tour. I’ll do my best to make the walk interesting, unhurried and with minimal time waiting in lines. It’s a great opportunity to understand Kraków — its history, monuments and everyday life — and have fun along the way.
If you have extra questions or special wishes for the route (for example a focus on architecture, royal lore, wartime traces or a child-friendly tour), write or call — I will adapt the programme so you return home full of stories and with the best photos.
