St. Mary’s Basilica stands in the very heart of the Main Market Square, an area with strict vehicle access. For that reason coaches cannot park “right at the door” — there are designated K+R (kiss-and-ride) stops and coach parking areas distributed around the city centre. Regardless of the group size, it’s best to have a plan: where the driver will stop to let people off, where the coach will be parked for a longer time, and how to split the group for entry into the church.
Good planning saves time, prevents fines and stressful encounters with residents, and helps preserve the proper respect due to a place of worship. Visiting hours can also be limited by services — sometimes sightseeing must be postponed or conducted quietly and briefly.
Krakow has designated tourist drop-off points (K+R), intended only for short stops — typically up to about 10 minutes. These are places where a coach can safely and legally stop to let passengers off or on. It is not permitted to remain there longer or to use them as long-term parking.
The most convenient drop-off places for groups heading to the Main Market include: Plac Matejki (towards the Planty and the Royal Route), Straszewskiego Street (quite close to Wawel and within walking distance to the Market), Pawia Street and the stops near Plac Bohaterów Getta. The choice depends on the coach route and manoeuvring possibilities — the driver should check in advance which of the designated points will be nearest and safest for them.
In practice: agree a specific drop-off point and time with the driver, tour leader and guide. Short stops last about 10 minutes — have a plan B if the disembarkation takes longer (for example a second designated spot or a short-stay coach parking).
If the coach will remain for several hours, you must use coach parking areas rather than K+R stops. The city has marked parking and stopping places for tourist coaches (for example around ul. Kamienna, al. 3 Maja, Plac Braci Dudzińskich and others). From a logistical point of view it’s worth arranging the parking spot in advance and, where possible, reserving or notifying the parking operator of your arrival.
There are also private car parks and garages near Wawel and the Market (for example parking near Straszewskiego) — these can be a convenient option if you want the coach relatively close, but remember height and weight limits. Always check the parking specifications before arrival.
A practical tip for drivers: have telephone numbers ready for the parking point and the group leader, a plan for leaving the centre via routes that respect height/weight restrictions, and alternatives in case of traffic changes (roadworks, events).
From most K+R points, the walk to the Main Market takes between 5 and 20 minutes. From Plac Matejki and Straszewskiego it is typically a 7–12 minute walk at a comfortable pace. From Plac Bohaterów Getta the walk can be shorter, approaching the northern side of the Market.
For people with reduced mobility or with a lot of luggage, plan a shorter route or arrange a stop closer to the square in advance (if regulations and road conditions allow). Also choose a clear and easy-to-find meeting point for the group after the visit — for example the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice), the Adam Mickiewicz Monument, or a specific café/entrance on the Market.
St. Mary’s Basilica is a place of worship that is also open to tourists. Rules of silence and respect for services apply; during Mass and other liturgies sightseeing may be restricted. Donation-tickets (so-called “cegiełki”) are sold at the visitor service point and entitle entry to the interior and, if available, the towers — include this in your planning.
Tower visits are limited in numbers and often take place at set times (for example entries every half hour or less frequently). One tower may admit up to around 15 people per entry, while another — for safety reasons — may allow only about 6 people; some entrances also have age restrictions (for example children under 8 or under 18 may be excluded). Therefore large groups should be prepared to split into smaller subgroups or organise a rotation schedule.
Important: the main entrance from the Market leads to the prayer area and should not be used as the tour guide’s organising point. The visitor service desk and ticket sales are located at the tourist entrance — agree this in advance to avoid misunderstandings.
1) Arrival and disembarkation: agree on a K+R point and a drop-off time. The driver has about 10 minutes for a safe disembarkation. The tour leader and guide help with luggage and quickly organising the group.
2) Division into subgroups: split the group into smaller teams of up to 15 people for interior/tower visits. For larger sites or when rules require it, use radio-receiver sets or an additional guide. If you have only one guide, plan a rotation: for example subgroup A goes to the tower while subgroup B stays with the guide by the Cloth Hall, then swap after 20–30 minutes.
3) Waiting locations while groups rotate: use cafés and covered areas around the Market as waiting points (agree a return time). Make sure waiting people do not block passages and maintain silence near prayer areas.
4) Coordination and identification: each subgroup leader should wear a clear ID and the tour leader should have a named list. Agree a signal for immediate gathering (for example a loud announcement, phone call or SMS).
For organised groups it’s worth contacting the Basilica’s visitor service in advance — many attractions (especially tower visits) have limited places and set entrance times. Donation-tickets are usually bought at the visitor desk on the day of the visit, but since tower entries are limited, informing the staff in advance and agreeing a schedule is recommended for large groups.
If you also plan to visit other paid attractions or museum halls, check their reservation requirements — many museums require advance booking for groups above a certain size and sometimes headset sets must be purchased.
Make sure you clearly communicate the meeting place and time to the driver, the tour leader’s contact number, and alternative rally points in case of delays.
After intense sightseeing it’s good to plan a break in a reliable place. Around the Market you’ll find restaurants with local cuisine and cosy cafés — pick places with good reviews and experience in handling groups. Historic and well-rated restaurants deal well with larger orders, but for groups larger than about 20 people you should reserve in advance.
If you plan a group meal, choose a restaurant that offers a set group menu or catering option. For a short rest and waiting, cafés near the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) and Kanonicza Street work well — remember to reserve tables for larger teams if needed.
Mistake 1: No agreed drop-off and meeting point. Solution: give participants a small card or sheet with the meeting point and time; mark the subgroup leaders.
Mistake 2: Expecting the coach to park at the Market. Solution: plan alternative parking and inform the driver that K+R stops are short.
Mistake 3: Trying to take the whole group up the tower at once. Solution: divide the group into subgroups according to limits and try to reserve or schedule rotations.
Mistake 4: Entering the interior during Mass without checking. Solution: check the liturgy schedule and plan sightseeing outside key liturgical hours.
If you want to hear the bugle-call (hejnal) without the full crowd on the square, plan a short outing at the top of the hour — it’s a pleasant way to synchronise the group before continuing the tour.
If your group includes people with limited mobility — inform the site beforehand; interiors and towers have architectural limits and some viewing points require climbing steep stairs.
Small arrangements (reserving a café table, arranging extra toilets or an additional guide) made the day before can save you an hour when running the programme.
Can a coach park at the Market? - No. The Market has short K+R stops (about 10 minutes). Longer parking must be arranged at a dedicated coach parking area.
How many people can enter the tower at once? - It depends on the tower: in practice entries are limited; typical limits are 6 or 15 people per entry. That is why large groups must be split into subgroups.
Should group entries to the Basilica be reserved? - It’s worth contacting the visitor service in advance and agreeing a schedule, especially if the group is large or wants tower access.
Where to regroup after the visit? - Simple, recognisable points on the Market are the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) or the Adam Mickiewicz Monument; for smaller closed groups an agreed café interior works well.
If you’re organising a trip to Krakow and want a stress-free visit to St. Mary’s Basilica with a large group, I’m happy to help with logistics: I can choose the best drop-off and coach parking places, assist with tower and entry arrangements, organise the subgroup schedule and help with restaurant or ticket reservations. As a guide I can lead you around the Market, explain rules for visiting churches and tailor the route to your group’s needs — all to make the visit comfortable and full of meaningful stories.
Share this article with other organisers and colleagues — if you have questions or want an individual plan for your group, please contact me via the contact information shown on the article page at zwiedzaniekrakowa.com. I can also assist with transport, accommodation and restaurant bookings.
