Are you looking for a short, substantive and engaging walk around the heart of Kraków for a group of 30–60 people — on a weekday and without entering museums? You’ve come to the right place. This program focuses on the key stories tied to the Main Market Square, St. Mary’s Church and the hejnal tradition — all presented as a city walk with anecdotes, curiosities and clear meeting points so a large group can move comfortably and efficiently.
The walk takes place outdoors and only enters church interiors if the group wishes — in your case the priority is the “no museums” route, meaning stories and views instead of long queues and paid entries to institutions.
I, Małgorzata Kasprowicz, have guided hundreds of large groups and know how to make even a sizable tour feel intimate: short stops, questions that involve participants and — on request — wired headset audio guides so everyone can hear without crowding. (Headset sets are available for an extra fee.)
The route is friendly for people of different ages — from school and university groups to corporate outings and international guests — and works especially well on weekdays when the Market Square is less busy than at weekends. (Weather and time of day matter — mornings or early afternoons usually work best.)
In the article you’ll find a suggested route, practical tips for organizers of large groups, indicative prices and an FAQ to help you decide and prepare for the outing.
Duration: 2–3 hours (a 4-hour option is available on request). The route is planned to avoid museum entries and to focus on storytelling and the urban space.
Sample walk plan:
- Meeting at the Adam Mickiewicz monument (center of the Market) — a quick welcome and run-through of the plan.
- Cloth Hall (Sukiennice): a short history of trade, the Cloth Hall’s role in city life and a few colourful anecdotes.
- St. Mary’s Church (brief interior entry only on group request) — a talk about the architecture, the famous altarpiece carved by Veit Stoss (Wit Stwosz) and customs associated with the church.
- St. Mary’s Church Tower and the hejnal — the history of the hejnal, its meaning and symbolism; we stop at the right moment to listen together to the tune played from the tower.
- Grodzka Street and a short walk toward Wawel Hill (exterior only) — stories about the Royal Route, architecture and Kraków legends.
- Finish near Wawel or return to the Market depending on preferences and time.
This route includes only outdoor stops and short descriptions of interiors, so it’s ideal as a “city walk without museums.”
A group of 30–60 people is a great format — large enough to feel the energy of a tour, but still manageable with proper organisation. A few practical notes:
- 30–35 people: you still formally fall under the “small group” category in standard pricing, but this is the limit where audio headsets or splitting the group into two subgroups is worth considering for maximum comfort.
- 36–60 people: we treat you as a large group — organisation requires confirming the meeting point in advance, possible headsets and the route plan so no one gets left behind.
- Headset sets (audio-guide) are very helpful in busy places — they let everyone hear the guide without crowding around one speaker. Headsets are available for an additional fee.
- We prefer weekday walks — there are fewer tourists then and a better chance that the hejnal and city characters will leave us space to listen calmly.
Below are indicative prices I use for tours I organise (status as of 2025). I always prepare an exact quote individually depending on date, route length and extra services (e.g. headsets):
- Small groups (1–35 people): standard hourly rates (options for 2–4 hours).
- Large groups (from 36 people): sample indicative prices in Polish: 2 hours — a certain per-group or per-hour rate, 3 hours — a higher rate, 4 hours — higher still; seasonal promotional rates may also be available.
- Headset sets (audio-guide): optional extra with a modest fee per person — recommended for groups above about 25–30 people, especially on the Market Square.
I will send a precise calculation in an offer after you provide the date, number of participants and language of the tour. I can prepare a 2-hour (quick) variant, a 3-hour (fuller) variant and a 4-hour (relaxed pace with extra stops) variant.
- Time: choose mornings or early afternoons on weekdays — less crowding and better photo conditions.
- Meeting point: the easiest place is the Adam Mickiewicz monument on the Main Market Square. It’s easy to find and there’s plenty of room even for larger groups.
- Clothing and shoes: comfortable walking shoes — the cobbles can be uneven; bring a light jacket in case of changing weather.
- Toilets: plan short breaks before you leave (cafés and public toilets around the Market). For large groups it’s worth reserving a quick break in a café or arranging a fixed re-meeting point after a break.
- Accessibility: the route is friendly for people using wheelchairs, although there are a few thresholds and uneven sections in the centre; if you have participants with limited mobility, let me know when booking — I’ll adapt the pace and route.
- Weather: in case of heavy rain we can shorten the route with more covered stops or arrange another date.
The hejnal mariacki is one of Kraków’s most recognisable traditions: a short melodic signal played from the tower of St. Mary’s Church every hour. It’s worth arriving at the Market a few minutes before the hour — I’ll tell the group the legend of the trumpeter and why the melody breaks off mid‑tune. It’s a moment that connects tourists and locals alike — people usually fall silent to listen.
During the walk I’ll also explain the sound from a technical point of view (where it comes from and how the signals are organised) and the role of the hejnal in the city’s history. It’s a great chance for group photos and a moment of reflection on local customs.
If the group has special requests (for example recording the hejnal or participants with instruments), please inform me in advance — I’ll adapt the programme and logistics.
Will we enter St. Mary’s Church? — Entry is possible, but since you want a “no museums” walk I suggest only briefly pointing out portals and telling the story from outside. If the group agrees to a short interior visit (respecting silence and worshippers), we can do that quickly and respectfully.
Does the hejnal play all the time? — The hejnal is played from the tower every hour; it’s a fixed tradition, so you will usually be able to hear it during the walk.
Do we need permission to tour the Market with a large group? — In most cases an ordinary walk doesn’t require special permits, but some large or elaborate events (e.g. setting up equipment) may need prior approval from the city. If you plan anything out of the ordinary, tell me when booking and I’ll help review what’s needed.
Are there discounts for schools or companies? — For longer bookings and larger groups I often offer favourable terms — contact me for details.
Do you provide adapters, sound systems or other equipment? — For the comfort of groups above ~25–30 people I recommend headset sets; I can arrange rental of such equipment for an additional fee.
To book the walk, simply write or call and provide: the date, an approximate number of participants, the preferred duration (2/3/4 hours), the tour language and whether you want headset sets.
After receiving these details I will prepare an offer with the exact cost, meeting time and payment terms. A few days before the date we’ll confirm details and any weather-related changes.
Please inform me in advance about participants with special needs (e.g. limited mobility) so I can tailor the route and pace to the group.
- Plan a short coffee break after the walk — the Market and nearby streets have great cafés where you can exchange impressions.
- Keep a gentler pace for older participants and families with children — less is more when it comes to remembering the stories.
- Encourage participants to ask questions — it makes the walk interactive and more memorable.
- If you’re planning a corporate team event — we can add themed elements or short field tasks (by arrangement).
I invite you to discover the Main Market Square and the hejnal together — it’s a piece of history best heard live, amid the city’s bustle and with a good guide who will share a few of Kraków’s secrets.
