Sukiennice is not only the most beautiful historic market stall on the Main Market Square — today it houses one of the most important galleries of 19th‑century Polish art, with works by Matejko, Siemiradzki, Chełmoński and other masters. For homeschooling parents it’s an ideal space: the artworks tell stories on their own, and you can run lessons that combine history, art and literature. The permanent collection also makes it easy to plan a series of lessons spread across several visits.
The museum offers family‑friendly activities — family tours, museum games and workshops — that help you work with learners of different ages and turn a visit into engaging, hands‑on lessons. Another plus for many families is the location: Sukiennice sits in the heart of the Old Town, which makes it easy to combine a museum visit with a short educational walk around the Market Square or a break in one of the nearby cafés.
A ticket for the Sukiennice includes access to the museum terrace — a great place to ‘breathe’ after a lesson, look over the city and discuss an art task or outdoor assignment.
If you’re planning a visit as a homeschooling parent, treat it like a planned lesson: pick a theme (for example "portrait and identity", "landscape in 19th‑century painting", or "elements of historical dress"), set a learning aim and prepare short tasks for the children.
The National Museum in Kraków runs museum lessons and workshops that can be booked in advance — both standard gallery lessons and family events. You can reserve lessons and get practical information from the museum’s Information and Reservation Centre by phone or e‑mail. Booking is especially important if you want a lesson led by a museum educator or a private, small‑group tour.
If you prefer a self‑guided visit with your own learning plan, it’s still a good idea to buy tickets online ahead of time — weekends and high season can be busy. Note: Tuesdays are often a day of free admission to permanent exhibitions, which can be attractive but usually means more visitors.
Family tickets for the Sukiennice (permanent exhibitions) are sometimes offered as a package — check the museum’s current prices before your visit. Museums usually have several categories: full price, reduced, family tickets and special prices for youth.
The National Museum offers museum lessons and museum games as paid activities: a typical museum lesson lasts 60–90 minutes and may have a per‑pupil fee or a minimum group fee; museum games can be priced separately. You can also rent an audio guide or book a guided tour — the museum has set rates for tours in Polish and foreign languages.
If you homeschool several children, do the math: sometimes individual tickets, a family ticket, or booking a single group lesson with a minimum group fee works out best.
Lessons led by museum educators are adapted to age and are interactive: a short introduction, shared viewing of selected works, practical tasks (for example drawing, observation games, a mini‑project) and a summary. Lessons typically last 60–90 minutes, which fits well into a school‑style lesson block.
Families can also join child‑friendly tours and special events (for instance animations or “living pictures”) where the exhibition becomes a space for play and staging. These are excellent opportunities to combine knowledge with sensory experience and creative work.
If you prefer self‑guided visits with an educational plan, prepare short worksheets: 4–6 questions for the visit and tasks such as "find a painting with a horse", "compare two portraits", "sketch a fragment of a landscape". This gives the visit structure and makes it easier to record learning in your homeschooling journal.
Don’t expect children to stand quietly for long stretches. Instead, plan shorter gallery sessions (30–45 minutes of focused viewing) followed by a break on the museum terrace or in a nearby café to discuss observations and complete an art task.
Use activating techniques: quick quizzes, detective tasks (who has the biggest hat in the painting?), fast sketching, role‑plays. Children learn better when they do something. Bring fine liners, small notebooks/sketchbooks, crayons and reward good observations with small stickers or stamps.
Wear comfortable shoes and remember that touching exhibits is not allowed — you can use this as a teaching moment about heritage protection and art conservation.
Museums in Kraków provide support for groups with special needs: shortened routes, small intimate groups and activities adapted to participants. Inform the museum about any needs before booking so staff can prepare appropriate materials and space.
If you want a calmer visit with a small group, ask about the possibility of booking early opening hours — some branches offer early access for pre‑booked groups, which effectively gives you a gallery to yourselves. This is excellent if you want to record a video, run an art workshop or simply work in peace.
For visitors with reduced mobility, check branch accessibility and available facilities (ramps, lifts) before your visit.
Don’t try to do too much in one visit. A common mistake is attempting to “see” the whole gallery in one go — it’s better to focus on a few chosen themes and return later.
Don’t arrive without a booking if you need a lesson led by an educator — free slots, especially at weekends, fill up quickly.
Avoid visiting on days that attract the largest crowds (for example Tuesdays with free entry to permanent exhibitions) if you want a quiet experience. If your teaching aim is to discuss how crowds affect the reception of art and public space, that can be made into a separate lesson topic.
"Portrait and Identity" — compare self‑portraits and family portraits; task: create a family portrait based on a chosen pose or prop.
"Landscape and Mood" — how painters depict time of day and weather; outdoor task: make a mini‑landscape of the Market Square from different viewpoints (the Sukiennice terrace works well for this).
"The Role of Colour" — analyse colour palettes in selected paintings and experiment with mixing colours using paints or crayons.
After an intensive session in the gallery it’s time to recharge. Near the Main Market Square you’ll find family‑friendly and well‑rated places: Restaurant Szara (Rynek Główny 6) offers high‑quality cuisine in an elegant interior; Wierzynek Restaurant (Rynek Główny 16) is a historic venue with a unique atmosphere; for a quick cake and coffee try Camelot Cafe (ul. Św. Tomasza 17) — a cosy, family‑friendly café.
If you prefer something more casual, there are many cafés and ice‑cream parlours nearby that are perfect for a short children’s break. Reserve a table in popular places ahead of time, especially at weekends.
If you plan a meal with a group of children after lessons, ask in advance about a children’s menu or space for a short art activity at the tables — not every place on the Square is set up for this, but several venues have experience hosting families.
How do I book a museum lesson? - The easiest way is to contact the museum’s Information and Reservation Centre by e‑mail or phone; confirm bookings early for larger groups.
How long does a museum lesson last? - Usually 60–90 minutes; family tours and museum games can last up to 2 hours.
Are there discounts for families and youth? - Yes, museums offer reduced and family tickets and special prices for young people; some days may offer free entry to permanent exhibitions (check current rules on the museum website).
Can I come with a young child and a stroller? - Yes, but check route accessibility and whether the chosen branch is fully stroller‑friendly.
Run a mini home project: after the visit each child creates a short “museum report” — photo, drawing, short description and a question they want to explore further. This makes great documentation for a homeschooling programme.
Arrange a “morning gallery” — ask the museum about the possibility of entering with a small group at opening time; quiet, empty rooms give totally different opportunities for work and observation.
Use the Sukiennice terrace for observing the urban landscape — ask children to describe architecture, changes in buildings or compare the view with historical illustrations.
If you’d like a more polished visit in the Sukiennice — with a ready lesson plan, workshop booking, a table at a restaurant after classes or help with transport and accommodation logistics — you can use the services of private guide Małgorzata Kasprowicz. Małgorzata will tailor the programme to ages and interests, book museum times, plan a city route and handle restaurant and ticket reservations. Her contact details can be found on the article page at zwiedzaniekrakowa.com.
If you found this guide useful — share it with friends or on social media so more families learn how to use the Sukiennice as an inspiring and effective educational space for children learning at home.
