The Sukiennice on the Main Market Square is one of those Kraków places that attracts groups of visitors every day — but organizing entry for 10, 20 or 40 people requires some planning. In practice, settling a group usually involves two parts: buying admission tickets for each participant and paying for the guiding service (a flat fee or an hourly rate). Below you will find practical instructions, tested tips and a list of common pitfalls that will help your visit to the Sukiennice run smoothly and without stress. (Check the National Museum in Kraków website for up-to-date information about tickets, prices and reservations before your trip.)
I prepared this text to help organizers (school supervisors, companies, family groups) settle a group quickly and easily. If you wish, I can personally take care of reservations and logistics — my contact details are available on the article page (zwiedzaniekrakowa.com).
Basic rule: book in advance. The National Museum in Kraków operates the Sukiennice centrally — tickets can be purchased online through the museum’s system or you can reserve a visit with a guiding service by contacting the Information and Reservations Center. Contact details (phone and email), current opening hours and rules are available on the National Museum website.
A reservation that includes a guiding service usually requires you to provide the date, time, number of participants, language of the tour and contact details of the group leader. The museum may ask you to confirm the number of participants a few days before the visit. School groups and larger groups can sometimes get special times (early entry) or discounts — it’s worth arranging this in advance.
The fee for a guiding service in museums like the National Museum in Kraków is typically charged as a flat fee (an amount per group) and depends on the language of the tour. Rates vary by branch and language, and are usually between a modest flat rate for Polish tours and higher amounts for foreign-language tours. Entrance tickets for each person are added on top of the guide fee. Confirm exact rates when booking.
In some institutions it is possible to enter with an external (private) guide, but rules differ between branches — for example, some exhibitions require a guide employed by the museum or a guide with specific qualifications. Before planning a visit with an external guide, check whether the exhibition allows it.
1) One organizer pays in advance (most convenient): collect money from participants before departure (cash or bank transfer), buy the tickets in one transaction online or at the box office and pay the guide fee. This way there are no delays at entry — just show the reservation confirmation and the list of participants.
2) Participants buy tickets individually online: everyone purchases their own ticket through the museum system (online tickets) and you meet at the agreed time. In this model the guide only collects the guiding fee (flat rate), which the group or organizer pays. This works well when you want each person to have their own electronic reservation and avoid queues.
3) Pay at the box office for larger groups: if the group is very large and you prefer to settle everything at the museum, prepare one person to handle formalities and payment (exact participant list, any school or reduced fares). Some museum ticket desks accept card and cash. This model takes more time at entry and can cause delays, especially in high season.
Which model to choose? If you value time and comfort — model 1 or 2 is best. If you prefer to take care of formalities on site, allow an extra 15–30 minutes for ticket purchase and discount verification.
Discount categories (pupils, students, seniors, families, large family cards, etc.) are verified at entry. The group organizer should prepare documents proving entitlement to discounts (school or student IDs, identity cards). It’s best if the group leader holds a list of people entitled to discounts and gives it to the ticket desk staff when buying or verifying tickets.
School groups often have separate, lower rates (e.g. school tickets) — to use them the museum usually requires a minimum number of participants and advance reservation. Arrange this when you first contact the Reservations Center.
Also remember limits on the number of people allowed in a specific exhibition at the same time. For comfort and safety the museum may limit group sizes in exhibition spaces. If your group is very large, consider splitting into subgroups and using additional headsets.
If you use a private guide (for example, private guide Małgorzata Kasprowicz) agree in advance on payment terms: whether the guide expects cash on site, an advance bank transfer, or an invoice. Many guides accept cash payment after the tour or ask for a partial deposit at booking.
For guides employed by the museum the guiding fee is settled directly with the institution — you simply pay the total (tickets + guide service) under the terms agreed with the museum. This is convenient because it removes the need to settle separately with a private guide.
Make agreements before entry: who will handle tickets, who pays the guide, the exact number of participants and whether any special qualifications are needed. A short checklist like this reduces confusion at the ticket desk and helps start the visit on time.
1) Check date availability and book the guide and tickets well in advance (especially on weekends and in summer).
2) Confirm the number of participants a few days before the visit and inform the museum about any discounts (schools, students, etc.).
3) Decide on the payment method (who pays, will tickets be bought online or at the desk).
4) Give participants practical information: meeting point (e.g. in front of the Sukiennice), arrive 10–15 minutes early, museum rules (no flash photography, leave large backpacks in the cloakroom), comfortable shoes.
5) If the group is large, ask about headset sets or consider splitting into smaller subgroups.
Mistake 1: Not booking the guiding service in advance. Consequence: no available guides or need to change the schedule. Solution: book early and reconfirm 3–7 days before.
Mistake 2: Unprepared discount documentation. Consequence: extra payments at the desk and slowed entry. Solution: the group leader should have participants’ IDs and a list of people entitled to discounts.
Mistake 3: Payment split among many people at the ticket desk. Consequence: long lines and stress. Solution: collect payments beforehand or buy tickets online from a single account.
Mistake 4: No clear payment agreement with the guide. Consequence: misunderstandings after the tour. Solution: agree payment terms in advance (cash, transfer, invoice).
Can a group enter with an external guide? - It depends on the branch and the exhibition. Some displays require museum guides or guides with specific qualifications. Always check with the Reservations Center in advance.
How much does a guide cost? - In public museums the guide fee is usually a flat amount per group. As a rule, fees are lower for Polish-language tours and higher for foreign languages; confirm exact prices when booking.
What if part of the group has discounts and part pays full price? - When buying online you can specify different ticket types; at the desk participants will need to show documents. For large groups it is best to prepare a participant list with discount notes.
Are Tuesdays free? - The National Museum in Kraków often designates Tuesday as a free admission day for permanent exhibitions, but rules may change — check current information when planning your visit.
For large groups consider renting headset sets — they help everyone hear the guide and increase comfort in crowded rooms. Plan a short break near the Sukiennice after the visit (a café or lunch) so participants can rest.
If you plan to visit several sites in a day, schedule logistic breaks (time to walk, use the toilet, eat). In busy moments (large groups, popular dates) have a plan B and an alternative entry time. When booking, ask for written confirmation of entry time and meeting point (email).
Recommended places for coffee and lunch near the Sukiennice: Wierzynek (historic, highly rated), Szara (Market Square), Cafe Camelot — these places are popular with visitors and are good options for a post-visit break.
For centuries the Sukiennice served both commercial and cultural functions — today it houses important collections of the National Museum in Kraków. Keep in mind that some temporary exhibitions may require separate tickets and limit visitor numbers — even if a regular entry is normally open.
Note that different branches in the museum network may have different fees and guiding rules, so always confirm conditions for the specific branch you plan to visit (e.g. Sukiennice, Main Building, Czartoryski Museum). This avoids surprises on the day of your visit.
If you’d like me to handle reservations and logistics for your visit, I’m happy to help: I can advise the best entry time for the Sukiennice, reserve guiding, prepare the participant list, coordinate ticket purchases and help with restaurant, accommodation and transport bookings. Details and contact are on the article page (zwiedzaniekrakowa.com).
I guide in museums and interesting places in Kraków and organize tour logistics — from ticket reservations to arranging restaurant menus. If you’d like, write or call me and I’ll help plan a comfortable, stress-free trip for your group.
If you found this article helpful, please share it — post on social media or send it to friends planning a trip to Kraków. I look forward to hearing from you and wish you a great visit to the Sukiennice!
