Autumn in Kraków is one of the most beautiful seasons for photos: golden leaves, soft light and fewer tourists give excellent conditions for photography. For families with a stroller and people who use a wheelchair, however, it's important to choose spots with solid paths, comfortable entrances and minimal architectural obstacles. In practice this means some popular viewpoints have great infrastructure for autumn walks and photos, while others — despite their charm — are better visited with someone who can help with logistics.
This guide focuses on places that are easy to move around with a stroller, have decent surfaces, offer interesting photographic compositions in autumn and — importantly — are friendly to families and people with limited mobility. We start with Park Jordana, one of the greenest and most photogenic corners of the city.
Park Jordana is an ideal place for family photos and outdoor sessions with a stroller. It has wide paved avenues, several main entrances (including from Aleja 3 Maja) and comfortable walkways, which makes it easier to get around with a baby stroller or a wheelchair.
In the park you will find characteristic pavilions (Jordanówka), fountains, a playground with varied surfaces and grassy areas that create a beautiful backdrop for autumn frames. In recent years there have been projects to increase accessibility and to integrate spaces for families with children.
Photo idea: morning or late-afternoon light filtering between rows of trees gives warm, soft tones; a wide shot of an avenue with falling leaves looks great. Useful items include a wide-angle lens for spatial shots and an extra blanket or small stool for lower-perspective poses.
Practical: trams serve the area (several lines run close to Park Jordana) and nearby stops make arriving without a car easy; check for current maintenance work or temporary closures, especially around Jordanówka or playgrounds.
Błonia is a huge, flat space located near the city center, excellent for distance shots: frames with a vast carpet of grass and trees in the background, often with low autumn sunlight.
Much of Błonia is accessible for strollers — wide routes, no steep climbs and plenty of room to maneuver. If you want a simple, airy background for portraits or family photos, Błonia is a phenomenal choice.
Photo idea: golden grasses, single trees centered in the frame and wide panoramas. Evening sunsets over Błonia can give a cinematic mood to your images.
The boulevards along the Vistula offer varied perspectives: urban backgrounds, bridges, benches and trees changing color in autumn. Many sections of the boulevards have asphalt or paved paths that are stroller-friendly.
Father Bernatek Footbridge (Bernatka) is a great spot for photos with city and river panoramas — it has ramps and connections to the boulevards, so it is friendly to people with limited mobility.
Photo idea: afternoon golden light reflecting in the water, long frames with bridges in the background and photos of families strolling along the river. Remember that riverside areas can be windy — secure your gear and keep a cover for the child handy.
Planty encircle the Old Town and in autumn create a picturesque ring of colorful avenues. Most paths in Planty are paved and suitable for strollers.
This is a great place for short, atmospheric shots: alleys carpeted in leaves, intimate small bridges and historic walls in the background. Outside the high tourist season Planty are quieter, which makes it easier to set up compositions.
Photo idea: portraits in narrow alleys, light filtering through leaves and architectural details peeking between the trees.
The Jagiellonian University Botanical Garden is a place where autumn colors and plant textures create an excellent backdrop for photos. Many paths are paved and suitable for strollers, but note that some parts of the garden can be more intimate and narrower.
For families and photographers it's ideal for details: leaves, macro photography, portraits among beds and shaded alleys. If you plan a commercial session, check the garden's photography rules in advance.
Photo idea: close-up shots of leaves, symmetrical path compositions and soft diffused light in the greenhouse if it's available in the season.
The riverside area around Wawel offers beautiful views of the castle and the river. Some parts of the riverside have paved paths, comfortable viewpoints and places to stop with a stroller.
Note: historic courtyards and some parts of Wawel and the Royal Castle have uneven surfaces or cobblestones; choose the riverside and boulevards if comfort with a stroller is a priority.
Photo idea: the castle silhouette framed by golden leaves, family photos with a city panorama in the background.
City parks near the center, such as the area around Kossaka Street and Park Krakowski, offer paved paths and quiet corners for photos. These are good alternatives when you want fewer crowds than in Planty or near Wawel.
These places often have benches, gentle slopes and plenty of trees that in autumn create a warm background for portraits and family shots.
Photo idea: shots by an avenue covered with falling leaves and natural portraits on a bench.
Nowa Huta, with its spacious avenues, wide green strips and monumental architecture, offers a background different from the historic center. Many promenades and main routes are paved and stroller-friendly.
In autumn the contrast between raw architecture and golden leaves can create interesting visual effects — consider a short tram trip to diversify your photo album.
Photo idea: geometric frames with buildings and trees in golden tones, family photos along broad avenues.
If you want to avoid city bustle, green outskirts of Kraków (reachable by public transport) offer paved paths, quiet ponds and forests that glow with autumn colors. These places are suitable for more natural, "woodland" shots that are stroller-friendly along main routes.
Before you go, check a map of paths — not all forest trails are paved; choose stroller-friendly routes accessible from a parking lot or a tram/bus stop.
Photo idea: portraits with a path leading into the woods, leaf details and reflections in small ponds.
Small gardens and courtyards hide in the Old Town and in autumn can surprise with atmosphere. Not all will be ideal for strollers due to cobbles or narrow passages, but some have comfortable entrances and paved parts — discover them slowly.
Look for courtyards and small parks with street access, avoid steep cobbled fragments with a child in a stroller. Small gardens offer beautiful, intimate backgrounds for portraits.
Photo idea: architectural details with leaves in the frame, intimate shots by doors and shutters.
Check the route and surface – before you set out open a map and choose paved routes. Even inside one park there can be cobbled or narrower sections.
Pick the time of day – morning light and late afternoon give the best soft light in autumn. Fewer crowds also make it easier to work with a stroller.
Pack essential accessories – a blanket, warm cover for the child, an umbrella, a small kit for quick fixes (wipes, spare blanket). For the photographer: power bank, extra memory card and a rain cover for the camera.
Take care of comfort – if you plan a longer walk schedule breaks on a bench or in a nearby café. It’s good to know locations of public restrooms and entrances to restaurants with ramps.
Planning a route without checking the surface – a few minutes of checking can save a lot of stress when walking with a stroller.
Neglecting the weather – autumn can be changeable; bring a raincoat and a stroller cover.
Trying to visit "everything" in one day – better choose 2–3 spots and make the most of the time than rush and miss the best light.
In the areas described you will find many well-rated cafés and restaurants with friendly service and stroller access. Choose places with step-free entrances or ramps and tables where you can comfortably keep a stroller nearby.
Nearby Park Jordana there are park cafés such as Bike Café and small neighborhood spots that are convenient after outdoor play. When picking a place, check recent reviews and look for indications like family-friendly service and photos of the interior showing level access.
If you need accommodation, look for properties that declare accessible rooms and have good family reviews.
Are the paths in Park Jordana paved? Yes — the park has main paved avenues suitable for strollers, though some side paths may be grassy or more uneven.
Do I need permission to take photos with a stroller in the park? For amateur family photos you usually don't need a permit; if you plan a commercial session (photographer with crew, tripod, props) check the site rules or contact the site manager.
How can I avoid crowds? Best times are early morning and late afternoon on weekdays; autumn naturally reduces the number of walkers.
Many city parks (including Park Jordana) have ongoing projects improving accessibility and inclusion — sometimes new amenities and themed events appear that can enrich your visit.
It's often worth asking a nearby café if you can use their restroom or briefly shelter a stroller under cover in case of rain — many places are happy to help visitors with small children.
The mix of architecture and greenery in parts of Nowa Huta gives an unusual background for photos that contrasts with the historic center’s typical scenery.
If you would like more personalized help — planning a photo route, tips on the best hours and viewpoints, or to book a private guide around Kraków — you can use the services of private guide Małgorzata Kasprowicz. Małgorzata can help find routes tailored to a family's or a person’s mobility needs and show hidden, accessible spots for photos.
If you found the article helpful — share it on social media or send it to friends; that's the best way to help others planning an autumn walk in Kraków with a stroller. Thank you and see you on the trail full of golden leaves!
