Welcome to Krakow! If you plan to walk the city with me, Małgorzata Kasprowicz, great — I will show you the city so you see both the main highlights and the little details that stay with you. This article focuses on the practical side of the tour: how to plan a visit to MOCAK, what to know about tickets and guided tours, and what to expect when climbing St. Mary’s Tower — how many steps, what restrictions exist and how to prepare so your visit is pleasant and stress-free. Everything is presented in a friendly tone with tips from someone who guides in Krakow every day.
I want you to finish reading this knowing exactly what to expect — how much time to allow for museums and towers, how to book a guide, and small tricks to avoid queues and fatigue.
If you want to book a tour or have questions about available dates, contact me through the form on zwiedzaniekrakowa.com or get in touch directly — I’ll gladly adapt the route to your expectations. (I don’t include external links in this article, but I give concrete practical information and phone numbers for the places we’ll visit.)
On the route I’ll share stories, anecdotes and show spots that complement a visit to MOCAK and the Main Market Square — including the climb up St. Mary’s Tower, where you get the classic Krakow panorama and can hear the hejnał from its original source.
Let’s get started!
MOCAK is an important place for those interested in contemporary art. A guided tour of the exhibitions helps you understand the context of the works on display and gives you the chance to ask questions that often come up while viewing. On the other hand, St. Mary’s Tower is a Krakow classic — a short, intense stop with a truly urban experience: the Market Square view, the tower’s history and the hejnał trumpet call.
Combining these two places creates an interesting contrast: contemporary art versus a medieval panorama and city stories. It’s a good choice for a half-day or full-day outing, depending on your pace and any extra visits you want to add.
As your guide I’ll help balance the program: I’ll suggest how much time to spend at MOCAK, when to aim for the tower and how to order visits so you don’t waste time in lines.
If you want a tour that includes my guiding, I adapt the content to the group’s interests — from contemporary art through Old Town architecture to local legends and culinary tips.
In the sections below you’ll find concrete practical information: MOCAK guiding fees, how to reserve, typical group sizes, number of stairs to St. Mary’s Tower and tips on how to prepare.
A simple, comfortable plan I often use during walks:
- 10:45 - meet at the agreed meeting point in the Old Town, brief introduction and route outline.
- 11:15 - enter MOCAK, guided tour of exhibitions (time depends on the show, typically 60–90 minutes).
- 13:00 - short break for coffee or a light meal (I recommend places near the museum entrance or on the way to the Market Square).
- 14:00 - walk toward the Main Market Square with stories about architecture and history.
- 15:00 - climb St. Mary’s Tower (if tickets/availability allow) — a quick but spectacular viewing experience.
This schedule can be shortened or extended — it all depends on opening hours and availability for the tower climb.
MOCAK offers group and individual guided tours of the exhibitions. A typical guiding fee is approximately 150 PLN for tours in Polish and about 180 PLN for tours in foreign languages; in addition, visitors purchase admission tickets according to the museum’s current price list.
The MOCAK reception handles guided tour reservations and practical information — it’s best to book in advance, especially in the tourist season. The main building is usually open Tuesday–Sunday, and ticket sales stop before closing (arrive early so you have time to enter and prepare for the guided tour).
MOCAK also runs weekend guided tours and special events; some require registration or prior sign-up. The museum provides accessibility features for visitors with disabilities — if needed, I’ll tell you the most important solutions and help organize your visit.
Keep a practical contact for the MOCAK reception handy if you want to reserve a guided tour or check dates. Reservations are usually handled by phone or email; book at least a week in advance if you care about a particular date or language.
If you prefer, I can organize the guided tour as part of my walking tour — I’ll coordinate timing and tickets so the whole experience runs smoothly.
St. Mary’s Tower has 239 steps to climb and reaches about 54 meters in height. The ascent is an intense experience — the staircase can be narrow and the space at the top limited, so the feeling is intimate and very ‘urban’.
For centuries the tower has been the source of the hejnał mariacki, played every hour — it’s one of Krakow’s most recognizable city attractions. If you want to hear the hejnał live, plan your climb so you reach the top shortly before the full hour.
Climbs to the tower are often limited by group size and safety or age restrictions. For that reason, you may sometimes need to reserve entry or buy tickets at the visitor point. Groups are small, which makes the experience more personal, but also means places are limited — book ahead if you plan to visit at a specific time.
Keep in mind that for safety some people (for example very small children or visitors with serious mobility issues) may have restricted access to the tower — let’s check this together before the tour so no one is surprised.
The climb rewards you with an unforgettable view of the Main Market Square, the Cloth Hall and the Old Town — it’s an excellent photo spot, but space can be tight, so use restraint when setting up camera equipment.
Book in advance, especially if you’re coming in season — small groups and limited places on the tower and guided tours mean available slots go fast.
Check opening hours the day before your visit — museums and towers have seasonal hours and occasional maintenance closures. If we plan several places on the same day, it’s good to set the visit order to match entry times.
On site you buy tickets at the museum ticket office or reception; for guided tours you usually need to declare your interest and pay the guiding fee or reserve by email/phone. If you like, I’ll help with the entire booking process — I’ll coordinate the guided tour time and buy tickets so you don’t lose time.
If you want to be on the tower at a particular hour (for example to hear the hejnał), arrive a little earlier at the Floriańska Street entrance — tickets are often sold directly at the tower entrance or at the visitor desk.
Remember small fees and that prices and rules can change — it’s a good habit to quickly check information the day before departure.
Comfortable shoes — both MOCAK and the tower climb require walking and, for the tower, stair climbing.
A small backpack or bag, but not too large — St. Mary’s Tower has limited space and large bags may bother others.
A bottle of water and a light snack — after leaving the museum or descending from the tower it’s nice to take a short break.
If you have a camera, keep in mind that on the tower you’ll need to manage equipment carefully due to the tight space; tripods are usually awkward to set up.
In sunny season bring a hat and sunscreen — especially if you plan to walk the Market Square and the Wawel hill after visiting the museum.
Come early or choose afternoon hours outside the peak tourist times — you’ll avoid queues at ticket points and have more calm during the guided tour.
If you want to guarantee entry to the tower — plan that stop first or book it at a time when you expect fewer visitors.
Allow at least an hour for MOCAK — that usually covers a guided tour of the main exhibition, but if you want to dive deeper into specific works allow extra time.
Use my local knowledge — I recommend tried-and-true spots for coffee breaks and light snacks near the walking routes; this keeps the tour flowing naturally and avoids wasting time searching for places to eat.
If you’re traveling with children or elderly people, let me know when booking — I’ll adapt the pace and route to the group’s needs.
A tour combining MOCAK and St. Mary’s Tower is a great way to experience two sides of Krakow — modern galleries and timeless views from a medieval tower. With good planning and advance reservations you can make the most of your day and avoid unnecessary dashing between sites.
As your guide — Małgorzata Kasprowicz — I help plan the route, book the museum guided tour and make sure the tower climb is comfortable. If you want to book a tour, arrange a date or have additional questions about availability and preferences — write via the form on zwiedzaniekrakowa.com or contact me directly. I’ll be happy to answer and prepare a program tailored to your needs.
See you in Krakow! Warm regards — Małgorzata Kasprowicz.
How long should I plan for the whole tour? - For MOCAK plus the tower and a relaxed walk, allow roughly 3.5–5 hours, depending on how long you spend at the museum and whether you take a longer break for lunch.
Are children allowed on the tower? - Very young children may be restricted for safety reasons; please tell me about children in your group so we can confirm access in advance.
What if someone in the group has mobility limitations? - Some parts of the tower are not suitable for people with serious mobility issues. MOCAK and other sites have accessibility information — tell me when booking so I can plan alternatives.
Do I need cash for tickets? - Most museums accept card payments, but it’s good to have some Polish złoty for small purchases or seasonal ticket desks.
Can you help coordinate tickets and times? - Yes. If you book a private tour with me I will coordinate guided tour times and ticket purchases to make the day run smoothly.
Coffee and snacks - there are many pleasant cafés near MOCAK and the Main Market Square. I can recommend a few favorites depending on your taste — from cozy places for a quiet coffee to lively spots for a quick bite.
Photography tips - for the tower view, light late morning or late afternoon often gives beautiful photos of the Market Square. Be mindful that space at the top is limited, so keep equipment compact.
Safety and weather - check the forecast the day before; tower climbs can be affected by bad weather. Wear shoes with good grip for the stairs.
Contact details - for reservations and the fastest coordination, use the tour booking form on zwiedzaniekrakowa.com or contact me directly; I’ll handle booking and timing so the visit is relaxed and enjoyable.
