The Main Market Square is not only beautiful townhouses and the trumpeter on St. Mary’s Tower — beneath its surface and on nearby streets there are traces of 20th-century history that you can show children in a safe and engaging way. You can combine a walk with a museum visit and a few short activities that help younger visitors remember the lesson longer.
This guide is created with families in mind: you’ll find a ready-made half-day plan, tips on how to talk about difficult topics, practical information about tickets and opening hours, and suggestions for places to pause and eat.
World War II has a visible place in Kraków’s fabric — both in what we can see above ground and in museum stories underground. Showing these places to children helps them understand that history is not only dates but people, choices and consequences.
It’s worth using short, factual stories and active elements (tasks, questions, comparisons) that engage children and introduce difficult content without graphic detail. City museums offer educational programs prepared especially for families; these are worth using.
Start: Main Market Square — quick introduction (15–20 min). Begin with a short story: what the Square was like centuries ago and how it looked during World War II — avoid graphic details, focusing on everyday life of people.
Market Underground (Rynek Podziemny) — about 60–90 min. The interactive exhibition and archaeological remains let you “step into history” and see the city from earlier times and learn how life looked in different periods, including the occupation (educational programs and museum lessons available).
Short walk and a snack by the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) or on the Square — a rest for kids and time for questions.
Kazimierz — Eagle Pharmacy (Apteka pod Orłem) exhibition dedicated to Tadeusz Pankiewicz’s pharmacy or Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory (choose depending on children’s age) — 60–90 min. Both sites offer educational programs and family tickets.
Buffer time: 15–30 min for unexpected breaks, play or a quick visit inside St. Mary’s Basilica (if the children are interested).
The Market Underground is an archaeological and multimedia museum under the Main Market Square. The exhibition shows the city’s layers from the Middle Ages to the present — it’s a great place to show children a long historical perspective and that 20th-century events are just one of many layers of the city’s story.
In the 20th-century section, city museums (branches of the Museum of Kraków) present the context of the occupation: everyday life of residents, fragments of documents, photographs and personal stories. Family exhibitions often include interactive elements that simplify the message without trivializing the tragedy.
On the surface of the Square, pay attention to the architecture, the Cloth Hall and the many plaques and memorial sites scattered around — they are a starting point for talking about how the city remembers the past.
The Eagle Pharmacy (a branch of the Historical Museum of Kraków) is a small exhibition connected with the history of the Kraków Ghetto and the people who lived there and helped others. It’s a difficult but important place: a well-prepared display allows conversations about courage, aid and the consequences of war, adapted to children’s ages.
The museum offers family tickets and educational programs — check guided-tour and workshop availability before your visit. The Pharmacy also has multimedia and educational materials that make talking to younger visitors easier.
Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory tells the story of Kraków during the occupation and the postwar period. The exhibition can be very moving — museums often advise caution when bringing young children. For teenagers and older children it is an important and valuable site.
If you plan to visit with younger children: schedule pauses so they can stop the tour, choose a shorter route or use family educational activities offered by the museum. Always check the exhibition description and age recommendations before buying tickets.
Buying tickets: city museums offer regular, reduced and family tickets — prices and discount rules vary and should be checked with the specific branches. Family tickets are often better value, and for popular exhibitions it’s wise to reserve in advance.
Opening hours: they differ between branches (Market Underground, Eagle Pharmacy, Schindler’s Factory) — check them in advance because museums sometimes have shortened hours or closures. Some days (for example Mondays or certain public dates) may have restricted access or free-entry days; however on such days tickets may only be available at the ticket office and in limited numbers.
Length of visit: plan about 1–1.5 hours for the Market Underground and 1–1.5 hours for Schindler’s Factory or the Pharmacy — with breaks and walks this makes a comfortable half-day program.
Adapt your language to the child’s age: short sentences, concrete examples (for instance: “people had to move and some couldn’t return to their homes”), and avoid brutal details for younger children.
Allow questions: give the child space to ask and answer honestly but gently. If you don’t know an answer — say so and suggest looking it up together.
Use objects and stories: exhibits, photographs and short stories about specific people help turn abstract ideas into understandable narratives. City museums often have family-friendly tour scripts.
Don’t overload: plan a break on a square or in a café after each intense stop. For little ones, 2–3 hours of total touring with breaks is the limit.
Not booking tickets in advance — tickets for popular exhibitions sell out quickly, especially on weekends and during holidays.
Taking very small children to long exhibitions without breaks — plan the tour in stages and include time for play and a meal.
Ignoring museums’ age recommendations — if a museum advises against bringing small children to a particular exhibition, consider an alternative (a shorter route or a different branch).
Not checking opening hours and closed days — different branches follow different rules, so a quick check before you leave will save disappointment.
Around the Market Square and nearby you’ll find many family-friendly places: from small cafés with pastries to restaurants offering children’s menus. Cafés along the Main Market Square are convenient for a quick coffee and sweet treat; Kazimierz has cozy restaurants ideal for a sit-down lunch after museum visits.
Good quick snack ideas: obwarzanek (the Kraków ring-shaped bread), small sandwiches, yogurts and fruit — handy when children need an immediate energy boost. If you plan a longer break, look for restaurants with family space and baby-changing facilities.
Beneath the Square you’ll find archaeological remains that show how varied everyday life in Kraków was over the centuries — a nice moment to compare life now and then.
Many city museums offer children’s activities and museum games — from simple quests to art workshops related to exhibitions. Ask about them when booking or at the ticket desk.
Are the exhibitions suitable for small children? Many displays have age recommendations; some museums offer programs specifically for families and children. For exhibitions about wartime subjects it’s worth asking in advance about the presentation style and available supporting materials.
Is a family ticket worth it? Yes — city museums often have family tickets that are more economical than separate tickets. Check the rules (number of people, children’s ages).
Do I need to book a guide? No — many visitors explore on their own, but if you want an in-depth, child-adapted tour, booking a guide or an educational session is a good idea.
A walk around the Main Market Square following traces of World War II can be a valuable family experience — if you plan it with your children’s ages in mind, allow breaks and choose appropriate museums and educational programs.
If you want a personalized route tailored to your children’s ages and interests, consider booking a private guide Małgorzata Kasprowicz (the guide for zwiedzaniekrakowa.com). If you found this article helpful, share it on social media or send it to friends — every family deserves a well-planned day in Kraków!
