A walk following the Jewish traces of Krakow is more than history. It’s a great chance to raise topics of intercultural understanding, memory and empathy — while showing young people how history shapes the everyday city space we walk through.
The route links concrete places (streets, synagogues, cemeteries, memorials) with stories about daily life, culture and 20th-century events. For young people it can be an engaging lesson outside the classroom, where the narrative can be visual, interactive and adapted to the participants’ ages.
A well-led walk also lets you see Krakow “from the inside”: not only the Market Square and Wawel, but also districts that hide smaller, important stories. During a long weekend this is an excellent plan for 1–2 days full of meaningful experiences.
Set timeframes and breaks in advance: for youth it’s best to split the walk into 2–3 hours with several short stops and one longer break for drinks and a snack.
Give advance notice about sensitive topics and places: cemeteries, memorial sites and passages about tragic events need a short introduction and clear behaviour rules.
Maximum group size and supervisors: tailor the group to age and experience. Larger groups need several supervisors, a clear meeting system and a contact phone number for the guide or lead supervisor.
Make sure participants wear comfortable shoes, carry water and have a plan B for the weather — long weekends in Poland can be changeable, and much of the route is over cobbles and narrow streets.
Day 1 - Kazimierz and memorial sites (approx. 2–3 hours): meet at an agreed point, walk through the former Jewish quarter, discuss selected landmarks, visit memorial sites and run a short reflective exercise with the youth.
Day 1 - afternoon: break for lunch around Plac Nowy or Szeroka Street; plan the pause so young people can try local snacks and rest.
Day 2 - Podgórze and the Factory with wartime context (approx. 2–3 hours): walk discussing changes in urban space, visit memorial points and Oskar Schindler’s Factory (if the group wishes and tickets are available).
Shorter option (one intensive day): morning at Wawel and the Market Square (brief stops), afternoon in Kazimierz and memorial sites — this requires careful planning of breaks and tickets for museums.
An interactive element: questions, short field tasks, mini-surveys or simple photo assignments that reinforce the message and encourage reflection.
Historical and local context — besides facts, talk about everyday life: schools, shops, trades and prewar culture, and about the different forms of commemoration we see today in the city.
Time for discussion and questions — leave 15–20 minutes after the walk for a conversation, because young people often have acute and important questions worth discussing together.
Reservations: on a long weekend museums and popular exhibitions (for example the Factory) have limited capacity — book tickets in advance.
Duration: plan 2–3 hours for a walk; shorter stages (up to 90 minutes) work well for younger students, longer ones can be split into blocks.
Transport and meeting point: choose an easy-to-find rendezvous, check public transport options and arrange breaks near toilets. Provide a contact number for the supervisor and the guide.
Tickets and discounts: some educational programs are ticketed (museum activities often have a reduced or symbolic fee for participants under 18).
Kazimierz and the area around Plac Nowy offer many youth-friendly places for light meals and drinks; choose a venue with quick service and seating for the whole group.
If you plan a group lunch, consider booking a restaurant with a larger room or ordering group sets — that helps logistics and shortens the break time.
For colder days bring thermoses with tea and extra layers; in the autumn-spring season a hot tea or hot chocolate significantly improves comfort for younger participants.
Not booking tickets in advance — on a long weekend this is the simplest way to frustrate a group. Reserve entries and check opening hours ahead of time.
Too long stretches without breaks — young people tire faster; give short active stops and one longer rest point.
Lack of preparation for difficult topics — before entering memorial places remind the group of behaviour rules and introduce the historical context briefly.
Krakow is a city of historical layers: in one space you can find traces of the medieval era, modern memory and postwar reconstruction — a good starting point to talk about how memory shapes a city.
In the urban space there are many small everyday objects and details (commemorative plaques, fragments of walls, lesser-known memorial tablets) that help connect micro-histories with larger events.
Memorial places are not always large and prominent — often the most important traces hide in backstreets, on small squares and in forgotten tenement houses.
How long does the walk take? Usually 90–180 minutes, depending on pace and number of stops.
How to prepare the youth? A short introduction in class, clear behaviour rules and clothing appropriate to the weather are fundamental.
Is this suitable for teenagers? Yes — if the content and language are adapted, young people engage very willingly.
Offer a short task: a mini-journal entry, a drawing of a chosen place or a brief group reflection — this helps consolidate impressions and open a conversation.
Share impressions online: encourage supervisors and young people to post photos and recommendations on social media so others can benefit from the experience.
If you want a personalized program or professional guiding, please consider booking services with the private guide Malgorzata Kasprowicz. Contact details are available on the guide’s website. Feel free to share this article with colleagues before planning a long weekend in Krakow!
