Four hours is the perfect amount of time to calmly show the key sites of Wawel Hill, walk the Royal Route along Floriańska Street to the Main Market Square and visit a short fragment of Kazimierz to see traces of Jewish Kraków.
The route is designed to mix large, impressive places (the Castle, Cathedral, Cloth Hall, St. Mary’s Church) with smaller but important memory points and elements of Kazimierz culture — all delivered as an engaging story with legends, tasks and questions for children.
If you are planning a school trip or a family walk with teenagers, the program can be adjusted: pace, number of stops and interactive elements (quiz, detail-hunt, mini art-audit) will be tailored to the group’s age and interests.
We usually meet in the centre — most often by the Adam Mickiewicz monument on the Main Market Square or at another agreed meeting point. From there we start along the Royal Route toward Wawel or vice versa, depending on the group’s preference and monument opening hours.
1) Wawel Hill - a short history of the castle, tales about the crown and treasures, and the most important places in the Cathedral: royal tombs, chapels and symbolic architectural elements. For children I suggest tasks like “find the sculpture” or “who is buried here?”, to keep attention and turn facts into vivid images.
2) The Royal Route - we walk along Kanonicza and Grodzka Streets and explain what this ceremonial route was like in former times: triumphal gates, processions and celebrations. I tell memorable curiosities — anecdotes and short riddles easy to remember.
3) Main Market Square and the Cloth Hall - the history of the main square, trade and the role of the Cloth Hall as the medieval city’s commercial centre. By the Cloth Hall children can look for sculptural details, find symbols and learn where popular Kraków legends come from.
4) St. Mary’s Church - the story of the Veit Stoss altarpiece, the trumpeter’s hejnał and short, vivid stories that bring sacred art closer without boring young people with dates.
5) A fragment of Kazimierz - a short introduction to the former Jewish quarter: what life looked like, which traces of memory we can see today (for example, synagogues, tombstones, memorial sites), and how to talk with young people about difficult topics respectfully and in age-appropriate language.
The route and pace are adjusted to the group: younger children get more breaks, older groups can have additional mini-lectures or discussions about history and culture.
I speak briefly, colorfully and with humour. Children learn by taking part: I ask questions, give tasks along the route, point out details that can be recreated later in class or at home.
Suggested activities: - mini-quizzes and contests with small prizes - searching for architectural “treasures” (for example a dragon, a sculpture, a coat of arms) - short role-plays (the legend of the dragon, the kings) - photographic tasks for teens — who finds the most interesting detail
For school classes I propose a scenario with clear educational goals: what students should remember and which guiding questions teachers can use back in the classroom.
Duration: standard 4 hours — the optimal time to calmly visit Wawel and the main points of the Old Town and see a part of Kazimierz.
Price for guiding service: for small groups (1–35 people) the standard price for 4 hours is 550 PLN. For larger groups prices are calculated per person. Special rates and additional options are available for school groups — please contact me to discuss details.
Entrance tickets to some sites (for example Wawel Cathedral, St. Mary’s Church interior or certain museum exhibitions) are usually charged separately. I can help buy tickets and will inform you about current prices and opening hours when you book.
Booking and contact: you can call +48 501 962 037 or write to kontakt@zwiedzaniekrakowa.com. After reservation we set the exact meeting point and time and tailor the program to the group.
Weather: tours run in most weather. In case of very bad weather the route can be modified to spend more time inside monuments and museums — I always have a plan B.
Clothing and shoes — comfortable footwear is essential: cobbled streets and approaches on Wawel require sturdy shoes. Layered clothing helps adjust to changing weather.
Breaks and food — we will plan short snack breaks during the tour. Around the Market Square and Kanonicza there are many cafés and small eateries friendly to families; I can recommend tried-and-true places such as Cafe Camelot or local bakeries in the Old Town and adapt the break to the group’s schedule.
Toilets — public restroom access may be limited; we plan stops in places with easy WC access.
Safety — please ensure guardians watch children in busy sections of the route (the Market, the area near Wawel). For larger groups it’s useful to use headset sets that allow comfortable listening to the guide.
The Kazimierz fragment on this route is an introduction: I show places that tell the story of Kraków’s Jewish community — synagogues, cemeteries and memorial sites. I present the topic in an age-appropriate way, with respect and simple language.
For younger teens I emphasize cultural aspects — music, traditions and everyday life in historic Kazimierz. For older groups we also address more difficult topics in a factual but accessible way, focusing on empathy and remembrance.
If the group wishes, the route can be extended into a longer Kazimierz tour with entry to synagogues, a visit to the Remuh Cemetery or the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews — this takes more time and requires a separate reservation.
Is 4 hours enough? - Four hours is well balanced: enough for Wawel, the Royal Route and a short part of Kazimierz. If you want to visit more museum interiors I recommend adding an extra hour or planning a separate day.
Are entrance tickets included? - The guiding fee covers the service; entrance fees to some monuments are paid separately. I will advise which tickets are worth buying in advance and can help with purchase.
Where do we meet? - Most often by the Adam Mickiewicz monument on the Main Market Square or another centrally agreed point.
Does the guide speak English? - Yes, tours can be conducted in English on request.
Is the route stroller-friendly? - Some parts run on cobbles and access to Wawel and certain sites can be difficult; I can suggest an alternative route better suited for strollers.
Mini-summary and quiz — at the end I propose a short recap with questions for participants. It’s a great way to consolidate knowledge and finish the tour with an element of fun.
Souvenirs and local flavours — I recommend buying souvenirs at the Cloth Hall or trying local snacks in one of the nearby cafés. If you plan a fuller meal, I can suggest restaurants and types of cuisine to match different budgets.
Educational materials — after the tour I can send a short cheat-sheet with the most important facts and suggestions for follow-up activities for teachers and parents.
I am Małgorzata Kasprowicz — a licensed Kraków guide. I come from Kraków and have guided thousands of visitors, including many school groups and families with children.
My goal is to tell the story of the city in an accessible, interesting and humorous way — so that young listeners leave with clear images and a desire to learn more.
If you would like to book a tour or ask about a program tailored to your class or family, call: +48 501 962 037 or write: kontakt@zwiedzaniekrakowa.com.
