Kraków can surprise you: from royal chambers to the concrete avenues of Nowa Huta — both parts of the city tell their own stories. In 2025 Wawel added another surprise: an expanded underground route that lets you look beneath the hill’s walls and learn its history from a previously unseen perspective. It’s a perfect reason to plan a short but substantial 2-day visit. You don’t need to rush: a good plan, comfortable shoes and a few advance reservations are enough.
This article gives you a concrete 48-hour plan, practical tips, a few recommended spots for coffee and lunch, and a list of common mistakes to avoid — so you can enjoy Kraków in a smart, relaxed way. If you prefer to tour with a local guide, you can book visits with Małgorzata Kasprowicz (Margaret Kasprowicz); contact details are available on zwiedzaniekrakowa.com. (At the end of the text there’s a short invitation to share the article.)
The new underground route at Wawel is a permanent exhibition showing sections of defensive walls and the archaeological layers of the hill — expect to visit enclosed, subterranean spaces where temperatures are often lower than on the surface. Tickets for special exhibitions and underground routes are best reserved in advance, especially during the high season.
Sections of Nowa Huta’s underground can also be open to visitors but usually on limited schedules — check opening days before you go. Some sites charge modest entrance fees, so have small change or buy tickets online where possible.
Travel between the Old Town and Nowa Huta is convenient by tram or bus; the journey typically takes several dozen minutes, so plan it as part of your day. It’s usually better to leave Nowa Huta for a separate day than to try to cram everything into one afternoon.
Morning: start at Wawel — visit the Cathedral first, see the tombs and the Sigismund Bell, then allow time for the new underground route. The underground trail takes about 45–60 minutes and reveals fragments of fortifications and archaeological layers — bring a light sweater because it can be cool below ground.
After Wawel, walk down Grodzka Street to the Main Market Square: the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice), St. Mary’s Basilica and the Market’s atmosphere are must-sees. For lunch choose one of the well-reviewed restaurants nearby — if you want traditional Polish cuisine presented elegantly, consider one of the established restaurants on the Square; for a more relaxed vibe, Kazimierz offers many cafés and bars.
Afternoon and evening: explore Kazimierz — synagogues, atmospheric streets, cafés and pubs. It’s a great area for dinner and an evening stroll. If you’d like, add a short visit to the Oskar Schindler Factory, but remember that tickets there also sell out and are best booked in advance.
Morning: after breakfast head to Nowa Huta — the socialist-realist district offers a very different picture of Kraków. See the Central Square (Plac Centralny), Aleja Róż and the imposing public architecture. Don’t miss the famous Nowa Huta church — its history and form often surprise visitors.
Midday: plan visits to places connected with industrial history and everyday life: local museums, exhibitions about the PRL period or displays focused on the history of the steelworks. If you’re interested in Nowa Huta’s underground shelters, check opening hours and prices in advance — some offers include modest family or combined tickets.
Afternoon: stroll the local avenues, stop for coffee, and return to the Old Town at a comfortable pace. In the evening you can enjoy a cultural event — a concert in a Kazimierz music club or a relaxed dinner at a recommended restaurant.
Book tickets for Wawel and any special underground routes ahead of time — the new underground exhibition has limited capacity and queues can form in season. Also check opening hours: some sites close certain days or operate reduced hours outside peak season.
If you plan to visit Nowa Huta’s underground, bring small change for tickets and bear in mind that some tour materials mention specific low fees for regular and concession tickets — nevertheless, always verify current prices with the organizer or at a tourist information point.
For both parts of the city wear comfortable shoes, dress in layers (underground spaces can be cool) and bring a powerbank for your phone — photos and maps drain batteries fast.
Around the Market Square and Kazimierz you’ll find many highly rated venues — for refined Polish cuisine consider established restaurants on the Square; for a casual meal and good coffee choose one of Kazimierz’s atmospheric cafés. Pay attention to reviews and reserve a table for evenings, especially on weekends.
Nowa Huta also has several well-regarded places that blend tradition with contemporary flavors — asking locals for their favorite cafés or bars often leads to the best discoveries.
If you’re booking accommodation, choose the Old Town or Kazimierz for the first night; it’s easy to reach Nowa Huta by public transport from either area, so there’s usually no need to change hotels.
Wawel today hides more than the royal chambers and cathedral — beneath the hill a coherent new underground route shows wall fragments from different periods and explains how the hill’s defenses changed through the centuries.
Nowa Huta isn’t just an industrial settlement — it’s a living district with interesting urban planning examples and places that tell the story of daily life in the PRL era. For many visitors it’s a completely different view of Kraków compared with the Old Town.
Underground spaces can surprise with their temperature and acoustics — expect a shorter, more intimate tour often enhanced with multimedia and reconstructions.
Trying to see everything “at once” — it’s better to focus on a few key places and get to know them well than to rush through everything and remember little. Plan your two days and leave time to rest.
Not reserving tickets for popular attractions — Wawel and special exhibitions have limited capacity, especially in season; book ahead to avoid queues.
Wrong footwear and clothing — undergrounds and long walks require comfortable shoes. With changeable weather, carry a light coat or a layer for cooler interiors.
Is one day enough for Wawel? - If you only want to see the main highlights, one day is enough, but to explore all exhibitions and the new underground route calmly it’s worth allowing more time.
Is Nowa Huta far from the Main Market Square? - It’s not a short walk; it’s more convenient to take a tram or bus and plan a full day for this part of the city.
Are the underground routes accessible for people with limited mobility? - Unfortunately many underground routes have constraints such as stairs and narrow passages; if accessibility matters to you, contact the attraction organizer in advance.
Kraków is a city of many faces: royal and monumental fragments blend with everyday-life stories. A two-day plan combining Wawel with Nowa Huta lets you see those contrasts without rushing. Book tickets in advance, plan coffee breaks and respect your own pace — this trip should be enjoyable.
If this guide was helpful, share it with friends or on social media. If you prefer a personalised visit with local support, consider booking a private tour with Małgorzata Kasprowicz (Margaret Kasprowicz) — details are available on zwiedzaniekrakowa.com. Have a great trip and many memorable discoveries in Kraków!
