Are you planning a weekend in Krakow with children and wondering if Wawel and the Royal Route are good choices? Short answers: yes — it’s a great route that gives a clear picture of history, legends and everyday city life. And yes — it’s worth thinking about a few simple ideas so the kids don’t get bored after 15 minutes.
In this guide I’ll explain how to wisely plan the walk, which spots engage younger and older children most, how to gently introduce the topic of World War II, and how I — Małgorzata Kasprowicz — organize a practical guided tour.
The Royal Route is a natural storytelling path: the Barbican, Florian Gate, Floriańska Street, the Main Market Square with the Cloth Hall, St. Mary’s Church, Grodzka, Kanonicza and Wawel. All these places offer varied points of interest — architecture, legends, royal stories and lively street scenes.
At Wawel you can combine the dragon legend, royal tombs, the cathedral and views over the Vistula — elements that always impress children. Along the Royal Route it’s easy to plan short stops, games and photo sessions, as well as breaks for ice cream or a warm drink.
The route also gives a natural opportunity to introduce more difficult topics like World War II — not by dwelling on horror, but with respect and adapted to the age of the participants.
Start: Main Market Square (for example by the Adam Mickiewicz monument) — a convenient meeting point that is clear and central. From there we set off along the Royal Route.
The Barbican and Florian Gate — perfect for warming up. It’s easy to explain to children that this was a 'fortress' and that kings used to enter the city this way. A short game: count how many little towers you can see.
Floriańska Street and the Cloth Hall — here you can tell about old trade and merchants, point out an interesting architectural detail and plan a short snack break.
St. Mary’s Church — the exterior is impressive. Tell the legend of the trumpeter (hejnal) and point out the most important features, noting that entering inside can sometimes require an extra ticket.
Grodzka and Kanonicza streets — these are intimate lanes with canons’ houses and stories about old city life. I often prepare a short task for children here: find a carved animal or an unusual coat of arms.
Wawel — the heart of the route: the courtyard, the Castle, the Cathedral. For young explorers the biggest fun is often the Dragon and entering the Dragon’s Den. In the cathedral I show royal tombs as stories about important people rather than long lists of dates. Remember that entry to some interiors is paid and subject to visitor limits.
Krakow has many memorial places connected with the years 1939–1945. On the route it’s worth pointing out pieces of that history gently and respectfully. Instead of focusing on gruesome details, it’s better to concentrate on people, their choices and concrete facts that younger visitors can remember.
Oskar Schindler’s Factory and the Trail of Remembrance — a place where broad history intersects with individual lives. The exhibitions address heavy topics and are usually recommended for older teens — the displays contain difficult content, so for families consider who should enter and who might stay outside.
The Krakow ghetto and fragments of former buildings — on the walk you can point to places that were part of the ghetto, talking about people, their trades and everyday life before deportations. This is a way to discuss history in a factual and humanizing way.
Memorials and plaques — I encourage younger visitors to notice symbols, dates and short stories about people who helped others. For teenagers I sometimes suggest a small task: find one memorial plaque and note the story it tells.
Younger children (primary school): shorter stories, more games and questions, legends and curiosities. Avoid details related to violence. Good choices are: the Dragon’s Den, king legends and playful activities near the Cloth Hall.
Older children and teenagers (middle/high school): you can introduce more complex historical threads, talk about everyday life during the occupation, individual fates and the role of places such as Oskar Schindler’s Factory. I encourage questions and short discussions.
Mixed groups: I set the pace and level of detail at the start of the tour. I often assign short roles or tasks so everyone finds something for themselves — parents can observe or join the discussion when they feel the topic is suitable for the children.
Treasure map — I prepare a simple map with three points to find (for example: the dragon, a coat of arms, an interesting portal). Children look for them and collect “badges” as stickers or cross off elements on a card.
Photo challenge — split into teams: who will take the most creative photo of the Dragon? The best photo of an architectural detail? Afterwards we review the photos together and hold a short vote.
Question tasks — simple questions at the end of a stop (who was the king? what was sold in the Cloth Hall? why is there a Barbican?), reward: a small prize or ice cream.
Best time of day: ideal hours for a walk with children are morning (right after interiors open) or late afternoon — then there are fewer crowds and the light is nicer for photos. If you want a quiet visit to Wawel, start early.
Weather and plan B: tours run regardless of weather. In heavy rain it’s worth moving part of the program indoors to museums or shortening outdoor segments. I always have a plan B ready.
Toilets and breaks: I plan places for breaks — cafés around the Market, Plac Nowy (great for quick snacks and ice cream) and the Vistula boulevards for relaxing after Wawel.
Tickets and interiors: entry to St. Mary’s Church, Wawel Cathedral or some exhibitions is usually paid and may require reservations — plan ahead especially on weekends.
Guided tours usually last 2–4 hours. Shorter versions work well for families with young children; a full 4-hour tour allows time to enter several interiors and tell more stories at a relaxed pace.
The guiding service includes the tour itself; admission tickets to museums and some buildings are usually paid separately. For larger groups I can provide comfortable headset sets to make the commentary easier to hear in crowds.
Meeting point is agreed individually after booking; most often we meet at the Main Market Square by the Adam Mickiewicz monument. Bookings are accepted by phone or email — I’ll gladly arrange a route to match your expectations.
Booking contact: phone +48 501 962 037, email kontakt@zwiedzaniekrakowa.com. After booking we arrange route details, tour length and any optional interior entries.
Clothing and shoes: comfortable footwear and layered clothing are essential. There’s a lot of walking on Wawel and in the city center, and pavements can be cobbled.
Food and drinks: plan a break for children’s favorite treats — places along the route offer ice cream and quick snacks. For a calmer visit it’s good to have small snacks and a water bottle on hand.
Patience and curiosity: children’s questions are the best part — I answer in simple language and like to show how history connects to the everyday life of old Krakow.
If you’d like to explore Wawel and the Royal Route in a way tailored to children and teenagers — write or call. Together we’ll plan a route that leaves smiles and curiosity for a long time.
