Ghetto Heroes Square in Podgórze combines history, memory and urban space — in summer it becomes a natural starting point for a short but meaningful walk through the area that used to be the ghetto.
This is not another entertainment attraction — it is a place of remembrance where it’s worth pausing, listening and talking with your cousin about what happened here in 1941–1943, when the square was the ghetto’s central point and the site of selections and deportations.
If you’re planning an outing with family or a younger cousin, the square offers a chance to discuss history in a visually clear, accessible space — it can be an educational stop, not merely another point on the map.
The symbolic chairs — dozens of metal seats placed across the square — are an installation commemorating abandoned homes and forced removals; their arrangement is meant to convey emptiness and absence. It’s one of the most recognisable visual metaphors here.
The 'Eagle' Pharmacy (Plac Bohaterów Getta 18) — before the war run by Tadeusz Pankiewicz, during the occupation it was an important aid point and today functions as a branch of the Museum of Krakow with an exhibition about life in the ghetto. Check opening hours before you go, as schedules can change seasonally.
Nearby you can find surviving fragments of the ghetto wall — for example near Lwowska Street — plus memorial plaques and other elements of the Remembrance Route that help assemble a fuller local story.
Suggested walk: start at Ghetto Heroes Square, spend 20–30 minutes looking at the chairs and make a quick visit to the 'Eagle' Pharmacy, then head toward the wall fragment near Lwowska Street and finish at the Vistula boulevards or continue toward the monuments and cafés around Zabłocie. This plan leaves time for pauses and conversation while showing several sides of Podgórze.
In summer it’s best to walk early in the morning or late afternoon — you’ll avoid the strongest sun and the biggest crowds, and memorial places are often more affecting in a quieter atmosphere. For younger visitors plan shorter stops and one longer break for a drink or a light meal.
If you want to extend the route, add a visit to Oskar Schindler’s Factory and a stroll along the Vistula boulevards — these are logical additions that turn a short outing into a fuller day in the city.
How to get there: the square sits conveniently in Podgórze — it’s about a 15–25 minute walk from the city centre, and trams and buses stop nearby, so public transport makes it easy to reach.
The 'Eagle' Pharmacy as a Museum of Krakow branch usually has regular opening hours (often Wednesday–Sunday), but days and hours can change — check current opening times on the Museum of Krakow website or call before you visit.
Accessibility: the square is relatively flat, but cobbles and paving can be uneven — people with limited mobility can move around it, though it’s worth planning the route and choosing the smoothest approaches. In summer bring a hat and water, as shade on the square is limited.
If you’re looking for a pleasant place to rest, there are well-rated canteens and cafés close to Ghetto Heroes Square serving home-style meals — one recommended spot in the area is Jadłodajnia 'Wczoraj i Dziś', praised by many visitors for its traditional dishes and reasonable prices.
When choosing a place for a summer break, check recent reviews — Podgórze and Zabłocie change quickly, so picking a venue with good feedback and service will make your coffee or lunch a nicer complement to the walk.
If you prefer takeaway, several cafés nearby offer to-go options — handy if you plan a picnic on the Vistula banks or a short rest on a bench.
Although Ghetto Heroes Square is today a place of remembrance and reflection, in summer it sits comfortably within the life of Podgórze — atmospheric side streets, galleries and vibrant spots nearby show that the neighbourhood is both a site of memory and a living, contemporary quarter.
Few people immediately notice that the chairs’ layout and placement were carefully designed to allude to abandoned belongings and to how people were grouped during deportations — it’s a simple but powerful spatial narrative.
The ghetto wall fragments are not huge, but they are particularly expressive — you can find them on a short walk around the area, and their scale helps illustrate how densely populated this part of the city once was.
Treating the site as 'just another' attraction — Ghetto Heroes Square asks for a moment of reflection; treat it as a place of memory, not only as a photo stop to tick off your list.
Arriving without checking museum hours — the 'Eagle' Pharmacy has specific days when it’s closed or has reduced hours; check before you leave so you don’t disappoint your cousin.
Assuming the square has many food facilities — while there are good places nearby, the square itself is minimalist, so plan a break at a nearby café or canteen.
How much time to allow? 30–90 minutes is enough for a calm look around the square, a short visit to the Pharmacy and a walk to the nearest memorial points.
Can you sit on the chairs? Yes — the installation is accessible, but behave respectfully — this is a place of remembrance, so keep a quiet and modest tone.
Is it worth visiting in summer? Yes — warm weather makes it easy to combine sightseeing with a rest by the Vistula and a stop at a nearby café.
Do you need a ticket for the square? The square itself is public and free to visit. Entering the 'Eagle' Pharmacy — a Museum of Krakow branch — may require an admission fee or be free on certain days; check current details before your visit.
If you liked this short guide, share it with your cousin or friends — it’s good for more people to visit Podgórze with respect and curiosity.
If you’d like to explore Podgórze and Ghetto Heroes Square with a guide, consider booking a tour with Małgorzata Kasprowicz — a guided walk can make the history accessible and comfortable for the whole family.
