Yes — Krakow is increasingly opening up to visitors with different needs, but barrier-free sightseeing requires preparation. The city and cultural institutions have prepared accessibility guides and apps with information about accessibility, and some routes, museums and public places offer ramps, lifts, induction loops or tactile materials and audio descriptions. That's great news, but — for the walk to be enjoyable — it's worth planning the route taking surface type, entrance thresholds and rest breaks into account.
In this article I use practical information from the city's accessibility guides and accessibility programs of Krakow's cultural institutions to help you plan a guided walk so it is comfortable and interesting. If you wish, at the end you'll find an FAQ and practical tips that will make booking and organising your day easier.
Decide on pace and route length — people who use wheelchairs, families with small children or visitors using a sign language interpreter often need longer breaks and a calmer pace.
Check the accessibility of specific places before you go. Krakow offers an official guide “Krakow for the tourist with a disability” and mobile apps with a database of venues and pictograms showing available facilities — it’s worth using them when choosing museums, cafés or hotels.
Book assistance in advance if you plan to visit a museum with programs for blind visitors, want to use a sign language interpreter, an induction loop or staff assistance. Not all permanent or temporary exhibitions are automatically accessible — sometimes you need to ask for adaptations.
The Main Market Square and its surroundings are beautiful but historic spaces with uneven cobbles — maneuvering a wheelchair on stone blocks can be tiring, and when it rains the surface becomes slippery. When planning your walk, factor in shorter stretches on cobbles and more frequent rests.
Many historic townhouses have steps at their thresholds; where possible, institutions provide ramps or side entrances. It's good to plan visits to museums and cafés that officially declare accessible entrances and toilets.
If you want an area that’s easier to move around, consider a route that includes the Vistula boulevards, the Planty park belt or city parks — these usually have level surfaces that are friendly for wheelchairs.
Short suggestion for 2–3 hours: start at the Vistula boulevards (easy access and level pavement), then a short trip to Wawel (some courtyards and parts of the displays are accessible; before visiting it’s worth confirming which interiors are accessible), continue through the Planty toward the Main Market Square — watch out for cobbles here, with the option to rest in one of the accessible cafés — and finish at a museum that you confirmed in advance offers adaptations (for example tactile materials, audio description or an induction loop).
If you'd like to visit Nowa Huta, the second edition of the city's accessibility guide expanded its list of routes to include this part of the city — a Nowa Huta walk can be organised along even, wide pavements with options for frequent stops and stories about the history of socialist realism.
More and more Krakow cultural institutions offer special programs: tactile workshops, audio descriptions, tours for blind and partially sighted visitors, sign language interpretation and induction loops for people with hearing loss. It's worth calling the museum's information desk to ask about current facilities and the possibility of booking a place.
City institutions often describe accessibility in dedicated sections of their websites and in the municipal guide “Krakow for the tourist with a disability”. This guide is available in multiple languages and contains pictograms to help quickly check whether a venue has a ramp, lift, accessible WC or sign language services.
Some events and projects (for example educational walks and workshops) are organised specifically with people with disabilities in mind — sometimes entry is free or requires prior registration.
Krakow has an increasing number of low-floor trams and buses, but not all runs or lines are served by low-floor vehicles — check timetables and service markings before travelling. During peak hours access to a low-floor vehicle may be more difficult.
If you arrive by car, plan for designated parking spaces for people with disabilities — many institutions and centres have dedicated spots, but their number is limited; a good solution is to contact them in advance and arrange drop-off close to the entrance. For longer journeys consider an accessible taxi or hiring a vehicle with a lift/features.
Drop-off at major attractions is often possible by arrangement with the site's staff — this makes entering places with limited manoeuvring space easier.
Choose venues that publicly declare accessibility — many central restaurants have step-free entrances or side ramps, but in old townhouses the dining area might be on a mezzanine or have a narrow entrance. If you want to be certain, call ahead and ask about an accessible toilet for wheelchair users.
If you're looking for highly rated places that are also accessibility-friendly, check guest reviews and the “amenities” section in venue listings. Restaurants and cafés welcoming tourists often accept reservations for tables with easier access and can assist with entry.
Assuming “the centre is fully accessible” — the historic centre has accessible spots but also many barriers; plan shorter stretches on cobbles and reserve spots in buildings that declare accessibility.
Failing to book ahead for museums or special events — if you need audio description, tactile tours or a sign language interpreter, book in advance because spaces may be limited.
Not asking for help — staff are often happy to assist (for example by indicating a side entrance, providing a ramp or helping at the ticket desk), but sometimes they need to be informed in advance to prepare equipment or support.
The city published a dedicated guide to Krakow for the tourist with a disability, available in several languages, and the second edition expanded it to include the Nowa Huta route — this is a good starting point for planning a less crowded walk along even streets.
Local projects and initiatives (including some funded through participatory budgets) promote barrier-free trips — there are occasional walks adapted for families with people with disabilities, sensory routes and events with audio description.
Many museums and institutions offer flexible solutions: portable ramps, access through a side gate or individual assistance from museum staff during visits to more challenging parts of an exhibition.
Is Wawel accessible for wheelchair users? — Some courtyards and certain exhibitions at Wawel have facilities, but not all historic interiors are fully adapted. Before your visit, it’s worth contacting the staff to ask about specific entrances and lifts.
How do induction loops work and where can I find them? — An induction loop is a system that helps people with hearing aids receive sound more clearly. They are increasingly installed at ticket offices, auditoriums and museum receptions — ask when booking an event.
Are there sensory walks for blind visitors in Krakow? — Yes. Museums and some city projects organise walks and workshops with tactile elements and audio description; reservations are usually required.
If you want to explore Krakow at a pace adapted to your group's needs — without rushing, with rest breaks and along safe surfaces — consider booking the private guiding services of Małgorzata Kasprowicz. Routes are designed individually: we adapt the length of the walk, stopping places, storytelling style and any tactile materials or audio explanations.
Booking details and further information are available on the website zwiedzaniekrakowa.com — when booking, provide information about required adaptations (wheelchair access, induction loop, sign language interpreter, pace of the walk) and you will receive a personalised offer and route plan.
1. Check the municipal guide or app to see which venues declare accessibility and save phone numbers for the places you choose.
2. Book museum entrances and inform them about additional services you need (audio description, assistance, induction loop).
3. Plan the route with alternatives — if part of the route proves inaccessible, have a plan B (for example a park or the boulevards).
4. Bring essentials: extra drinks, a torch for reading labels (if needed), documents of the accompanying person and the guide’s phone number.
Krakow has great potential for creating friendly, accessible experiences — it just takes planning and using available tools and institutions that offer support. A walk with a good guide can be not only easy but full of discoveries: stories, architectural details and places we might otherwise overlook.
If you find this text useful — share it with friends or on social media. And if you need help planning a walk tailored to your needs, feel free to contact Małgorzata Kasprowicz — booking details are available on zwiedzaniekrakowa.com.
