CityBuddy
Rynek Główny (Main Market Square, Kraków)
Best time to visit
Early morning on a weekday in late spring or early autumn, when soft light and far fewer tourists make photographing and browsing pleasant. For atmosphere, late afternoon into evening brings street performers and outdoor dining.
Budget tips
Access to the square is free; St. Mary's Basilica and the Cloth Hall gallery charge small entry fees, and the Krakow Card or combined museum passes cover several sites for one price, check museum websites for occasional free days to save more.
Recommended for
History buffs, Architecture lovers, Photography enthusiasts, Food and café seekers
Plan your visit
1-2 hours
About
Korte feiten: Cobblestones ring with horse-drawn carriages and street musicians, while an enormous open space spills into arcades and cafés that keep the square lively day and night. Below the central market hall a maze of vaulted merchant cellars hides tactile relics and echoes of medieval trade, and a single trumpet fanfare from the tower still punctuates every hour.
Hoogtepunten: Every hour on the hour a lone trumpeter plays from a medieval tower, delivering a haunting tune that abruptly stops mid-note to commemorate a 13th-century trumpeter who was said to have been shot by a Tartar arrow. Around the square's roughly 40,000 square meters you can smell warm obwarzanek rings, hear horse hooves clip the cobbles, and walk beneath the Renaissance cloth hall's orange-tiled arcades where artisans have traded amber and hand-carved toys for centuries.
Insider tips
- Wear comfortable shoes, cobblestones are uneven and walking dominates the visit.
- Stand by the balcony of St. Mary's Basilica for the best vantage point during the hourly hejnał trumpet call.
- Skip the most central cafes for meals, walk two streets away for better prices and authentic Polish milk bars.
- Arrive right after sunrise or after 8pm to avoid peak crowds and get softer light for photos.
Klik om een GRATIS wandeltocht te boeken in Krakow, Poland
De beste manier om een stad te ervaren met een lokale gids.
Tip: We strongly recommend a free walking tour on your first day to get to know the city with a local guide. They usually cover all main attractions and you can ask for personal recommendations based on your interests for the next days. Book early as spaces fill up fast!
Reviews
Reviews (4)
4.0Een avondbezoek was magisch, live muziek en minder toeristen na 21.00. De toren van St. Maria kostte rond 15 PLN en het uitzicht was het waard.
Went at noon on a weekend and it was packed, expect queues for museums. Street performers were fun but souvenir stalls felt touristy and pricey.
Visited late afternoon with family; horse carriages were busy and kids loved them but a short ride cost about 50 PLN which seemed steep. Overall enjoyable but expect crowds.
Arrived at 8am with almost no crowd, great for photos. The underground museum is worth the extra fee, but cafes on the square are overpriced.
