Krakow in one day in summer: a walk and an adventure together

On a single summer day, the easiest way to see Krakow is to follow the Royal Route: from Matejko Square through St Florian’s Gate and the Main Market Square, along Grodzka and Kanonicza streets all the way to Wawel. Then head down to the Vistula to the Dragon Statue, take a break on the riverside boulevards and end the day in Kazimierz. You can cover the whole route on foot. If you’d rather explore through puzzles, you can swap one part of the day for a city game.

Before you plan the timings, check when you arrive and when you leave. Pick no more than one or two attractions that need a ticket. It’s easier to fit the rest of the day around one fixed point than around several bookings back to back.

The day at a glance

The times below are a suggested rhythm, not a timetable you have to stick to:

• About 9:00: Matejko Square, the Barbican, St Florian’s Gate and Floriańska Street.
• About 10:00: the Main Market Square: the Cloth Hall, St Mary’s Basilica, the Town Hall Tower. Optionally Rynek Underground.
• About 12:00: Grodzka and Kanonicza streets, a short break for something to eat.
• About 13:00: Wawel: the hill and an exhibition of your choice.
• About 15:30: the Dragon’s Den (in season) or a walk down the boulevard to the Dragon Statue, and a rest by the Vistula.
• About 17:30: Kazimierz and dinner.

In hot weather, move the break by the Vistula to the middle of the day and save the walk around Kazimierz for the evening. With children, cut one stop from the plan rather than speeding up.

Morning: the Royal Route and the Market Square

The Royal Route (in Polish) is the old coronation procession route. It leads from Matejko Square, with the Grunwald Monument, through St Florian’s Gate and along Floriańska Street to the Main Market Square. It’s quieter here in the morning, so it’s a good time for photos.

The Main Market Square was laid out in 1257, and each of its sides is over 200 metres long. The Cloth Hall stands in the middle, with St Mary’s Basilica and the Town Hall Tower nearby. If you stay until the hour, you’ll hear the bugle call from St Mary’s tower, played every hour towards the four points of the compass.

Beneath the square is Rynek Underground, a branch of the Museum of Krakow. You buy tickets at the ticket office on the day of your visit. The exhibition is a stop in its own right, not a quick look, so on a one-day plan choose it instead of another museum, not as well as one.

Midday: Grodzka, Kanonicza and Wawel

From the Market Square, walk down Grodzka Street, past St Andrew’s Church and the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, and then along Kanonicza Street to reach Wawel. This is the second part of the Royal Route. There are plenty of places to stop for a bite along the way.

At Wawel you’ll have to choose. According to Wawel Royal Castle, you need four to five hours to see the whole castle, and individual exhibitions take from about ten minutes to an hour. For a one-day visit, pick one or two exhibitions. You can buy tickets online up to four weeks before your visit or at the ticket office on the day. On Mondays some exhibitions are free to visit, but the number of passes is limited.

Afternoon: the Dragon and the Vistula

You can go down from Wawel to the boulevard through the Dragon’s Den. The cave is open seasonally and the route is one-way only: you go in on the hill, walk down 135 steps and come out by the Vistula, right below the Dragon Statue. With a pushchair, or if stairs are a problem, take another way down to the boulevard.

The Vistula Embankments at the foot of Wawel have walking paths and are step-free. In summer, plan a longer break here. How tiring the day feels depends not only on the distance but also on the temperature and the pace of your group.

The city game option

Think of a city game as a replacement for part of the walk, not an extra route at the end of the day. Two options fit this plan:

• Instead of the morning walk: the Krakow Legends app takes you around the city centre along a trail of Krakow’s legends. You can start whenever you like and take breaks, and according to its creators the full game takes about one and a half to two hours. All you need is an Android or iOS phone.
• Instead of the afternoon by the Vistula: Operation Mindfall starts at Gamescape, ul. Kościuszki 74, not far from the boulevards. The route of up to three and a half kilometres heads towards Wawel, through the Planty park and back along the Vistula. The mission takes 140 minutes, teams have one to four players, and you get the equipment with the map on site.

Don’t treat the time on the game card as your whole visit. Allow extra time for arriving before the start, the briefing and returning the equipment.

Evening: Kazimierz

From the boulevards you can walk on to Kazimierz. It was once a separate town founded by King Casimir the Great, and from the end of the 15th century it had a Jewish quarter centred on Szeroka Street. A stroll among the historic buildings and an unhurried meal will help you change pace after a busy day. A zapiekanka, the local toasted open baguette, can be part of the plan, but it doesn’t have to replace dinner for everyone.

Check your way from the last stop to the station or car park. If you’re leaving early, eat closer to Wawel and save Kazimierz for your next visit. Before you set off, also look at the events calendar for your chosen day: big events can be a nice extra, but they can also change traffic arrangements and how easy it is to get into places.