Stare Miasto (Old Town) (Krakow) Travel Guide - Free

Explore Stare Miasto (Old Town) in Krakow with Evendo's free guide. Find the best shops, historic streets, restaurants, and gems on web or mobile.

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play
Stare Miasto (Old Town)
Stare Miasto (Old Town) photo 2
Stare Miasto (Old Town) photo 3
All photos

Stare Miasto Krakow pairs medieval Market Square sights, Planty walks, museums, cafés, Polish dining and lively evening culture in the city's historic core.

The Historic Centre

Stare Miasto, Krakow’s Old Town, occupies the compact historic centre enclosed by the green Planty ring, where medieval streets converge on the vast Rynek Główny, or Main Market Square. Although the wider administrative District I includes areas beyond this core, visitors generally use Stare Miasto to mean the heritage-rich centre around the square, the surviving sections of the old city walls and the streets leading towards Wawel Hill. It is the part of Krakow where the city’s royal, mercantile and academic histories remain especially legible in the buildings themselves.
Read more about Stare Miasto (Old Town)

Streets, Churches and Museums

The square is framed by St Mary’s Basilica, the Cloth Hall and the Town Hall Tower, while ulica Floriańska leads north towards St Florian’s Gate and the Barbican. Southwards, ulica Grodzka forms part of the historic Royal Route towards Wawel, which stands nearby but outside the Old Town’s central enclosure. Cobbled lanes branch towards Collegium Maius, the former university quarter, and museums including the Rynek Underground, the Czartoryski Museum and the former home of painter Jan Matejko.

Everyday Krakow

Stare Miasto is not simply an open-air monument. Café terraces, bookshops, bakeries, restaurants and student-oriented bars occupy historic façades, while Planty offers a leafy pause between sightseeing stops. Horse-drawn carriages, buskers and market stalls animate the Main Market Square, especially during seasonal events, though the atmosphere changes noticeably at quieter morning hours. The neighbourhood is walkable but heavily visited, with uneven paving and crowded passages around the square. Its appeal lies in the close meeting of monumental architecture and ordinary urban life: a church bell, a university courtyard, a tram beyond the Planty and a late meal on a narrow street can all belong to the same short walk.

Best attractions in Stare Miasto (Old Town)

The Main Market Square is Stare Miasto’s central attraction, bringing together the Cloth Hall, St Mary’s Basilica, the Town Hall Tower and the small Church of St Adalbert in one expansive urban setting. Beneath part of the square, the Rynek Underground museum uses excavated streets and archaeological remains to explain medieval Krakow’s commercial life. Along the northern approach, St Florian’s Gate, surviving fragments of the defensive walls and the Barbican present the Old Town’s former fortifications, while the Planty offers a continuous green walking route around them. Collegium Maius provides a glimpse of the Jagiellonian University’s historic academic world, and the Czartoryski Museum displays major European and Polish art collections. The Jan Matejko House, the former home of Krakow’s celebrated history painter, adds a more intimate cultural stop among the historic townhouses.

Show more attractions

Best landmarks in Stare Miasto (Old Town)

Stare Miasto’s most significant landmarks form a connected historical ensemble rather than a collection of isolated monuments. St Mary’s Basilica dominates the Main Market Square with its twin towers and medieval origins, while the Cloth Hall represents the square’s long commercial role; the Town Hall Tower is the surviving remnant of a larger civic complex. St Florian’s Gate, the Barbican and fragments of the old walls record the city’s defensive perimeter, now softened by the Planty gardens. Collegium Maius embodies Krakow’s centuries-old university tradition, and the churches of St Francis and St Andrew reflect the religious foundations that shaped the southern part of the historic centre. Ulica Kanonicza, leading towards Wawel, is especially notable for its historic frontage, although Wawel itself belongs to the neighbouring royal precinct rather than the Old Town’s central civic area.

Show more landmarks

Explore Stare Miasto (Old Town) on the map

A handpicked selection of must-see spots in Stare Miasto (Old Town), mapped for you.

Best restaurants in Stare Miasto (Old Town)

Dining in Stare Miasto ranges from traditional Polish cooking and bakery counters to contemporary restaurants, cafés and international food on and around the Main Market Square. The square itself is convenient for absorbing the architecture over coffee or a meal, while streets such as ulica Szewska, ulica Bracka and ulica Grodzka offer a denser mix of restaurants and informal venues. Visitors can look for Polish staples including pierogi, żurek, barszcz and regional meat or vegetable dishes, alongside cafés serving cakes and coffee in renovated historic interiors. The Old Town’s food scene is shaped by its role as a commercial and academic centre: long-established restaurants sit beside student-oriented places and modern kitchens. Menus and standards vary considerably, so browsing several options away from the most prominent square-front terraces can provide a broader sense of local dining.

Show more restaurants

Best bars in Stare Miasto (Old Town)

After dark, Stare Miasto shifts from sightseeing district to a concentrated dining and drinking quarter, with wine bars, cocktail rooms, traditional-style pubs and student-friendly venues spread through the lanes around the Main Market Square, ulica Szewska and ulica Stolarska. Cellars beneath historic buildings are a characteristic setting, though their atmosphere and programming change frequently. Evening entertainment also includes small concerts, cultural events and performances in theatres and music venues within or close to the Old Town. The central streets can be lively late into the night, while the Planty and quieter residential edges are better treated as routes through the neighbourhood than as nightlife destinations. Visitors should check current venue information, keep noise down near homes and remain alert on crowded streets and uneven paving when returning to accommodation.

Show more bars

Best nightclubs in Stare Miasto (Old Town)

After dark, Stare Miasto shifts from sightseeing district to a concentrated dining and drinking quarter, with wine bars, cocktail rooms, traditional-style pubs and student-friendly venues spread through the lanes around the Main Market Square, ulica Szewska and ulica Stolarska. Cellars beneath historic buildings are a characteristic setting, though their atmosphere and programming change frequently. Evening entertainment also includes small concerts, cultural events and performances in theatres and music venues within or close to the Old Town. The central streets can be lively late into the night, while the Planty and quieter residential edges are better treated as routes through the neighbourhood than as nightlife destinations. Visitors should check current venue information, keep noise down near homes and remain alert on crowded streets and uneven paving when returning to accommodation.

Show more nightclubs

Best shops in Stare Miasto (Old Town)

Shopping in Stare Miasto is concentrated around the Main Market Square, the Cloth Hall and the principal streets leading towards the old gates. The Cloth Hall remains the neighbourhood’s most recognisable retail landmark, with stalls selling souvenirs, amber jewellery, crafts and decorative objects, although it is best understood as part of the square’s historic commercial identity as well as a shopping stop. Ulica Floriańska and the surrounding lanes contain a mixture of established retailers, galleries, cafés and visitor-oriented businesses, while bookshops and specialist cultural shops appear among the historic façades. The area is not Krakow’s main destination for large-scale contemporary retail; instead, its appeal lies in browsing small goods, Polish design, art, religious objects and amber alongside the architecture of the old merchant city. Compare quality and prices, particularly for precious materials and labelled artworks.

Show more shops

Stare Miasto (Old Town) essentials

Getting There
Stare Miasto is easiest to reach from Krakow Główny railway station, the city’s main rail hub, by walking south through the Planty or by using nearby tram and bus stops around the station and ulica Basztowa. The central railway and bus stations are close to the northern edge of the Old Town, while airport travellers generally connect through the wider city transport network before continuing on foot or by public transport. Cars are of limited practical value in the historic centre because of restricted access, pedestrianised streets and scarce parking. Check current public-transport information before travelling, as routes and stop arrangements can change.
Getting Around
The central Old Town is compact and usually best explored on foot. The Main Market Square, ulica Floriańska, ulica Grodzka, Collegium Maius and the Planty ring are connected by short walks, although cobbles, kerbs and historic paving can be tiring for visitors with limited mobility. Trams and buses run around the edges rather than through the most pedestrianised parts of the core. The Planty provides a useful orientation loop, but it is not always the most direct route between destinations. Allow extra space around the square for crowds, horse carriages, bicycles and service vehicles.
Safety
Stare Miasto is heavily visited, so ordinary urban precautions are most useful around the Main Market Square, transport interchanges, busy bars and crowded passages. Keep phones, wallets and bags secure, particularly when standing in dense groups or boarding public transport. At night, remain aware of traffic, cyclists and uneven paving rather than assuming every central street is fully pedestrianised. Licensed venues and clearly displayed prices are sensible choices when eating or drinking. Visitors should also remember that quiet residential doorways, university courtyards and church entrances are working parts of the neighbourhood, not merely photographic backdrops.
Emergency Situations
In Poland, call 112 for a general emergency requiring police, fire or medical assistance; operators can handle calls from international visitors. Poland also retains specialist emergency numbers, including 997 for police, 998 for the fire service and 999 for an ambulance, though 112 is the simplest number to remember. Give the operator the street name, nearby landmark and entrance details where possible, and ask staff at a hotel, museum or restaurant for help communicating if necessary. For non-urgent medical needs, use a pharmacy or medical service outside the emergency system rather than calling emergency services.
Do's and Don'ts
Dress and behave respectfully when entering churches such as St Mary’s Basilica, St Francis’ Basilica or the Dominican church, especially during services; photography may be limited in some areas. Ask before photographing people closely, market sellers or religious activity. Keep voices low near worship and residential entrances, and do not climb monuments, touch historic fittings or obstruct narrow pavements for photographs. In cafés and restaurants, check whether service is included and leave a modest tip for good service if it is not. Around the Main Market Square, follow pedestrian signs and give way to authorised vehicles, bicycles and emergency access.
Local Tips
The best way to understand Stare Miasto is to alternate major sights with less hurried streets: walk from the Main Market Square towards Collegium Maius, then return via the Planty and explore the lanes near ulica Bracka or ulica Kanonicza. The square changes character throughout the day, while the arcaded Cloth Hall is most rewarding when approached as part of the wider civic ensemble rather than only as a souvenir market. For orientation, remember that ulica Floriańska points towards the northern gate and railway station, whereas ulica Grodzka leads south towards Wawel. Check museum arrangements and church access locally, especially on religious holidays.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloCześć[che-shch]
GoodbyeDo widzenia[do veed-zen-ya]
YesTak[tak]
NoNie[nye]
Please/You're welcomeProszę[pro-sheh]
Thank youDziękuję[jen-koo-yeh]
Excuse me/SorryPrzepraszam[psh-eh-prah-sham]
How are you?Jak się masz?[yak sheh mah-sh]
Fine. And you?Dobrze. A ty?[dob-zheh. ah tee]
Do you speak English?Czy mówisz po angielsku?[chi mo-veesh po an-gyel-skoo]
I don't understandNie rozumiem[nye roh-zoo-myem]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseChciałbym zobaczyć menu, proszę[hchya-wbim zo-bah-chich meh-noo, pro-sheh]
I don't eat meatNie jem mięsa[nye yem myen-sah]
Cheers!Na zdrowie![nah zdrov-yeh]
I would like to pay, pleaseChciałbym zapłacić, proszę[hchya-wbim zah-pla-chich, pro-sheh]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Pomocy![po-mo-tsi]
Go away!Idź sobie![eej soh-byeh]
Call the Police!Zadzwoń po policję![zad-zvon po po-leets-yeh]
Call a doctor!Zadzwoń po lekarza![zad-zvon po leh-kar-zah]
I'm lostZgubiłem się[zgoo-byem sheh]
I'm illJestem chory[yes-tem hoh-ri]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Chciałbym kupić...[hchya-wbim koo-peech]
I'm just lookingTylko się rozglądam[til-ko shyeh rohz-gwah-dam]
How much is it?Ile to kosztuje?[ee-leh to kosh-too-yeh]
That's too expensiveTo jest za drogie[to yest zah dro-gyeh]
Can you lower the price?Czy możesz obniżyć cenę?[chi mo-zhesh ob-nee-zhich tseh-neh]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Która jest godzina?[ktoo-ra yest goh-dzee-nah]
It's one o'clockJest pierwsza[yes-tem pyer-vshah]
Half past (10)Pół do dziesiątej[pool do dzyeh-syahn-tey]
MorningRano[rah-no]
AfternoonPopołudnie[po-po-woo-dnyeh]
EveningWieczór[vyeh-choor]
YesterdayWczoraj[v-cho-rye]
TodayDzisiaj[jiz-yay]
TomorrowJutro[yoo-tro]
1Jeden[yeh-den]
2Dwa[dva]
3Trzy[tshy]
4Cztery[ch-ter-eh]
5Pięć[pyench]
6Sześć[sheh-shch]
7Siedem[syeh-dem]
8Osiem[oh-shyem]
9Dziewięć[jyev-nyench]
10Dziesięć[dzyeh-syench]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Gdzie jest...[g-jeh yest]
What's the address?Jaki jest adres?[yah-kee yest ah-dres]
Can you show me (on the map)?Czy możesz mi pokazać (na mapie)?[chi mo-zhesh mee po-ka-zach (na ma-pyeh)]
When's the next (bus)?Kiedy jest następny (autobus)?[kyeh-dey yest nas-tep-ny (ow-toh-boos)]
A ticket (to ....)Bilet (do ....)[bee-let (do)]

History of Stare Miasto (Old Town)

The Chartered Medieval City

Krakow’s central urban area was reorganised under German town law in 1257, after the Mongol invasion of 1241 had damaged earlier settlements. The newly planned city centred on a large rectangular market square, later known as Rynek Główny, with a regular grid of streets extending around it. This layout remains the defining framework of Stare Miasto. Merchants, craftsmen and civic institutions gathered within the town’s defensive boundaries, while older religious foundations and routes towards Wawel continued to shape the southern side. The square’s scale reflected both commercial ambition and the city’s growing importance as a political and trading centre in medieval Poland.

Royal Krakow and Merchant Wealth

From the fourteenth to the sixteenth centuries, Krakow flourished as the seat of the Polish monarchy and an important centre of regional trade. The Cloth Hall on the Main Market Square developed as a place for the exchange of textiles and other goods, while St Mary’s Basilica became one of the city’s principal parish churches. Brick Gothic architecture, richly furnished burgher houses and civic buildings expressed the prosperity of merchants and the influence of the royal court nearby. Although the Wawel complex was a separate royal precinct, the streets of Stare Miasto connected court, church, university and commerce within a remarkably compact urban landscape.

University, Faith and Civic Life

The Jagiellonian University, founded in 1364 as the Studium Generale and later reorganised under Jagiellonian patronage, gave the Old Town a lasting academic character. Collegium Maius and associated university buildings formed part of a scholarly quarter among churches, residences and commercial premises. Religious institutions also shaped the neighbourhood, from St Mary’s Basilica and St Francis’ Basilica to the Dominican and Franciscan foundations along the southern and western approaches. Krakow’s political capital moved to Warsaw in 1596, reducing the Old Town’s courtly role, but its religious, educational and mercantile functions continued to sustain the historic centre.

Walls, Planty and the Heritage City

During the nineteenth century, Krakow’s medieval fortifications were largely demolished, and the former defensive ditch was transformed into the Planty gardens. St Florian’s Gate, fragments of the city walls and the Barbican survived as reminders of the earlier perimeter. The new green belt changed how residents moved around the Old Town and helped preserve its compact historic form. In the twentieth century, Krakow’s centre endured political upheaval and wartime occupation, while post-war conservation increasingly treated the medieval street plan and historic buildings as assets of national importance. The Old Town became part of Krakow’s UNESCO-listed historic centre in 1978, reinforcing its role as a protected cultural landscape and an active urban district.

Stare Miasto (Old Town) in Photos

Browse through our photo collection highlighting the charm and character of the destination.

0 / 0

Neighbourhoods near Stare Miasto (Old Town)

The closest neighbourhoods to Stare Miasto (Old Town), if you have time for more than one stop.

Explore more

Krakow
More of the region

Explore more of Krakow

Krakow combines medieval squares, royal Wawel, Jewish heritage in Kazimierz, museums and Polish cuisine beside the Vistula for richly layered sightseeing.

Explore Krakow
The Evendo app on two phones

Your all-in-one travel companion app

Explore expert travel guides, compare and book tours, experiences, hotels, and more, all from the palm of your hand. Download now for seamless trip planning wherever your wanderlust takes you.

  • Travel guides to regions, countries, cities, landmarks and attractions worldwide
  • Photos, local tips, maps, opening hours and contact details for every place
  • Easy booking for hotels, tours, tickets and experiences
Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play
More about the Evendo app

Evendo is a 100% free travel guide app: plan a trip, find what is worth seeing and book it, all in one place.

  • Restaurants, bars, nightclubs and shops picked for every destination
  • A "Near me" view of the attractions and amenities around you
  • History and travel essentials for each country and city

From world regions down to a single landmark, every guide brings together the places to see, where to eat and drink, and where to stay, with descriptions, photos and maps to help you plan.

No in-app purchases and no hidden costs. Download Evendo and take your guides with you wherever you travel.

Get the latest from Evendo

Hand-picked travel deals, new destination guides and trip ideas, straight to your inbox.