Sightseeing and attractions of the Main Market Square in Krakow

a historical building called the Cloth Hall — The construction of the historic Cloth Hall building in Krakow was completed in the 14th century. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

One of the largest Market Squares in Europe is teeming with life for most of the year. This is the heart of the city, inscribed on the FIRST UNESCO World Heritage List in 1978. The Main Square is surrounded by centuries-old tenement houses and palaces. The Main Square was the place of many great celebrations and historical events of the First Polish Republic. The most important was the homage to the King of Poland, Sigismund I, by the Prussian prince Albrecht Hohenzollern in 1525. On March 24, 1794, Tadeusz Kościuszko, the Supreme Commander of the National Armed Forces, swore an oath to the Nation, starting the Kościuszko Uprising. The Main Square also witnessed the entry of Prince J. Poniatowski in 1809 (when the Austro-Polish war broke out in 1809, as the commander-in-chief of the Polish Army, he defended access to the capital with great personal courage in the battle of Raszyn. He was considered a national hero). In the Sukiennice, there were balls in honor of Napoleon. Krakow's market square is truly beautiful. I was especially delighted with St. Mary's Basilica and the phenomenal altar of Wit Stwosz. Frankly speaking I was charmed by everything what I saw.

two boys are standing in front of the golden altar — The entire St. Mary's Basilica in Krakow is just amazing. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

For me, the Main Square is unique, full of colors thanks to the florists selling flowers, good energy visible in performances, various sounds with the neighing of horses and the bugle call of St. Mary's Basilica, historical atmosphere lurking in the narrow streets running from the Main Square, flying pigeons, conversations in different languages, smiling faces. That is the Main Square in Krakow! Visit Krakow with me.

More information about the Main Square you can find on Wikipedia

What to see on the Main Square in Krakow?

You should definitely see the Krakow Cloth Hall (Sukiennice), St. Mary's Basilica and Saint Adalbert's Church (the smallest church I have been to).

What else to see apart from the Main Square in Krakow?

I recommend visiting Kazimierz and the Wawel Hill.

What is in the Krakow Cloth Hall (Sukiennice)?

Today, there are two rows of stalls, mainly with jewelry, souvenirs and handicrafts. On the first floor of the Cloth Hall there is the Gallery of Polish Painting and Sculpture of the 19th century. It is a branch of the National Museum. Historic and efficient gas lighting has been preserved under the outer part of the Cloth Hall.

Is there a museum in Cloth Hall (Sukiennice)?

In 2010, a branch of the Historical Museum of the City of Krakow was opened called Underground of the Main Square, the entrance to which is located in the Cloth Hall. Visitors wander underground around the Cloth Hall along glass ramps and footbridges, suspended above the old routes, including the cobblestones of the medieval Cloth Hall.

Is entrance to the Underground of the Main Square free?

On Tuesdays, admission is free, but you need to book your ticket online, preferably two weeks in advance.

The Underground of the Main Square opening hours.

Monday/Wednesday/Thursday - 10.00- 19.00, Tuesday - 10:00 - 14:00, Friday/Saturday/Sunday - 10:00 - 20:00. The second Monday of the month The Underground of the Main Square is closed. Last admission to the exhibition is 75 minutes before closing. There are a few days when The Underground of the Main Square is closed (the list of these days is on the official website).

When does the Wit Stwosz altar open?

The altar is open from Monday to Saturday from 11.50 to 18.00. On Sundays and holidays the altar is open from 14.10 to 18.00. On selected Sundays and celebrations there will be no altar opening ceremony.

St. Mary's Basilica opening hours.

Monday to Saturday - 11:30 - 18:00, Sundays and holidays - 14:00 -18:00

How much does the entrance to the St. Mary's Basilica cost?

Tourists are asked to purchase symbolic bricks intended for the maintenance of St. Mary's Church. Large donation PLN 15, small donation for children, seniors and pensioners PLN 8.

I hope you can see all my description in my photos :) but first special for you two short videos from the Main Square.

June night, I was right when I wrote that Krakow is teeming with life :) judge for yourselves :)

And here is a little surprise, the cult ballad "Nothing Else Matters" vs bugle call. Listen carefully ;)

People are on the main square, you can see also pigeons and two buildings: one is a high church in Gothic style, the second building is quite bright with small towers on top — The view of the historic Cloth Hall and St. Mary's Basilica. Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a boy and a woman are inside the Cloth Hall and they are watching souvenirs — Stalls in Sukiennice with jewelry, souvenirs and handicrafts attract crowds of tourists. Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyński

two boys and a woman are on the Main Square, behind them a lot of tourists, as well as a statue of a Polish poet and a tall church — Magnificent St. Mary's Basilica in Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyński

The bugle call is played every hour from the north tower of St. Mary's Basilica by a trumpeter. Twenty-four-hour shifts are performed at the same time by two bugle callers, mostly firefighters of the State Fire Service. The position of the bugle caller is over fifty meters above the ground, because St. Mary's Tower is 54 meters high. You have to climb 271 steps to get there. Therefore, the requirements for candidates are very demanding. These include 12 pull-ups on the bar, a good time in the kilometre run and 50-meter run, as well as the ability to walk on a ladder set at an angle of 75 degrees.

a boy and gothic church behind him, photo taken close up — Gothic temple in Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

In the second half of the 14th century, an elongated single-nave presbytery covered with a stellar vault was built. Light enters the interior through tall stained-glass windows. Medieval stained glass remains in only three windows; the rest come from the 19th century, and were made, among others, by Stanisław Wyspiański and Józef Mehoffer.

very decorative basilica interior, blue vault with golden ornaments, rich golden altar, several people praying — I was amazed by the interior of St. Mary's Basilica in Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a boy is sitting in a pew, above him, there is a black and gold pulpit, ceiling of the church is blue — Old pulpit founded by Stanisław Grodzki, 1676. St. Mary's Basilica in Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a man is standing inside the church, behind him there is the organ and rows of pews — Old pulpit founded by Stanisław Grodzki, 1676. St. Mary's Basilica in Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

The altar of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the most outstanding works of late Gothic sculpture in Europe. It was created by Wit Stwosz. Works on the Wit Stoss altar lasted from 1477 to 1489. The altar was made of three types of wood. The structure is made of hard oak, the background is made of lighter but equally strong larch, and the figures are carved in soft and flexible linden wood.

a boy is standing in front of the golden altar — The altar makes a stunning impression. St. Mary's Basilica in Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

two boys and a man are inside the church, behind them there are group of tourist, this group is standing under the big cross with Christ — Wit Stwosz's crucifix in the background. St. Mary's Basilica in Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

the image of the Mother of God in a golden frame, under the frame are two golden angels — Wit Stwosz's crucifix in the background. St. Mary's Basilica in Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

very decorative altar close up, it consists of golden figures depicted on 7 boards, there are 3 boards on each side and a large one in the middle — You can't take your eyes off the vault and the altar in St. Mary's Basilica in Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

We are in the Underground of the Main Square. There are many extremely interesting exhibits: former homesteads, huts, fragments of roads, and even graves. Many objects of former inhabitants of Krakow. Lots of multimedia exhibitions and movies.

two boys and a man watch an exhibition, behind them there is a huge board with a historical movie — Peasant hut next to us. Underground of the Main Market Square in Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a woman is standing by a stone wall, an exhibit presenting old crafts hangs on the wall — We visited Underground of the Main Market Square in Krakow in the dark, so the photos are not very good quality. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

two boys are at the exhibition graveyard with a skeleton — A former grave in the Underground of the Main Market Square in Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

two boys are walking on the paths between the stone walls — Glass ramps, footbridges, stone wall - that's all you can see under the ground in Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

When we went to Venice, I promised myself that I would swim a gondola at least once in my life. It was no different in Krakow. I wanted to feel the spirit of past years and I got into the carriage (after assuring the coachman that the horses are treated with great respect, that they are well cared and not overused).

the family is in a white carriage, the woman is the coachman, the horses are white and brown — First I greeted with horses, after that with the coachman. The Main Market Square in Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

the couple is riding in a carriage, the church behind them in the background — It was very romantic time. The Main Market Square in Krakow. Photo by Maciej Rybczyński

a couple is riding a carriage, behind them there is a hill with a castle — The Wawel Hill with the Royal Castle in the background. Krakow. Photo by Maciej Rybczyński

a family is sitting in a outside restaurant, a glass of beer is on the table, one boy is eating an ice-cream, the second boy is eating a cake — A short break :) at the Main Market Square in Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

there is a white carriage with two brown horses in the street, it is evening, the buildings in this street are illuminated — I like cities in the evenings, they look different. Even carriages were illuminated. The Main Market Square in Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

its evening, the family is sitting at a table in an open-air restaurant, the Cloth Hall behind them — Big cities are teeming with life at night. The Main Market Square in Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

it is evening, a woman and two kids are standing in front of the Cloth Hall — The Cloth Hall in Krakow, like every historic building on the Main Square, has also been illuminated. Photo by A. Rybczyński

People are on the Main Square, the historical building the Cloth Hall is illuminated, its evening — We like night sightseeing. We don't waste a minute. The Main Market Square in Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyński

The photos are from a few days spent in Krakow.

in the foreground a woman and two boys, behind them two churches: one in the Gothic style, the other in the Romanesque style — On the right, St. Adalbert's Church in Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyński

in the foreground is a boy and pigeons, behind him are tenement houses and a small romanesque church — St. Adalbert's Church in Krakow was the smallest church I have ever visited. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a woman and two boys are inside the church, behind them there is an altar — Inside the St. Adalbert's Church in Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyński

an organ in a very small church — Look at this small organ. Everything in this church is small but beautiful. St. Adalbert's Church in Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

a big, dark grey sculpture in a shape of a head, a man and a boy are standing next to it, behind them there is a large tower — Can you see Piotrek? He is in the eye of this sculpture. The Main Market Square in Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

The Gothic town hall tower is the only remnant of the town hall, which was built here around 1300. The mayor had his office here, the councilors met here, the court, chancellery, archive and granary functioned here. On the ground floor of the Gothic tower, the city treasury was placed. In the basement of the tower, there was a prison and a torture chamber, where the executioner and his assistants extracted confessions from criminals. Currently, it is the only relict of the first seat of the city authorities.

its early morning, a woman is alone on the Main Square, the tower and the Cloth Hall in the background — 70 meters, 110 stone stairs. We climbed this tower. The Main Market Square in Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyński

Almost all the Main Square on one panoramic photo.

a panoramic photo made from tower presenting the Mains Square — The view from the town hall tower in Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyński

two boys watching exhibits in a tower (old clothes) — The exhibition in the town hall tower in Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

two boys stand next to a performer who is painted gold and plays the trumpet — I admire such people. Lots of preparation to the show. The Main Market Square in Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyńska

cobbled alley, on the left lots of flowers, two boys and a woman are standing next to the flowers — A walk through Krakow's streets. I have to admit that the streets were very clean. Photo by A. Rybczyński

next to the building there is a woman, in the bright wall there is a sculpture depicting carved books made of stone — You can see things like this walking the streets in Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyński

two children and a woman are walking along the building where Pope John Paul II lived — Pope John Paul II lived in this house. Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyński

There is a superstition that if high school graduates want to pass their final exams, they have to jump over a chain on one leg. If they do this, the matura exam will be passed. So about 100 days before the exams they come here and jump :)

a monument presenting polish poet, behind the monument there are tenement houses — There is also a statue of our famous poet Adam Mickiewicz on the Main Market Square in Krakow. Photo by A. Rybczyński

How to get to the Main Market Square in Kraków

Cities