Rynek Glowny, Krakow - all you need to know

Rynek Główny is not a place you’ll visit just once in Kraków.

You’ll probably walk through the Main Square several times a day, but it always seems a little different each time.

In the morning it’s pleasantly quiet; during the day it fills up with tourists and horse-drawn carriages; and in the evening it’s taken over by the illuminated outdoor dining areas of the restaurants.

Allow at least 30 minutes for your first stroll. If you want to visit St Mary’s Church, the Town Hall tower or the Market Square Underground, you can easily spend several hours here. The square itself is free to enter and has no restrictions.

Find accommodation right by Rynek Główny

What not to miss at Rynek

We describe the four most interesting sights in detail on separate pages:

St Mary’s Basilica–Kraków’s second most important church, featuring the city’s tallest tower and a trumpeter who sounds the exact time every hour
The Cloth Hall – a historic market hall that is still in use today
Town Hall Tower – a free-standing tower that has survived despite the demolition of the town hall buildings
The Market Square Underground – a vast museum of archaeological finds beneath the square

The Cloth Hall and the Town Hall Tower

The Market Hall and St Mary’s Church

In addition, you’ll also see other significant buildings, monuments and landmarks on the Market Square:

St Adalbert’s Church –a small Romanesque church dating from the 11th century, situated at the south-eastern corner of the square
The Adam Mickiewicz Monument –a 10-metre-high bronze monument to the famous Polish poet, one of the most famous in the whole of Poland
Eros Bendato –a huge bronze head situated not far from the Town Hall Tower. This modern sculpture has quickly become one of the most photographed spots on the square.

A. Mickiewicz Monument

St Adalbert’s Church

Other points of interest in Rynek

All round the Rynek, you can visit dozens of restaurants and cafés; in summer, they all have outdoor seating areas.

During Advent, the Rynek Główny is the main venue for Kraków’s Christmas markets; it also hosts various celebrations of Polish public holidays and sporting successes.

Horse-drawn carriages: these decorated carriages are a distinctive feature of the Rynek and offer rides through the historic centre. Bear in mind, however, that this is a very touristy and relatively expensive attraction.

Main Market Square

Things to do in Krakow

When to visit the Rynek

If you want to take photos of the square without the biggest crowds, come in the morning. After 9.00 am, tourist groups start to arrive, and on summer weekends the centre of the square tends to get really busy.

In the evening, however, Rynek has the best atmosphere. St Mary’s Church and the Sukiennice are lit up, restaurants open their outdoor terraces, and the square remains lively until late at night.

Sitting right on Rynek is particularly pleasant because of the view and the atmosphere. However, you’ll generally pay more for food and drink here than in establishments one or two streets away. We’d happily choose an outdoor terrace for a coffee or an evening drink, but for a longer dinner it’s worth having a look around the surrounding streets.

Accommodation on the Rynek

The main square is the heart of Kraków and therefore also an ideal place to stay. Traditional hotels here offer prices starting from 83 eur per night for two, but you can easily find smaller apartments for under 41 eur .

B&B La Fontaine – a guesthouse with fully furnished rooms, with prices starting from a fantastic 32 eur per night for a twin room
Flamingo Premium Hostel – a hostel with small but modern rooms, each with an en-suite shower and toilet, from as little as 27 eur per night for two
Hotel Wentzl **** – one of the best-rated hotels in the Old Town, with a reasonable price of around 83 eur per night for two

Transport to Rynek

Rynek Główny is situated in the middle of the pedestrian zone, so no buses or trams stop directly at the square. From most places in the Old Town, the quickest way to get here is on foot.

It takes about 12 minutes to walk to Rynek from the main railway and coach station, Kraków Główny.

The nearest operational public transport stops are:

Plac Wszystkich Świętych, about a 4-minute walk: trams 1, 8, 13, 14, 20 and 70
Poczta Główna, about a 6-minute walk: trams 1, 3, 10, 14, 18, 20, 22, 52, 73, 74 and 76

The Teatr Bagatela stop, which is listed in some older guidebooks, is temporarily out of service due to renovation work at the transport hub.

Information on tickets and getting around the city can be found in the section on Transport in Kraków.

Parking near the Main Square

You cannot park directly on the square or in the surrounding pedestrian streets. One of the most convenient options is the Interparking Wawel underground car park at Plac na Groblach 24. It takes about 10 minutes to walk from there to the Rynek.