The most interesting thing about the Main Square Underground is that you’re not just looking at objects in display cases. You walk right amongst the exposed pathways, shop foundations and other remains of medieval Kraków, which today lie several metres beneath the paving of the Main Square.

A visit is particularly worthwhile if you’re interested in what Kraków looked like hundreds of years ago.

The underground is a great place to visit on a rainy or particularly hot day. If you only have a few hours in the city and history isn’t really your thing, feel free to skip the museum and stay up in the Main Market Square.

Allow around 75 minutes for the tour.

• Compare accommodation near the Main Square

What will you see beneath the Main Square?

The museum was established following extensive archaeological excavations carried out between 2005 and 2010. Rather than moving the finds elsewhere, an underground exhibition covering an area of almost 4,000 m² was built directly around them.

During the tour, you’ll pass by:

• the remains of medieval shops, cellars and the foundations of the Sukiennice
• preserved sections of roads and the market square
• exposed layers of soil, which clearly show how the level of the square has risen over the centuries
• coins, pottery, jewellery, tools, toys, footwear and other everyday objects
• a piece of lead weighing almost 700 kg, which was traded in medieval Kraków

The actual archaeological finds are complemented by models, projections, touchscreens, films and sound effects. The highlight of the visit remains the opportunity to walk right amongst the remains of the medieval city.

There is a great deal of information inside. Don’t try to read every display panel thoroughly, otherwise you could easily spend the whole afternoon here instead of just 75 minutes.

A standard visit follows a fixed route without a guide. The museum has a level entrance, ramps, a lift and an accessible toilet.

Admission and bookings: is advance booking required?

Tickets are sold for specific times. At weekends, during the holidays and in peak season, we recommend buying your ticket online in advance.

Without a booking, there may not be any places left for your preferred time slot.

Current prices:

• Adults: 45 pln
• family ticket for up to 4 people: 90 pln
• children under 7: free

Concessionary admission is available, for example, to schoolchildren, students and visitors aged 65 and over. You must present the relevant proof of eligibility at the ticket office.

Free entry on Tuesdays

Admission is free every Tuesday, but free tickets cannot be booked online. You must collect them in person at the ticket office on the day of your visit, and their number is limited. One person may collect a maximum of 5 tickets.

If you really want to take advantage of free entry, it’s best to arrive around 10.00. Also, the museum closes earlier on Tuesdays than on other days.

Is the combined ticket worth it?

If, as well as the underground, you’d like to visit the Town Hall Tower, the Barbican and the city walls, take a look at the Kraków Średniowieczny combined ticket.

It costs 64 pln for adults and 128 pln for a family. Even if you’re just visiting the Market Square Underground and the Town Hall Tower, it works out cheaper than buying separate tickets.

Opening hours

The Market Square Underground is open at the following times:

• Monday: 10:00–19:00
• Tuesday: 10:00–15:00
• Wednesday and Thursday: 10:00–19:00
• Friday to Sunday: 10.00–20.00

The museum is closed on every second Monday of the month. Last admission is 75 minutes before closing time.

Opening times may vary on public holidays and during special events. You can always find the latest information on the official website of the Kraków Museum.

Where is the entrance?

Don’t look for a separate building or a conspicuous entrance in the middle of the square. The ticket office and entrance are tucked away beneath the arcades of the Sukiennice on the side facing the junction with Szewska Street.

Make sure you arrive at least 10 minutes before the time stated on your ticket. Simply finding the inconspicuous entrance may take longer than you’d expect for an attraction right in the middle of the Market Square.

Accommodation near the Market Square Underground

If you want to stay right in the centre, the area around the Market Square is the most convenient base for exploring the whole of the Old Town. Just bear in mind that prices are higher and the area is livelier, especially on summer evenings.

• Betmanowska Main Square Residence: a hotel right on the Rynek, just a few steps from the entrance to the underground
• Hotel Wentzl: a historic hotel on the south side of the square; some rooms offer a direct view of the Rynek

We compare other neighbourhoods, cheaper areas and specific hotels in the chapter on Accommodation in Kraków.

 

What to see around

Discover all the places to see in Krakow.