Krakow Old Town Walking Tour: St. Mary's Basilica & Altar

A 15th-century carved altar that survived fires and war, still vivid with color and biblical scenes.

This 90-minute guided walking tour of Krakow's Old Town takes you through UNESCO-listed streets to three landmarks: the Collegium Maius courtyard (where Copernicus studied), the Cloth Hall on Europe's largest medieval square, and St. Mary's Basilica, where you enter to stand before the Veit Stoss altarpiece. Your expert guide speaks one of six languages and explains how each site shaped Poland's former royal capital. Entry to the basilica is included. The Cloth Hall and Collegium Maius are viewed from outside. Arrive 10 minutes early, wear comfortable shoes, and note that a dress code applies: knees and shoulders must be covered inside the basilica.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Jagiellonian University20m
2. Cloth Hall20m
3. St. Mary's Basilica30m · entry included

Explore Krakow Old Town landmarks

• Meet at Plac Marii Magdaleny square
• Walk through historic streets
• Visit Collegium Maius courtyard
• Stroll Main Market Square and Cloth Hall
• Enter St. Mary’s Basilica to see altar

The experience

The tour starts at Plac Marii Magdaleny, a quiet square tucked between churches and cobbled lanes, where your guide sets the frame: how Krakow grew from a medieval trading hub into a seat of kings and scholars. From there, the walk winds through centuries-old streets to the Collegium Maius, the oldest building of the Jagiellonian University, founded in 1364. Standing in its courtyard, you hear how Nicolaus Copernicus studied here and how the university became a beacon of learning across Central Europe. A role it still holds today.

A few steps further opens the Main Market Square, Europe's largest medieval square, where horse-drawn carriages still pass and street performers work the cobbles. The Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) dominates the center, its Renaissance arcade a reminder of centuries when merchants traded salt, textiles, furs and amber across the continent. Your guide points out how it survived as a marketplace through wars and fires, embodying Krakow's commercial spirit. Then you enter St. Mary's Basilica, whose two asymmetrical towers rise above the square. Inside, the Veit Stoss altarpiece stops you: carved in the 15th century, its monumental figures and painted scenes capture biblical stories in astonishing detail. The guide explains how it endured turmoil (fires, war, upheaval), and why it remains such a powerful symbol of the city's devotion and artistry. Richly painted vaults, stained glass windows and side chapels fill the space around it.

The walk takes 90 minutes total and suits all fitness levels on flat, walkable streets. You choose your language at booking: English, French, Spanish, Italian, Polish or German. Comfortable shoes matter. The tour runs in all weather, so dress for the conditions. A dress code applies inside the basilica: shorts and sleeveless tops are not allowed, and both men and women must cover knees and shoulders. Arrive 10 minutes before departure. Once the group leaves, latecomers cannot join and tickets are non-refundable.

What’s included

• Guided walk through UNESCO-listed Krakow Old Town.
• entrance ticket to St. Mary's Basilica with the Veit Stoss altarpiece.
• outside views of the Cloth Hall and Collegium Maius courtyards.
• expert guide in your choice of six languages.

Options for this experience

6 options

English tour13:30Tour for groups, conducted in English

German tour13:30Tour for groups, conducted in German

French tour11:00 and 12:30Tour for groups, conducted in French

See 3 more options

Polish tour14:00Tour for groups, conducted in Polish

Italian tour11:30 and 13:00

Spanish tour11:30 and 14:00

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to Saturday6 departure times: the first at 11:00, the last at 14:00

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (7 to 17 years) · Infant (under 7): free

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Polish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by excursions.city

Is this one for you?Choose your language at booking: the tour runs in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Polish or German, so you hear the stories in the words that make sense to you. The 90-minute pace and flat streets work for all fitness levels, and the guide's expertise means you understand not just what you're looking at but why each landmark mattered to the city's identity.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

2 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

In English and German, at 13:30. In French, at 11:00 and 12:30. In Polish, at 14:00. In Italian, at 11:30 and 13:00. In Spanish, at 11:30 and 14:00.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 17 years); Infant (under 7): free.

What is the Veit Stoss altarpiece and why is it so important to Krakow?

The Veit Stoss altarpiece is a 15th-century carved Gothic masterpiece inside St. Mary's Basilica, carved with monumental figures and painted biblical scenes in astonishing detail. It survived centuries of fires and war and remains a powerful symbol of Krakow's artistic and spiritual heritage, which is why your guide explains its history and significance during the tour.

Can I walk inside the Cloth Hall and Collegium Maius, or do I only see them from outside?

On this tour, you view the Cloth Hall and Collegium Maius courtyards from outside while your guide explains their history and architecture. The main interior access is to St. Mary's Basilica, where you enter to see the altarpiece and the basilica's painted vaults and stained glass.

How long does the tour last and what is the pace like?

The tour lasts 90 minutes total and suits all fitness levels. You walk through flat, historic streets at a leisurely pace with stops at each landmark so your guide can explain the stories and details that shaped the city.

What should I wear and bring for this tour?

Wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather: the tour runs in all conditions. Inside St. Mary's Basilica, a dress code applies: shorts and sleeveless tops are not allowed, and both men and women must cover knees and shoulders.

What time should I arrive, and what happens if I'm late?

Arrive 10 minutes before the tour begins at Plac Marii Magdaleny. Once the group departs, latecomers cannot join and tickets are non-refundable, so arriving early ensures you don't miss the start.