Thing to do
Wieliczka Salt Mine
A centuries-old royal salt mine just outside Kraków, where guided routes descend past chapels and sculptures carved from rock salt to 135 metres below ground.
Main Market Square (Rynek Główny)
The 3.8-hectare medieval market square at the centre of the Old Town, laid out in 1257 and framed by the Cloth Hall, St Mary's Basilica and the Town Hall Tower.
At a glance
- Type
- Medieval market square
- Area
- Old Town, Kraków, Poland
Good to know
- Free to visit
- Pedestrianised
- Cafés and restaurants
- Seasonal events
Why we recommend it
The Main Market Square, Rynek Główny, is the centre of Kraków life and is often described as one of the largest medieval town squares in Europe. It covers about 3.8 hectares and was laid out in its present form in 1257, when the city was rebuilt after the Mongol invasion of 1241. Since then it has been the setting for markets, royal ceremonies, protests and celebrations, and in 1978 it was inscribed by UNESCO as part of the Historic Centre of Kraków. In 2005 the Project for Public Spaces named it the best square in the world.
Spending time in the square is one of the simplest pleasures of a visit. The Cloth Hall runs down the middle, with St Mary's Basilica at its north-eastern corner and the Town Hall Tower standing on the other side. The small 11th-century Church of St Adalbert sits at the southern corner, older than the square itself, and the Adam Mickiewicz Monument of 1898, destroyed during the Nazi occupation and rebuilt after the war, is an easy place to arrange to meet. Beneath your feet lie the excavated remains shown in the Rynek Underground museum; the ground level has risen by more than five metres in places over the centuries.
Every hour the hejnał trumpet call sounds from the taller tower of St Mary's, and it is worth timing a coffee on one of the terraces to hear it. The square also hosts many of the city's big events. Through the year it is used for the Kraków szopka festival of nativity scenes, the Lajkonik celebrations, charity concerts and the largest New Year's Eve party in Poland, so check the city's events calendar to see what is on during your stay.
The square is free to visit at any hour and suits everyone, from families to solo travellers. Restaurants and cafés with outdoor seating line all four sides; prices here are higher than in the side streets, so it can be worth having a drink on the square and eating a block or two away. Early morning is the calmest time for photographs, while evenings are lively.
All the main streets of the Old Town lead into the square: Floriańska from St Florian's Gate in the north, Grodzka towards Wawel in the south, and Szewska and Sławkowska towards the Planty. Trams run around the edge of the Old Town, and Kraków Główny station is about ten minutes' walk away.
Main Market Square (Rynek Główny) FAQs
How big is the Main Market Square?
It covers about 3.8 hectares and is often described as one of the largest medieval town squares in Europe.
When was the square laid out?
In 1257, when Kraków was rebuilt after the Mongol invasion of 1241.
Is it free to visit?
Yes. The square is a public space open at all hours.
What buildings are on the square?
The Cloth Hall, St Mary's Basilica, the Town Hall Tower, the Church of St Adalbert and the Adam Mickiewicz Monument.
When can I hear the trumpet call?
The hejnał is played every hour from the taller tower of St Mary's Basilica.
What events take place in the square?
The Kraków szopka festival, the Lajkonik celebrations, charity concerts and the largest New Year's Eve party in Poland.
When is the best time to visit?
Early morning for quiet photographs and evening for atmosphere.
How do I get there from the station?
Walk south through the Planty and St Florian's Gate, then down Floriańska Street, about ten minutes from Kraków Główny.