An unhurried walk through one of the oldest parks in the city. History, legend and colourful characters, away from the crowds.
A Walk around the Planty with a guide: what you will see
A walk around Planty Park is an ideal route for all tourists who want to visit Krakow in an unconventional way with a guide. Walking along the charming alleys of one of the oldest parks in Krakow, you will learn about an extraordinary world of history and legends, as well as stories about interesting people and places. From a licensed guide you will learn where the name of the park came from, what “Plantowy” did and in which part of the Planty Park the famous actress Helena Modrzejewska liked to walk.
A walk around Planty Krakowskie is our proposal for an alternative sightseeing of the city. The route begins at the site of a mound, and today you can see the oldest monument of the Planty, commemorating Florian Straszewski. Here, our guide will familiarize you with the life and activities of the Planty creator and will tell you what he had to do with the Krakow number lottery. Then, walking along the alleys, you will see a fragment of the preserved medieval fortifications with the Florian Gate and three towers and the Barbican. You will learn how the northern winds saved the walls, where lovers like to spend time and why Matejko is sitting in the frame. Then you will see many monuments in Planty: Harper (Bojan), Jadwiga and Jagiełło, Lilla Weneda or Artur Grottger. The guide will tell you why there is no longer a monument to Fryderyk Chopin in Planty, what secrets the Church of Fr. Reformed and what the frieze at the Palace of Arts depicts. You will see where the Jewish gate and the Jewish cemetery used to be, you will learn the history of the monument to Nicolaus Copernicus and the Oak of Freedom. Then you will discover where the towers and gates of the city used to be, what the barbers and saddlers did, and you will learn about the history of Our Lady of Wandering. You will be able to sit on the mathematicians’ bench and see an unusual monument – I wonder if you can guess who. With our guide, you will visit a mysterious, previously overlooked place, today dominated by a lighthouse for the dead.
Who this tour is for
For people who already know Kraków, or who were after something off the usual track from the start. Fewer crowds, more detail.
- Returning visitors who have done the classic route
- Small groups and individual travellers
- Visitors from abroad, since we also guide in English
How long it takes and what to know
Duration
The route normally takes 2h. We adjust the pace and the scope to the group, so if you have less time we will shorten it without dropping what matters most.
Admission tickets
The guiding fee does not cover admission to museums and ticketed sites. Several of them sell timed entry and are often booked out days ahead in season, so it is worth mentioning them when you book.
Booking a date
Tell us how many of you there are, when you plan to come and roughly how much time you have. We normally reply the same day, with a suggested route and a price.
