Start at Rynek Główny, ideally around 9:00, before the square fills with tour groups and horse carriages. Give yourself about 45 minutes to take in the medieval layout, the arcaded façades, and the lively cafés around the edges; the best views are from the center near the Adam Mickiewicz Monument. Then step into St. Mary’s Basilica for its extraordinary wooden altarpiece and Gothic interior. The trumpet call sounds hourly from the taller tower, so linger until the next full hour. Entry to the church is usually inexpensive, while tower access is separate and may have limited hours; dress respectfully, as this remains an active place of worship.
Walk roughly 10 minutes south through the Old Town to Wawel Royal Castle and Wawel Cathedral. Allow around two hours for the hill, courtyards, cathedral, and one or two selected exhibitions; ticketed interiors often sell out, especially on summer weekends, so reserve online or arrive at the ticket office early. For lunch, return toward the center to Milkbar Tomasza, about 15 minutes on foot from Wawel, where pierogi, soup, and a simple Polish main generally cost 25–45 PLN per person. It is casual and popular, so expect a short queue at peak lunchtime rather than table service.
After lunch, unwind with a 45–60-minute stroll through Planty Park, the green ring following Kraków’s former city walls. The stretch between Wawel and Floriańska Street is especially pleasant, with benches and shade when the square feels crowded. Finish at the Kraków Cloth Hall in the middle of Rynek Główny; spend half an hour browsing amber, embroidered crafts, and inexpensive souvenirs, but compare prices before buying and check that amber comes with a receipt. The full day is manageable on foot—roughly 4–5 km—so comfortable shoes matter; with the basilica, castle interiors, lunch, and a snack, budget approximately 100–180 PLN per person, leaving plenty of your 500 PLN weekend budget for tomorrow.
Start around 9:00 at Oskar Schindler’s Enamel Factory, reached by tram to Plac Bohaterów Getta and then a short walk along Lipowa Street. Allow roughly two hours for the excellent permanent exhibition on Kraków under Nazi occupation; timed tickets are strongly recommended, especially on a Sunday, and admission is usually around 45 PLN. Check the museum’s current opening hours before leaving, as last entry is often well before closing. Afterward, walk back to Ghetto Heroes Square, where the empty-chair memorial is most powerful in the quieter morning light; give it about 30 minutes and take a moment to read the small information panels around the square.
Continue on foot toward Kładka Ojca Bernatka, crossing the Vistula into Kazimierz in about 15 minutes. The footbridge’s suspended acrobatic sculptures and broad river views make this a pleasant transition between the two districts, and you can pause on the banks before heading inland. At Plac Nowy, spend an unhurried hour browsing the stalls and trying a classic zapiekanka from the round market building—expect roughly 15–30 PLN per person. It is informal rather than polished, which is exactly the appeal; choose a busy counter with a quick turnover.
From Plac Nowy, walk through Kazimierz’s atmospheric side streets to Stara Synagoga on Szeroka Street. Allow about an hour for the museum’s Jewish heritage displays; it normally opens from morning into the afternoon, but hours can vary by season, and admission is generally around 20–25 PLN. Keep the visit respectful—this is both a museum and an important historic place of worship—and leave some time afterward to wander around Szeroka Street without adding another formal stop. Finish at Alchemia, only a few minutes away, where the candlelit rooms and slightly eccentric furnishings make it one of the best places in Kazimierz for a low-cost evening drink. Budget 15–35 PLN per person, and arrive before about 19:00 if you want a better chance of finding a table; the bar often becomes lively later. This route is easily done entirely on foot after the first tram ride, keeping the day within roughly 100–125 PLN before any extra snacks or drinks.