Photo: Lloyd Tudor · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Wieża Ratuszowa

Gothic tower of the former town hall on the Main Market Square, a branch of the Kraków Museum with exhibitions in several rooms and a view of the Old Town.

Opening hoursAdmission 22 zł

Tickets Website Directions

About the museum

The Town Hall Tower is the only surviving part of the former Kraków town hall. The first mention of the tower dates from 1383, and the present structure was built at the beginning of the 15th century, at the latest in 1444. It is about 70 metres high. In 1817 it was decided to demolish part of the town hall, and in 1820 the remaining wings were pulled down, leaving only the tower.

At the entrance stand two lions from the beginning of the 19th century, and inside are narrow, winding stairs. On the successive floors exhibitions have been set up: the rooms show, among other things, mason's marks (gmerki) from 1444, reproductions of the old town hall and reconstructions of burgher costumes, and higher up archival photographs and an old clock mechanism. The cellars of the former town hall once served as the Świdnicka cellar (piwnica świdnicka) and a prison; today a theatre stage is located there.

The tower now belongs to the Kraków Museum and forms part of the “Kraków Średniowieczny” (“Medieval Kraków”) route. It is one of the most recognisable symbols of the city, alongside the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) and St Mary's Church.

Highlights

Gothic tower from the 15th century, the only remnant of the former town hall
Exhibitions on several floors, including mason's marks from 1444
Interiors with a cross-ribbed vault and a coffered wooden ceiling
Old clock mechanism on the upper floors
The “Kraków Średniowieczny” (“Medieval Kraków”) route

Permanent exhibition

Wystawy w Wieży Ratuszowej – The rooms on the successive floors show the history of the old town hall, mason's marks, reconstructions of burgher costumes and the old clock mechanism.

Operated by: Muzeum Krakowa (miejska instytucja kultury)

Admission & discounts

Adults	22 zł
Reduced	16 złpupils of primary, secondary and art schools, students and doctoral students, people over 65, pensioners, people receiving disability pensions and people with disabilities (with their carers), teachers, veterans and other groups listed in the museum's regulations
Children & teens	freefree up to age 6 · Children under 7 enter free.
Groups (10+ people)	16 zł per personGroup ticket per person; school groups PLN 12 per person.
Families	44 złFamily ticket: two adults and up to two children under 16, or one adult with up to three children under 16.
“Kraków Średniowieczny” (“Medieval Kraków”) ticket (Underground Market Square, Town Hall Tower, Barbican, City Walls) – standard	64 złReduced PLN 56, family PLN 128.
Guided tour (price per group)	280 zł

Free admission: Monday – free admission to the exhibitions; tickets online or at the ticket office on the day of the visit, and the number of places is limited.

Holders of the Large Family Card and of the Krakowska Karta Rodzinna (Kraków Family Card) pay half the standard ticket price; discounts also apply to holders of the Karta Krakowska (Kraków Card) and the Karta Kraków dla Rodziny “N” (Kraków Card for Families “N”).

Accessibility

Wheelchair accessible: not available
Elevator: not available
Accessible restroom: not available
Accessible parking: not available
Service dogs welcome
Tactile models & exhibits: no information
Sign language tours: no information
Easy-to-read materials: no information
Audio description: no information

The very narrow, winding staircase to the tower has steps of uneven height; there are level differences on one floor and there is no lift. The ticket office is on the first level, and access to it also requires climbing stairs. There is no toilet for visitors. There are no designated parking spaces for people with disabilities by the tower (the nearest paid ones are on ul. Szczepańska). Assistance dogs are welcome.