Visiting Regulations for the Barbican and the City Defence Walls in 2026
§1 General Provisions
1. The sites: the Barbican branch (Krakow, Basztowa Street) and the City Defence Walls branch (Krakow, Pijarska Street). Hereinafter referred to as the Venues, shall be open to visitors from 10 May 2026 to 30 October 2026, from Tuesday to Sunday between 10:30 am and 6:00 pm, subject to paragraph 6.
2. The opening of the sites is preceded by the City Gates Opening Ceremony, during which, following the playing of the bugle call from the tower of St Mary’s Church at 10:00, a ceremonial procession of the participants – namely the bugler, a representative of the Museum in historical costume, and two city guards – will take place from /st Mary’s Church along Floriańska Street, through the St Florian’s Gate to the Kleparska Gate, where at 10:20 am, to the sound of the bugle call, the ceremonial opening of the City Gate will take place.
3. Should Floriańska Street be inaccessible, the procession of the ceremony participants will take place along Szpitalna Street.
4. The City Gates Opening Ceremony takes place exclusively on the days and at the times when the Barbican is open.
5. All provisions of these Regulations concerning the Sites apply to both the Barbican and the City Defence Walls.
6. The last admission to the Sites in 30 minutes before closing time for individual visitors and 60 minutes before closing time for groups.
7. Visits to the Sites are possible as individual visits (i. e. 1 to 9 people) of group visits (I. e. 10 to 25 people).
8. There is no free admission day at the Sites, as reffered to in Article 10(2) of the Museums Act.
9. The Museum reserves the right to close the premises or to shorten their opening hours.
§2 Ticket sales and bookings
1. A combined admission ticket is required entitling the holder to visit both sites, i. e. the Barbican and the City Defence Walls.
2. Visitors to the Barbican are entitled to visit the City Defence Walls, and visitors to the City Defence Walls are entitled to visit the Barbican, within 3 days of the days of the date indicated on the ticket, on days when they are open, subject to paragraph 8. The ticket specifies the date and time of the planned start of the visit.
3. Admission tickets can be purchased from the ticket machine located in the Barbican, at the Barbican ticket office, at the City Defence Walls, as well as at the Visitor Centre and on the website https://bilety.mhk.pl/rezerwacja/lokalizacja.html?lang=en
4. When purchasing a ticket from the ticket machine, it is not possible to obtain a VAT invoice. At the purchaser’s request the Museum will issue a VAT invoice only when a purchase is made at the ticket office located in the Barbican, on the City Defence Walls or at the Visitor Centre. The issuind of VAT invoice for purchases made via the website is governed by the rules set out in the Terms and Conditions for Online Ticket Sales, available on the website specified in paragraph 3. Invoices for services provided bu the Museum are issued and made available in accordance with applicaqble regulations, including those relating to the National e-invoice System.
5. Visitors making a booking via the website specified in paragraph 3 may collect their booked tickets on the day of their visit at the ticket office located in the Barbican, on the City Walls, or in advance at the Visitor Centre.
6. The purchase of tickets via the website is governed by the rules set out in the Terms and Conditions for Onlice Ticket Sales, available on the website specified in paragraph 3, subject to the rules set out in these Terms and Conditions.
7. When purchasing tickets at the ticket office, the Museum recommends using payment cards.
8. The Museum publishes ticket prices and information on free admission days on its website: http://muzeumkrakowa.pl/en guided tours are set by order of the Museum Director.
9. Information on those entitled to free admission, as well as to reduced-rate and family tickets, and the types of documents that must be presented upon entry to the Exhibition to confirm entitlement to a reduced rate or exemption from the Museum admission fee is available at the https://muzeumkrakowa.pl/en/discounts-and-free-admission
10. The Director of the Museum may decide to introduce separate ticketing for admission to the premises during events taking place on their grounds. The rules governing admission on such days are set out in a separate order issued on a case-by-case basis by The Director if the Museum.
§3 Guided tours
1. Visitors may purchase or book admission tickets to the Venues via the website https://bilety.muzeumkrakowa.pl/en, and may also purchase or book an additional guided tour service at the Venues. A booked or purchased guided tour service includes a tour of both Venues.
2. The Museum permits visits to the Venues with an external guide.
3. The maximum size of an organised group visiting each of the Venues at any one time is 25 people, including supervisors, a tour leader and a guide. The tour lasts approximately 60 minutes.
4. The purchase or booking of a tour including a guided service must be made at least 4 (four) days before the tour date via the website https://bilety.muzuemkrakowa.pl/
5. Visitors shall purchase or book a guided tour for the selected tour date, as available in the booking system.
6. On the day of the tour, visitors who have booked or purchased a guided tour are required to report to the ticket office at the City Defence Walls no later than the scheduled tour time. The guide will wait for visitors for 15 minutes from the tour time stated on the ticket; if visitors do not arrive within this time, the service will not be provided and the Museum shall not be obliged to refund the cost of the service.
7. Guided tours of the Sites begin at the City Defence Walls.
8. Individual visitors and groups who have booked a guided tour are required, in the event of cancellation of the service or the tour, to notify the Museum of this fact, subject to paragraph 9. Notification must be made by email to the following address: info@muzeumkrakowa.pl
9. Should notice of cancellation of a guided tour be given less than 4 (four) days before the date of the tour, the Museum shall regard such cancellation as late, resulting in the imposition of a contractual penalty.
10. In the event of a failure to give timely notice of cancellation of the guided tour service or failure to attend on the date of the booked tour, the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków will charge the persons making the booking a contractual penalty of 250.00 PLN. The penalty must be paid within 14 days of the date of notification of its imposition, to the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków’s bank account no. 95 1020 2892 0000 5102 0591 0361.
11. Persons who have been notified of the imposition of a contractual penalty are entitled to lodge an appeal against it within a strict deadline of 3 days from the date of receipt of the notification. The appeal, together with a statement of reasons, should be sent to: info@muzeumkrakowa.pl or in writing to the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków, 31-011 Kraków, Rynek Główny 35. The final decision on the penalty, following an investigation, shall be taken by the Director of the Museum or persons authorised by him.
§4 Refunds
1. Tickets purchased from a ticket machine, at the ticket office located within the City Defence Walls, and at the Visitor Centre are non-refundable. Tickets purchased via the website are refundable in accordance with the rules set out in the Terms and Conditions for Online Ticket Sales, available on the website specified in § 2(3).
§5 Rules for visiting the Premises
1. Visitors are required to:
a. follow the tour route in the designated direction,
b. take particular care when going up and down the stairs,
c. not to lean over balustrades or out of window recesses,
d. not to move any movable parts of the premises,
e. to follow the instructions and advice of Museum staff and security personnel.
2. It is prohibited to bring the following into the premises:
a. any weapons, ammunition or items deemed potentially dangerous,
b. explosive, flammable or toxic materials,
c. long umbrellas,
d. rucksacks and large luggage with a capacity exceeding 30 litres,
e. bringing animals onto the premises, with the exception of assistance dogs accompanying people with disabilities.
3. Once you have finished your tour and left the premises of both Venues, you will not be able to re-enter them.
4. There are no cloakrooms or toilets available within the Venues.
5. Visitors are prohibited from consuming food and drink, or from smoking tobacco or e-cigarettes, within the Venues.
6. Entry to the Venues is prohibited for anyone who is intoxicated or under the influence of drugs or intoxicating substances, or who behaves in a manner that could endanger the safety of other people, the Venues or the cultural artefacts housed therein, disrupt the order of the tour, or breach generally accepted standards of behaviour in public places.
7. Children must remain under the supervision of their parents or carers.
8. Parents or carers are liable for any damage caused by children in their care.
9. The Museum reserves the right to refuse entry to or ask to leave any visitors who fail to observe the rules of conduct and breach these Regulations.
§6 Final provisions
1. Further information regarding visits to the Sites can be obtained from the Visitor Centre on tel./fax (12) 426-50-60, Monday to Friday from 10.00 to 19.00, or by email: info@muzeumkrakowa.pl, or rynekpodziemnyfilie@mhk.pl
2. The purchase or booking of an admission ticket and a guided tour service constitutes acceptance of the provisions of these Terms and Conditions.
3. These Terms and Conditions come into force on 10 May 2026.
1. The sites: the Barbican branch (Krakow, Basztowa Street) and the City Defence Walls branch (Krakow, Pijarska Street). Hereinafter referred to as the Venues, shall be open to visitors from 10 May 2026 to 30 October 2026, from Tuesday to Sunday between 10:30 am and 6:00 pm, subject to paragraph 6.
2. The opening of the sites is preceded by the City Gates Opening Ceremony, during which, following the playing of the bugle call from the tower of St Mary’s Church at 10:00, a ceremonial procession of the participants – namely the bugler, a representative of the Museum in historical costume, and two city guards – will take place from /st Mary’s Church along Floriańska Street, through the St Florian’s Gate to the Kleparska Gate, where at 10:20 am, to the sound of the bugle call, the ceremonial opening of the City Gate will take place.
3. Should Floriańska Street be inaccessible, the procession of the ceremony participants will take place along Szpitalna Street.
4. The City Gates Opening Ceremony takes place exclusively on the days and at the times when the Barbican is open.
5. All provisions of these Regulations concerning the Sites apply to both the Barbican and the City Defence Walls.
6. The last admission to the Sites in 30 minutes before closing time for individual visitors and 60 minutes before closing time for groups.
7. Visits to the Sites are possible as individual visits (i. e. 1 to 9 people) of group visits (I. e. 10 to 25 people).
8. There is no free admission day at the Sites, as reffered to in Article 10(2) of the Museums Act.
9. The Museum reserves the right to close the premises or to shorten their opening hours.
§2 Ticket sales and bookings
1. A combined admission ticket is required entitling the holder to visit both sites, i. e. the Barbican and the City Defence Walls.
2. Visitors to the Barbican are entitled to visit the City Defence Walls, and visitors to the City Defence Walls are entitled to visit the Barbican, within 3 days of the days of the date indicated on the ticket, on days when they are open, subject to paragraph 8. The ticket specifies the date and time of the planned start of the visit.
3. Admission tickets can be purchased from the ticket machine located in the Barbican, at the Barbican ticket office, at the City Defence Walls, as well as at the Visitor Centre and on the website https://bilety.mhk.pl/rezerwacja/lokalizacja.html?lang=en
4. When purchasing a ticket from the ticket machine, it is not possible to obtain a VAT invoice. At the purchaser’s request the Museum will issue a VAT invoice only when a purchase is made at the ticket office located in the Barbican, on the City Defence Walls or at the Visitor Centre. The issuind of VAT invoice for purchases made via the website is governed by the rules set out in the Terms and Conditions for Online Ticket Sales, available on the website specified in paragraph 3. Invoices for services provided bu the Museum are issued and made available in accordance with applicaqble regulations, including those relating to the National e-invoice System.
5. Visitors making a booking via the website specified in paragraph 3 may collect their booked tickets on the day of their visit at the ticket office located in the Barbican, on the City Walls, or in advance at the Visitor Centre.
6. The purchase of tickets via the website is governed by the rules set out in the Terms and Conditions for Onlice Ticket Sales, available on the website specified in paragraph 3, subject to the rules set out in these Terms and Conditions.
7. When purchasing tickets at the ticket office, the Museum recommends using payment cards.
8. The Museum publishes ticket prices and information on free admission days on its website: http://muzeumkrakowa.pl/en guided tours are set by order of the Museum Director.
9. Information on those entitled to free admission, as well as to reduced-rate and family tickets, and the types of documents that must be presented upon entry to the Exhibition to confirm entitlement to a reduced rate or exemption from the Museum admission fee is available at the https://muzeumkrakowa.pl/en/discounts-and-free-admission
10. The Director of the Museum may decide to introduce separate ticketing for admission to the premises during events taking place on their grounds. The rules governing admission on such days are set out in a separate order issued on a case-by-case basis by The Director if the Museum.
§3 Guided tours
1. Visitors may purchase or book admission tickets to the Venues via the website https://bilety.muzeumkrakowa.pl/en, and may also purchase or book an additional guided tour service at the Venues. A booked or purchased guided tour service includes a tour of both Venues.
2. The Museum permits visits to the Venues with an external guide.
3. The maximum size of an organised group visiting each of the Venues at any one time is 25 people, including supervisors, a tour leader and a guide. The tour lasts approximately 60 minutes.
4. The purchase or booking of a tour including a guided service must be made at least 4 (four) days before the tour date via the website https://bilety.muzuemkrakowa.pl/
5. Visitors shall purchase or book a guided tour for the selected tour date, as available in the booking system.
6. On the day of the tour, visitors who have booked or purchased a guided tour are required to report to the ticket office at the City Defence Walls no later than the scheduled tour time. The guide will wait for visitors for 15 minutes from the tour time stated on the ticket; if visitors do not arrive within this time, the service will not be provided and the Museum shall not be obliged to refund the cost of the service.
7. Guided tours of the Sites begin at the City Defence Walls.
8. Individual visitors and groups who have booked a guided tour are required, in the event of cancellation of the service or the tour, to notify the Museum of this fact, subject to paragraph 9. Notification must be made by email to the following address: info@muzeumkrakowa.pl
9. Should notice of cancellation of a guided tour be given less than 4 (four) days before the date of the tour, the Museum shall regard such cancellation as late, resulting in the imposition of a contractual penalty.
10. In the event of a failure to give timely notice of cancellation of the guided tour service or failure to attend on the date of the booked tour, the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków will charge the persons making the booking a contractual penalty of 250.00 PLN. The penalty must be paid within 14 days of the date of notification of its imposition, to the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków’s bank account no. 95 1020 2892 0000 5102 0591 0361.
11. Persons who have been notified of the imposition of a contractual penalty are entitled to lodge an appeal against it within a strict deadline of 3 days from the date of receipt of the notification. The appeal, together with a statement of reasons, should be sent to: info@muzeumkrakowa.pl or in writing to the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków, 31-011 Kraków, Rynek Główny 35. The final decision on the penalty, following an investigation, shall be taken by the Director of the Museum or persons authorised by him.
§4 Refunds
1. Tickets purchased from a ticket machine, at the ticket office located within the City Defence Walls, and at the Visitor Centre are non-refundable. Tickets purchased via the website are refundable in accordance with the rules set out in the Terms and Conditions for Online Ticket Sales, available on the website specified in § 2(3).
§5 Rules for visiting the Premises
1. Visitors are required to:
a. follow the tour route in the designated direction,
b. take particular care when going up and down the stairs,
c. not to lean over balustrades or out of window recesses,
d. not to move any movable parts of the premises,
e. to follow the instructions and advice of Museum staff and security personnel.
2. It is prohibited to bring the following into the premises:
a. any weapons, ammunition or items deemed potentially dangerous,
b. explosive, flammable or toxic materials,
c. long umbrellas,
d. rucksacks and large luggage with a capacity exceeding 30 litres,
e. bringing animals onto the premises, with the exception of assistance dogs accompanying people with disabilities.
3. Once you have finished your tour and left the premises of both Venues, you will not be able to re-enter them.
4. There are no cloakrooms or toilets available within the Venues.
5. Visitors are prohibited from consuming food and drink, or from smoking tobacco or e-cigarettes, within the Venues.
6. Entry to the Venues is prohibited for anyone who is intoxicated or under the influence of drugs or intoxicating substances, or who behaves in a manner that could endanger the safety of other people, the Venues or the cultural artefacts housed therein, disrupt the order of the tour, or breach generally accepted standards of behaviour in public places.
7. Children must remain under the supervision of their parents or carers.
8. Parents or carers are liable for any damage caused by children in their care.
9. The Museum reserves the right to refuse entry to or ask to leave any visitors who fail to observe the rules of conduct and breach these Regulations.
§6 Final provisions
1. Further information regarding visits to the Sites can be obtained from the Visitor Centre on tel./fax (12) 426-50-60, Monday to Friday from 10.00 to 19.00, or by email: info@muzeumkrakowa.pl, or rynekpodziemnyfilie@mhk.pl
2. The purchase or booking of an admission ticket and a guided tour service constitutes acceptance of the provisions of these Terms and Conditions.
3. These Terms and Conditions come into force on 10 May 2026.