Rynek Underground Museum in Kraków

The Rynek Underground (Podziemia Rynku, "pod-ZHEM-ya RIH-neh-koo") in Kraków is a museum hidden beneath the city's Main Market Square, one of the largest medieval squares in Europe. Below the cobbles around the Cloth Hall, archaeologists uncovered medieval roads, market stalls, workshops and an 11th-century cemetery, and turned them into a high-tech exhibition. It is run by the Museum of Kraków and is one of the most popular things to do in Kraków's UNESCO-listed Old Town, especially with families.

How the museum came about

When the city planned to resurface the Main Market Square, archaeologists began digging in mid-2005. What they found was so rich that, instead of covering the excavations again, the city built a museum around them. The project cost almost 38 million PLN, and the museum officially opened on September 24, 2010.

The underground space covers more than 6,000 m² (about 65,000 sq ft), including nearly 4,000 m² of archaeological reserve, and displays around 700 objects — coins, jewelry, tools, pottery and everyday items lost by merchants and townspeople centuries ago. The permanent exhibition is titled "Following the Traces of Kraków's European Identity."

What you'll see underground

The route loops beneath the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) and includes:

• original medieval roads and building foundations, including remains of the "Rich Stalls" used by the wealthiest traders,
• an 11th-century cemetery, older than the town's 1257 charter,
• reconstructed workshops of a goldsmith and a blacksmith,
• holograms showing how the square's buildings changed over time,
• roughly 600 3D models on dozens of touchscreens, a mist screen and a small cinema.

Glass floors let you look straight down into the excavations, and a soundscape of market noise plays in the background. It feels like a time machine, which makes it a good choice with children.

Tickets and opening hours

As of October 2026:

• Monday: 10:00 am–7:00 pm (closed on the second Monday of each month)
• Tuesday: 10:00 am–3:00 pm
• Wednesday–Thursday: 10:00 am–7:00 pm
• Friday–Sunday: 10:00 am–8:00 pm
• Last entry: 75 minutes before closing

Upcoming closures listed by the museum include October 12, November 1, 9, 11 and 16–18, and December 14, 24 and 25, 2026.

Prices in Polish złoty (PLN):

• Adult 45 PLN, reduced 35 PLN, family 90 PLN (for example two adults and two children under 16)
• "Medieval Kraków" combined route: 64 PLN adult, 56 PLN reduced, 128 PLN family

The museum offers a free-admission day at this branch (Tuesday); free tickets are issued only at the ticket desk on the day, with no advance booking. For other days, book online in advance via the official ticket shop (bilety.mhk.pl), as popular time slots sell out on weekends and in summer.

How long to spend and tips

Plan about 1.5–2 hours. The underground is dim but climate-stable, making it a smart choice on a rainy or very hot day. Accessibility information is published under "Museum without barriers"; in late 2025 the museum reported a temporary elevator outage, so wheelchair users should call ahead (+48 12 426 50 60) to confirm it is working.

Is the Rynek Underground worth it?

Yes, if you want to understand why Kraków became one of Central Europe's great trading cities. It adds real depth to a walk around the Main Market Square, and the multimedia approach keeps it engaging for visitors of all ages.

How to get there

The address is Rynek Główny 1, and the entrance is at the Cloth Hall in the middle of the Main Market Square. From Kraków Główny railway station (with trains from Kraków Airport, Warsaw and Katowice), it is roughly a 10–15 minute walk through the Planty park and along Floriańska Street. The Old Town has restricted traffic, so if you are driving, park outside the center and walk or take a tram.

Right after your visit you can climb the Town Hall Tower, see Veit Stoss's altarpiece in St. Mary's Basilica and listen for the hourly bugle call, or browse the Gallery of 19th-Century Polish Art upstairs in the Cloth Hall.