The easiest way from Krakow Old Town to Kazimierz is usually to walk. Choose your destination first: from the Main Market Square, walk towards Starowiślna for Plac Nowy, or follow the Wawel-Stradom-Krakowska route towards Plac Wolnica, Ulica Szeroka and the eastern part of Kazimierz. Public transport can help from the edge of the Old Town, but it will not take you directly to Ulica Szeroka or Plac Nowy.
There is no single “Old Town to Kazimierz” route because both areas cover several streets and landmarks. The best option depends on whether you are starting at Rynek Główny, Wawel or the Main Post Office, and whether your destination is western Kazimierz around Plac Wolnica, central Kazimierz around Ulica Szeroka and Plac Nowy, or the eastern side around Ulica Miodowa.
Which route is easiest from Krakow Old Town?
For most visitors, the simplest choice is a walk between a recognisable Old Town landmark and a specific Kazimierz destination. The two main walking ideas are.
- Via Starowiślna: the practical choice from the southern or eastern side of the Old Town, particularly if you are heading towards Plac Nowy, Ulica Szeroka or the eastern part of Kazimierz.
- Via Wawel, Stradom and Krakowska: a useful choice from the Main Market Square or Wawel when you want to enter Kazimierz near Plac Wolnica before continuing along Ulica Józefa or towards Ulica Szeroka.
Neither route should be treated as one fixed distance or walking time. The Old Town is an area inside the Planty ring, while Kazimierz has several practical arrival points. A walk to Plac Wolnica is different from a walk to Plac Nowy, even though both destinations are described generally as “Kazimierz”.
From Rynek Główny to Plac Nowy or Ulica Szeroka
If you are starting at Rynek Główny, the most useful way to plan the walk is to head towards the southern side of the Old Town and then continue in the direction of Starowiślna or Stradom. For Plac Nowy and Ulica Szeroka, aim for the central and eastern part of Kazimierz rather than simply searching for “Kazimierz” on a map.
Plac Nowy is a popular evening and food-focused meeting point. Ulica Szeroka lies in the central part of historic Jewish Kazimierz and is one of the area’s key orientation points. If your accommodation, restaurant or tour meeting point is on Ulica Miodowa, continue further east after entering Kazimierz.
The Starowiślna option is especially straightforward when your destination is closer to Plac Nowy or Ulica Szeroka. It avoids treating Wawel as an obligatory detour and gives you a clear street-based direction from the Old Town side. Once you reach Kazimierz, use the named streets and squares rather than relying on the neighbourhood name alone.
When should you walk via Wawel, Stradom and Krakowska?
The Wawel-Stradom-Krakowska route makes sense when you are near Wawel Royal Castle, want to see the approach to Kazimierz, or are heading first to Plac Wolnica. From the Wawel area, you can continue towards Stradom and then enter Kazimierz along Ulica Krakowska.
Ulica Krakowska is a historic main artery of Kazimierz. It leads towards Plac Wolnica, the former market square and a useful western arrival point. From there, Ulica Józefa and Ulica Szeroka provide clear onward directions through the district.
This route is often more useful than a direct map search when your destination is on the western side of Kazimierz. It also helps you understand the layout: Plac Wolnica is not the same part of the district as Plac Nowy, and a booking or meeting point described only as “Kazimierz” may still be several streets away.
You can also approach northern Kazimierz from Wawel along the riverside. This is a different walking idea from the Stradom and Krakowska route, so check the exact destination before setting off. The riverside is useful for orientation, but it does not place you directly at every central Kazimierz landmark.
Can you use public transport between the Old Town and Kazimierz?
Yes, but public transport is best considered a way to reach the edge of your destination, not a door-to-door service. From the Main Post Office, options towards Stradom or Starowiślna may be practical, depending on the current network arrangement. You should expect a final walk after leaving the vehicle, particularly for Plac Nowy and Ulica Szeroka.
Current tram arrangements require extra care. Tram lines 8 and 20 are suspended until further notice, and tram traffic is excluded from the Świętego Gertrudy-Wawel-Stradomska section. Some services are instead using corridors including Dietla, Starowiślna, Krakowska and the Main Post Office area.
If you are taking a tram towards Kazimierz, select a stop based on the final address. A stop near Krakowska may suit Plac Wolnica, while another option may leave you nearer Starowiślna. There is no benefit in choosing a service that appears fast on the map if it leaves you on the wrong side of the district.
Compare the next practical option for your trip.
What should drivers know about the route?
Walking is often simpler than driving between the two areas because both have restricted-traffic streets. In the Old Town, restrictions cover the area inside the first ring road and the surroundings of Wawel, including Ulica Świętego Idziego, Droga do Zamku and part of Ulica Podzamcze. Reaching the Main Market Square or Wawel by car therefore requires careful attention to the permitted approach.
Kazimierz also has a restricted-traffic zone. It includes Plac Nowy and parts of or access routes around Ulice Bartosza, Bożego Ciała, Ciemna, Estery, Izaaka, Józefa, Kupy, Lewkowa, Meiselsa, Miodowa, Nowa, Podbrzezie, Szeroka, Warszauera and Wąska.
In practical terms, do not treat Plac Nowy or Ulica Szeroka as ordinary car drop-off points. If you are arriving by taxi or private transfer, confirm the exact permitted stopping point for your accommodation rather than assuming the vehicle can reach the final street. Restrictions can apply to a particular street even when the wider district appears accessible.
Which Kazimierz landmark should be your destination?
Use the following points to make your route specific.
| Destination | Where it is useful | Best route logic |
|---|---|---|
| Plac Wolnica | Western Kazimierz; historic former market square | Approach through Wawel, Stradom and Ulica Krakowska |
| Ulica Szeroka | Central historic Jewish Kazimierz; major walking landmark | Walk via Starowiślna or continue from Plac Wolnica |
| Plac Nowy | Popular food and evening meeting point | Use the Starowiślna direction, then walk through Kazimierz |
| Ulica Miodowa | Eastern Kazimierz, near several synagogues | Continue east after entering the district |
These points are more useful than a generic destination pin because they tell you where you will actually arrive. A visitor going to a restaurant on Ulica Miodowa may need a different route from someone meeting friends at Plac Nowy, even if both describe their plans as “going to Kazimierz”.
What is the Kładka Ojca Bernatka used for?
The Kładka Ojca Bernatka is an important Kazimierz landmark, but it is not the direct link between the Old Town and Kazimierz. It connects Kazimierz with Podgórze across the Vistula. The footbridge opened in 2010 on the site of the former Podgórze Bridge.
It is therefore useful if your itinerary continues from Kazimierz to Podgórze, but it should not be selected as the main Old Town-to-Kazimierz crossing. For the Old Town connection, focus instead on Starowiślna or the Wawel-Stradom-Krakowska route.
How should you choose on the day?
Start by identifying the nearest fixed point in the Old Town: Rynek Główny, Wawel or the Main Post Office. Then identify the exact Kazimierz street or square. For Plac Wolnica, the Wawel-Stradom-Krakowska approach is logical. For Plac Nowy or Ulica Szeroka, Starowiślna is often the clearer walking idea. For Ulica Miodowa, allow for a further walk after entering Kazimierz.
Choose walking when you want the least complicated option and your luggage is manageable. Choose public transport when your starting point is nearer a suitable stop or when you prefer to reduce the first part of the walk, but check the current MPK arrangement rather than following an older tram recommendation. If travelling by car, plan around the restricted zones and use the exact accommodation access instructions.
The key practical rule is simple: route to a landmark, not to a neighbourhood name. “Old Town to Kazimierz Krakow” covers several possible journeys, but Rynek Główny to Plac Nowy, Wawel to Plac Wolnica and the Main Post Office to Stradom each have a clear, manageable logic.
