8:00 AM — Start at the Barbican and walk through Florian Gate onto Ulica Florianska. Grab an obwarzanek (braided bread ring) from a blue cart for breakfast.
8:30 AM — Arrive at the Main Market Square. Take in Europe's largest medieval square while it's still relatively quiet. Listen for the Hejnal trumpet call from St. Mary's tower on the hour.
9:00 AM — Enter St. Mary's Basilica (opens at 11:30 to tourists, but earlier for mass — check times) to see the Veit Stoss altarpiece. If it's not open yet, visit the Rynek Underground Museum beneath the square.
10:30 AM — Walk south along Ulica Grodzka (the Royal Road), passing the churches of Saints Peter and Paul and St. Andrew. Stop at Ulica Kanonicza — the most beautiful street in the city.
11:00 AM — Wawel Hill. Explore the castle courtyard (free), enter the cathedral (free, but pay for tower and crypts), and descend through the Dragon's Den to meet the fire-breathing dragon.
12:30 PM — Lunch. Walk across to Kazimierz. Eat at Charlotte for a bistro lunch or grab zapiekanka at Plac Nowy for budget street food.
1:30 PM — Explore Kazimierz: Ulica Szeroka, the Remuh Synagogue, and wander Ulica Jozefa for vintage shops and street art.
3:00 PM — Schindler's Factory museum (book tickets online in advance). Allow 2 hours.
5:00 PM — Walk back via the Bernatka Footbridge and the Vistula boulevards. Coffee break at Nowa Prowincja or Charlotte.
6:30 PM — Dinner at a traditional Polish restaurant — Miod Malina, Pod Aniolami, or Starka.
8:30 PM — Evening drinks in Kazimierz — Alchemia for atmosphere, Bania Luka for cocktails, or Pijalnia Wodki for cheap vodka shots.
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