Market Squares were always an integral part of the cities’ structure in Poland and they used to play an important role in how Polish people lived. They were the real “centers”, where the people meet, chat and at the same time bought and sell products that are a necessity to live. Kraków – one of the oldest Polish cities- has huge market traditions and even nowadays big malls and supermarkets where the social aspect is completely removed are not a threat to small local markets. The first historical three markets in Krakow have been Kraków Market square, Kazimierz Market square and Kleparz Market square – the last two in the two neighboring towns and let’s start the list with those ones..
Krakow Main Market Square
The Kraków Market Square - today after the nineteenth-century demolition almost empty - was originally completely different. There were numerous buildings, such as Big and Small City Scales, stalls and benches, butcher's and kennels, city hall, but also the Cloth Hall and the Town Hall tower which have survived until this day. There was an incredible buzz here, and the stalls buckled with goods. The locals came here not only to get supplies but also to feel the atmosphere of the city- this place has been always a heart of city life with a bustling atmosphere. Historically there were different markets located around the entire square and they sold the different types of products. There was Targ Węglowy (Forum carbonation), Rynek Ołowny (Lead Market), Kurzy Targ (Forum gallium), Targ and Skład Solny (Salt market and warehouse). Nowadays Krakow Market Square is a very popular place to gather for travelers- there are lots of restaurants bars where you can enjoy the atmosphere. It is definitely a place to see/experience yet not a place to spend your entire trip if you would like to discover more local life.
If you come to Krakow just before Christmas and Easter there will be markets that gather local producers who sell some traditional Polish food and clothes.
Plac Wolnica
Plac Wolnica (Wolnica square) is the Main Market Square of the Kazimierz (that initially was a neighboured city of Kraków) was also a place of the bustling weekly fairs. Among the of the Town Hall, there was a cloth hall, different stalls, and slaughterhouses. The market in this form existed until the second half of the 17th century and then it was destroyed by Swedish invasions. Nowadays there are only the occasional fairs organized there but you will find few good eateries and bars that surround the square.
Stary Kleparz
In the XII century, today’s Kleparz was a small settlement that grew around the church of St. Florian and was called Alta Civitas or High City (for its position 7 meters above the main square). From 1791 Kleparz is an integral part of Kraków - during this time Kleparz Market was as big as the Kraków Main Square and in the middle, there was the Municipal building. Besides meat, vegetables and dairy products this market was also famous for horse cattle and grain fairs, there were also stands of shoemakers, blacksmiths, saddlers, weavers, and other useful professions. Around the market, there were numerous taverns, where passers-by were able to eat or stay for the night. In the 19th century, this huge market was divided into two parts – The food Market called Old Kleparz and a more representative place – now Matejki Square.
Stary Kleparz was slowly losing its importance and in the 20th century, there were even the plans to remove it, as a new market, called Nowy Kleparz, has already been established nearby. Fortunately, Stary Kleparz has survived all the perturbations and now every day, except Sundays, you can find here fresh seasonal fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, and flowers.
The north part of the Market is a place where you will buy the original oscypek, bundz, homemade sausages and meat from the mountains. This part is a must! You can feel here the atmosphere of the historical Kraków stallholders - solid, swarthy women with a dove heart, offering the real super quality food. Do not miss the cover stand of Lorek and Portoyan where you can get the best sausages from Podlasie and Wielkopolska, trout from Ojców, farm cheeses, and the other dairy products from small producers, homemade bread and rose jam and not wide but good choice o the local biodynamic wines. In Che Bonta Massimo is selling freshly imported products from northern Italy: ham, salami, and cheese (if you will be lucky you will find here even the fresh burrata!). The best dairy product you will find in Magdalenka and the venison – in Dziki Trop. Brothers Haydukiewicz are selling dried Lithuanian sausages and sękacz and in Kaboom you can enjoy nettle lemonade or coffee with the homemade cake. Outside of the cover market, you will find the best Netherland cheese, Museum of Obwarzanek, the excellent bakery and the breakfast place Handelek and absolutely stunning confectionery called Sophisticated Desserts of the Shevchenko Brothers.
Several times a year, Stary Kleparz is hosting Art and Food Bazaar - the Sunday event where the various restaurateurs and other exhibitors are serving a different kind of freshly cooked delicacies and selling the effects of their craftworks.
Nowy Kleparz
At the end of Długa street, just 10 minutes walk from Stary Kleparz you will find the next market called Nowy Kleparz (the New Kleparz). Around 1930 according to the city regulations for market Square- people could sell straw, hay, grain, fodder, seeds, agricultural tools and equipment, brooms, coopers' products, wheelwright's, blacksmith's, saddlery, cordage, basketry, bushes, wild boars and fruit varieties in Nowy Klepars.. Also, seasonal sales of potatoes, cabbage, cucumbers were allowed to sale and you could meet there the rural women from Gorce mountain selling the large amounts of homemade dairy products and poultries. After the II World War Nowy Kleparz started to work as a regular market with food, cosmetics, shoes, flowers (you can buy flowers here 7 days a week from early morning till late morning) and toys for kids. But this market is mostly known among the Kraków’s people and traveler for the best and the cheapest wicker baskets, rocking chairs and other wicker trinkets.
Hala Targowa – Unitarg
This market is located in Grzegórzki (a former village near Krakow), next to the historical building of Hala Targowa. From Monday to Saturdays you can buy here the bread from local bakeries, traditionally made cold cuts, dairy products from family farms and fresh fruit and vegetables - sold directly by farmers. There are also stands with flowers, industrial goods, clothing, and footwear. But the big fun starts on Sunday mornings - the bazaar area turns into a flea market, a place to trade books, old photos and postcards, paintings, furniture, cutlery, and even bicycles and old radios - a real treat for bibliophiles and treasure hunters. It lasts until 13.00-14.00 but better to come around 8.00-9.00. Close to the Hala Targowa there is also one hidden Kraków’s gem – Kiełbaski z Niebieskiej Nyski (The sausages from the blue Nysa van). Every day (except of public holidays) from 8.00 pm till around 3 a.m. you can have here the old-school polish sausage with roll and mustard or ketchup – typical street food from the communist regime and you can drink oranżada – red soft drink, the taste of our childhood.
Plac Nowy (The New Square)
Plac Nowy is the most characteristic market in Krakow thanks to the round building, which is located in the center of the square. It is the heart of the Jewish Quarter as there are a lot of food kiosks as well as bars around the square. It is also a marketplace most visited by tourists for the flea market, antiques and trinkets at really bargain prices, and local crafts products. Flea markets take place on Saturdays and second-hand clothes on Sundays.
This square originally was a part of the Jewish city and Okrąglak – the round building was erected in the years 1899–1900 as a covered market hall. From 1927 it was a ritual slaughterhouse of poultry, and nowadays it is a cult place to try zapiekanka – open-face sandwich.
Plac Imbramowski
The biggest market in Kraków is located in Prądnik Biały and you can find here about 200 permanent and 100 temporary stalls with fresh vegetables, fruits, and other agricultural products, bread, cured meat products, meat and poultry from Polish farmed products; fish, dairy products, food, and industrial goods, as well as clothing and footwear. On the square, there are small gastronomy and lotto points. The history of this place started in 1924-1926 and since then creates the opportunity to purchase goods in the unique atmosphere of a traditional local bazaar.
Plac Na Stawach (Market on Ponds)
The Market on Ponds in Zwierzyniec District, which was established in 1991, owes its name to fish ponds buried in the 19th century, belonging to the Norbertine Sisters.
Initially, it was a small market, where farmers from villages near Kraków sold their products, nowadays almost everything can be bought here - from rural dairy products, bread, the highest quality cold cuts, fish, to organic food, clothing, animal products, and automotive products. Nowadays this market is famous primarily for organic products.
Plac Na Stawach is open from Monday to Saturday, from dawn to dusk.
Rynek Dębnicki
Dębnicki Market is a small, triangular local market with several stalls located on the ground of the former village called Dębniki and existed from 1900.
It is a place far away in character from the tourist-dominated Main Market Square or Plac Nowy in Kazimierz, but you can buy here fresh fish, vegetables, bread, and right in the corner there is an organic wine shop.
Targ Pietruszkowy (Parsley Market)
One of the newest (2013-) and very unique food markets in Kraków is located in Podgórze district, a short walk from Kazimierz and is called Targ Pieruszkowy (Parsley Market). It is the only Slow food market in Poland, which has a right to use the name Mercato di terra (Earth Market). It operates only Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings and their main mission is to connect customers with local (up to max 150 km from Krakow) food suppliers. “Naturally Locally Directly” - there are three pillars of this place. You can buy here fresh vegetables and fruit, bread, fresh-pressed oils, homemade fruit juices and preserves, honey, meat, milk, eggs, goat and sheep cheese, freshwater fish, flours, cakes and much more. All food is healthy and organic and 100% of products come from farmers who have ecological certificates or the owners of small farms (max. 15 ha), that use only traditional methods. Sales are direct - all products are sold by producers who grow or produce food themselves and they are personally responsible for its quality so you can speak them personally.
Most of the stalls are set up in Niepodległości Square, but for the products that must be kept refrigerated (fresh meat, cheese, fish) there is also the basement of a nearby building (the entrance is a small wooden shed close to the tram stop).
Targ Eko Sfera Mateczny
Ekosfera Mateczny is a new place in the Kraków map for eco shopping. Here you will find certified, ecological products from eco producers, farmers and companies from all over Poland - traditional smoked sausages, homemade cheeses, and dairy products, organic vegetables and fruit, honey, traditional polish bread with natural sourdough and many, many others. There is also a small food court there, where you can eat something hot, and there are always a few food trucks parked close by with excellent food.
The place is located practically in the city center, on 48 Łagiewnicka Street, and is open every Saturday between 8:00 and 15:00.