Town Hall Tower

Tower in Kraków

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Suicasmo

The Town Hall Tower in Kraków stands proudly on the western edge of the Main Market Square, a striking remnant of the city’s once-grand medieval Town Hall complex. Rising over 70 meters tall, the Gothic tower is clad in dark stone and crowned with a Baroque roof added after a 17th-century storm destroyed the original. Despite the Town Hall itself being demolished in the 19th century, the tower remains one of Kraków’s most distinctive landmarks—both architecturally and symbolically, a vertical anchor amidst the square’s open expanse.

Climbing the tower’s narrow, winding staircase rewards visitors with panoramic views over the Rynek Główny and Kraków’s historic skyline, including the towers of St. Mary’s Basilica, the Cloth Hall, and distant Wawel Castle. Inside, the tower hosts exhibitions managed by the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków. These exhibits delve into the tower’s past as a seat of municipal power, a prison, and even a theater, offering a layered perspective on how the building has adapted over centuries.

The base of the tower features a pair of stone lions, added during Austrian rule, which lend a slightly imperial touch to the structure’s otherwise Gothic character. Though originally symbols of power, they’ve since become familiar photo spots for visitors exploring the Market Square. Meanwhile, the tower’s interior retains traces of its past function—including iron-barred windows and thick stone walls that hint at its former use as a dungeon.

Whether admired from below or explored from within, the Town Hall Tower is more than just a photogenic relic—it’s a silent witness to Kraków’s political, cultural, and urban evolution. As part of any Kraków walking tour, it offers a powerful sense of continuity in a city that has reinvented itself many times while still holding tight to its medieval roots.

The Town Hall Tower appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Kraków!

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Visiting Town Hall Tower

Hours:

March to October: Tuesday–Sunday 10:30 AM–6:00 PM; Monday 10:30 AM–2:00 PM (closed Mondays in summer beyond 2 PM)

November to December: Tuesday–Sunday 11:00 AM–5:00 PM; Monday 11:00 AM–2:00 PM

Price:

20 PLN

Address: Town Hall Tower, Main Square, Kraków, Poland