Nowy Square

Plac Nowy, the lively heart of Kazimierz in Cracow

Easily recognisable by its octagonal covered market, Plac Nowy, the New Square, is one of the beating hearts of Kazimierz. A commercial hub of the former Jewish quarter, it remains today a very busy place of life. The Cracow audio-guided tour stops here to taste the popular atmosphere of this nerve centre of the district.

A market hall from 1900

The octagonal hall that marks the centre of the square was built in 1900 to enliven the place. There were stalls and a poultry slaughterhouse; in 1927, the Jewish community had it enlarged. The second commercial and social centre of the Jews of Kazimierz after Szeroka Street, Plac Nowy crossed the twentieth century to become today an emblematic place of Cracow's nightlife and food scene.

What to see

Around and under the rotunda, stalls, counters and bars make up a lively atmosphere, by day as by night. The square is famous for its takeaway specialities served from the hall, which have become an institution of Kazimierz. It is the ideal place to feel the pulse of today's quarter, between Jewish memory, alternative life and a very lively food scene.

Practical information

Plac Nowy lies in the heart of Kazimierz, in Cracow, reachable on foot and by tram. It is a public space open at all times, freely accessible and on the level. The hall's counters and stalls have their own hours, generally wide, but variable by day and season: it is best to go at the busy hours to make the most of it.

What is Plac Nowy in Cracow?

It is a lively square in the heart of Kazimierz, marked by its octagonal hall of 1900, long the commercial and social centre of the quarter's Jewish community.

What is there to do on Plac Nowy today?

You enjoy the atmosphere of Kazimierz, the hall's stalls and its takeaway specialities, in a quarter lively day and night.