How to visit St. Mary’s Bugle Tower – Krakow, Poland

Saint Mary’s Basilica (Kosciol Mariacki) has always been a symbol of Krakow. A Symbol containing multiple other Krakow Symbols, like The wooden carved altar by Veit Stoss or the Bugle Call Tower with its Hejnal or The Legend of the 2 Brothers. After Tartar raids in the 13th century left the original church in ruins, St. Mary’s Church was rebuilt in Gothic style on the existing foundations and consecrated in 1320. In the early 15th century the towers took the iconic form they have today when the northern tower was raised to 80m high and made into a watchtower for the city. From that watchtower, the Bugle Call plays every day, every hour, no matter rain or shine!

How can one visit the Bugle Call Tower – Mariacki Church?

The Tower cannot be visited during all the months of the year, so make sure you don’t plan to visit it during wintertime as it is closed then. There is always a chance of frost on the stairs so only the Bugle Call player gets to go on top. But! During the summer months, it is always open for visitors and you can check the schedule below.

From 7th May:
Friday, Saturday — 10 a.m- p.m
Sunday — 1 p.m — 6 p.m

From July to October
(except religious holidays)
Monday — closed
from Tuesdays to Saturdays
10.00 a.m.- 6.00 a.m.
Sundays – 1.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.

January, February, March, November, December — closed

The ticket price, as of July 2021 is 15 Zloty per person or 10 for 7 to 18 years olds.

Things you should know about the tour

• Children up to 7 years old are not allowed to go – due to the steep steps (danger ahead!)
• There is a limited amount of tickets everyday. You cannot book/buy tickets in adavnce. Just for the same day. Tickets can be bought at the ticket office only (Plac Mariacki 7).
• Children between 7 and 18 years old get a discount.
• People with walking dissabilities cannot get to the top as there is no elevator or method to pull up any wheelchairs 🙁 sorry for that 🙁
• In case of bad weather the tour (just like the Eiffel Tower, in Paris) gets closed down.
• The Tower entrance is located on the side of Mariacki Church, from Florianska Street.
• A group of no more than 10 people can enter every 30 minutes.

Did you know?

That the Bugle Call (Hejnal) players are actually firemen? They stay there (up in the tower) on shifts that are 12 hours long! They need to “get to work” by climbing the 271 steps, every day, and they play the Hejnal every hour, for their 12-hour shift. Before the stairs were built, there was no way to get on top except with the help of a very tall ladder (wooden). Thank God they don’t use that anymore!

Yours always truly,

The Twisted Red LadyBug that loves views from the top (of the world)