Lined up along the market square, horse-drawn carriage rides are a popular, albeit for some controversial, way to tour/trot around the Old Town. Operated by a number of different companies, routes and prices are individually determined with the driver, but the most popular route from the market square to Wawel Hill takes about 30mins and is generally 200-250zł in winter, 250-300zł in summer; you can expect to pay about 500-600zł if you carry on to Kazimierz. Most carriages fit 4-5 people and the number in your party has no bearing on the price. Unfortunately the drivers don't disseminate any information about what you're seeing along the way (hey, you might need this guidebook after all); that bright idea hasn't occurred to anyone yet. Still, it's many a young girl's dream to be lifted into a horse carriage on Kraków's market square, so be prepared. And don't forget to ask the driver to take your picture; it's the least they can do for the money.
Tipping your driver is not expected, but you're welcome to if you feel it's warranted.
03.11.2023
Huw Jones
South Wales UK The comments of the negative treatment of these horses is, i think, a bit over the top 'animals have rights too' granted but they were not cruelly treated. From what i saw they were well fed & watered, never whipped either despite the carrying of a whip, i believe that was part of the pageantry overall. They looked very content indeed & trotted slowly around the old town by their drivers seemingly quite contentedly. This is not animal abuse anything like one sees on the tv. Some people clearly can't or won't see that
09.10.2022
Alexandra
Krakow I agree with all the comments made below. We live in the 21st century and these practices should be banned. It is time to question our behavior towards other sentient beings living among us. Horses deserve better. Do not sponsor these carriage rides. There are alternatives like eco-taxis and electric cars. I am not against these people. I am against what they do to the horses. A new business model should be proposed by the City of Krakow. If you ride them you are contribute it to their pain .
08.10.2022
Alexandra
Krk Please let’s help to banned the carriage horse . It is very insane. They are not slavery . I cried to see them . Standing longs hours, sad eyes. This cruel metal on their mouths . Please STOP , STOP .
24.01.2022
Julio DH
Krakow I agree with all the comments made below. We live in the 21st century and these practices should be banned. It is time to question our behavior towards other sentient beings living among us. Horses deserve better. Do not sponsor these carriage rides. There are alternatives like eco-taxis and electric cars. I am not against these people. I am against what they do to the horses. A new business model should be proposed by the City of Krakow.
02.10.2019
Annika
Why do people still use these kind of services?? Horses belong on a field, not here. It was nice to see them when we came to Krakow but after five-ten hours seeing the same horses on the same place, not so nice anymore );
06.05.2019
Mike
Krakow I visited Krakow today for the first time and noticed many of the horses were so tired and looked very ill. They work long hours, many previous complaints have been made about the horses fainting. I stood watching and the owners showed no affection for the horses. Who is regulating this and ensuring the horses are cared for? Despite complaints I can’t see that anything has been done. Very upsetting!
26.02.2019
Mads
would never take these trips. I looked into the eyes of one of these horses. Sad eyes, wanting constantly to spit out the metal rod in his mouth and getting away from walking on the hard asphalt and stone brick streets forthe novel satisfaction of constant stream of tourists.
13.11.2018
Foteini
Krakow It's realy sad to treat to those animals like that.It's torture and cruel.They passing their lives carrying stupid people around the town.They are doing that every day and hole day from morning till late at night.I came to krakow to see the city but I don't even think to use this way to see krakow.This is an exploitation and nothing more.Those praople are unacceptable.Think your self to be in their place.with no water walking all day with carrying so much weight and minimum doze of food.Many of them fainting and injuring.STOP being stupid and paying for something like that it's cruel and anexeptable in 21 sentury.
14.09.2018
Wendy
England I loved Krakow but I was heart broken watching these same horses pulling these carriages day in day out, how boring for these poor animals, one owner laughed in my face when I asked her about them, she admitted they were used every day all day. These horses deserve a life too, they are not here to be exploited like this for humans. I loved the old market Square but this put me off and not nice to see
25.06.2018
Naomk Ammar
Krakow Do not ride these horse drawn carriages. These horses are used for several hours a day and are exhausted. They are made to stand still and whipped if they don’t. They are constantly shifting and moving due to mass discomfort and you can see the mouth pieces annoy and possibly hurt them. It’s awful to watch. This is animal abuse. Any animals used for tourist attractions are never tested well behind closed doors. If you ride them, you are contributing to their pain.
Comments
Huw Jones
South Wales UK
The comments of the negative treatment of these horses is, i think, a bit over the top 'animals have rights too' granted but they were not cruelly treated. From what i saw they were well fed & watered, never whipped either despite the carrying of a whip, i believe that was part of the pageantry overall. They looked very content indeed & trotted slowly around the old town by their drivers seemingly quite contentedly. This is not animal abuse anything like one sees on the tv. Some people clearly can't or won't see that
Alexandra
Krakow
I agree with all the comments made below. We live in the 21st century and these practices should be banned. It is time to question our behavior towards other sentient beings living among us. Horses deserve better. Do not sponsor these carriage rides. There are alternatives like eco-taxis and electric cars. I am not against these people. I am against what they do to the horses. A new business model should be proposed by the City of Krakow. If you ride them you are contribute it to their pain .
Alexandra
Krk
Please let’s help to banned the carriage horse . It is very insane. They are not slavery . I cried to see them . Standing longs hours, sad eyes. This cruel metal on their mouths . Please STOP , STOP .
Julio DH
Krakow
I agree with all the comments made below. We live in the 21st century and these practices should be banned. It is time to question our behavior towards other sentient beings living among us. Horses deserve better. Do not sponsor these carriage rides. There are alternatives like eco-taxis and electric cars. I am not against these people. I am against what they do to the horses. A new business model should be proposed by the City of Krakow.
Annika
Why do people still use these kind of services?? Horses belong on a field, not here. It was nice to see them when we came to Krakow but after five-ten hours seeing the same horses on the same place, not so nice anymore );
Mike
Krakow
I visited Krakow today for the first time and noticed many of the horses were so tired and looked very ill. They work long hours, many previous complaints have been made about the horses fainting. I stood watching and the owners showed no affection for the horses. Who is regulating this and ensuring the horses are cared for? Despite complaints I can’t see that anything has been done. Very upsetting!
Mads
would never take these trips. I looked into the eyes of one of these horses. Sad eyes, wanting constantly to spit out the metal rod in his mouth and getting away from walking on the hard asphalt and stone brick streets forthe novel satisfaction of constant stream of tourists.
Foteini
Krakow
It's realy sad to treat to those animals like that.It's torture and cruel.They passing their lives carrying stupid people around the town.They are doing that every day and hole day from morning till late at night.I came to krakow to see the city but I don't even think to use this way to see krakow.This is an exploitation and nothing more.Those praople are unacceptable.Think your self to be in their place.with no water walking all day with carrying so much weight and minimum doze of food.Many of them fainting and injuring.STOP being stupid and paying for something like that it's cruel and anexeptable in 21 sentury.
Wendy
England
I loved Krakow but I was heart broken watching these same horses pulling these carriages day in day out, how boring for these poor animals, one owner laughed in my face when I asked her about them, she admitted they were used every day all day. These horses deserve a life too, they are not here to be exploited like this for humans. I loved the old market Square but this put me off and not nice to see
Naomk Ammar
Krakow
Do not ride these horse drawn carriages. These horses are used for several hours a day and are exhausted. They are made to stand still and whipped if they don’t. They are constantly shifting and moving due to mass discomfort and you can see the mouth pieces annoy and possibly hurt them. It’s awful to watch. This is animal abuse. Any animals used for tourist attractions are never tested well behind closed doors. If you ride them, you are contributing to their pain.