Łagiewniki in Kraków — what to see at the Divine Mercy Sanctuary and how to get there
Łagiewniki is the Kraków district that is home to the Divine Mercy Sanctuary, a pilgrimage site visited by believers from all over the world. St Faustina Kowalska lived and died here, the famous Divine Mercy image hangs here, and the John Paul II Centre stands nearby. John Paul II called it „the capital of the Divine Mercy devotion”. Here’s what to see and how to get there from the city centre.
A convent that helped women
The sanctuary’s story begins in the 1890s, when a neo-Gothic convent with a chapel was built for the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy. It was founded by Prince Aleksander Lubomirski, and the sisters’ mission was to help women in need of moral renewal.
Sister Faustina — the mystic of Łagiewniki
Between the wars, Sister Faustina Kowalska, one of the best-known mystics in the history of the Church, lived and worked in the convent. She felt her vocation from childhood, but her parents twice refused to let her join an order, and for several years she worked as a nanny and a maid. The turning point came at a dance, when she saw the suffering Jesus, who told her to enter a convent. This time she didn’t ask her parents for permission.
She took her final vows in May 1933 and moved to Kraków three years later. She recorded her revelations in her „Diary”, including instructions on the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, the Hour of Mercy, establishing the Feast of Divine Mercy and painting an image of Jesus. Her vision was painted by Adolf Hyła, and this image of the Merciful Jesus is now the sanctuary’s greatest treasure.
The basilica and the miraculous image
Faustina died of tuberculosis in 1938 and was buried in the convent cemetery; in 1966 her remains were moved to the convent chapel. Her beatification and canonisation, together with John Paul II’s pilgrimages, made Łagiewniki known worldwide.
With the number of pilgrims growing, construction of a two-level, elliptical basilica designed for around 5,000 worshippers began in 1999. John Paul II consecrated it on 17 August 2002. The lower basilica has five chapels, including one with a Greek Catholic iconostasis. The miraculous image and the relics of St Faustina are in the convent chapel where she prayed.
Next to the basilica stands an observation tower, open daily from 10:00 to 18:00 — on a clear day it offers a panorama of Kraków. The sanctuary’s information point is open daily from 9:00 to 17:00.
John Paul II Centre „Be Not Afraid!”
Close to the sanctuary, on the site known as Białe Morza, stands the John Paul II Centre, built as a votive offering of thanks for the Polish pope’s pontificate. It houses the Museum of St John Paul II the Great, with the pope’s personal belongings and gifts he received during his pilgrimages. The museum is open daily from 9:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:15) and admission is paid. The complex also includes the Sanctuary of St John Paul II, a retreat and conference centre and an outdoor Way of the Cross.
How to get to Łagiewniki
The sanctuary is at 3 Siostry Faustyny Street. From the centre, the easiest way is by tram to the Sanktuarium Bożego Miłosierdzia stop on the Łagiewnicka route or to the Łagiewniki stop, and then on foot. In autumn 2026 some tram lines are diverted because of track works, so check the current connection in the MPK timetable before you set off.
Where to stay in Kraków
Łagiewniki is easy to combine with a day in the centre. Stay at Best Western Plus Kraków Old Town at 6 Świętej Gertrudy Street, about 500 m from the Main Square, with its own car park, or at Hotel Regent in Kazimierz, about a 15-minute walk from the Main Square.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to see in Łagiewniki?
The Divine Mercy Basilica with five chapels in its lower level, the convent chapel with the Divine Mercy image and the relics of St Faustina, the observation tower, and the nearby John Paul II Centre with the pope’s museum.
Is there an entrance fee at the Divine Mercy Sanctuary?
Entry to the basilica and the chapel is free. The Museum of St John Paul II the Great in the nearby John Paul II Centre charges admission.
How do I get to Łagiewniki from the centre of Kraków?
By tram to the Sanktuarium Bożego Miłosierdzia or Łagiewniki stop. In autumn 2026 some lines are diverted, so check the current MPK timetable.
Updated in October 2026.