[1] The street forms part of the regular grid plan of Stare Miasto (the Old Town), the merchants' town that extends the medieval heart of the city, which was drawn up in 1257 after the destruction of the city during the first Mongol invasion of Poland of 1241.

[3] It marks the beginning of the Royal Road in Kraków[1] and stretches from the north-western end of the main square, Rynek Główny, to the landmark St. Florian's Gate, a distance of 335 metres (1,099 ft).

[6] A number of notable landmarks and monuments, mainly kamienica-style buildings, are located on the street.

They include buildings in the first half no 1, Kamienica pod Murzynami, no 2, Kamienica Mennica, no 13, Kamienica "Amendzińska" (also known as the Kmita Palace), no 14, the Hotel Pod Rózą, and later, the Pharmacy Museum of the Jagiellonian University Medical College at no 25, the Jan Matejko House at no 41, and the Jama Michalika cafe at no 45.

Today, the street is a major tourist attraction, and most buildings feature shops, restaurants, cafes and similar establishments.