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Good afternoon fellow hoops. Off to Krakow on Friday for a few days, and was wondering what are the must visit places?
We're visiting Auschwitz on Sunday, and there's a castle the missus wants to visit, but what else is the must do to cram into our three full days there?
Obviously there will be plenty of sampling the local Polish fighting juice as well.
Was there about 20 years ago. Brilliant place. The Wieliczka Salt Mine is well worth a visit (don’t know how to do attachments but a quick Google search will provide further elaboration). Have a great trip!
I hope you enjoy Cracow. It is a stunning place. About ten years since I last was there but be prepared for moral and physical exhaustion at Auschwitz. The guides there are brilliant but some of the experience is chilling. Plenty of good bars and places to eat and the Poles have really expanded their repertoire of beer- not just home produced but imported from Hungary, Slovakia, Belgium and Germany - although I think you can get some pretty ropey English beer in "The John Bull" if you're not careful. There are so many places to visit - The Market Square and The Church of St Mary, The Cloth Hall , The Collegium (old part of university)- umpteen other churches - of St Anne and of St John, The Barbican, Kasimierz (I think) and the Jewish Quarter. The Dominican Church. Best advice - as suggested, hit Google and browse what you think you'd like. There's always "The Hard Rock" by St Mary's at about 1/3 of what we pay in London. Good luck - when I was there I couldn't find a QPR pub but times may have moved on!
I hope you enjoy Cracow. It is a stunning place. About ten years since I last was there but be prepared for moral and physical exhaustion at Auschwitz. The guides there are brilliant but some of the experience is chilling. Plenty of good bars and places to eat and the Poles have really expanded their repertoire of beer- not just home produced but imported from Hungary, Slovakia, Belgium and Germany - although I think you can get some pretty ropey English beer in "The John Bull" if you're not careful. There are so many places to visit - The Market Square and The Church of St Mary, The Cloth Hall , The Collegium (old part of university)- umpteen other churches - of St Anne and of St John, The Barbican, Kasimierz (I think) and the Jewish Quarter. The Dominican Church. Best advice - as suggested, hit Google and browse what you think you'd like. There's always "The Hard Rock" by St Mary's at about 1/3 of what we pay in London. Good luck - when I was there I couldn't find a QPR pub but times may have moved on!
Yep, I think I may need a drink after Auschwitz by all accounts
Been about 13 years since I was last there but the Wawal Royal castle in Krakow is worth a visit as is the "Smok Wawelski" (dragon) in the castle grounds.
The nearby central market/town square "Rynek Główny" is good but I'd imagine prices are a lot higher than when I was last there.
Are you going to Auschwitz itself or Birkenau (of the famous/infamous railway lines going through the middle of the building)? They are a few miles apart. Do both if you can. I went to Auschwitz and it's quite a sobering experience.
Some phonetic phrases if you want;
Gin dobry - good morning Vitam - hello tresht - hi dovidzenya - goodbye. Yak she mash - how are you Tak - yes Nieh (don't say Niet, that's Russian!) - no Gin kooya - thank you Jenky - thanks Prosha - please Pivo prosha - beer please Baadzo dobry - very good Va goré tooka - up your bum (if you have the need to insult someone there!) or 'Va dupa' - up your ass, which is easier to pronounce.
Remember, W is pronounced as a V so Krakow is actually pronounced Krakov and Wawal Royal castle is therefore Vaval Royal castle.
Looks like Wisla Kraków are home to Kotwica Kolobrzeg at the Estadio Henryk Reyman on Fri night (7.30 KO). They play in the Polish equivalent of the Championship apparently. Looking forward to the match report!
If you have a car and a spare day you can drive upto/across to Zakopane, there won't be much snow left for skiing, but there are loads of thermal spa's which are a bigger versions of the pools at a Centre Parcs. Family tickets are usually for four hours, which will fly past. The actual town is really pretty as well with loads to do, but it is a couple of hours drive (at least)...
If you have a car and a spare day you can drive upto/across to Zakopane, there won't be much snow left for skiing, but there are loads of thermal spa's which are a bigger versions of the pools at a Centre Parcs. Family tickets are usually for four hours, which will fly past. The actual town is really pretty as well with loads to do, but it is a couple of hours drive (at least)...
All I would add to earlier suggestions is Schindlers Factory Museum.
Polish cuisine is much improved and I recommend the following:
Went in 2018 and did Auschwitz and the Salt Mine on the same day. Don't do that, its a long day and there's a lot of walking, I was knackered by the time we got down into the mine and couldn't wait to leave.
One of the cleanest city centres I've been to. Lovely place, beer and local food is a bit ropey, but cheap as.
Looks like Wisla Kraków are home to Kotwica Kolobrzeg at the Estadio Henryk Reyman on Fri night (7.30 KO). They play in the Polish equivalent of the Championship apparently. Looking forward to the match report!
Ha ha, but I think I'd be in the doghouse of all doghouses if I did that
I fully concur with Digger's comments about Auschwitz being emotionally and physically challenging. Having visited with the missus some years ago, I have revisted when each of my kids have been old enough to appreciate it. It definitely puts perspective on things. Also - wrap up well for Auschwitz. Most tours do Auschwitz 1 in the morning and Birkenau in the afternoon; Birkenau is huge and exposed, the cold/wind can be challenging.
I second the recommendations for visiting the castle (great views over the city/river) and Schindler's factory.
I like Polish food, but the best burger I have had in my life was at Moo Moo (Steak & Burger Club) on Swietego Krzyza, so good we returned the next night. On the corner of Mikolajska and Swietego Krzyza is a vodka bar that does flytes of 10 vodkas - it's small, so be prepared to get cosy with strangers. Both of these are a few minutes walk from the main square. There are quite a few real ale/local brew pubs too.
If you like Krakow, I recommend Wroclaw too (especially in winter when the Christmas market is on).
Looks like Wisla Kraków are home to Kotwica Kolobrzeg at the Estadio Henryk Reyman on Fri night (7.30 KO). They play in the Polish equivalent of the Championship apparently. Looking forward to the match report!
Married to a Polka and have been to Krakow many times - one of my favourite cities in the world! Kraków Old Town is the bit worth visiting and is pretty condensed so easy to walk round, no need to hire a car. It is clean and safe with loads to do. Wawel castle is a must visit then go for a cruise on the Vistula. Plenty of places to eat if Polish food is not your thing. Mind you it gets fkn cold in winter and boiling hot for a few weeks in summer. Krakow has two teams: Wisła Kraków (play in 1 liga) and MKS Cracovia (play in Ekstraklasa) - both have significant hoolie followings and they hate each other! You will have a great time. Na Zdrowie!
Married to a Polka and have been to Krakow many times - one of my favourite cities in the world! Kraków Old Town is the bit worth visiting and is pretty condensed so easy to walk round, no need to hire a car. It is clean and safe with loads to do. Wawel castle is a must visit then go for a cruise on the Vistula. Plenty of places to eat if Polish food is not your thing. Mind you it gets fkn cold in winter and boiling hot for a few weeks in summer. Krakow has two teams: Wisła Kraków (play in 1 liga) and MKS Cracovia (play in Ekstraklasa) - both have significant hoolie followings and they hate each other! You will have a great time. Na Zdrowie!
Also you can gen up on Polish football before your trip, through this book from an old uni mate of mine.
went a couple of years ago with mates and all of the above suggestions pretty much cover it, lovely city to visit..
Auschwitz is a truly horrific place and i'm glad i did it on the last day of the trip; but pleased that i did go. It should be on everyone's agenda to appreciate what a horrible lot humans can be.
Krakow’s a vibe! Hit up the Old Town, get lost in Kazimierz (Jewish Quarter), and check out Wieliczka Salt Mine—proper cool. For bars, Pijalnia’s got that old-school commie feel. And yeah, Polish vodka hits different. And also do not forget for some meds. Friends of mine usually buy ozempic online https://www.canadapharmacy.com/products/ozempic from local ones.
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