Kraków

So old… Eastern Europe is so different than Western Europe. It has it’s own beauty.

What I hope from Krakow is for it to be everything that Warsaw wasn’t and leave me with a better opinion of Poland.

I never really considered going to Poland, but after a recent trip to the Czech Republic, I was told ‘if you like Prague, you’ll love Krakow’, so naturally it I had to see for myself.

The old town is very compact; the medieval main market square (Rynek Glowny), complete with pigeons, is a hive of activity, and I spent all day just wondering around and enjoying the cafes, restaurants, shops and street performers, and then in the evening just party the night away. There was even a Christmas market what added a nice touch.

All building that surrounds the square tells a fairytale, from the old post office to the most famous restaurant in Krakow Wierzynek that comprised of three houses.

Some of the things to see are: Cloth Hall, this building was originally a covered market with stall and shops selling textiles; now it sells souvenirs whilst upstairs has a museum; the Statue of Adam Michiewicz (a poet) is more of a meeting point however at present it was being renovated; the town hall located inside the tower and at each end churches – St Adalbert Church (a small and oddly shaped) and St Mary’s Church.

Krakow is a pretty city, though it doesn’t look very appealing in the rain. Of which we had a lot. Sadly. But when it was dry, Krakow was worth a visit. It’s a pretty little town and the people are mostly very friendly. Though Krakow is now marketed as ‘The New Prague’ I wouldn’t compare the two yet. In Prague there is lots to see and do. In krakow, there is lots to see, but not so much to do (or at least not when it’s raining). The best thing to do in Krakow we found was go to Kazimierz and visit one of the nice pubs there. And eat great sushi at Edo’s sushi place.

hi! its adnan from Turkey. i wanna go to and visit polan too much. but how can i do it?
are there somebody to help me to advice?
thak u so much.. take care.

Basically you pay 1 PLN ($ 0,35) and you get a unique specially minted 1 PLN coin and a pass to numerous museums. The museums are opened till 1 am. There are additional lectures, animated events organized; you may even go home with some free goodies.

We’ve chosen Czartoryski Museum, which displays Turkish booty and works of world-famous painters like Rembrandt and da Vinci. It also sports a collection of Flemish paintings.

because of its vivid cultural city center with lots of students and young people

Been here twice with the Liverpool John Moores University when I studied for my degree in the mid 1990’s. We went by coach which was a horrendous 2.5 day trip overland, chemical toilets full and smelly after first day yeukk. Exchange rate meant we all lived like kings over there getting badly drunk on Polish vodka (not cr*ppy Smirnoff which was more expensive as it was imported) Day trip to Auschwitz left an impression I will never forget. Seen woman begging with her baby in the snow, and bought a knife at a jewish flea market (to cut bread for our sandwiches) woman was overjoyed with what we paid for it even though it was not so much to us. Seen Schindlers List at the cinema in Krakow, amazed at the locals reaction to the film, laughing at innapropriate moments and giving the nazi salute. Maybe just a different sense of humor. Heard the trumpeter give his nightly tune ending abruptly as he re-enacted the original one being hit in the throat by a Tartar arrow.

Photos and accounts look terrific. My son enjoyed looking around here even more than at Prague.

A great place to visit. Plan on at least three days.