In
addition to the incredible architecture, museums, art
galleries, interesting shops and market places abound.
As Krakow is such a compact city, one of the best ways
to enjoy its sights and sounds is by wandering around
on foot. If you get tired, however, there are plenty of
buses and trams criss-crossing the city, not to mention
horse-drawn carriages. Alternatively, hiring bikes is
a cheap and enjoyable way to explore more of the city
and its outskirts; popular trips include cycling along
the banks of the River Wisla and visiting Nowa Huta, Krakow’s
last remaining Communist enclave.
Eating and drinking in the vast array
of bars, cafes and restaurants is another high point of
a trip to Krakow. There is so much choice, from the very
basic but authentically Polish ‘Milk bars’
to sophisticated five-star restaurants, cellar bars to
pavement cafes and the deeply traditional to the hyper
modern. The quality of food and service is generally outstanding
as is the great value for money. Most types of international
cuisine can be found as well of course as tasty Polish
fare including hearty soups, pancakes and dumplings, and
vegetarians will not go hungry. There are literally hundreds
of different flavoured vodka’s to sample, Polish
beers are every bit as good as the more well-known Czech
ones and hot cherry wine is unbeatable during the cold
Winter months. Unlike other eastern European cities such
as Prague, Krakow has thankfully not become a haven for
hen and stag do’s and going out for a few drinks
remains a pleasant experience.
Live music of all genres can be found
throughout the city and nightclubs, cinema’s showing
English-language films and theatres are also prolific.
Interesting and easy day-trips from Krakow
include to Wieliczka Salt Mine, the Auschwitz-Birkenau
deathcamps at Oswiecim and the ski and hiking resort of
Zakopane in Poland’s highest mountain range.
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