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Poland's former royal capital effortlessly fuses medieval pomp and pageantry with modern-day, student-fuelled fun into a harmonious whole.
Situated on the banks of the Vistula
River, Krakow is the third largest city in Poland, and an important university
centre boasting the oldest university in Europe. As a consequence of the
student populace, it has a lively atmosphere and a vibrant nightlife.
The charming Old Town is a
compact area encircled by leafy parkland that forms a green belt around the
historic centre. The main entrance to the old city was through the Florian
Gate, set within the original city walls.
The lively heart of the old town (or Stare Miasto), is the attractive main
square of Rynek Glowny. In the
summer it is filled with people sitting on café terraces, and in winter,
with Christmas trees and a festive market. From here cobbled streets radiate,
most of them lined with medieval buildings, shops, bars and restaurants.
Overlooking the city is Wawel Hill, topped by the striking Royal Wawel Castle.
This was the main residence of Polish kings and queens until the 17th
century. Also important is the city's Jewish roots, no more poignant than in
the death camps of Auschwitz and Birkenau, west of Krakow.
Another area of Jewish heritage, away from the old town, is the district of
Kazimierz. Today it is one of the best areas for nightlife in the city.
The weather in Krakow in
summer is comfortably warm with occasional heat waves. Autumn brings dry, warm weather
but winters can be fairly severe with snow and temperatures at or below
freezing. Spring is the best season in Krakow with bright, mild days.
The average monthly temperatures
are:
|
°C |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Day |
0 |
2 |
7 |
14 |
19 |
22 |
23 |
23 |
19 |
14 |
7 |
2 |
|
Night |
-7 |
-5 |
-1 |
3 |
8 |
11 |
12 |
12 |
9 |
4 |
0 |
-4 |
Don’t expect high class
European shopping in Krakow because you won’t find it. There are no exclusive boutiques
or huge department stores here. But Krakow does have a charm of its own when it
comes to satisfying your craving for retail therapy.
Many of the streets in the
old town are lined with shops. Many tourists find themselves at some point in
Cloth Hall or Sukiennice in Rynek Glowney for their great selection of
traditional handicrafts. For jewellery and clothes shops head for Ul
Florianska, for amber shops your best bet is on Ul Grodzka and Ul Zwierzyniecka
whereas Kazimierz is best for antiques.
If you enjoy browsing for
antiques, Plac Nowy is a market held in the central square in Kazimierz every
Sunday and is the ideal place to pick up a bargain. The other main markets are
those held at Christmas in Rynek Glowny.
Popular items to look out
for are traditional Polish handicrafts, jewellery (especially amber), lace,
leather goods and vodka.
Krakow has numerous entertainment
venues to keep you occupied. For the latest information on what’s on where
check out the free publications The
Visitor and The Guide which are
available from tourist offices, hotels and bars.
If you are into live music and you
love Jazz, Krakow is the city for you. There are numerous venues including Art
Club Cieplarnia, Jazz Club U Maniaka and Harris Piano Jazz Bar. If you are more
of a classical fan, the best venue in the city is the Philharmonic Hall.
There are many theatres in the city
but many performances are in Polish and if you enjoy opera, head for Slowacki
Theatre. If you are more of a cinema person, many cinemas show international films
in their original language with Polish subtitles. The most central one is Pod
Baranami in Rynek Glowny or if you prefer there is the large Cinema City
Panasonic IMAX Krakow complex on the edge of the city.
The epicentre for bars, clubs and
cafés is Ryneck Glowny. Places tend to come and go quite regularly but below
are some of the most popular venues at the moment:
May
June
July
December
There are many things to see and do within Krakow but you may want to explore further
afield during your stay. Your hotel should be able to provide you with details
of excursions run by local tour operators, however, below are just a few
suggestions of places you may want to visit during your stay.
Although theoretically the
tap water is safe to drink in Poland, you are advised to drink bottled mineral
water. The standard of health care isn’t very high. Medical treatment for EU
citizens on presentation of an EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) is free but
it is advisable to take out comprehensive travel insurance before travelling.
As a city Krakow is
relatively safe but you should take the usual precautions with your valuables
especially in crowded areas as pick-pockets may be about. Also take care on the
roads. Polish drivers can be a bit mad and have a tendency not to stop for
traffic lights!