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Poland : Krakow - February 2008

Country Code: Dial for Poland

Getting around

Balice Airport

Bus: Radtur runs regular buses into the city centre. A single journey costs about €1,90/PLN 7 and takes 30 minutes.
Taxi: A taxi costs around €13/PLN 50 and takes about 30 minutes.
Tourist information: The main office is at 1 Rynek Główny (tel. , krakow.pl). Orbis (41 Rynek Główny) also provides lots of useful information.

OLD TOWN AND RYNEK

Most of the tourist attractions are in the Rynek (the market square) itself or in the cobblestone streets surrounding it. And if it appears that all roads lead to the Rynek, they do – no matter which way you turn in the old town, you’ll somehow always end up back here among the romantic architecture, cafés and galleries.

Sleep soundly – Just 100m from the train station is the City Hostel (21 ul. swietego Krzyza, tel. , cityhostel.pl, rooms from €12/PLN 43), Krakow’s biggest hostel and one of the few with wheelchair access. The Pałac Bonerowski (1 ul. swietego Jana, tel. , www.alacbonerowski.pl, rooms from €240/PLN 870) was once home to King Jan Sobieski and still retains its regal glamour.

Culture vultures – The Manggha Museum (26 ul. Konopnickiej) is the city’s most unusual space, housing over 6,500 artefacts from Feliks Jasienski’s private collection of Japanese watercolours, masks, armour, porcelain, manga comics and more.

Must eat – Combining Polish and Italian cooking, Miód Malina (40 ul. Grodzka, tel. ) is a high-end delight. Reservations are essential, though, so make sure you call ahead. For the more budget-conscious, Nalesniki (2 pl. Mariacki) serves Polish pancakes in a cafeteria-style atmosphere – right down to the paper plates.

Must drink – Heavy on the exposed brick and exposed midriffs, Midgard (38 ul. Szpitalna) pulls in the backpackers in droves, while sleek Nic Nowego (15 ul. swietego Krzyza) is a favourite with foreign visitors, largely because of its widescreen TV and massive cocktails.

Shop til you drop – If you’re visiting Krakow, one must-buy souvenir is amber, and Boruni Amber Inspirations (16 and 42 ul. Florianska, 22 ul. Kanonicza and 17 ul. Straszewskiego) has a gorgeous selection. You’ll be able to pick up rings, brooches, necklaces, earrings, letter-openers and snuff boxes here. For art lovers, a visit to Galeria AG (2 pl. Dominikanska) will guarantee over-stuffed return luggage – any up-and-coming Polish painter or sculptor’s work is sure to be for sale here.

JEWISH KRAKOW – KAZIMIERZ

Edgy, hip and artistic, Kazimierz has overcome its tragic past as the Jewish ghetto and emerged as the best place to party in Krakow.

Sleep soundly – “Cheap and cheerful” is the expression that best sums up the Any Time Hostel and Pension (16 ul. Estery, tel. , www.anytime.com.pl, rooms from €33/PLN 120), a cramped yet friendly place situated in the bar district. More high-end are the Apartamenty na Kazimierzu (7 ul. Izaaka, tel. , www.apartamenty-kazimierz.com, rooms from €110/PLN 398), which are located down a quiet side street.

Must eat – Kazimierz is famous for its Jewish cuisine and the dumplings and mascarpone with raisins and grated orange at Ariel (17/18 ul. Szeroka, tel. ) are delectable. There are live performances of Jewish and Galician music here most evenings. If you prefer a quick (and cheap) bite to eat before heading out, Endzior (4b/12 plac Nowy) is literally a hole in the wall serving Polish fast food and chips.

Must drink – Housing the city’s most enormous aquarium, visitors at Brewerie (24 ul. Meiselsa) can pass the time contemplating the fish that stare back at them. The decorator at the chic Camera Café Club (9 plac Nowy) went for metal, chrome, blood-red sofas and abstract art, making it an avant garde night out.

Dance the night away – Space is tight at Etcetera (8 plac Nowy) where people always outnumber the chairs available, so get there early if you want to enjoy the DJs from a seated position. And definitely visit the newly opened Zaraz Wracam (11 ul. Bozego Ciała), where some very bizarre art graces the walls.

Compiled by Michelle Smith

Previous issues for Krakow

Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy,
please confirm event/venue details in advance.

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