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Poland : Krakow - April 2010

Country Code: Dial for Poland

Bursting with culture and beauty, Krakow can get hot in the summer months – very hot. Thankfully, the city has no shortage of cool outdoor terraces and beer gardens, where you can stay fed and watered in-between the city’s outdoor attractions. If you’re in the country from 26 June, Michelle Smith reminds you to drop by for its coolest annual cultural event: the internationally renowned Jewish Culture Festival

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

The undeniable heart and soul of Krakow, this is where the vast majority of the sights, restaurants, bars and cafés are to be found.

Sleep soundly – For a wonderfully decadent stay, check out Affinity Flats (office address: 17 Ulica Brzozowa, tel. , affinityflats.com, apartments from €55/PLN 225), which has numerous flats scattered about the Old Town area, ranging from luxurious designer lofts and studios to more family-orientated accommodation. If you’d rather stay in a hotel, then try the Wielopole (3 Ulica Wielopole, tel. , wielopole.pl, rooms from €78/PLN 318). Just a four-minute walk from the Old Town, it’s friendly, clean and newly renovated.

Must eat – Nothing beats fresh and light cuisine in the summer, and Farinella (5 Ulica Sw Anny, tel. ) is a fantastic tapas bar where friendly staff serve light meals on an outdoor terrace.

Must drink – The Rynek Główny (grand square) offers dozens of places to down a pint or two, but if you want to get away from the crowds head to 3 and 5 Ulica Bracka – a courtyard hiding many drinking establishments nestled away. If the Rynek is your preferred drinking spot, Buddha Bar (6 Rynek Główny) has a gorgeous garden. Also try Café Bunkier (3a Plac Szczepanski): it’s right on the edge of the Planty – Krakow’s green belt – and has a satisfyingly large outdoor terrace.

Dance the night away – Those looking to revisit their childhood should drop by Circus (16 Ulica Starowislna), with a huge dance floor and themed décor that boasts fur, tigers and polka dots. Great for a bit of clowning around.

JEWISH KRAKOW – KAZIMIERZ

Just 50 years ago, Krakow’s former Jewish Quarter was demolished and devastated. Today, thanks to a concerted effort to breathe new life into the area, Kazimierz boasts cool-chic shops and hot cultural events, clubs and bars.

Culture vultures – The Krakow Jewish Culture Festival is one of the largest such events in the world. Every summer for nine days (this year the festival takes place from 26 June to 4 July), Kazimierz comes alive with klezmer music, films festivals, theatrical performances and exhibitions. There are workshops in Hasidic song and dance, Hebrew calligraphy and Jewish paper cutting, making for a truly unique experience. For more information and a full itinerary of events, visit jewishfestival.pl.

Must eat – For sophisticated dining, head to Kuchnia i Wino (13 Ulica Józefa, tel. ), serving a superb pork tenderloin in truffle sauce and an impressively varied wine list. Also recommended is the new Vanilla Sky Restaurant (in the Art Hotel Niebieski, 3 Ulica Flisacka, tel. ), which is the only restaurant in the city to get all of its ingredients from fully certified organic sources. With dishes such as a red grapefruit soufflé, fresh and healthy is truly delicious.

Must drink – All done out in black and red, the moody and sexy Opium (19 Ulica Jakuba) has two fantastic outdoor bars – one a rooftop terrace and the other in a courtyard. At Stajnia (12 Ulica Józefa), the massive bar is in Kazimerz’s loveliest courtyard and the drinks flow until sunrise.

Shop til you drop – Traditionally, Krakow’s best shopping has been in the Rynek, but now Kazimierz has dozens of original, artistic and charming shops. Lulu Living (10b Ulica Dajwór) is one such place: it sells traditional Chinese furniture, original jewellery, cosmetics and handbags. Once you’ve maxed out the credit card, sit in the café and recover with a slice of sernik (cheesecake). Women who love avant-garde pieces that take some nerve to pull off must visit Blazko Kindery (11 Ulica Józefa), where the English-speaking staff help customers sort through Grzegorz Blazko’s huge, ultra-modern collection.

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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