Krakow suggestions?

[doinghollywoodshit]

I’m having my first holiday in I think roughly ten years, 4 days in krakow later on this year, has anyone got any wonderful restaurant suggestions or places to visit and must do things? I’ve never been to Poland before and I’m just excited for anyone’s suggestions! (I know auschwitz is within an hour, but I can’t face that on this trip, it’s my I’ve beat cancer celebration and I won’t be in the headspace to do something so harrowing)

I went last winter and absolutely loved Krakow,.it's a great city. Quite compact too so easy to get around. As it was Xmas we were there for the markets.

We went to Mr Pancake, which was really fun but it wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea.

Found a lovely hidden gem cocktail bar, just stumbled across it one evening. It was called Rumour, piano bar style really quiet vibes great service. The wodka bar was good too but we had to queue for that, get the chocolate one if you go.

We went to the salt mine, wouldnt recommend it the tour was long and boring. If I was to go again I would do a zakopane trip instead.

Pizzatopia for lunch, like a subway style pizza place.

We went to a steak place called Sioux on the main square, wasn't expecting much as it's a real.tourist spot but it was really good!

A walk round the Jewish quarter, and Wawel castle if you like that kind of thing.

Thank you so much! Just eyeing up the mr pancake menu options now. the zakopane trip, is that to the hot springs? From a quick google that looks very very tempting!

You will have the best time. Myself and my husband used to go every year but haven't been back for a while. We loved the restaurants and bars. So many to choose from. Cyrano de Bergerac stands out. Enjoy.

Yes! They take you a trip into the mountains and stop a village for a look around, markets, food etc and then the thermal baths on the way back. It's a man made spa though, not natural hot springs.

Are you going alone or with family?
We really enjoyed the salt mines, did a half day trip I think.
It's a while since I was there so no restaurant recommendations but it is a gorgeous city just to wander around, visit the indoor market, etc.

Definitely do the castle it's really interesting., but if it's a cold day it'll be like siberia.
I also loved the ethnographic (folk) museum.

Thank you all so much! It's just me and dh going

Jewish quarter is beautiful. Great restaurants there.
Dinner at Piano Rouge is 🤩
Golf buggy tour was fab. Expensive but so worth it.

I looked up piano rouge and the inside looks beautiful!

It’s so incredible! Like a glittering magical cave! Food and drinks were amazing - pricey for Krakow standards but way cheaper than UK similar. Singer and pianist were also brilliant. Such a great evening!

We loved Krakow! Absolute musts:

Salt mines. Unbelievable!

Cyrano de Bergerac restaurant as suggested above. It felt like Michelin star quality for standard prices.

Enjoy!

A beautiful city! (Avoid the "pissy" horses, we used to hide if we saw the horses and carriages coming, they absolutely stink!)
The Jewish quarter is lovely, we found a very old hotel and had lunch there, it was like stepping back in time and the food was beautiful.
Be aware that all the bars are in cellars, so you don't tend to notice them! We spent ages looking for somewhere to go for a drink!
We stayed at The Atrium, 5 mins walk from the square. It was a lovely hotel, everything you need and the breakfast, well, it's easier to list what they don't provide!
The market squares dotted all over are great! And there are plenty of coffee shops and cafes.
Hope you love it as much as we did!

If you like steak, I'd highly recommend Moo Moo, especially the one in the Jewish Quarter. Singers Bar is also fantastic, also in the JQ.

I did a free walking tour, Auschwitz (I understand why you won't want to go there) and the salt mines. Don't miss wandering around the outside of the castle and the fire breathing dragon. The square is lovely with a (fairly hidden) rooftop bar above the Cloth Hall (I think it's Cafe Szal). We did the Wodka Bar and William Rabbit cocktail bar (It's very well hidden!). Best restaurant was Starka (booked before we went) - you won't regret it.

I went with a friend last September. We stayed 5 mins from main square, the square is lovely with lots of bars and restaurants. We went in St Mary’s basilica which was amazing. Visited aushwitz which is difficult to put into words, but I understand your reasons for not going.
i would highly recommend a buggy tour booked via “get your guide”, very informative about the history. We visited the Jewish quarter after and it made much more sense.
we indulged with restaurants, so not the cheapest but in comparison for what you get they were lovely (we prefer quality over quantity):
Sant’Anticoco
Farina
Kogel Mogel

Recommend the thermal spa trip.
Book an Uber for the salt mines as it is way, way cheaper. Then you just join one there tours, really liked it.
the cathedral and castle are good.
Sitting in the square and having a cocktail.
Wandering around the Jewish quarter and having a few drinks.
It’s a fabulous place, the people are lovely.

I came to say we went to Piano Rouge - family member was desperate to go and tbh I had also seen the rave reviews so was happy to give it a go.
Personally we were all disappointed - really average food (for what it was hyped up to be) and extremely slow service. We were a walk in as it books up in advance. Maybe that was why.
Might have just been our experience and opinion and I appreciate that it may be somewhere you want to try regardless!
We went to Mr Jerry for steaks and they were lovely. If you look up planet krakow alot of places do free welcome drinks etc if you mention them.
Also recommend cafe camelot for breakfast. On return would visit Jewish quarter for food as we tried lots of little cocktail bars around there which were great! Make sure you try pierogi - very tasty!
We also went to the e.wedel chocolate cafe, super tasty hot chocs!
In terms of what to see we did Auschwitz (would recommend doing at start of trip as very intense and emotive) schindlers factory, the castle and other smaller sights around town. We also did the wax work museum one evening - a bit of fun, don't be expecting quality!

Have just got back from a trip to Krakow (3 adults). It was absolutely fabulous. On the first day we had a guided tour by a local guy called Rudolph via Air BnB. https://www.airbnb.ae/experiences/671001
His reviews were amazing on AirBnB and we were not disappointed. He completely set the scene for us and gave us great ideas for what to do/not to do. He was so knowledgeable but also thoughtful and sensitive around the history.
We had already decided not to go to Auschwitz but he recommended Plaszow which is the work camp in the film Schlinder's List. It's a free, open park with lots of information. We went after visiting Schindler's Factory which is a 100% recommendation. Tells the history of Germany in the war. After the factory we went to Slow Wine for lunch (virtually next door) and it was fab (recommended in the Lonely Planet guide along with Knitted Coffee which was also great coffee).
We had a completely incredible meal at Fiorentina (pricey but worth it) and also had great fun at Cosmic Games - you pay £5 to get in but then there are loads of games like air hockey, shuffle board, table football which are all free. Also had a wonderful cocktail in a 'speakeasy' called Mercy Brown (slightly confusing entrance via another restaurant as per speakeasy tradition). I found this having googled 'fanciest bar in Krakow'. Hope this helps!

Sounds great. We're off there at the end of March and will be taking everyone's recommendations on board.

I enjoyed the salt mines. I mean they weren't absolutely amazing but they were an unusual thing to see.

We booked tickets directly in advance and just got an uber there and back so it only took 2-3 hrs in total.

Ubers are cheap to get around. We didn't go to the spa but it looks good.

We didn't go to Auschwitz either.

I took one of my teenagers a few summers ago. We stayed in a lovely room overlooking the beautiful main square. It was so nice to be able to open the window and have that vibe.
Loads of lovely little places to eat and its such good value for eating out and drinking.

We got a guided tour with transport to Auschwitz,which was harrowing but im glad we did it. It stayed with me.
The salt mines are amazing. We also did a day trip into the mountains to Zakopane.