What to do in krakow

[dontforgetme]

Hi,

Dp and I have booked a long weekend in Krakow for November. Really looking forward to it, does anybody have any recs of things we must do or places we must try for food and drinks?

We are doing Auschwitz and the salt mines in one day. I’m also planning on visiting Schindler's museum.

Tia

We went to Auschwitz by train. It took all day but was good and going by train is far preferable to a coach trip imo. Then we had one day in Krakow- there’s plenty to do.
The waxwork museum is well worth seeing. It’s open in the evenings.

Will the Christmas market be on @dontforgetme ? It really brings the main square to life and gives you lots of tasty food options.

Also try Lost Souls Alley - I dare you!

I had one of my best meals ever at BOTTIGLIERIA 1881. You do need to book in advance but so well worth it.

We also did Salt mines and Auschwitz on the same day and would recommend it. The Salt mines were a nice reprieve after the concentration camp and a better use of time than splitting it over two days.

I agree.

We had a lovely steak meal at Moo Moo

If you have time for another trip I’d recommend the thermal baths

I had to drink a lot of vodka after Lost Souls Alley

The Christmas market doesn’t begin until 28th November (I believe) and we are going the beginning of November. Would have really loved to visit then but we were limited on dates due to childcare.

I have just booked Moo Moo for the Saturday night. We love a steak and pictures and reviews look amazing online!

Hadn’t heard of Lost Souls Alley - wow!!! That looks right up my street but may take some convincing to get dp to agree. 10 years ago we did Pasaje del Terror in Blackpool and he shit his pants and swore never again 😂

Thanks all for the recs. Mumsnet is brilliant sometimes!!

@BG2015 have a lovely time! If you remember, please do come back to the thread and let me know how you get on and if you find any more recommendations whilst there. I go just after you. I can’t wait.

Krakow is a perfect city to wander on foot - it feel very safe, and there are so many places to eat and drink - we mostly just found restaurants in quieter areas and ate there for a fraction of the cost of the main tourist areas. Restaurants are much more expensive on the main square and areas around it.

There are some great little dive bars called Bania Luka, that do a range of interesting shots for a good price - try the Monkey Brain and the Smurf. There's also a good cocktail bar called Scandale Royal that does a great happy hour, and the most beautiful cocktails.

Download the Bolt app (similar to Uber) before you go - we found it very easy to use, and very cheap - we paid £6 one way from the airport to the city centre, and around £5 to go to the Salt Mines. It wasn't much more than the cost of the train and very simple to use.

we stayed at the hotel stary just off the main square…. The spa is amazing. I agree with others auschwitz and the mines in one day is too much. I spent the day walking around the camps blew my mind. Let alone anything else on top! Except for a stiff drink

Pimiento was a good steak place...although I dont eat it!

@dontforgetme
We got back from Krakow late last night and had a really good time.

We got the train into the city - really easy to follow the signs. You can buy your tickets on the platform or pay the conductor on the train. Cost us about £7 for the 2 of us.

We paid for everything by card and just selected Zloty on the card machine.

It was chilly so make sure you go with the usual winter stuff.

Friday afternoon we had a wander around the square, had a drink in a bar which cost us £13 for a beer and a gin. Found another bar (Banialuka) in a side street and same two drinks were £5.58. Banialuka is a bit like our Wetherspoons, cheap and cheerful. We sat chatting to a couple from Lancashire for an hour and then headed to an Indian called Delhi Curry house - excellent and we paid £35 in there for 2 meals and a drink.

Went back to our hotel as we had a 6am pick up. Went to Auschwitz and the salt mines - booked with Mr Shuttle, very organised and I would highly recommend. We asked for a breakfast box to take with us from the hotel. Very long day but well worth it.
We were shattered so just grabbed a snack for tea and didn't have a meal out.

Sunday we went on a walking tour with Walkative around the Jewish quarter - brilliant. The guy was excellent, 2.5 hours around this area with a little break in the middle. Ended up in what was the ghetto during the war.

We had booked a late lunch in an amazing place called Starka in the Jewish quarter, absolutely gorgeous Polish dumplings and main course. 2 drinks and that was £61. Walked back to the hotel as my DP wasn't well - we think Covid or a very bad cold.

Monday we went to the castle and saw the breathing dragon and then went on a boat trip which was rubbish to be honest.

Back to the train station which is below a massive shopping centre so grabbed some lunch there before heading to the airport on the train.

We really enjoyed Krakow (DP being ill made us a bit slower than usual) but it's an amazing, vibrant city. We spent about £350 over 3 days.

Let me know what you think

If you are only there for two full days i would consider leaving the Auschwitz tour for another visit as it needs time and it is a shame to rush it. Unless you have your heart set on going of course.
The salt mines can be done as a half day tour, buy tickets online and get an uber there and back as it isn't far out of the city. Very interesting and unusual.
The city is stunning and should be enjoyed at your leisure, no need to pre-plan too much. It is by far the safest feeling city I've been to in my lifetime.

The free walking tour that meets in the main square is great.

Make sure you pre book your Auschwitz tickets. We saw hundreds of people queuing for them at 7 am and our driver said they had all gone by 8.30am.

Apparently people start queuing at 3am if they haven't booked an organised tour.

@BG2015 so glad you had a good time! We go next week. Will definitely visit Banialuka and may head to that Indian on the Thursday night. We visit Auschwitz on the Friday, we didn’t book the salt mines in the end. Good shout re asking for a breakfast box.

This was the highlight of our trip. Hands down.

I had to have the biggest glass of wine afterwards.

Just on experience, been to Krakow 4 times & Auschwitz 4 times, salt mines once, and done most of the other things suggested above plus more on the Krakow pass. For people on a budget and lots of time, you can visit Auschwitz (free after 5pm but you need to get a ticket on their website) and you can get a very nice train with massive open window roof in 1st class for a very reasonable price, even cheaper in 2nd) BUT getting to the sites from the station is a fair walk, and confusing. Similarly, salt mines, they really are fabulous, and again, a local train is available for those who want it, and you have to book well in advance if doing it independently. If you are short on time, getting ferried around to these places is probably worth it. It is not often I would advocate taking a tour, but if time is short, then it is the answer. I have been to Schindler's factory twice, it is worth a visit but again, it is massively popular with queues if you don't get in early. The town square is beautiful, and the cloth hall market, I have been to the underground Rynek museum. It was just about OK as I was on a pass. but I personally thought over-rated, full of kids and interactive stuff, overpriced. It is worth walking up to the castle, lots to see and no charge unless you want to go into various bits of it. I absolutely love the pinball museum, it is about a tenner for unlimted, and less for an hour. For a night out, Kazimierz is a great place, OK touristy (and dark) but Alchemia, Eszerweria and Singer are my faves, normal pubs really. If you end up in the centre, of Kazimerz there are windows that sell ZapieKanka of evey type (French bread smothered with fillings) Ubers and BOLT are cheap and reliable, the transport system is pretty good (train from airport is a couple of £), tram/bus passes are cheap and get you where you want to for really cheap, but if time is short, Uber is good. You won't necessarily have the time or the inclination to go up the Krakus Mound when you go, but it is great in the summer and gives you as great view of Krakow, and there are some moving structures nearby (Ghetto heroes square). Finally if you want a pitstop when you are out Lajkonik coffee shops are all over the place, it is a chain, but they are actually pretty good, warm, good loos, nice range of sweet and savoury, good drinks, wifi) - plenty of other places avail, but on my last trip when it was colder I appreciated them. Hope this helps x

It's such a shame to go to Krakow and spend all the time out of it ! It's a wonderful walking city with so much to see and eat. The people you encounter are so great! Our trip to Auschwitz was all day as there are actually two parts to it in separate locations so wonder if your trip is doing you and it a disservice. We've been twice and not done the salt mines as yet. We will go back again. Food is great and reasonably priced. Drinks too. The walking tour of the Jewish area was excellent as was the visit to Schindler's. The underground museum of the main square too! So much I love about Krakow!

I'm going there next week too, enjoy!

Our trip to Auschwitz was all day as there are actually two parts to it in separate locations so wonder if your trip is doing you and it a disservice. We've been twice and not done the salt mines as yet.

On our trip, we went to both parts, and to the Salt Mines all on the same day.
Yes, it was a long day (almost 13 hours) BUT, we then went to be early, and had a relaxing day the next day, just wandering around the beautiful City that is Krakow. I know it won't be for everyone, but we felt it was a good day, and somehow the Salt Mines lifted us up after the sombre visit to Auschwitz. I'm glad we did it like that and would certainly recommend it.

Yes it's Auschwitz then you drive a few minutes to the second camp at Birkenau, it's included in the tour we had.

Ooh I'm piggybacking as I'm hopefully taking my DD (11) there at Easter.
I was thinking Schindler's Museum and then lots of hot chocolate and dumplings, or Easter eggs. Definitely not Auschwitz. We will be interrailing so won't want to go on lengthy tours outside the city anyway.
Unless there are some other can't-miss sights for tweens.

Ok now I think the pinball museum too!

The Salt Mines really are stunning @drspouse

We almost didn't go as the idea of 'going down a mine' didn't appeal to me, but my friend found the tour that did both Auschwitz and the Salt Mines in the one day so we thought 'oh, go on then' and it was stunning. SO glad we didn't miss it.
Public transport in Poland is cheap and easy to use.

Placemarking as we are going in Dec can’t wait

@notimeforregrets I am SO excited! Hope you have a fantastic time.