More and more domestic tourists are seeking to visit Western countries. To do this, by the way, it is not at all necessary to stretch to the very edge of Europe, because our neighboring countries can fully satisfy your curiosity. For example, Poland and its former capital – Krakow. It was here, starting from the 14th century, that famous rulers were forged, who changed the course of history and wrote their names in all European textbooks. And all this directly affected the development and prosperity of Krakow, which now makes it the most tourist city in all of Poland! And the title of “European Capital of Culture”, earned in 2000, only encourages travelers to come here again and again.
A trip to Krakow will be an excellent option for those who want to feel the spirit of medieval Europe, but do not have a large budget. Transport links in Poland are well developed, so you can plan your trip in such a way that it will cost you just a few rubles. Hotels and entertainment are also very affordable by European standards. And so that upon arrival you don’t have to think once again about where to go and what to do, we have prepared several tips.
Free excursions “Free Walking Tour”
That’s right – absolutely free. They are led by highly qualified guides, not in Polish, but in excellent English, and even with humor. These excursions are conducted several times a day, and their frequency depends on the season. The schedule can be found on the official website. There you can also learn about the topics of excursions. There are four of them: Old Town, Jewish Krakow, Gloomy Krakow, Food Krakow. The meeting point is St. Mary’s Church, which is located on the Market Square. The guide can be easily identified by the corresponding sign.
Although you will spend most of your time within the walls of the Old City, a tour of it is still definitely worth a visit. After all, the very first acquaintance with the “Royal City” should begin with the Royal Palace, located on Wawel Hill, and the Market Square, famous for its Cloth Hall and underground museum!
Kazimierz
Now this is the central district of Krakow (on the map),
but many centuries ago Kazimierz was a separate city, where all the Jews of the capital were driven. Because of this, it developed according to Jewish traditions and characteristics. And now in this area the number of synagogues exceeds the number of churches. A stroll through the streets of the Jewish Quarter is a must, if only to try authentic Polish fast food – Zapiekanka,
which cannot be found anywhere else. Although the area is Jewish, the prices here are not bad at all. And you can have a good meal for 2-4 €. In addition, Steven Spielberg made a good advertisement for Kazimierz by filming the cult film “Schindler’s List” in this area.
Wieliczka
Wieliczka is a suburb of Krakow. You can get to it by train or bus. The ticket costs only 1€. And if you are not afraid of underground gnome miners, then you should definitely visit this town. But not just go, but buy an excursion there and go down to the salt mines (on the map),
which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Alas, they won’t let you in without a guide. You will have to buy a ticket for 22 €, but you will instantly forget about the money spent as soon as at a depth of a couple of hundred meters you will see huge halls, chapels and kilometers of mining passages carved out of salt. And also many figures, statues and mechanisms, even a restaurant! At the same time, a personal guide in Russian will very entertainingly tell and show what salt mining was like many years ago, and how important and profitable it was.
Polish cuisine
Most likely, there is no other place in Europe where food can be tasty and cheap at the same time. For 5-10 € you can have a great meal and taste several types of beer brewed at the local brewery C.K. Browar (on the map),
which was built more than a hundred years ago, when the Austrians walked around Krakow as if they were at home. Of the traditional dishes, it is worth ordering Źurek for the first course. If you have a good taste for homemade dumplings, then you will definitely like Pierogi,
which can be with all sorts of fillings. And you definitely shouldn’t leave the table without trying Polish sausages (Kielbasa).
Nightlife in Krakow
No need to rush to the hotel as soon as the sun’s rays stop illuminating the facade of Wawel Castle. After all, the most interesting thing begins – the old city begins to come to life! Young people crawl out of hostels in search of adventure, street performers with their performances only warm up the crowd to go into night drive mode. Slowly the atmosphere of Krakow is filled with alcoholic fumes. The time for bars, clubs and immoral behavior is coming. But in addition to sultry parties with a complete blow-out, the city can also offer a leisurely and calm pace, with pleasant music and a relaxing mood in some quiet bar, hidden in a secluded Krakow courtyard. And only you can decide whose side you are on, how you will spend this night, from which sleep is excluded as an unnecessary option.
Text and photo: Andrey Bortnikov
