What are your other options? Prague? Budapest? Then skip Krakow. But if you’re choosing between Krakow and other Polish cities, then there’s no comparison. Krakow is where the “action” is, even though it’s still relatively tame compared with the West.
1 - If you are “into” history, it has the largest medieval (intact) marketplace in continental Europe. This city was not damaged much at all during the 1939-45 confrontations. There is a lot for history buffs to see and admire. The Jagiellonian University is also wonderful with old buildings, yes; but more modern facilities spread out over the city.
2 - The market square “comes alive” after about 9pm especially on the weekends There are bands, food, general good times; police crack down on rowdiness and drunks.
3 - It is a good central point to reach other interesting places in central Poland such as the Beskid and Tatra Mountains; again historical places like Auswitch Concentration Camps,
Wieliczka Salt Mine, he Black Madonna of Częstochowa….and the McDonalld’s near the Florian Gate!
4 - There are lots of wonderful free and inexpensive classical music concerts.
4 - The city is relatively inexpensive and easy to reach via either train or plane.
Krakow is one of my favorite cities! The people are nice, it isn’t too crowded, and some people call it a mini-Prague because of that! There is so much history there with the castle and Jewish history. While there, a trip to Auschwitz is a must. If you don’t want any of that, it is just worth going to the market to buy the amber jewelry and other nick-nacks. And, it is a fairly cheap city, so your hotel and food bills won’t be sky high.
December 17th, 2007 at 12:33 am
What are your other options? Prague? Budapest? Then skip Krakow. But if you’re choosing between Krakow and other Polish cities, then there’s no comparison. Krakow is where the “action” is, even though it’s still relatively tame compared with the West.
December 19th, 2007 at 9:05 am
1 - If you are “into” history, it has the largest medieval (intact) marketplace in continental Europe. This city was not damaged much at all during the 1939-45 confrontations. There is a lot for history buffs to see and admire. The Jagiellonian University is also wonderful with old buildings, yes; but more modern facilities spread out over the city.
2 - The market square “comes alive” after about 9pm especially on the weekends There are bands, food, general good times; police crack down on rowdiness and drunks.
3 - It is a good central point to reach other interesting places in central Poland such as the Beskid and Tatra Mountains; again historical places like Auswitch Concentration Camps,
Wieliczka Salt Mine, he Black Madonna of Częstochowa….and the McDonalld’s near the Florian Gate!
4 - There are lots of wonderful free and inexpensive classical music concerts.
4 - The city is relatively inexpensive and easy to reach via either train or plane.
December 21st, 2007 at 6:44 am
Yes, why just Krakow? because they never travel to another city. I know more place like Warsaw, Wroclaw, Poznan, Lodz and more, more….
December 23rd, 2007 at 7:07 am
Krakow is one of my favorite cities! The people are nice, it isn’t too crowded, and some people call it a mini-Prague because of that! There is so much history there with the castle and Jewish history. While there, a trip to Auschwitz is a must. If you don’t want any of that, it is just worth going to the market to buy the amber jewelry and other nick-nacks. And, it is a fairly cheap city, so your hotel and food bills won’t be sky high.