I'm going to Krakow with a couple friends in May 2009. I've been told that Krakow is a good city to experience in a few days but maybe not for a week. So we're thinking of spending a few nights in Krakow and then heading to Prague (maybe Cesky Krumlov) by overnight train for a few days before heading to Barcelona and Amsterdam.
UNLESS!!!...there is an interesting "small" town near Krakow that is worth staying in for a couple nights. The idea is that it would be nice to spend a few days relaxing in a "non-party spot" (but still with plenty of good sights, food and drink!) before we get exhausted by Barcelona and Amsterdam.
Any insight and suggestions would be much appreciated as I am a Euro-virgin and am trying my hardest to get the most variety and quality from our 3 week adventure in Europe.
Much Love,
~Robert~
Reply to this You want to visit Auschwitz...not a fun day, but something we should all see one day not to forget.
I've got a etry on my blog about it.
Peter
Reply to this You want to visit Auschwitz...
To get to Auschwitz, take the bus or train from Krakow to Oswiecim station. Then take either walk the 3KM or take the shuttle bus to Auschwitz.
When we were in Poland, we went to a town in the mountains after Krakow called Zakopane. As far as I remember it was a few hours bus ride from Krakow.
Reply to this When we were in Poland, we went to a town in the mountains after Krakow called Zakopane. As far as I remember it was a few hours bus ride from Krakow.
The town of Zakopane has extremely beautiful culture and local culture that is distinct from places like Krakow.
Reply to this If you do choose to visit the Auschwitz memorials, there are two to visit - the one known as Auschwitz (which is the official museum) and the larger, less visited Bireknau. Though the first one has a very detailed history of the camps, to better comprehend the scale of what occurred you will need to visit Birkenau - it is numbing.
Reply to this For a one day trip you can also go to Ojców😊 It's about half an hour north from Kraków by bus. This is a long limestone valley, with a castle, caves and forest. It's not very popular among non-polish tourists so it's worth to see espatially if you want to rest in the beautifull landscape😊
Reply to this Well, because I'm a citizen of Cracow, I can surely recommend you some towns to visit - as a student, I organized some trips for foreigner students, that came to Cracow. Of course, places you mentioned are great - Zakopane is the "capital" of Poland in winter😊, Ojcow is full of great views and is perfect for climbers, and Auschwitz-Birkenau (Oswiecim) could be an ideal lesson of a part of world's history. I can add also Wieliczka with an amazing salt mine or Niepolomice - you can find there a palace with an exhibition from one of the greatest museums in Poland.
I think, that a good idea is to stay in Cracow in one place and have a small trips - each day one town. As I have mentioned in the other post, I know that Aston Hostel is a good place to stay. What is more, it's close to the train and bus station, what is very useful when you want to visit other towns.
Reply to this Cracov:
-Wawel Castle
-market square
-a lot of churches in whole city
-Festung Krakau (bunkers, shelters from XVIII century)
-Nowa Huta "unfinished Josef Stalin's dream"
-churches in Nowa Huta (Mogiła - old, wood church; Arka Pana - first church in communist Nowa Huta)
And that not all.
Reply to this Many thing to do in Cracow. Like marasbone
Marek say. But for me especially interesting were market square, wawel castle and Kazimierz (jewish district). Enjoy Cracow!
Reply to this The main Market Square, Sukiennice (Cloth Hall), Town Hall Tower and St. Adalbert’s Church, St. Mary’s Basilica, Cracow Underground Museum And Exhibition, Barbican and Old City Walls, Wawel Royal Castle and Cathedral,
Reply to this 
