Krakow is full of craic

Looking for a cool and budget-friendly place to visit during the summer months? Book a flight to Krakow, Poland and you won’t regret it.

Originally published in SEDA News

Krakow is absolutely beautiful and very warm in the summer! There are loads of things to do and people to meet in this vibrant student city. And if you have some extra time on your hands you can also visit the Auschwitz concentration camp and the mountains of Zakopane – just a short trip away. Did we mention that a meal and a board in Krakow is less than half the price you’d pay for same in Dublin? So, without further ado, here’s a quick list of must-sees.

The old city

You can spend many delightful hours just walking around the medieval cobblestone streets of Krakow, lined with pubs and colourful restaurants. The major attractions are the main square (Rynok Glowny), known as the widest square in Europe, and the old Wawel castle: legend has it that a dragon lives under the ramparts and you can even pay a visit to the dragon’s cave… there will be a surprise waiting for you outside! If you want company for exploring the place, there are free walking tours available daily.

Cafes, restaurants and bars

There are too many good places to mention! For food we’d recommend a visit to Pod Wawelem – a restaurant located just under the Wawel castle and styled as a beer hall. They have a large selection of meats, local delicacies such as dumplings (pierogi) and sour rye soup (zurek) and loads of beers! Those with a sweet tooth should make their way to the Chocolate factory in the Old town. Brought to Krakow by a Ukrainian company from Lviv, the factory doubles up as a museum because you can literally watch as your chocolates are made and get plenty of information about the process. They have a huge selection of sweets, coffees and some really original souvenirs!

Finally, for drinks go to Forum Przestrzenie (or just Forum). Located on the banks of the Vistula river, the place looks like an urban beach – with long chairs and umbrellas spread around a large space covered with pebbles and grass. Listening to chillout electronic music, lazily watching the sun set over Krakow with a cocktail in hand you’ll feel almost like you were in Ibiza!

Jewish heritage and Schindler museum

For centuries Krakow has been home to a large Jewish community and it has a carefully preserved Jewish quarter called Kazimierz. Make sure to spend some time wandering its narrow streets, admiring the beautiful architecture and maybe pay a visit to a couple of local cafes or restaurants (Jewish cuisine is not for everyone though). You will also want to go back to Kazimierz at night as it’s full of excellent bars and clubs.

Over on the other bank of the river is the Oskar Schindler museum – based in Schindler’s enamel factory where the German industrialist saved thousands of Jews from extermination by the Nazis. A visit is highly recommended – and not just for history buffs.

Outside of the city

There are three great places to visit outside of Krakow. The closest is the Wieliczka saltmine – a huge labyrinth of underground passages where generations of Krakow miners worked for centuries. You’ll find passages stretching thousands of meters underground, salt sculptures, gaping caverns, historic reconstructions showing you the day-to-day of the salt miners of old, and a stupendous underground chapel built entirely of salt!

The former Auschwitz concentration camp is about an hour’s drive from Krakow. It is a very sad, depressing site, but a visit is a must if you want to experience the place where Nazis killed over a million people just over 70 years ago.

Zakopane – gateway to the beautiful Tatra mountains – is about a 2.5-hour drive to the South of Krakow. It’s got pure Alpine air, plenty of refreshing mountain walks and some really amazing views. In the summer you can also go rafting, rock climbing and exploring the local caves – loads of fun!

SEDA News tips

• The easiest way to get to Krakow from Dublin is by plane (Ryanair). Expect to pay about 100-150 euro for a return trip.

• In Krakow try to book accommodation between the old city and Kazimierz (the Jewish district) as that’s where you’ll spend most of your time.

• If you decide to go to Auschwitz or Wieliczka salt mine, don’t book expensive tours offered in the city centre. You can get to both places by public transport for a fraction of the cost.

• If you have to travel by taxi in Krakow book one by phone instead of hailing a cab in the street (or – god forbid! – outside of the airport) – it’ll be a lot cheaper. One of the best value callout taxi companies is Mega Taxi and their number is +48 121 9625. To get a lift from the airport just call the number when you land – a cab will arrive in about 10 minutes.