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Poland Holidays with Barrhead Travel

Krakow City Breaks

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Krakow City Break Holidays

Choose one of our cheap Krakow City breaks and visit the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland

Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, Krakow has grown from a stone age settlement and was once known as Poland's second most important city. Getting around the city of Krakow is fairly easy most of the landmarks in the city are pretty close to each other meaning you can travel on foot. You can also travel via bus or tram, hire a car or travel by taxi.

The weather in Krakow is usually fairly dry and in the summer it can hit temperatures up to 19°C.

There are lots of theatres in Krakow and a variety of cinemas. There is also a lot of sightseeing attractions such as Wawel Castle, Sukiennice, Town Hall Tower, Barbakan and Florian Gate. Krakow also has a great range of restaurants. Krakow has a great nightlife with lots of bars and clubs. It varies from romantic lively bars to chilled-out bars to dance nightclubs scattered around the city.

Top 5 Places to Visit
Wawel Royal Castle - The Wawel Castle is a castle residency located in central Kraków, Poland. Built at the behest of King Casimir III the Great, it consists of a number of structures situated around the Italian-styled main courtyard.
St. Mary's Basilica - Saint Mary's Basilica is a Brick Gothic church adjacent to the Main Market Square in Kraków, Poland.
Wawel Cathedral - The Royal Archcathedral Basilica of Saints Stanislaus and Wenceslaus on the Wawel Hill.
Ojcowski National Park - Ojców National Park is a national park in Kraków County, Lesser Poland Voivodeship in southern Poland, established in 1956.
St. Mary's Basilica - Saint Mary's Basilica is a Brick Gothic church adjacent to the Main Market Square in Kraków, Poland.
Location

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Old Town

While away the hours strolling around some of Krakow’s most beautiful streets. The tall, intricately decorated buildings hide a whole world of treasures. There’s an abundance of Polish restaurants and, when it comes to top sights, you can take your pick from St Mary’s Basilica, Florianska Gate and Rynek Underground to name just a few.

Kazimierz

Around a 20-minute walk from Rynek Główny, sits the Jewish district of Kazimierz. It’s a hip hangout where you’ll see vine-covered vintage shops, quaint cafés that spill out onto the pavements and impressive synagogues hidden among the pastel-coloured buildings. When it comes to eating out here, you’ll be spoilt for choice with Polish-Jewish cuisine.

Day Trips

It’s not just the city that’s worth exploring. Within an hour, you can be checking out some of the country’s most visited spots. A journey to Auschwitz-Birkenau is certain to be a memorable one, where you can pay your respects. Close by is Wieliczka Salt Mine that’s more than 700 years old!

More about what to expect in Krakow

The only major city to escape the destruction of World War II, Krakow has one of the best-preserved medieval city centres in all of Europe. The Old Town is a significant UNESCO World Heritage Site and retains a wealth of architectural gems from different periods, with magnificent churches and aristocratic palaces lining the old streets, reminding travellers that in its glory days this city was the abode of kings and royalty.

At the heart of Krakow lies one of the grandest squares in Europe, the Old Market Square. The charming Old Town is a compact area encircled by leafy parkland that forms a green belt around the historic centre. The main entrance to the old city was through the Florian Gate, set within the original city walls, now the haunt of artists and full of galleries containing their work. With a thriving cultural life, Krakow has been home to many of the nation's greatest writers, artists and intellectuals, and is one of the main cultural centres in the country, a spirited city with personality and charisma.

Overlooking the city is Wawel Hill, topped by the striking Royal Castle and Cathedral, the seat of Polish kings for seven centuries and the symbols of Polish national history. Also important is the city's Jewish roots, and the history of one of the great Jewish centres in Europe can clearly be seen in the old ghetto area of Kazimierz, and starkly remembered in the memorial death camps of Auschwitz and Birkenau, west of Krakow.

Situated on the banks of the Vistula River, Krakow is also a modern city, the second-largest in Poland, and an important university centre boasting the oldest university in Europe. The large student population creates a lively atmosphere and a vibrant nightlife. Countless cafes and outdoor restaurants surround the cobbled main square. The unique atmosphere of this medieval city has made it one of Poland's most popular tourist destinations.

Buses and trams are the easiest and cheapest way to get around in Krakow, though they can be crowded during rush hour. Tickets can be purchased at various kiosks, ticket machines and on the bus or tram itself. Taxis are readily available, though prices increase between 10pm and 8am. Radio taxis (identified by a taxi sign and the phone number of the company) usually offer the best rates and it is often cheaper to phone and order a taxi than to simply hail one down. As tourists are sometimes overcharged it is best to agree on a fare before getting into the taxi.

The Old Town is relatively compact and easy to negotiate, containing many of Krakow's tourist attractions: it is best explored on foot as most of it is designated a pedestrian-only area. Many of Krakow's attractions are within easy walking distance, and the public transport network is extensive so car hire is only really necessary if venturing outside the city. Car hire is easy in Krakow but Poland is not generally a country that provides a peaceful driving experience for foreigners as many of its highways are poorly maintained and the local drivers are somewhat unpredictable.

As the delights of Eastern Europe are discovered by travellers, a holiday in Krakow, Poland's beautifully preserved medieval city, is topping the list of desirable destinations. The charming, atmospheric Old Town is reason enough to travel to Krakow, particularly the main Market Square (Rynek Glowny), cocooned by churches, restaurants and bars, where the soul of the city is laid bare. Krakow can feel like a 'living museum' and will delight history buffs, but it is also a vibrant cultural hub which attracts lovers of art, music and theatre. Wawel Hill, overlooking the city, was the royal enclave between the 14th and 17th centuries and tourists can visit the Royal Castle and gothic Wawel Cathedral.

Krakow's notorious Holocaust history and historic Jewish quarter, the Kazimierz district, make it a place of pilgrimage for Jews. The tragic sites of Auschwitz and Birkenau, nearby the city, are Krakow's most sombre and thought-provoking tourist attractions. Within the city the Galicia Jewish Museum and Oskar Schindler's Factory are worthwhile attractions documenting the Jewish history of Krakow and the Holocaust.

For some fresh air and people watching in Krakow visitors should take a stroll around the Planty, a scenic walkway and park which becomes a hub of activity in the warmer months.

Krakow has a temperate climate, influenced by the weather systems that build over the Atlantic. The weather in Krakow in summer, between June and August, is comfortably warm with occasional heat waves when dry continental air comes in from the east. The average temperatures in summer range from 64°F to 67°F (18°C to 20°C), although temperatures can reach 86°F (30°C) during heat waves.

An old Polish poem says that in Krakow 'days are longest in June, hottest in July and most beautiful in August'. Autumn in Krakow, between September and November, brings dry, warm days starting with morning mist, and rich, golden colouration of the foliage. Winter is fairly severe and the city is often blanketed in snow, with temperatures dipping below freezing. The average temperatures in winter range from 28°F to 32°F (-2°C to 0°C) but can drop as low as 5°F (-15°C) on cold nights. Spring, between March and May, is arguably the best season in Krakow, when bright, mild days are accompanied by the fragrance of flower blossoms. Rain is most common in summer but can fall at any time of year.

Summer is the peak tourist season in Krakow, but to avoid the crowds it is best to visit the city in spring or early autumn, when the weather is mild and pleasant and there is less chance of rain.

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