Krakow - Poland

[andyb]

Anyone stayed at the Classic Hotel in Krakow?

Whats the best way to get from the airport to the hotel in the center?

Best way to do Auschwitz?

Thanks for your help

Andy

[Stef_Everill]

Hi Andy

I visit Poland every year to see my Dad's family. They live about 3 hours south-west of Krakow, close to the Czech border.

Normally we fly into Krakow and we usually alternate between hiring a car and using the trains. A taxi would cost between 70/80 zloty (£13/£15) - journey takes around 25 mins. City bus services 208 and 192 travel to the city centre, taking about 35 minutes. I've never stayed at that particular hotel, so I couldn't comment.

If you head into the market place (Rynek Glowny), there is an Oribis office where you may buy/join trips to Auschwitz or other site-seeing trips of the city. If you'd like to see Auschwitz independently, then head for the main railway station (Dworzec Glowny) (see link http://roklad.pkp.pl) for train times. Enter Krakow Glowny for departing station and Oswiecim (the correct and Polish name for Auschwitz). The journey takes about 1.5 hours the fare is around £6.50 return.

Krakow is my favourite city in the whole world and I'll missing seeing it this year as I'll be flying into Katowice at the end of August for a change.

However, if there's anything else you can think of that I may be able to help with, just ask.

Do zabeczenia!!

Stef

[Alyson]

Hi,

We have office in Krakow and it is one of my most favourite places ever.

taxis are easy to find outside the airport, take the official ones, not the unofficial ones. There is usually someone to help you if you need it at the airport, but it is easy.

[andyb]

Thanks Stef and Aly.

Really looking forward to it.

Is it worth a day trip to Warsaw or is there lots\less to see and do there?

Thanks

Andy

[Stef_Everill]

Its about 2.5/3 hrs to Warsaw - so not too far. Personally wasn't for me. I know a lot of the old city was destroyed in WW2 and therefore rebuilt.

But Krakow does it for me every time! Try and visit Wawel castle, the salt mines, the Kazimersz (jewish quarter - excellent restaurants), go and sit by the river, enjoy the Zywiec (beer) or the Zybrowka (vodka) and pierogi, cooked in garlic and bacon, the sernik (cheesecake) or the poppy seed cake .....mmm....smacznego!!! If you don't speak any Polish, it's not a problem as most people under the age of 35 will speak English....saying that though, the locals do appreciate you trying a little Polish, and will not laugh when (like myself) you make 'uge clangers! I don't know what it is, but I seem to understand so much more when I've had several vodkas!

Allow at least 4 hours for the visit to Auschwitz, once you're there you can join an English speaking guided tour. The guides are excellent......so informative. You pay around 26 zloty (about £4.50) and the tour takes you first around Auschwitz I - where the sign over the gate reads 'Arbeit mach frei' - 'work makes you free'. After this you take a 5 minute bus ride to Auschwitz-Birkenau - the site where you see the trainlines passing in to the camp.

It certainly is a humbling experience to visit this museum.