Krakow In Your Pocket
Few things have as unjustifiably poor a reputation as the Polish winter. Tell your friends you’re shipping off to PL in February, and you’ll quickly discover they know absolutely nothing about the country, except for the fact that it’s Siberia this time of year. You’ll freeze to death. You’ll get lost in the snow. How will you survive the nights on your hard straw mattress with just a thin blanket, a crust of bread in your belly and a weak cup of tea?
Though the ceaseless suffering that most foreigners subconsciously associate with Poland is beginning to wear off as more and more people visit this exciting country, mention the winter and their minds immediately wander back to whatever misinformed impressions they have of what a gulag or extreme Soviet economic depression must have been like. So while your friends and parents try to worry you silly, it’s our job to let you know that communism is over and had no lasting effect on Poland’s climate. Poland has a temperate climate - - the same as most of mainland Europe (Germany, France) and much of the US (New York, Chicago). So if you’re visiting Kraków this winter, yes, you are brave (congrats), and yes, you will see your loved ones again. Put a hat and mittens on and you’ll be fine.
Today’s Kraków is a lot different than it was under communism regardless of the weather. This city has always been the architectural showpiece of the country, and now all the history and culture that makes up the Polish identity (which Kraków has passionately protected and defended over the centuries) has been brought to the surface and is on display like at no other time since the mid-18th century. If you want to learn what Poland is all about, now is the time. The country is back on its feet and in Kraków’s
Old Town you’ll find some of its best
museums and cultural attractions (including a
medieval castle that looks great under a dusting of snow), plus a diverse
restaurant scene and more
cafes,
bars and clubs per capita than anywhere in the world. There’s detailed information about all of it right here in your hands, and thanks to silly myths about the weather, you’ll have the whole place to yourself. Let us know what you think via
editor_poland@inyourpocket.com and enjoy Kraków.
A little bit about Krakow to start with:
A city forged in battle, war, conquest and fate, Kraków is in many respects the most Polish of all this great nation’s cities. The ancient seat of kings and intelligentsia comes steeped in legend and myth, and evokes the most fanciful of images, from
dragons occupying the catacombs of
Wawel, to
Tartar hordes repelled at the gates, to an earnest Vladimir Lenin plotting revolution while sitting in the city’s
cafes.
Kraków’s history is the stuff of fantasy.
Back to the future. The budget flight boom confirms this nation’s transition from a country people are queueing to leave, to a country people are queueing to enter – the crowds that rotate around Wawel and fall out of the Irish pubs later on are all the evidence you need.
By day it is easy to drown in culture. The city is an A-Z of architectural styles, and its museums and galleries the home of everything from works by DaVinci to Japanese comics. The district of Kazimierz, once home to one of the most important Jewish communities in the world, is enjoying a renaissance; even the suburb of Nowa Huta, the sooty legacy of the communist system, is now emerging as an off-beat tourist site. Our website features all the tourist sites and museums you could wish for.
As dusk settles the city becomes a haven for hedonists. As you will no doubt learn for yourself, it is all too easy to descend the stairs into one of the Gothic cellar bars, and emerge at daybreak missing both your memory and friends. On these pages you’ll find everything you need to know about Kraków’s restaurants, pubs, clubs and hotels.
Latest Krakow Comments:
Chaiyo Thai Massage Centre
Warning! Watch out when u paying with CC card do not let them bill you in Euro because this way you will be charge additional 6 fee on your account for DCC this option the owner of this joint activated in PayPal so they save on transaction fee for terminal using etc....Cheers Pub
Have to say what a great Burns Night Supper on Sat 28th. I am english and live in Krakow and use the pub regularly....Burrito Buffet
In my opinion that was the best burrito I ever ate. I can say that delicious pork made my last trip to Cracow....Krakowski Kredens
How can we buy some more of your beautiful dark chocolate covered orange peel. Its so delicious...Buddha
Excellent food all the time we go to this place. Some of food in menu are items normally not seen in an Indian restaurant in europe but are quite common in India....Konik na Biegunach
Siamo capitati per caso. Diretti a un altro ristorante (super segnalato) ci siamo Imbattuti in un infreddolito studente procacciatore di clienti il quale ci ha consigliato di provare questo posto che si trova in una traversa della famosa via Grodzka....Travellers Inn Hostel
Such a nice place the rooms are clean and big. I like that they have free internet access and breakfast....Cheers Pub
was at this pub after visiting others recomended on this site found it to be a great little pub me and my partner and friends were in krakow for 5 days and spent every night in here it was great the owner Tom and his partner Kasia were so nice and helpfull to us....Cheers Pub
you have got this wrong the live music is mostly polish young new bands and as a new bar more and more Scottish things are getting put into the bar every time they arrive....BeerGallery - Dominikańska
BEST place in Krakow which he discovered. Stunning selection of beers decor as brasseries adventure sensual captivating....Musso Sushi
Hiroshi - 2 lis 2011. This is the second time I have eaten at Musso Sushi and I think it's great....Krakowski Kredens
It was the best ham what I've tasted in my life!...House Of Beer
Good place very turist friendly service nice. A lot of bottled beers to choose from and some from tap....Faust
Its a very nice gotic cellar well worth a visit to have a look around and enjoy a few beers. But sadly it was very quiet the night I was in there....Pasaż 13
Great little shopping mall beautiful inside - well worth a visit to enjoy the architecture. Nice shops good in english turist friendly....