Cheap and Cheerful Vacations in Krakow, Poland
Krakow has grown to become the second most important city in Poland, behind the capital Warsaw, largely thanks to the authorities' heavy investment in the tourism industry. While they have managed to shake the hordes of 'stag' groups, the attraction of low costs and a casual attitude to life is still drawing budget travelers.
Nightclubs
Downtown Krakow is where the city's night-spots are clustered, and all are within staggering distance of eachother. Tops spots include Prozak, one of the hottest dance club in Eastern Europe, but it is not only dance music that is favored in this town, as you will discover when hit with an eclectic mix of reggae, jazz and pop that spills out of alleyways. This is not a town where avoiding dark streets will do you any favors – if you stick to the well-lit boulevards you'll miss the fun. Well-known spots include The Stare Miasto (an eclectic mix of music, art and dance-floor), or at Old Town, where cabaret echoes through the gothic-style cellars.
Visitors need to be aware that Europe, and Eastern Europe in particular, are heavy-handed when mixing drinks. Leave the car keys at home and catch a taxi (most drivers will speak a little English) as the fares are among the lowest in Europe.
Cafes
Also downtown are several open-air cafes (a cafe in Eastern Europe almost always serves alcohol as well as coffee). You'll find these great places for relaxing and people-watching, and it's not unusual for locals and visitors to take a shot of the strong local spirit with their morning coffee – the oldtimers swear by it as a preventative for everything from the common cold to arthritis. This claim lacks scientific evidence, but the habit certainly puts a glow on the morning.
Places to See
Off the beaten path is the Stara Synagoga ("Old Synagogue"), which has been converted into a museum dedicated to the history of Polish Jews. Built in the 15th century (and rebuilt a hundred years later after fire razed it), the Synagogue is home to a huge collection of artifacts and memorabilia of pre-World War II Judaism in Europe – mostly thanks to the fact that Krakow was one of the few cities not completely destroyed during the war.
Although Krakow was not destroyed, the city is still the jumping-off point for tours to the site of the former concentration camp Auschwitz. Although the camp itself is an ordinary-looking collection of low concrete buildings, and the entire area is much smaller than visitors expect, visiting here is a pretty bleak experience. The guides are knowledgeable and friendly, but at times seem to lack the seriousness that a site like this would seem to warrant. Any emotionally sensitive visitors should probably give it a miss – Stara Synagoga will give you the information and also include the dignity that Auschwitz seems to lack.
Events
Like plenty of other Eastern European cities, Krakow has more than its share of festivals and there's something at almost any time of year, from the Shanties Sea Songs Festival (February) and the Summer Jazz Festival to April's Easter Festival. July is the time for the Jewish Culture Festival while the following month is host to Music in the Old Row (local and international acts).
Hotels
Krakow has plenty of low-budget accommodation options (a bed in a shared room will cost around $18 per night) as well as more private and conventional hotels, with room rates averaging around $70 per night per room. Prices drop a bit from November to March.
Use the Hotelsio Rate Finder to find top accommodation and cheap hotels in Krakow, Poland.
(Photo:iStockPhoto/AnetaSkoczewska)
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