Krakow is one cool city. I never really knew much about it before I visited last year, but now I can’t stop telling everyone I meet about how much I loved it. Not only is it cheap thanks to the Polish Zloty, but there’s so much to see, eat, drink and do that you’ll be wishing you gave it a try sooner. In my opinion, Eastern European countries don’t get enough credit and are often over shadowed by the big names like France, Italy and Spain, but if you’re wanting to experience a little bit of Bohemia and get off the major tourist trail, then I would definitely give a city like Krakow a visit.
Here’s 5 reasons why you should be planning a trip there now!
It’s So Cheap!
Even though Poland is part of the EU, it still maintains its currency, the Polish Zloty, meaning that pretty much everything from hotels, food and alcohol is dirt cheap. You can either go swanky and book a 5 star hotel for a fraction of the price you’d pay at home, or if you’re on a tight budget this could just be the place for you to save some extra dollars on a long-term trip.
It’s The Epicentre Of World War II History
It’s not the happiest of things to be thinking about on holiday, but WWII influenced us all in some way, so we all have a right to know about it. A visit to Auschwitz goes without saying, but if you want to learn more about the concentration camps and how the war began in Poland, then head to the Oskar Schindler Museum (Yes, its in his old factory!) – its one of my fave museums in the world!
The Potato Cakes…Actually Just The Food In General!
Don’t get me started on the crispy, salty goodness that is a Polish potato cake! They are so damn good I pretty much inhaled my own weight in spuds during a week long trip, so I dare you to resist! I love the warming home style of cooking in Krakow and there’s some great little family run bistros to check out, particularly in the Jewish Quarter. Make sure you also try the Pierogi and the cabbage rolls – you better get those elasticized pants ready while you’re at it!
The Bison Vodka
If you haven’t tried Polish grass vodka before, then Krakow is the place to do so. Theres loads of trendy low-lit cocktail bars to sample, or if that just isn’t your thing head to a pub when you’ll be served up a pint of the stuff if you so desire! Dont forget to stock up on Vodka before you leave too – It’s a fraction of the cost back home if you buy in a supermarket over there, and as such I ended up with a suitcase full of a certain clear liquid upon my return to the UK!
It’s Achingly Hip
Krakow is just one of those cities that is ‘cool’ and you can’t really put into words why, it just is. I guess you find that with many European cities, but there’s a grungy, laid back attitude in Krakow that I’ve not seen a lot of before in my travels. I certainly cant wait to go back there, and I’m sure once you’ve visited, you wont be able to either!
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The food does look great there. I can’t say this was even on my radar before this post but it looks enticing.
I know my boyfriend wants to do a WWII tour of Europe one day , but it sounds a little too depressing to focus on WWII for an entire trip – I’d have to mix in some good food, shopping and art along the way of course. But I think those are precursors to traveling Europe anyways.
Great post!
The Wanderfull Traveler
What a well written post. I really enjoyed reading it. I’ve personally never been to Krakow but I have a friend that lives there and loves to tell me about it all the time. She keeps invitng me for a visit and I’m lately seriously considering that. Your post might help me make up my mind! I once also tried to write something about Krakow. Here it is: http://tripandtravelblog.com/an-artful-weekend-in-krakow-poland/
Let me know what you think even if it’s not as accurate and well done as yours.
Greetings from Greece.