Krakow/Zakopane vs Gdansk - where to spend my time?

I have 4 days to spend in Poland in February (yes, I know it will be very COLD). Want to go to either Krakow and Zakopane or to Gdansk. Can anyone tell me which would be best in terms of cost, availability of accommodation and any other matters?

Hi Sapphire, i just got back from spending 4 lovely days over new years at Zakopane, i would recommend it, must people will be back at work, so should be a little cheaper and hopefully there will be snow.

thanks.. can you recommend anywhere to stay and give me a rough idea of how much it might cost?

we just stayed in one of the many hostel kind of places and that was 150zl/per with meals, small room, but clean with private bathroom. i think it would be best just to do a search on google

Zakopane is a very beautiful area of Poland well worth visiting in my opinion i fell for the place when i went with college to Poland in March/April 2003 and the temperatures there were same if not a tad warmer than the UK :)

I primarily stayed in Krakow (as it was a college organised trip) we stayed in the Hotel Krakow outside Krakow city centre itself :) not a bad hotel.

I have to organised hotels and travel within Poland when i go in Summer this year but i am going to Gdansk, Torun, Poznan, Warsaw, Wroclaw, Krakow then Zakopane :) and i cant wait let me tell you ... hoooooooo!!! :) :)

Hope you enjoy your 4days in Feb Sapphire :)

Sapphire,

February is the winter holiday for schools. Please think about it before making your choice.
I would spend two days in Krakow and two days in the mountains.

thanks for the advice guys... I have to go in February, cos going for my bfs birthday.. he is Polish and says it will be an expensive then and very busy time to go to Zacopane... but hey ho.. we will go anyway.. my main concern is that Im flying back from a 3 week trip to Kenya the day before.. so extreme climate change! Hes been to Zacopane before, but not for about 6 years I think..

whilst there is a degree of bias... i have to conceed that gdansk is more fun in the summer...

Its my first port of call in the Summer Bubbawoo when i go to Poland :) never been before like :)

sopot in the summer... oh yeah... its party time....!!!!

ive never been to Poland before either... what is good to do in Gdansk then?

a healthy mixture of culture and party... :)

gdansk-life.com

Sounds right up my street... guess I'll have to do Zacopane in Feb and Gdansk in the summer.

That alright then though i think if you look at where i am heading im getting a healthy mixture of Poland all round :)

hopefully there will be snow in zakopane when you are there... magical...

I remember when i was in zakopane in 2003 my face lit up at all the snow still on the ground end of march beginning of april so much so i hunted out some fresh snow and got my mates to gentle lower me to the ground and i made a snow angel i did get some odd looks doing it :) i think a few residents of zakopane were a bit bewildered by it haha

but yes it is magical there ... esp if you get a good day when you go up in cable car and you see the view from up there ... as mastercard would say "for a truly breath-taking experience --- PRICELESS!"

Zakopane is reeeaaaaaly nice i would recomend it to everyone here. its nice whit and whitout snow:).

I'm not a mountain kind of person so all year round I recommend Gdansk and the Tri-City. You can go sightseeing if you like, you can smell the sea on the Sopot pier (it's free this time of the year), shop till you drop and enjoy great nightlife.

Loads of information, good link, thanks. I don't miss Zakopane but I just can't wait till I go to Gdansk again in spite of the fact that I've been there so many times :)

thanks for the link Bossie... Gdasnk sounds great

duh... that was my link...

[storms off in a huff...]

so sorry, you are right.. thank you most kindly for the link Mr BubbaWoo.

my pleasure :)

[so nice to be appreciated...]

you are appreciated Bubba:)

oooh... such kind words miranda... :)

I would choose Krakow and Zakopane.. my American friends were in Krakow and Gdansk, amd they told me that they prefer Krakow cuz its more vibrant and there is more fun. It depends what you want to do...

and If you think it is cold here you are wrong, I dont know whats happenned but we dont have winter at all right now.. It's windy and plus 14 C... at this time, usually is minus 10.. so as you can see global warming!

Thanks Kaka.. I am happy to hear that its warmer than normal for the time of year, although not so good for the environment clearly. Was wondering why you chose the name Kaka.. presumably you know what that means in English?... sorry, I think I must have a warped mind.

Zakopane is good for 4days, I wouldn't go for longer unless you are an expert skiier as you would be bored.

Some of the resteraunts are great and very cheap, Polish food as you probably know is delicious.

Train from Warsaw to Zakopane passes through Krakow, its about 9hours long but you can sleep in the carraige, relatively cheap also