Just back from Krakow, was there for 10 days. Had a good time but 10 days far too long definitely a long weekend destination. Weather was great, food was great and everything so cheap. Went to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, Auschwitz-Birkenau and the fantastic local zoo all were brilliant. We used public transport to do all the trips but did not find it easy to get info on times of buses/departure points etc luckily we had purchased a decent guide book before going. You can do organised tours but quite expensive and unfortunately don't bother going to the tourist info offices dotted about as they have next to nothing in English. One thing to buy is the latest copy of 'Karnet' which has some things in it in English.
Also try and take in the Krakow Tour Bus which you can hop on/off all day.
Never had a bad meal-food was really good. All the restaurant/bars we went into were great including The Bull Pub,Nic Nowego, Poz Zlota Pipa, Sioux Steak House, Piccolo Mondo, Restaurant Wierzynek and Pod Krzyzykiem to name a few and then there is lots more great places in the Jewish quarter.
Only downside to the holiday was that I found a lot of the polish people were quite ignorant/arrogant and never crack a smile. Have traveled to other countries where the locals don't know much(if any) English and i don't know much of theirs but through a lot of pointing and hand gestures you get there with a few laughs thrown in.....but no chance here in Krakow....they look at you as if you have horns coming out your head. One last point was that there is quite a lot of begging(from young to old) in the streets and also coming up to your table while your eating.
Certainly would say go if you get a chance but only for a long weekend. Also, get used to getting stared at and not seeing a smile on anyones face.
mode101uk - how strange I stayed there for 8 days and it went so fast, didn't have enough time to see all I wanted - hence the reason I'm going back in Feb....
The begging was off gypsies and not Polish people - even the Poles don't like that sort of thing, as for the smiling I saw lots of nice happy people both in the day and of an evening....spoke to a few Polish people and found them very charming - I suppose it's different for everyone....We had our own end of the night local by the end of the hols and were greeted with our drinks as soon as we walked in....cant get better than that can you...
I found the people in Krakow really friendly - espcially the two guys that looked after me when I lost my friend - who happened to have my bag!!! they were very hospitable....was gutted when aforementioned friend turn up!
I am also back from Krakow but I was there only for a week. For me it was more like visiting my hometown not much of touristic trip
I don't know about this smile? Does everyone smile in England? Not really. I think that we are in general rather reserved nation so maybe not smile so much to strangers( maybe it is our culture ) but it doesn't mean taht we are miserable.
This smile thing is a bit silly. Who goes around with a smile on their face all day long ? It doesn't matter where you are. People don't smile without reason. For the most part people are getting on with their lives and have no reason to smile at those they don't know.
But you can be sure that Polish folk do have a good sense of humour and it does show itself, if you look.
This smile thing is a bit silly. Who goes around with a smile on their face all day long ? It doesn't matter where you are. People don't smile without reason. Californians do.
And as for the Polish not smiling - I made a concious effort to look at people this morning and you know what, what a miserable bunch of gits the brits are too....and the sun was shining so you cant even blame it on the weather....I think in any big city you're going to get a lot of serious faces....Like Wroclaw who's going to walk round grinning inately!!
We are visiting in December for 5 days looking forward to it my father was polish and i do miss his cooking so the food places you suggested will be very helpful . many thanks Frank Kay (Kuszniewicz).
Only downside to the holiday was that I found a lot of the polish people were quite ignorant/arrogant and never crack a smile.
I have read recently that a lot of people in Krakow complain about the behavior of British tourists, that come to the city only to get completely drunk, instead of visit some interesting landmarks, try some of the polish cuisine, and learn something about our culture....Maybe that's why all the inhabitants of Krakow that you have encountered and talked to during your stay where arrogant and didn't even crack a smile? :(
eeeeemmmmmmm.......no they aren't willing to help at a moments notice......true.....London, is a capital city/financial centre and entertainment centre...NOT a real city...if they can't make a pound out of you they DO NOT want to know......but its the same in most capitals!
British people do this to relieve the incredible boredom in their lives........by loosing control via alcohol..........its common in lots of anally retentive north European cultures not just the British!
So can we conclude the Brits aren't perfect...the Irish aren't perfect....and surprise surprise the Polish aren't perfect!!!
Is the board/members shocked .....????....no....... well get on with it............!!!!
Remember..........................you are a long..............long time dead................:(
I have read recently that a lot of people in Krakow complain about the behavior of British tourists, that come to the city only to get completely drunk, instead of visit some interesting landmarks, try some of the polish cuisine, and learn something about our culture....Maybe that's why all the inhabitants of Krakow that you have encountered and talked to during your stay where arrogant and didn't even crack a smile?
Matyjasz I have to agreed 100% I was ashamed at times at the behaviour of "Brits abroad" If I'm going to visit another country I learn the pleasantries (please thank you etc) see the sights and enjoy the food...many English unfortunately are going to Poland for cheap beer.....
I seem to remember a few countries complaining about 'brits' on binge weekends.
Learning the language seems not important when you are with friends on a long weekend. Many of these people never come back. They go and annoy someone else in another capital.
I started to visit the Czech Rep. many years ago and yes the Brits have spoilt Prague, fortunately they have stayed away from the rest of it... some English are quite cultured and enjoy visiting other places to gain from the experience but there are those that use it as an excuse to get drunk and behave badly, as for learning the language, I find that it's important to at least to be able to say thank you.
I really hope that Polish people think that all english are the same....
Wroclaw - i really wish I could say yes, but many are in their late 20is to mid 30is - which is even more reason to be ashamed when I see them acting like complete arses....18 - 25 year olds are in the main going to Spain / Greece or other sunny destinations... and probably don't even know where Poland is.....
Wroclaw - well, some are married and on weekend jollies with the boys some are on stag parties and some are single...and yes with an "I'm away and can do anything I like attitude" I for one would like to see tougher action by the Polish when they see these loud mouthed boys......I know how to have a good time and enjoy a few glasses of wine, but I also have respect for those people that actually live in these beautiful cities...Another thing I would like is for bars and clubs to start making it clear that they will not admit large groups of British men, they have started to do this in Prague but it's like closing the stable doors after the horse has bolted...
I know this may strange an English person writing this, but I really don't want Krakow to become over run with rotten drunken English people - this also includes hen parties....if Plg reads this he'll say it's because I'm a prude, but in fact it's not the case, it's because I don't want Poland's beautiful cities ruined....and long may they stay Polish and not westernised with fast food places and strip bars.....
Nothing wrong with that...ie cheap beer etc, its when their activities get up the noses of the locals/businesses that things go pear shaped.....when it started in Dublin all those years ago, the bars welcomed them, now they are all banned effectively, because they are more hassle than they are worth ie the bars are busy enough without 30 drunken yobs every 2 hours!
But that will come in Poland too, same as Prague........one of those things, we all have to live with!
Lets say its one of those irritating cultural differences...much the same as that thread about Polish people not smiling!!!.....lol
Please don''t take out the tar brush....ALL the time......!!
