The first time i visited Poland back in 2002 i fell in love with Krakow as most foreigners do. After visiting Warsaw, Gdansk and Sopot i didnt really think there was much left... But then i went to Wroclaw, its a city as a city should be, it has its rough parts, nice parts as all cities do but what really convinced me was the Rynek, its massive, beautiful, with as many bars and restaurants as anyone could ever possibly want or need. The architecture is astonishing, it has a great feel about the place - something you cant describe. Theres a reason why they stage the New years eve party in Wroclaw Rynek every year. No matter what happens i'll always love Wroclaw.
Wroclaw is a Polish city that has everything, Its a proper city.
Amen to that. Krakow is nice, I've lived in Wroclaw long enough to be completely militant against Poznan, Warsaw is meh. Wroclaw has nearly everything (hangers at the airport would be nice, but that's another story). It's also really easy to get around. Little corners around the city stacked with pubs. Yea, not too shabby.
Hey Wroclaw Boy, sounds like you're missing Poland, are you?
I know you've just recently moved back to Britain and I was wondering if you had a 'second' culture shock moving back?
As for favourite city, I will stick with Krakow and Zakopane to the south. When I say Zakopane, really means the high Tatras (but they aren't a city).
Krakow, to me, has always had it's fair share of bearded student types, who smoke pipes and talk about politics and philosophy in heated arguments over drinks and that's just the women ;)
Krakovians like to think they are the cultural "capital" of Poland, maybe they are, it's not for me to say really but I like the axe wielding loud "unsophisticated" types from the mountains too, it's a nice admixture.
I'm moving to Krakow shortly, been axe wielding for a while now and I wouldn't mind smoking a pipe ;)
I haven't been to Wroclow... even after your invites, I guess you never see your back garden.
Hey Wroclaw Boy, sounds like you're missing Poland, are you?
Bits and pieces for sure, i always loved driving in Poland, its 6 of one half a dozen of the other.....
Sometimes; it's almost like i never lived there for 5 years. People often concentrate on the here and now and past experiences get passed by the way side, sometimes i think about Poland - usually late at night. When the winter comes im sure i'll be thinking about it much more.... I was there, i shoveled snow, i scraped ice of my car every day.
The tough times are always easier to remember, right....
Warsaw - I have a close acquaintance with the city, and a knowledge of its workings. So its the comfortable slipper. I have also had many good times in Krakow, Gdansk and Wroclaw, so I would include all three as my second city of choice.
Warsaw - I have a close acquaintance with the city, and a knowledge of its workings.
Youre a capital man though you came form the grand city of London and moved to another capital in Warsaw. People who live in capitals are a different breed altogether. Its almost like they feel proud of living in capital cities....why?
the never ending want to feel they are better?
My old mate was from my home town but when ever somebody asked him where he was from he always said London. Why would he do that?
Malbork is my favorite. The huge teutonic castle is amazing. Also the entire town is full of medieval architecture. It is just great. Beautiful surroundings. The second place is for Wisla in the Beskid Slaski (mountains). This is where Adam Malysz comes from. It is always beautiful in the summer and winter. There is always stuff to do there.
Youre a capital man though you came form the grand city of London and moved to another capital in Warsaw. People who live in capitals are a different breed altogether. Its almost like they feel proud of living in capital cities....why?
The one thing that capital cities mainly give you, is choice and opportunity, due to a larger population there are more places to visit. London, I could never tire of, its a vibrant city, there is always the new.
I like the Polish saying " Warsaw for business, Krakow for culture and Wroclaw for fun"
The one thing that capital cities mainly give you, is choice and opportunity, due to a larger population there are more places to visit. London, I could never tire of, its a vibrant city, there is always the new.
yeah, i just hate places like that. With a passion really.
Krakow, for sure. One of the most beautiful cities in Europe IMO. The beautiful Wawel castle and cathedral on the hill is amazing, as well as the Cloth hall and the rynek, it was great! Beautiful city thats getting more popular every year.
So far I've only visited 3 cities in Poland. I pick Lublin as my favorite city so far ( I may change my mind after I finally visit Krakow.)
Reasons I love Lublin: A large portion of my family is from and still live there. Friendly and charming people. Great architecture & fabulous old buildings. Polish street festivals and a killer outdoor market :)
When I was young, I craved cities. You had a much better chance of running into different, interesting people (meaning that finding some intelligence was not that hard), changing scene was easy. Now that I'm old and decrepit, I want my life to be more manageable. Internet has a little do do with that transition, I think. So, even though Warsaw is my old home, but I would pick something more like Lublin now.
I was born there and lived/worked there for a few years recently. I only wish that Wroclaw (and the rest of Poland) was better maintained and kept cleaner looking. The stare miasto is nice but once you leave it there are many, many areas that look run down. For instance, srodmiescie has so much potential yet it is dirty/grey in appearance. Some of the cobblestone roads haven't been touched since the Breslau days (some roads were hastily patched up after the war) and the building facades are in desperate need of some renovations. Nevertheless, i love this city.
I agree. I think many Polish cities have the potential to become extremely beautiful if they put some renovation into it. For example Lodz. yes, its gray and depressing, but if you look at a lot of the architecture, its very beautiful. Its just badly neglected and gray. If they were to restore and renovate these buildings, paint them, and change the streets into nice cobblestone, it can look amazing. When I went to krakow a month and a half ago, even outside the stare miasto, they are slowly renovating buildings and streets. I think it will look great when its all done.
Wrocław by far. I've been living here for five years and I love it. The rynek is wonderful- I teach my classes and meet my social group there. The botanical garden is a gem, as is the Japanese garden. Walking around in the park next to Teatr Lalek, you would never guess that you are in Poland.
The only drawback is that the gastronomical scene is not well developed. The only mid-range restaurant that's really any good is Mexico Bar. Bistro parisienne is great, too, and there's A la Turka on Jedności Narodowej that has great Turkish food, not only kebab. There are a lot of good cafe's, though.
I lived in Karłowice for a while, too. Right on the starówka. It was great, but commuting was brutal, especially because they were building Mosty Warszawskie at the time. Now I live in Mikołajów, and have 5 trams that take seven minutes to get to the square.
For a wsmaller town, I really like Cieszyn. I go there every year for Kino na Granicy, and used to go every year for Era Nowe Horizonty before it moved to Wrocław.
I have lived here for 7 years and having travelled a little around Poland would still say it's my favourite city by far. It has everything and the Rynek is awesome :)
Krakow for me out of the few cities I have been to.
It is great for walking around(the planty), there is a nice park with many benches, very safe, a lot of Straż Miejska, nice shops with a good selection of things to buy, many places to drink coffee, many restaurants, obwarzanki, great history(although it is generally very violent history, Podgórze), very nice people.
Wroclaw ;) Probably because it's the biggest city I've gone to of the cities I've been to. Lol. I've been to Świdnica- but I disliked it, strongly. Too quiet a town for me. I've been to Brzeg as well, it's alright I suppose. I'd love to visit Krakow though :) And Warsaw! Can't wait till the day I do.
As far as any city's central rynek goes, Poznan is my favorite. Krakow and Wroclaw have great architecture, but are too spread out. Warsaw's is simply too small and unimpressive. The Stary Rynek in Poznan in the summer is just like a beehive; it has a special buzzing energy to it at night. The rest of the city is pretty hopeless.
The tricity area by far. Gdansk is gorgeous and you can really see the Dutch influence in the old town. My husband is from Sopot, so we usually spend the week ends in the summer up there.
However, I have never been to Wroclaw- and I have been to most of the larger cities in Poland. Perhaps it is time for a road trip.....
