Krakow Tour

Gal44

Hi guys heading to Krakow in february for 3/4 days and hoping to go on a tour of Auschwitz/Birkenau and the Salt Mines, can anyone recommend a tour operator? can both be seen on the same day or over two days? anything else a must see? first time going to poland. thanks

whomitconcerns

you can do the salt wines in a morning just go to the carpark outside the main train station and you will get a bus for Wieliczka, get an 8am or something.

Auschwitz you can get a train to Oswiecem from the same train station, takes about 40 mins as far as i remember but that's an all dayer...you wont want to leave to fast..its too hard to comprehend in less than a full day....

i am sure if you have lots of money you can go on organised tours from Krakow ut easy to get to the places yourself and then you just go on their regular tours when you get there. You don't need a guided tour in Auschwitz imho. Wieliczka you have to have, but i did it in polish, there are English ones available

BTW when i went to all the above I spoke about 4 words of polish, so its doable. If you speak some you will be even better of course.

Meathlass

There's lots of tour operators in the main square and they're quite reasonable - didn't think much of the salt mines tbh.

Auschwitz and Birkenau are , ... actually trying to thing of a word but I can't, the inhumanity of people is astounding. I think it's worth going on a tour for this as they transport you between the sites and there's a guided tour as well. Think we paid €40 per person and it was 8am to 5pm.

There's also the castle in Krakow which is very nice and the Jewish district which we didn't have time to see.

whomitconcerns

you can walk between the sites its not far and you get a real sense of scale...and yes i second the Wawel (the castle) with its "fake wall"

V1llianous

If you can fit it in maybe consider a trip to Zakopane, about 2 hours away by train / bus but you can easily do an overnight there.

spurious

It's quite possible to do both in the one day if you start early and use a private driver, say leaving city centre at 8am or so. It also has the advantage of getting to Auschwitz before the huge crowds arrive daily at about 10am.

Spend from about 9am to 1.00pm in Auschwitz/Birkenau (it's worth joining an English language tour group unless you're very up on what happened there), then go around the city and get out to Wieliczka for about 2.00pm.

There is quite a good place to sample zurek (Polish farmer's soup) directly across from Wieliczka, or there is an over-priced snack shop in the complex itself doing chips and pizza.

It's a day that involves a great deal of walking, so there will be sore feet afterwards, plus a reluctance to go partying given the morning's sights.

PM me if you want the name of a reliable driver who won't cost any more than the tours. Be careful about taxis visible from the train station at the Galeria, they are not real taxis and will rip you off.

Gal44

Thanks very much for your replies heading in 3 weeks cant wait, will be staying in the Kazimierz area. Schinders museum is near there is that right? Any reasonable bar/restaurants recommendations in that area? Thanks

hawkwind23

there is so much to see and do in Poland, i guarantee you will want to return!
have you considered the communist tour? i found it fascinating and a real insight into the workings of communism and the history of Poland. its a great way to learn , you drive in a trabant and visit Howa Nuta and see first hand the shaping of a Stalinist utopia.
i would have it on a must do when visiting Krakow.

http://www.crazyguides.com/

havent been in years but they still look to be going strong and have a lot of good reviews on trip advisor.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g274772-d1101619-Reviews-Crazy_Guides-Krakow_Lesser_Poland_Province_Southern_Poland.html#REVIEWS


we are off ourselves in 2 weeks cant wait but not stopping in krakow this time

spurious

Gal44 wrote: »

Thanks very much for your replies heading in 3 weeks cant wait, will be staying in the Kazimierz area. Schinders museum is near there is that right? Any reasonable bar/restaurants recommendations in that area? Thanks

http://www.tripadvisor.ie/Restaurant_Review-g274772-d1993331-Reviews-Kuchnia_u_Doroty-Krakow_Lesser_Poland_Province_Southern_Poland.html

For food, Kuchnia u Doroty at Augustianska 4 in Kazimierz.
Real Polish food at Polish prices.
Some of the dishes are an acquired taste but kotlet schabowy (breaded pork escalope) and potatoes (or chips) and salad is a safe one.
Fantastic value.

The Oskar Schindler Factor is just over the bridge from Kazimierz. 10 to 25 minutes depending where in Kazimierz you're staying.
The Galicia Jewish Museum on Dajwor is worth a visit. Lots to see and do in Kazimierz.

hawkwind23

another restaurant i like is

http://www.miodmalina.pl/pl/

its a bit of a walk from where you are but its worth it.

i recommend the Gorgonzola starter , am craving that taste sensation now!

Gal44

thanks very much!

Gal44

i just have one more question, is it best to change my money here or over there? i hear its sometimes a better rate over there is that right?

we are going to go to zakopane for a day looks lovely there.:)

hawkwind23

heading ourselves in a matter of hours
bringing some zloty with us and will change the most over there , millions of change shops all over the place!
also handy just using a bankcard but thats a UK sterling card and its free , not sure about the irish cards.
heading straight to Zakopane for a week and cant wait

spurious

Watch the money changing places. Their rates vary wildly. The best way to get zloty is to use your ATM card.