CHRISTMAS IN KRAKOW!
- Dec 12, 2018
- 5 min read
So i'll just start off by giving you an insight as to why I have recently spent a weekend in Krakow. Each year in December, me, my partner and my parents go on a European city break to a place which has a great Christmas market. This year was no exception and we settled on Krakow. Each city we choose must include a Christmas market, many things to do and see, and cheap bars to sit and relax. Well, Krakow ticked all of the boxes, and also boxes that we didn't know we had!
Before we booked this trip, we each stated one thing that we wanted to see or do during the weekend. We then agreed an itinerary which included Auschwitz, Wieliczka Salt Mines and spending the evenings at the market.
DAY ONE:
We arrived in Krakow at around 5pm and the first thing we did was head out for food! We stayed in an airbnb which was around a 15 minute walk from the main square (Rynek Glowny). We headed for the square and we were not disappointed. Before our trip, we were slightly apprehensive about the food as we can all be a bit fussy with our food. However, the first glorious sight to pass our eyes was The Hardrock Cafe! We were unsure whether to go as we thought the prices would be very high, however it turned out that the prices were extremely reasonable, and the food and cocktails were lovely!
Next, we decided to take a walk around the Christmas market and we were not disappointed! This was the biggest Christmas market we had seen yet and we had to take a step back for a moment to take it all in. There was so many food stalls and the smells of meat and bread filled the square. There were also many stalls which sold handmade crafts, and horse and carriages lined the square. The market just looked magical! We arrived on a Thursday so the market wasn't too busy. Having said that, it soon got busier and busier as the weekend went on.
Once we had spent a while in the market, we decided to find somewhere to relax and have a few drinks. We were spoilt for choice in the square! The whole square is lined with bars and restaurants, most of which have fully heated outdoor seating. We settled on The Bulldog bar where we enjoyed a few drinks and a really fun night. There was a live singer and the bar was filled with happy go lucky Irish and Brits!
DAY TWO:
Before travelling to Poland, we had already booked a tour for today. We chose to see Auschwitz and decided it would be best to book a guided tour for this.
We set off from Krakow at around 10am and arrived at around 11:30am. Once we arrived, we did have to wait in long queues and it was very busy. However it was well worth the wait and I would recommend this trip to anyone. The tour was very informative and really made you think about how much you value your own life. I think Auschwitz is one place that should be visited by everyone in their life time! I don't really want to go in to too much detail on Auschwitz as I think it's best to visit and see for yourself. I think Auschwitz gives each person their own feelings, so how it made me feel could be completely different to how it would make you feel.
We arrived back to Krakow at around 5pm and there was only one thing on our mind, FOOD! We chose to eat at Sioux in the main square which was a mix of American and Mexican food. Once again the food did not disappoint and the prices were very reasonable. Prices here are much cheaper than most big tourist hubs such as Rome, Paris and Amsterdam.
We then chose to head to Little Britain Bar for a few drinks which lived up to its name and was just like being at home! There were a few rowdy drunk tourists (all of which seemed to be British! You can take the girl out of Britain, but you can't take Britain out of the girl), however it still had a lovely atmosphere, and it was nice to be able to sit outside in the winter without feeling the cold!
DAY THREE:
Today I chose to go to the Salt Mines with my mum. My Dad and partner chose to have a lie in and a late breakfast back at The Bulldog Bar! Before travelling, we had looked at many tours of the mines, however we soon worked out that it was much cheaper and just as easy to make our own way. We got the number 304 bus and it costs around 1 euro per person per way. When purchasing your ticket, make sure you buy the 60 minutes ticket which covers Krakow zone 1 and 2. The bus took a little more than 30 minutes and you can catch the bus from the Galeria shopping centre and Nowy Kleparz.
Once we arrived at the salt mines, we paid around £20 each and this fee included a 2 hour guided tour. We could have also watched a 5D 20 minute film and visited the museum for no extra fee, however we chose not to do this. We then had to wait around 10 minutes for the English tour to begin.
I like to try and be as honest as possible when giving my accounts of places, however I do not want to sway people's opinions and decisions. Without trying to sound too negative, I was a little underwhelmed by the salt mines. I expected to see many statues made of salt and more extravagant chambers. However, given the fee we paid, I would say that it was worth the money. I would recommend trying the salt mines if you have a lot of extra time in Krakow. However, there are other places which I think are more appealing if you are pushed for time. For example, maybe visit Wawel Castle or take a boat trip down the river.
Once we arrived back from the salt mines, we took another walk around the market and did some last minute shopping for gifts and souvenirs. We then took a walk around the old town. The market was extremely busy and crowded but it was still so easy to see the beauty and authenticity of the place!
We then chose to venture out of the main square and stumbled on Bunkier Cafe. The plan was to have a drink and a snack here, however we were all very happy here. The atmosphere was lovely and so relaxed, much more so than the rowdy crowded square! We soon noticed that food and drinks were around half the price than in the square, although we were only 5 minutes walk away. To put it in to perspective, the four of us spent around 3 hours here, all had meals and around 6 drinks each, the bill was just short of £60. I cannot recommend this place enough, especially if you want to escape the madness of the square for a couple of hours!
Overall, we all had a lovely time in Krakow, it had everything we expected and more and I would recommend everyone to visit. It has something for everyone and the prices are great! My top 3 things to do here would be Auschwitz, spend time wandering the old town and exploring the main square, and also wander outside of the square for a more relaxed vibe. You will not be disappointed. I feel that my description does not do Krakow any justice, so take a look at the photos and then go and check it out for yourself! Flights and accommodation cost us around £120 each for 3 nights, so with prices like that, what are you waiting for?
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