November 10, 2009
By Sid Kaplan
Travel Writer
Troy Media
Sid Kaplan
KRAKOW, Poland, Nov. 10, 2009/ Troy Media/ — After you’ve settled into your hotel, preferably in or near the Old Town (the Stare Miasto), it is time to start exploring Krakow. While there is a lot to see, the Stare Miasto is where you’ll do most of your sightseeing.
The best way to see this Old Town is on foot. It’s a great city for walking, but don’t worry about getting tired. A stroll in the Stare Miasto is filled with entertainment, both by the crowds and the sidewalk performers. You’ll also be popping into lots of churches to see the spectacular interiors and the artwork.
Take the time to sit and rest a spell and reflect in the churches. There are also plenty of sidewalk cafes where you can stop for a coffee or a beer. Prices are so reasonable that you won’t worry about stopping often.
For an overview of this great city, take a drive in one of the little electric cars, or it might be better to call them carts. Don’t worry; one of the drivers will approach you. They offer tours exploring Krakow, with recordings that will tell you about the city in almost any language.
There are plenty of beautiful horse-drawn carriages to show you the sights too. They seem to be a favorite of brides. Several times a day you will see brides and grooms riding in these carriages with photographers hanging off the side taking pictures. We’ve never seen so many brides in one city . . . except maybe Warsaw. Maybe we were just there in the wedding season.
You’ll spend a lot of time in the main market square. It’s probably the first place you will wander into. It was the biggest square in medieval Europe, and it seems to be where everyone hangs out today. The square is filled with flower stalls and outdoor cafes and those horse drawn carts.
Exploring Krakow beyond the Old Town may involve taking buses or trams. Getting to the Kazimierz neighborhood is about a 20 minute walk or you can take a tram. A tram is also the best way to get to the suburb of Nowa Huta to see reminders of the Soviet past.
We took a tram to see the Polish Aviation Museum. To get to the salt mines, you can take a tour, a local bus or an inexpensive mini-bus. Ask about which tram to catch at your hotel or at tourist information offices.
We drove into the city. That’s one way to see how big a city it is. Any highway that you take in will have signs to the Centrum (center of town). You’ll know you’ve reached it when you hit the ring road that surrounds Planty Park, a green belt just inside of the ring road. It marks where the 13th century city walls and a moat once were.
Streets within this ring road are often one way. Some are pedestrian-only streets. Hotels are concentrated here, but getting to them by car can be a little confusing. Just take your time, drive slowly, get your landmarks, and you’ll find it. We only went around twice! Ask about parking at your hotel.
Whether you fly in, drive in, or take the train from another city in Poland, exploring Krakow is easy, fun and inexpensive.
