Useful Tips

Krakow - September 2009

Trip report September 2009
This was my third visit to Krakow

The flight over to Krakow was due to take off at 5 past 12, but was delayed by 30 minutes but made up good time and was only 12 minutes late arriving . We took the train into town; very good value at just 7zls if you get your ticket from the machine in the airport terminal, but 8zlt if you buy it on the train.
From the train station it was a leisurely walk to our accommodation at ul. Zamenhofa. We had booked the Wenus Studio through inlurs.net at just 864zlt for the week. For what we paid we were very pleased with the studio, which was conveniently located just off the Planty (a park that almost encircles all of the Old Town).

After unpacking, and freshening up, it was off again to explore the delights of Krakow. We were soon settling down outside, to a leisurely drink at my favourite café/restaurant in the Main Square (Cafe Kawiarnia Bankowa ) being serenaded by some local musicians. On our way back, to the Studio, we made a short detour to see the Juliusz Slowacki Theatre, in my opinion, at night when floodlight, one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen. As usual, when I write a trip report, I do not bore everyone with a blow by blow account of everything we did: but just give a summary of the highlights.
		*Juliusz Slowacki Theatre,*

		As I had been to Krakow on two previous occasions, this time it was more of a chill out, and see just a few new things. Before I left the UK I made a list of all the things that I wanted to do. ● Find and have a meal at the Panorama Restaurant ● Balloon Trip (hydrogen, tethered) ● A river Trip ● Nowa Huta and Arka Pana Church ● Take pictures inside the Old Synagogue. ● Go up St Mary’s Tower. ● Collegium Maius ● Try a few new Restaurants
		Believe it or not, this time I managed to tick-off every single one from the list: a first for me.

The Panorama Restaurant (ul.Zwierzyniecka 50. Tel:012 422 28 14) I read on the TripAdviser forum about a restaurant/Bar above the Jubilat department store, with lovely views called the Panorama. So on the first full day in Krakow I decided to try to find it. I took Tram number 6, from Plac Wszystkich Świętych (That’s the nearest tram stop south of the Market Square) just two stops, heading West; getting off at the Tram stop named Jubilat. You can’t miss the Jubilat department store as the tram stops right outside. The entrance to the Panorama is not through the department store itself, but to the side of the main entrance. The entrance is marked as Restaurant and Night Club. The lift takes you swiftly to the top of the building. On exiting the lift the Panorama is on the right. In my opinion it is well worth the trouble in finding it, we dined there twice.
		View from the The Panorama Restaurant
My Partners birthday was on the Tuesday (don’t ask how old she was, because if I gave out that information on the Net, she had threatened to kill me). I had promised a Balloon trip and a River trip. Unfortunately Tuesday started off dull and misty so we went to a little shop at Plac Wszystkich Świętych and I bought an Amber Drop and silver chain for my ‘other half’, it was cheaper than the shops in the Cloth Hall. She was very pleased with her 65th birthday present (Oh dear I’ve told you her age; now I’m in for it, BIG TIME!!!)

		Balloon Trip (hydrogen, tethered) By 12 o’clock the sun had come out, so we got the number 18 tram, again from Plac Wszystkich Świętych, to the balloon (we got off the tram one stop after it crossed the river and walked back to the balloon). According to the leaflet, that we obtained from the Information desk in the Town Hall Tower, the cost was 36zls. But on inquiry we were told that over 60’s can go for 25zls. In my opinion the 15-20 minute flight was well worth the 25zls, The views over Krakow were amazing when the balloon reached it final height (150meters).
*View From the Balloon*
We then crossed under Most Grunwaldkzi (bridge) and walked along the riverbank to the boats we had seen from the balloon.

A river Trip. We decided on the Nimfa, as it promised a three hour trip to the Benedictine Abbey at Tyniec, and back. The cost of the trip was 78zls for us both. It was lovely weather so we found a seat on the upper deck. The boat sold light snacks and drinks so I bought my ‘other half’ a small cream cake and told her it was her Birthday Cake! The journey to Tyniec was great, very warm with a slight cooling breeze. The boat moored at the little jetty at Tyniec so that one could climb up to the Abbey. We arrived back at dusk just as the floodlights were coming on at the Castle. The trip lasted four and a half hours (a little longer that scheduled, but that was fine with us).
		*The Benedictine Abbey at Tyniec*
Having been twice before, to Krakow, I thought that on this trip I would try something a little different ‘Nowa Huta’. And Nowa Huta was certainly different.

		Nowa Huta We took Tram number 4 from Dworzec Oldwny (the tram stop is on the ‘Planty’just south of the Railway Station), running East. After about twenty minutes we arrived at Plac Centralny. It was almost a different world, very few smiling faces, no one looked at you and very interesting but dull architecture. We then took tram 20 running north to Rondo Kocmyrzowskie Square. We had been told that from there we had to follow Kocmyrzowska Road running East then take a turning North to reach Arka Pana Church. Unfortunately we were not told how far along the road we had to walk to find the turning. (we found out later that if we had caught tram number 1 for just one stop, to the little market, it was just a short walk north). We tried to ask directions but no one was willing to help. Eventually, after nearly giving up we found the open-air market.
Seeking refreshments we went to a small Bar/Café in the market, luckily the owner spoke English and directed us to the Church.The church was well worth seeing. Then it was back to the market and over the road to catch the number 1 tram back to town. In my opinion not one of the top ten sights of Krakow but well worth it if you have a spare half day.

My Mystery Tram Tour. Whenever I visit a city, like Krakow with a good tram system, I always take a mystery tour. I just find a convenient tram stop, preferably one that services more that one tram number. Then get on the first tram, in either direction, that comes along. So we went to the Tram Stop just outside the large shopping complex (Galeria Krakowska) by the main Railway station. We took the first tram that came along, it was the number 19 running north. We stayed on the tram until it reached its terminus (at Krowodrza Gorka). At the terminus I was surprised to see a number 50 tram. I was surprised because I could not remember seeing a number 50 on my map that I had downloaded from the web. I found out afterwards that I was using an old copy that I had used on my last visit to Krakow back in December. So I took the number 50 running South.
		Tram number 19 going acros tram 14's path
The tram followed the same route that I had taken earlier for three stops then the tram plunged into a tunnel, I got off at the next stop (marked as Dw. Gt. Tunel). On following my fellow travellers up the escalator, I was very surprised to find myself on the lower floor of Galeria Krakowska shopping centre. You can also take a lift from the underground platform to the railway station and also to the overhead car park, where one can get a taxi. Normally my Mystery Tour lasts longer than this, but once we found ourselves in a shopping centre, the other half started shopping, so that was the end of my mystery tour for that day.