GoodGrac

Well, Ryanair had a sale on and yet again I was unable to resist the temptation. So I'll be flying in to Berlin on a saturday evening and returning from Krakow sunday morning a week later. This will be at the end of July.

Now on the face of it, one week for two cities seems fine, but now I've properly started to research the area it's looking like it could be a tight squeeze to fit everything in. I've decided I'd definitely like to fit in a night in Zakopane to take in the scenery and do a little light hiking.

So, starting in Berlin I'd like to spend a couple of days taking in WW2/Cold War type sights. Then I'm planning on taking the overnight train to Krakow. I'm thinking of pressing straight on to Zakopane that day, spending the night there then returning to Krakow for the remaining four nights. My flight out of Krakow is early in the morning so I need to spend the last night in Krakow anyway which is why I think Berlin-Zakopane-Krakow will be the most efficient order.

This will give me three full days in Krakow, to include a day wandering around Krakow seeing Wawel Castle, the Jewish area, and generally taking in the atmosphere. And a day trip to the salt mines, and a trip to the camp at Auschwitz.

I'd appreciate any thoughts on whether this seems a good split of my time available, and the best order to do things in.

Thanks.

GSteed

Forget Krakow...stay in Zakopane. Try for a trip to Łańcut. The experiences on the busses will be your most memorable memories.

gplusg

Do not skip Krakow.

Hotel Wenzel on the old town square would be perfect.

GTG

tmh

As much as we liked Zakopane, I'd skip that. Berlin and Krakow each would fill a week IMHO

PeterB

You have a couple of good train connections from Berlin to Zakopane with just one transfer i various cities on the way and with option of sleeper cars ...

http://rozklad.pkp.pl/bin/query.exe/en?

July is high season so make sure you reserve all (travel, stays etc) well ahead of time ...

Zakopane will be packed ... good intro with some nice views be quick ride to Gobalowka (tram from center of zakopane... on krupowki street if walking from train station turn right on krupowki then walk to end passing all the street vendors with some great prices) and then lift to Kasprowy Wierch(ask in hotel if lift is working since it is being replaced to a newer type)(take taxi to depart station to save time) Kasprowy Wierch will have a huge line - so try to do this first thing in morning ask for round trip all the way to the top (on top you can hike around)... there are ton of other nice hikes in area - but you would need more time ... Train/Bus station is in center ...

Do not skip Krakow and forget Lancut as per other recommandation ... by train you be going thru Poznan, and then possibly Warsaw or Wroclaw, any of those old town sections can be a good break if you want to see something more then Krakow - Even Gdansk or Torun would have been a better suggestion since you can then connect easly by overnight trains (saving on hotels)... Lancut Castle is way out of your way ... Ksiaz castle (closer to Wroclaw) would be a good possibility - but with so little time stick with Larger cities on the way to your destination...

Berlin is also very nice - so again just make sure you divide accordingly and try maybe saving some time by taking overnight sleepers ...

Enjoy - sounds like a very nice trip

GoodGrac

Thank you all for your replies, especially Peter. I shall report back when I return - should be a good trip!

PeterB

GoodGrac: You most welcome BTW just checked looks - like lift to Kasprowy Wierch is closed till end of 2007 - so you other options maybe Morskie Oko (very popular - so be packed in July) ... with Morskie oko take a horse carriage ride to morskie oko then having still some energy left hike around the lake - so even try Rysy peak which is highest peak in Poland ... for more scenic and bit less crowds Dolina Chocholowska is very nice - again you can take a horse carriage ride up and then with bike rental from top you can bike back down (returning bike on bottom) or just walk down enjoying a easy hike down and scenery ...

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel...pane-BR-1.html

http://www.zakopane.pl/articles.php?id=92

Enjoy

noe847

Just a heads up, PeterB. If you have a very long url that you're citing to (as you did in the previous post) you can go to tinyurl.com to convert it to a smaller url that will not mess up the fodor's page when posted.