jrudakas

I have booked a number of nights at the Grand Hotel in Krakow (near the main market square). It is my first trip to Krakow, has anyone had experienced this hotel as good or bad? Also, any recomendations for restaurants near the hotel and square to recommend? I prefer good local places and not tourist restaurants.

Thanks,

lyban

I have never been to Krakow, but am going in April. I am staying at Hotel Weilopole. There are alot of good reviews on TripAdvisor.com for the Grand Hotel. Hope this helps.

GSteed

Good choice. The Grand Hotel is just that. Chances are you will not encounter 'economy tourists'. Their restaurant will be offer high standard Polish meals. We never could afford it and stayed at the 'Saski' next door. We bought, USA Today, there. If the two sisters are still at the Saski restaurant it will be a great experience. Most cities in Poland seem to have a Grand Hotel. They are like the premier hotels in the USA of the 20s and 30s. I remember the hotel in Milwaukee with an ice water tap in each room! Try the Europeski Pub or dining room.

sternb

I disagree! Just stayed in Krakow for a weekend at Hotel Grodek and overnight at the Grand. Same price but Grodek was infinitely better! Much more attention to details and service, much more quietly elegant.
I'd return to the Grodek in a minute but not to the Grand. I think it's over-rated.

Lolo12

I cannot speak about the Grand Hotel, however I spent 5 nights at the Grodek and it was absolutely wonderful. There was some construction nearby but that did not detract from the ambience and flavor of this charming jewel of a hotel. The staff couldn't have been more accommodating, especially when I had a problem with a private driver. They straightened out the mess for me. The location is ideal, just a short walk to the square and other sites. If you have the opportunity to stay at the Grodek, take it.

Christina

I stayed at the Grodek a couple years ago and I agree, it is a wonderful hotel. It is one of my favorite hotels in Europe. It is expensive for Krakow, I agree, but it was worth it to me.

So, haven't stayed at the Grand (didn't think it was as expensive as the Grodek), but it's location is very convenient.

There are many restaurants near and on the square, so it's hard to pick, but I particularly liked the Hawelka right on the square -- it is a cheaper section on the ground floor which has excellent food (and is still a regular restaurant, not some casual food place), so you don't have to go all out in the main one, if you don't want. I don't really remember the names of the other ones I liked, but I had good meals in very restaurant I've chosen there. I just use Timeout and Inyourpocket for their recommendations, they are pretty good (and online).

Of course if you won't eat in what you call tourist restaurants, you need to get off the main square and surrounding area altogether, that's contradictory.

joandg

I like the sound of the Grodek but my friend wants somewhere with a swimming pool! Has anyone stayed at the Novetel or the Sheraton? Which one would be best and nearest the old town? Any other suggestions would be welcome. Will it be chilly in early April?

Thanks

maitaitom

"Also, any recomendations for restaurants ..."

From my recently completed trip report:

"As we walked, we saw a restaurant that piqued our interest. It looked cute, and the menu looked great. I went in, asked for eight o’clock reservations, and they pointed at a table near the door, “You have the last table,” he said, and I am so glad we got it.

Guliwer, ul. Bracka 6, turned out to be one of the best restaurants of the trip.....

This is one place where I will describe the dishes. They were that good!

Mary started with a wild mushroom soup (Polish specialty) and went on to Provencale-style chicken liver with onions and red peppers along with roasted potatoes.

I had a scrumptious veal cutlet with herb garlic butter, fried apples paired with some delicious pan-fried potatoes. It received a “Wow” rating. This would be a night for “Wows.”

Tracy’s first “Wow” dish was a refreshing, cold cucumber and watermelon soup. Her duck filet with a pepper sauce and celery salad with raisins and nuts was great, too.

With dishes like these, we could not stop. On to dessert!

I had a terrific Crepe Suzette, which was fabulous, but Tracy’s second “Wow” of the night came in the form of vanilla and chocolate crepes filled with ice cream, an orange-chocolate sauce, whipped cream and lots of orange zest. We were told the orange-chocolate sauce is made in-house.

All this and a bottle of 2004 Chateau Pertignos Bordeaux made this dinner most memorable.

I highly, highly recommend Guiwer for dinner. Simply tremendous!"

joandg

Restaurant sounds great, Was it expensive?

But I need to book a hotel......

Thanks for any help from Foderites

Melissa5

As soon as my husband returns from a business trip, I can recommend an inexpensive restaurant in Krakow to get good pierogi and kilbasa as well as other dishes...(sorry if that is misspelled.) My husband accidentally took all my notes with him!

We loved the wonderful man we booked as a driver, if you plan any driving trips as day-tours from Krakow. His e-mail is still on my computer...Andrew Durman.

We liked our room at Hotel Pugetow, walking distance to the Main Market Square.

nancicita

Hello! I was in Krakow in July and stayed at the Novotel right next to the river. I picked the Novotel because of its reviews on TripAdvisor and also because I've stayed at other Novotels before, and the quality of service is pretty consistent. The Novotel is within walking distance to a supermarket, so it was convenient for me to buy some bottles of water and snacks as I walked around town.

I took the SeeKrakow tour (http://www.seekrakow.com/) which includes the morning at the Wieliczka Salt Mine and the afternoon at Auschwitz Birkenau. Very good tour. If you take this tour, make sure you get to the pickup location early, because the shuttle leaves right on time. You can go to the SeeKrakow office to purchase tickets in advance, and then just show up at the pickup location.


Enjoy Krakow! It's a lovely place to visit!

GSteed

I ran, Krakow Hotels...I got over 200! Then I read ratings for different users, young tourists, honeymooners, and on and on. The Grodek was not rated the best but it was in top ten along with the Grand. I used to travel Wisconsin. I stayed in Holiday Inns...Some mornings it took minutes to know what city I was in.