WanderlustBruin

I'm doing a Eurotrip with a friend over the summer. I am a 21 year old girl. I used to live in Amsterdam so I have traveled to several places but have never been to Poland or Italy. I'm going to Holland, Spain, and England but am thinking of one more place to go.
For those who have visited, which would you prefer? How are they culture, nightlife, wise?

Thank you

Toucan

Both great places to visit. Krakow is far less touristy and cheaper. The Poles are very welcoming and seem to appreciate having visitors more so than I experienced in Florence.

However, there is so much more to do and see in Florence and it has some of the worlds greatest art (and tourist lines to prove it.) I have no idea about nightlife but for culture and things to do I say Florence. Hopefully you'll get to both places someday!

MagdaDH

Florence is a world-class cultural/art/touristy destination. A Grand Tour highlight sightseeing wise. And if you have never been to Italy, you must go, though personally I would pick Rome or Venice as the first/only place. Not sure how good it is to connect with the locals there, certainly very touristy and very busy -- the queue to Uffizzi is an hour even in Dcemeber ;-)

Krakow is the best city in Poland, good for culture, nightlife, studenty, friendly but with a little dark edge. Cheaper than Florence, too.

Ultimately, if you want to ''do'' European cultural/sightseeing highlights, go to Florence (though it is my least favourite of the ''main'' Italian cities I visited and I have been to a few but not all).

Krakow will also give you a taste of an ex-Communist country, which is always interesting in itself.

Ultimately, I would say -- go to Rome ;-)

adrienne

I love the art work in Florence but overall I really loved Krakow. The culture is very different in these two cities as is the art. Florence will be easier to get to and get out of than Krakow.

I totally agree with Toucan's first paragraph about the warmth of the Poles and the affordable nature of Krakow.

Since the first two responders voted for Florence I'll give you my take on Krakow. You'll have a view of more modern history - WWII and the Communist era. There are two new museums which are first rate - the Krakow Under the Occupation Museum which takes you through WWII life and has many Holocaust survivor stories on touch screens (in Polish and English). Each room shows a different aspect of Krakow during WWII complete with sound effects. The museum is in the former Schinder factory administration building.

The other museum is the Cloth Hall excavations, under the Cloth Hall (in the center of the main square). Lots of touch screens here as well and holographs.

There's the wonderful salt mine, just outside of Krakow (take a city bus to get there). This is so interesting; there are many salt carvings including a salt church deep under the ground.

The main square is beautiful and full of lots of activity into the night - fiacres, fire dancers, lots of people walking around, flower vendors in the middle.

There's a rich history in the Jewish Quarter and there's a castle. The former Communist section is in Nova Hutna.

Everything is fairly walkable and there are trams to get you to places that are a bit farther.

If I were young I would want to see Krakow before it becomes over commercialize like Prague.

Here's my trip report with a link to photos. Scroll down to find the Krakow part.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rip-report.cfm