Last min prep for Krakow - Questions

Old Nov 28th, 2015, 09:33 PM
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Last min prep for Krakow - Questions

Hi Everyone, I did a search and didn't come up with an answer. Plane leaves tomorrow and very little time to dig around. Thought some of you may have visited Krakow and can shed some light... thanks in advance.

- My hotel is in the town center area (near the Church of the Virgin Mary). Is there public transportation from the airport. Bus #, cost, how long it takes, etc would be helpful.
- Monday - since museums are closed, any suggestions for what to do?
- Some people in this forum has gone to Auschwitz on their own vs hiring a tour from Krakow. I haven't decided yet, but if going on my own, how easy is it to get there (I assume by train, then how to get to the camp from the station?). Is there a substantial diff in cost between DIY and tour?

My plan is arrive on a Sat night in mid-Dec (after staying in Prague starting tomorrow). Visit the Castle on Sunday (free admissions) and plan to go to various churches, take walking tours, etc. between Mon & Tue. Departure is Wed afternoon.
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Old Nov 29th, 2015, 12:52 AM
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# Go to airport website for information on buses to the city centre: http://www.krakowairport.pl/en/passe...uses,a198.html If necessary, you can take a taxi from the railway station to your hotel.
# For the trains from Kraków to Oświęcim: timetable on http://rozklad-pkp.pl/en. Train tickets are incredibly cheap.
Make a screen print of Google Maps or ViaMichelin for the way from the railway station to the various sites. Distances are not too long for walking, and it's after all not a destination where comfort should be the first thing on your mnd.
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Old Nov 29th, 2015, 01:02 AM
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Hi

The taxis are absolutely inexpensive compared to western standards in Krakow. I drove 20 min for less than 10 € last month.

HAve a great stay !
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Old Nov 29th, 2015, 02:47 AM
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I think we got a cab - it was very cheap.

we got a bus to the Salt mines - very interesting and open Monday I should think - and the train back.

we also went out to Nova Huta to see the communist new town and Pope John Paul's Church of the Ark - a bit quirky but fascinating.

You'll be fine - have a great trip!
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Old Nov 29th, 2015, 02:52 AM
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We caught a very inexpensive bus to Auschwitz from the centre of Krakow. It drops you right opposite the car park near the gates into the Visitor Centre.
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Old Nov 29th, 2015, 05:15 AM
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Loved Krakow.

For a little info www.inyourpocket.com/krakow
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Old Nov 29th, 2015, 07:19 AM
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Like Rubicund, we took the bus from the centre of the city to Auschwitz.

On a separate note, you might find this site helpful for figuring out public transit in Krakow:

http://krakow.jakdojade.pl

We also spent an afternoon with one of the guides from Crazy Krakow tours. It was an interesting and informative couple of hours, focussing primarily on Nova Huta.
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Old Nov 29th, 2015, 09:16 AM
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re: Auschwitz. I was very glad to visit with a tour group. I would NOT have wanted to deal with either a car or public transportation afterwards -- I was glad to have a very easy way to get back to Krakow without having to focus my attention on anything in particular. The tour leaders were extraordinarily sensitive, and the entire group extremely subdued on the way back, so not distracting at all. JMO.

While in Krakow, consider making time for the Lady with an Ermine -- she is magnificent.
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Old Nov 29th, 2015, 10:25 AM
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You probably are already aware that Krakow has a Christmas market. I think they are open every day and so might be a Monday option. There are displays of creches and it seems some entertainment. (Have not done this, but thought we might be going to Poland this December and so had done some research.)

Here is a list of other events/entertainment during the time period you will be there:

http://www.krakow-info.com/events.htm
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Old Nov 29th, 2015, 11:33 AM
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We also spent an afternoon with one of the guides from Crazy Krakow tours. It was an interesting and informative couple of hours, focussing primarily on Nova Huta.>>

Anselm, I think you are the first other person I have ever met who has been to Nova Huta. I thought that DH was mad to suggest it but it turned out to be extremely interesting.
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Old Nov 29th, 2015, 01:20 PM
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As kja suggests, see da Vinci's "Lady with an Ermine." It was on the top floor of the Wawel Castle when we visited in September and required a separate ticket. There were no crowds.
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Old Nov 29th, 2015, 01:54 PM
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kja, I think you have captured well the feeling one has after touring Auschwitz and Birkenau. In our case, we intended to catch the bus back to Krakow but instead walked straight to a waiting taxi. It was pricey, but it gave us the quiet time we needed. It was a silent trip back to the city.

annhig, we expected our Crazy Krakow tour to be humourous. Notwithstanding the unique "pleasure" of riding around in a Trabant, it was actually a thought-provoking review of the Communist years, including the ideology behind the creation of Nova Huta and the multi-year struggle to build a Catholic Church in the new city. (Stalin likened the imposition of Communism on the Poles to being as difficult as putting a saddle on a cow. It wasn't an easy fit.)
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Old Nov 30th, 2015, 11:09 AM
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Hi Everyone - Awesome info all around. Thank you to each of you. Esp like the 'In Your Pocket' guide (I downloaded ones for Krakow and Prague). It's nice to see the concert list so I can consider which to attend ahead of them.
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Old Nov 30th, 2015, 12:08 PM
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how interesting, Anselme. We didn't take the tour of Nova Huta but we enjoyed our morning there nonetheless. We found another church with lovely stained glass, many lanterns for sale to commemorate the anniversary of the death of John Paul, a stall selling cigarettes, newspapers and potatoes, the church of the Ark, and a market where we had to use sign language to get a drink.
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Old Nov 30th, 2015, 04:47 PM
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We also were glad that we had joined a small tour to Auschwitz. They coordinated with an English speaking guide at the site. She was both sensitive and informative. It was a very reasonable cost for the whole day. We brought bag lunches with us, prepared by our hotel, and were very happy we had them along.
Also in Kraków, you may walk into the interior outdoor garden of the Archbishop's residence where Pope John Paul II lived in Kraków. It is across from the Bascilica of St. Francis, an Art Deco gem, not far from the town square.
Kraków was our favorite city in Eastern Europe.
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Old Dec 16th, 2015, 03:22 AM
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I'm probably too late (I'm guessing the Monday you're in Kraków was two days ago) but just in case - A trip to Nowa Huta with Crazy Guides is a fantastic way to fill a Monday. It was probably the highlight of our visit to Kraków..
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Old Dec 23rd, 2015, 03:05 PM
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Thanks Limmy - I ended up with a visit to Auschwitz that Monday.

BTW, I've got a trip report started but the Submit a reply button isn't working (tried IE, Chrome, and Safaria) so I can't add to it.
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Old Dec 23rd, 2015, 03:54 PM
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Many of us have been having -- and reporting -- problems with the "submit" function for months; some of us have found some work-arounds and tweaks that sometimes work. Here's the relevant thread
http://www.fodors.com/community/foru...rope-forum.cfm
Good luck!
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Old Jan 1st, 2016, 02:19 AM
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So how it was? I love Poland but I mostly going to Gdansk usually.One time I've been to Warsaw on my way to Amsterdam. But all my friends told me that this part of Poland is very historical and scenic as well. So did you go to Auswitz like you planned? My sis was there but she also didn't go on her own, so she booked a guide tour. How did you find a tour? I'm thinking about this http://vivaster.com/tour/guided-tour...z-birkenau-993 .
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Old Jan 5th, 2016, 06:41 AM
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asloview - Definitely go to Krakow if you are in the vicinity. Pls check out my TR. I included the Auschwitz side trip info.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...t-dec-2015.cfm

The tour description in your link is pretty much what I did by joining a local tour, but without the lunchbox and for much less $. No need to sign up online ahead as there are plenty of places offering tours. You just need to sign up the day before at the shops, hotel, visitor centers, etc. Signs for the tours are all over the streets - You can't miss them.
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