sylvester

We may be in Krakow in June. Sun. June 4 and Thurs. June 15 are national holidays (religious ones). A couple of websites say public transportation may be affected and there's a "trade prohibition." Does that mean that virtually all restaurants and sightseeing areas will be closed?

Thank you.

Christina

no, of course not. That is just Pentecost (which is a Sunday anyway, so stores being closed isn't so unusual) and Corpus Christi. I've been there for the latter, and it was actually interesting as they had a religious procession in the main square. It didn't affect my vacation one bit. I don't recall but I'm sure I had somewhere to eat and ate at a restaurant for lunch and dinner. I know I ate and didn't fast all day. I probably didn't use public transportation that day and just walked to things in the center, don't recall. But that just sounds like different schedules, which is normal for lots of holidays (saying it "may be affected"). And you have to make sure some transportation wouldn't be affected by procession.s

I'm sure trade prohibition means the usual, banks, offices, post offices, etc. are close, and the big stores and supermarkets. I don't recall if literally every shop was closed or not, including those vendors in the Cloth Hall. But I know all restaurants were not closed and there was still plenty to do.

Where do you want to take public transportation to on those days?

Trade prohibitions don't affect restaurants, I think that is a term for manufactured goods. News shops, bakeries and souvenir stands are usually exempt from such provisions.

cdnyul

I had the misfortune of being in Poland for the Corpus Christi holiday in 2016.

I was in Gdynia at the time and the following were closed:
Naval Museum including ORP Blyskawica , closed for three days

Dar Pomorza was closed on the Sunday.

Religious processions affecting public transit for four days.

It was a pell-mell as to shops and restaurants, some were closed for the entire weekend, some closed on Sunday and some not at all.

The basic rule is that anything run or remotely connected to the present government or any of its ministries will be closed.

Museums operated by the city governments will be open.

The catholic church owns a lot real estate in Poland, most of it not of religious nature, any business that has the church as their landlord will be closed.

Pentacost, or Rusalki, is an old Slav pagan tradition that the religious mafia has usurped for their own benefit.

Any excuse to pass the collection plate, I guess.

You say you may be in Krakow, if you want to experience the religious part of the Polish culture it is a good time, otherwise pick a different time or country.

not_this_time

"Public transportation may be affected" - it will be on Sunday schedule and there may be some diversions because of the processions. Krakow is very walkable so you may not need any public transport at all. Train from the airport runs to the same schedule all days of the year, and it's the same train that goes further to the Salt mines. There may be fewer buses to Auschwitz, though.

"Trade prohibition" means that supermarkets and all shopping malls will be closed by law. Only shops where owners work themselves are allowed to remain open.

Most restaurants should be open as should most museums, especially the most visited ones. I had a quick look and see that Auschwitz, Salt mines, Wawel Castle will be open. However if you want to visit a less known museum you may need to check its website to avoid disappointment. Pentecost and Corpus Christi are not as important as Christmas and Easter when all museums close at least for one day.

sylvester

Thank you all for your detailed responses. Told me just what I needed!

sylvester

Gracek90: that was an interesting response, since I had not asked anything about medical care on this forum! However, I have asked about it on our other trips so I guess this is still useful. It sounds like you work there.