Traveling Krakow
 

Couple questions to toss out to anyone that can spare a moment to assist.

May be traveling to Krakow next winter:
1. Curious about where to stay in the city?
2. Experience with tours to Auschwitz/Birk - booking experience - suggestions (has anyone done it in the winter?)
3. Next stop is Prague and flight prices are looking kind of rough. Suggestions to find rail info? Using google produces a whole lot of options.
4. Anything else that comes to mind from previous visits- i.e. bars, restaurants, sights that you thoroughly enjoyed? Will be with a friend most likely looking to experience some pub/bar culture as well as some delicious food. Given the lack of daylight eating and drinking will be a likely activity I am sure. And wandering the Christmas markets!

Thank you

This thread should answer all your questions about Krakow: https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...019-a-1668198/

For info on trains see: https://www.seat61.com/index.html

We stayed at the Hotel Saski in October 2003. Of course, that was awhile ago, but we were very happy with our stay there. It's centrally located, about a 5-minute walk from the Main Square where the Cloth Hall is located. Included Breakfasts were delicious, including a buffet and hot eggs made to order. Staff recommended a small guided tour to Auschwitz, and made the reservations for us. We were picked up at our hotel in a small van. It was chilly in October; we wore winter coats. We were able to sit outside because all restaurants/cafes had heaters. I assume winter months will be very cold so be prepared with the proper clothing.
Hotel Saski Krakow, Poland

A visit to Auschwitz / Birkenau can be a very powerful experience, so if you go (I'm glad I did), consider planning a very quiet evening afterwards.

And while in Krakow, consider making time to see the Lady with an Ermine. She is quite spectacular. :)

As thursdaysd already noted, see seat61.com for all things related to train travel in Europe.

sundevil, I recently wrote a trip report on here (it's linked above in post #2). It answers your questions if you read it. But in short, I'd go to Auschwitz with a tour, but not a big coach tour like GrayLine. I used ComforTours Krakow for the salt mines and they offer Auschwitz tours as well. It's in a small SUV with only a few other people. For accommodation I stayed just off the main square but on a very quiet side street. Hopefully my trip report helps you as you plan your trip.

Thanks, everyone, these replies have been really useful.
amyb your Trip Report was really helpful! Thanks for taking the time to write it and reply here as well.

Seat61 is excellent and answered all my questions regarding the different train options as well. I've been hoping to go to Krakow for a long time and am very excited - I will not miss the camps, it is one of the main reasons for going.

Any other suggestions that come up would be great as well - pubs and food - always prefer going somewhere on a suggestion over just stumbling in (although that works sometimes as well).