JETTING OFF TO KRAKOW…
David Cookson of Travel Circle, Longridge, embarks on a trip to Krakow, where he discovers a beautiful, friendly city with quaint cobbled streets in the Old Town and great-value cafes and restaurants lining the main square
Where should I head on my next adventure? Where will satisfy my wanderlust? These are the questions I’m always asking myself. I am lucky to travel to some absolutely amazing destinations and Krakow was next on my list.
After a short two-hour flight from Manchester I arrived into Krakow’s modern and well organised airport where I was met by my friendly driver Dawid for the 20-minute drive to the city and my home for the next three nights. I chose the Hotel Puro Kazimierz which is an ultra-modern 4* hotel situated in the Jewish Quarter. After dropping my bags in my room I headed down to the hotel’s wonderful restaurant where I enjoyed a delicious three-course meal. When I asked for the bill I was shocked at the £18 charge, which included drinks. This was definitely a clue to how affordable this trip was going to be!
After a great night’s sleep I headed out for my compulsory sunrise run along the stunning river, before heading back to the hotel for breakfast in the hotel’s own in-house bakery. Feeling well fuelled I headed into Krakow Old Town. After a 15-minute stroll from my hotel I reached the Rynek Glowny, which is the main square and is absolutely breath-taking. The square is lined with cafes and restaurants all of which offer outdoor dining and, after experiencing a number of them over the weekend, I can personally confirm they all offered high quality food and service at ridiculously low prices. I spent the afternoon simply wandering the historical cobbled streets and visited Wawel Castle, where you can still find a fire-breathing dragon!
The next day started early as I had booked an excursion to the Auschwitz and Birkenau Camps. The trip takes approximately seven hours including the drive to and from the camps. I found the visit fascinating, humbling and, I’m not ashamed to say, quite an upsetting experience but definitely one that everyone should do. Another excursion worth doing is the salt mines. This is a shorter trip and again, can easily be organised before you arrive in Krakow.
My final day started with a visit to the hotel spa before heading back into the Old Town for a final wander and lunch on the square, before heading to the airport for my flight back to the UK.
How would I describe Krakow? I personally found the city fascinating, beautiful, friendly with a surprise around every corner.
