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Alberto has lived in Krakow for 3 years and is currently our Couchsurfing Ambassador in Krakow. Here are his takes on what not to miss on your next trip to Krakow. Ya know, just in case your CS host has a job or something!
Best Breakfast in Krakow…
Pan Nalesnik (Dolnych Młynów 3) and Mr Pancake (Dolnych Młynów 10/1b). Both mean ‘Mr Pancake’ and they are basically in front of each other, but one serves Polish pancakes and the other serves them the American way.
By TTstudio/shutterstock
1 Museum not to miss…
The mandatory one is the Wawel Castle. But if apart from that you want to go a bit off the beaten track, try checking Beksinski’s artwork in Nowohuckie Centrum Kultury (al. Jana Pawła II 232). Is a bit far from the city center, but trust me, every kilometer is worth it.
Where to break a sweat…
If you’re here during the summer, rent a kayak in Kolejowy Klub Wodny (Księcia Józefa 24a), you can kayak all the way down to the Wawel Castle and back. You don’t need to be really fit to finish the trip and you will have AMAZING pics!!!! 2h cost around 20 zl… that’s less than 5 €!
(More info here, unfortunately only in Polish but Google Translate does a good job.)
Best street food…
Zapiekanka (the “Polish pizza” made with a baguette) in Plac Nowy square. They are good at any time, but they taste even better when you’re already a bit tipsy and feel hungry at 2 AM.
Best place for local cuisine…
Gospoda Koko (Gołębia 8). It’s traditional Polish cuisine, more like cafeteria style, but delicious and very affordable prices.
Best view in the city…
Kopiec Krakusa.
There are several mounds like this around the city, but this one is the closest to the center so you have a full view of the whole city.
Best place to grab a drink…
Pijalnia Wódki I Piwa (Florianska 34, Szewska 25, Plac Nowy 7) or Bania Luka (Szewska 13, plac Szczepański 6).
Both have several locations across the city. They are kind of crappy, but the prices are ridiculously low and are the perfect place to begin or end a night out. Actually I love their “have your drink and GTF out of here” approach.
Where to get the perfect picture…
Wawel Dragon statue. It spits real fire!!!! Wait until dusk to have the coolest pic ever!
One experience not to miss…
Check out the nuclear bunker in Nowa Huta district, in the Muzeum PRL-u building (os. Centrum E 1). Cold War legacy all around the area.
One experience to avoid…
The golf karts offering tours around the city… better join one of those free walking tours, there’s plenty of them almost 24/7 and in several languages.
Best historic site…
Schindler’s Factory (Lipowa 4). It’s impossible not to make references to WWII when you’re in Poland.
1 must-do day trip…
Auschwitz concentration camp. I encourage people to go there even though the experience is NOT going to be nice, but it works as a reminder of what we as humanity shouldn’t allow to happen again.
