Hi
We are thinking about having a family holiday in Krakow next summer. Hoping to explore the area, do tours (including Auswitz), rent a car, etc. Children will all be just under 10. Probably stay in a holiday rental. Has anyone any experience of this area? What would you recommend to do there? Is it a little cheaper than Ireland (or UK) to eat out, do activities, etc? Any advice or recommendations welcome! TIA!
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Krakow
Brokenfurnitureandroses · 11/08/2022 20:45
AnnaMagnani · 12/08/2022 08:33
If you wanted to go to Auschwitz especially, and Dad didn't, I'd just go on a tour and leave him doing something else with the kids back in Krakow.
Most people go on an organized tour, plus you really need someone there to explain everything. It's the whole day if you go to Birkenau as well, which you should.
There isn't really something to do nearby, I got the bus there (not recommended) and the taxi back and taxi driver was explaining the area - it's in the middle of nowhere for a reason.
Mozartinmyfanjo · 12/08/2022 13:57
Hi OP, just back from Krakow with similar age DC. Weather wise, August is usually around 22-25 degrees and sunny, you may have a bit of rain here and there and may have an odd hotter day.
Things to see and do:
Wieliczka Salt Mine is great and interesting for kids.
Zamek Krolewski with Dragon’s cave. You can just get tickets for the parts of the castle you want to see and still explore outside, depends what your DC are into.
Park Lema has absolutely amazing physics inspired playground, there is a small fee to get in but well worth it. You can easily spend half a day in there. The rest of the park is free and huge, with playgrounds and so on. Everything very well maintained, clean and safe.
You can take a cruise on the Wisla (Vistula), have a stroll around the Old Town, Kazimierz, although Kazimierz may not be so exciting for kids.
To eat, stick to the side streets coming out from the Old Town and avoid places with ppl dressed in traditional outfits. Mediocre food and really expensive.
Outside of Krakow are some amazing adventure parks: Energolandia, Rabka (which is a very interesting town on its own), water parks in Bialka Tatrzanska, Bukowina and Chocholow. You can take a bus or train to any of these from Krakow. If you have time take a whole day trip to Zakopane or Pieniny.
I would not advise to drive in Krakow or nearby. Public transport is very efficient and easy to navigate and really cheap. A tram/ bus ticket for me and DC cost £1 (includes bus from Krakow to Wieliczka).
Krakow is nowhere near the war zone 🙄there are plenty of Ukrainian refugees, which l very much doubt you would be able to distinguish from native Poles, and signs are in 2 languages but that’s about it.
Krakow is beautiful, very clean, very safe and still relatively cheap but inflation in Poland is growing at much faster rate than in the UK, not sure how good a deal it will be next year.
I have been to Krakow and surrounding areas many times, happy to recommend any other places. There is so much to do there!
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