Krakow & Auschwitz, Poland

I went on a Stag Trip and admittedly it is a very popular destination for both Stag and Hen parties, but Krakow offers so much more than that.

I went for 3 nights but you could easily spend a week or two there.

In terms of central Krakow, Rynek Glowny dates from the 13th Century and is Europe's largest Medieval Grand Square (wrongly translated as Market Square).

Architecturally it is very impressive everywhere you look and includes St Mary's Basilica and the Renaissance Cloth Hall. Around the Square, there is an abundance of hotels, shops, restaurants, bars and clubs and it is certainly busy in the evening.

It looks really nice in the day time but it is stunning in the evening when it is lit up and the with the night market and food stalls in the middle and horse-drawn carriages lined up waiting for customers.

There are lots of streets branching off from the Square so it is easy to take a wrong turn, but the whole area is surrounded by Planty Park with a ring road circling the park, so it is easy just to walk and get back to where you want to be.

The trams that whiz around this ring road are good for hopping on and off but they do also have little buggy style cars for the tourists as well as normal taxis.

Away from the Grand Square, the Old Jewish Quarter is also very popular. It is much more relaxed here, a bit more peaceful and a good place for a quiet breakfast or lunch. Prices here seem to be lower than the tourist hub of the Grand Square, but there are also lots of bars and restaurants here so it comes alive in the evening.

There are a few Vodka Bars dotted around and these are excellent, with a menu of shots of various vodkas, spices, and other ingredients and quite cheap too. This was a real experience and education as I didn't even know I liked vodka!

In terms of accommodation, there are good options for all budgets ranging from the standard apartments, which are actually very good, to the 4 and 5-star hotels.

Similarly, there are fast food outlets available and the traditional dumpling restaurants as well as some really smart establishments. We went to a very nice restaurant called The Black Duck and I can highly recommend that, especially if you like Duck!

A trip to Krakow would normally include a visit to Auschwitz and Birkenau which is not for the faint-hearted. Being in a place where so many people suffered and were exterminated is a disturbing experience as is the realization of the massive scale of the place.

The Memorial is approximately 1 hour from Krakow and takes about 7 hours in total. The weekends are very busy so I recommend booking this in advance to avoid disappointment. It is possible to book locally through local agents but they all offer different times, some will have availability and some won't and the prices do vary quite a bit.

Another place connected with World War II which attracts a lot of visitors is Oskar Schindler's Enamel Factory immortalized in 1993 by Steven Spielberg's film Schindler's List. This is located 3km South East of Krakow's Old Town historical center so only a short drive and the tour should take no more than 3 hours.

For a lot of people, the highlight of a visit to Krakow is going to the Wieliczka Salt Mine. The rock salt here has been mined since the 13th century and is spread over nine levels with 300km of tunnels, galleries, altars, and statues sculpted in the salt, making a fascinating pilgrimage into the past of a major industrial site. This tour would normally take about 4 hours. Sometimes people combine it with the Auschwitz and Birkenau tour but that does then make for a very long day.

For those seeking some peace and tranquility, Dunajec River Rafting takes you through the amazing scenery of the Polish Highlands, mighty limestone cliffs and stunning native vegetation protected by the second oldest national park in the world. Including transport by bus, this usually takes about 8 hours.

If an adrenalin rush is called for then options include White Water Rafting on a man-made course or a visit to the shooting range.

I really liked Krakow and would definitely recommend it as either a short break or a longer holiday for either a group, a family or couples.

When I went in May it was really hot, but temperatures would drop a lot in the winter so maybe not so good for enjoying the Grand Square and the tours, though the Winter / Christmas Markets are also very popular.