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Here are a few things to remember during your time in Cracow:
Avoid changing your money at the Bureaux de Change in the town centre unless you want to hand a complete stranger an early Christmas present - the rates can be awful.
Don't hail your taxis from the rank - ask someone to phone for one - it's generally 30 percent cheaper.
Coin-operated phone boxes are almost non-existent. You'll need to buy a telephone card (karta telefoniczna) from a post office or roadside kiosk.
Take care when buying antiques. It's illegal to export certain items, particularly old paintings, produced before 1945.
Don't expect first class service in Cracow's restaurants and bars - the city still has a long way to go in that respect! Things have improved a lot however in the last few years, and with an ever-increasing amount of tourists in the city tipping is also becoming customary. Ten percent on any meal should mean you're welcomed back next time!
One of the ancient Chakra energy stones is believed to be buried in Wawel Castle. It's all nonsense, according to the guides, but thousands still come for the vibe.
If you're planning a trip to Cracow be sure to book your accommodation in advance, particularly in the high season. The best hotels fill out quickly, with apartments a better bet for last minute breaks. Backpackers meanwhile should check out our page on Cracow hostels.
When it comes to partying, Cracovians start early and finish late. Whereas you'll find it hard to get a seat if you arrive at a nightspot after ten, the clubs only really start to get going when Cinderella's on her way home... and carry on until 4 a.m. or even later. If you want to go the distance make sure you pace yourself! Cracow has more drinking holes per square metre than anywhere else in the world. Hurrah!
Bring warm clothes and a hat. The weather in Poland can be surprisingly pleasant, but equally it can have a bitter cold edge even in late spring. You may just end up blessing that ridiculous old balaclava.
Poles are passionate about their food. Throw away your preconceptions about miserable Eastern Bloc stews, and be prepared for a great surprise.
Poland has adopted its own uniquely confusing symbols for differentiating public toilets for men and women. Remember, too, that you may well have to pay. Oh, and by the way, the circle is for women, the triangle for men! | |
Above: A pocket-full of coins won't get you very far with these things
Below: A rainy day in Kazimierz 
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 | | "Cheers CLife just wanted to make sure it was the bog standard one i normally take on hols with me " | det66
United Kingdom
Feb.27.2010
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Hi Det,
What you want is the 2-pin socket adaptor. Best,
" | CLife
Poland
Feb.26.2010
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "what kind of power adaptors would I need coming from the UK?" | det66
United Kingdom
Feb.15.2010
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Hi Ted, it's about 9 zlote these days for a good brand. That's just over 2 quid. Better than the UK at least... Happy smokin'!" | John
United Kingdom
Jan.29.2010
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "can anyone tell me the price of english cigarettes and rolling tobacco in krakow?" | ted
United Kingdom
Nov.21.2009
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "visited crakow jan 09 planning another visit for jan 10,wnat a great city,people are so friendly and it is so laid back,cant wait!!" | donna
United Kingdom
Nov.03.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "i miss Poland!! its so freakin hot here in Florida,USA!!!i will come back.i promise.even though i have to walk everywhere!!i hope my american money will be worth more too!my Polish friends are with me now.im showing them Florida.there english not so good.we play charades a lot! having fun.bye you all !" | cindy
United States
Sep.19.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "just got back from Poland! went to Cracow for a day !took 2 hrs. by tram.spent the whole day. it was Great !girls just watch your purses and be careful taking pictures,some people dont like it and some people want to take your pic. with your camera,than want money.ugg.lots of Waling so be ready for that.all in all-A GREAT TIME !!!thanks for making us feel welcome. we will be back !!!!" | cindy
United States
Sep.11.2009
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Hi! gonna visit cracow this oktober me and my wife. was wondering if theres any tip to get of what to do,where to eat and a nice hotel to be recommended. And ofc any risks to avoid while there? " | henrik
Sweden
Sep.10.2009
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "cindy, what dates in sept are you going to be there? i will be there for the first time and could use some company." | calomalo
United States
Sep.02.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Cindy, go on the vodka tasting which you can find at cracow city tours. You get to try different types of vodka and then eventually turns into a pub crawl. It was quite fun and entertaining. Go to Kitsch, Prozac, Pausa and the like all really great clubs" | MB
United States
Aug.11.2009
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "my sister-in-law,sister and i are going to Poland this Sept. 2009.anything we Have to see or do? this will be our first overseas trip ! we are interested in the Pub-Crawl of course anything else?? please help. we are 28,26,and 30 yrs. old." | cindy
United States
Aug.04.2009
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "That's really interesting about the Chakra energy stone. Does anyone know of any other sources about this? Cheers" | Becky
United Kingdom
Jul.31.2009
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Moth - I don't believe it's the best food you've ever had but Krakow is great (especially when its sunny)!" | James R.
United Kingdom
Jun.30.2009
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "ive been in Kraków for 3 weeks now and its been great!! the best food ive ever had and the night life is amazing,, i dont want to leave :)" | Morh
United States
Jun.27.2009
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "by the way, im very much a Malaysian..." | Steven Nathaniel Aju
Malaysia
May.22.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I will be in Krakow some time mid june..my first stop in my journey across europe...Would like to know if there is a back packers lodge there aka cheapest accomodation and the train far to get to bucharest romania...
does anyone want to meet up? can really appreciate great company...
cheers" | Steven Nathaniel Aju
United States
May.22.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I just arrived in Krakow yesterday (Saturday) afternoon. The folks at Cracow-Life agency are very helpful and trust-worthy. I was pleasantly surprised at the excellent location of my apartment and the "energizing" activity in the town square. There sure are a lot of young visitors drinking! Good thing there are police everywhere. My experience, so far has been excellent." | Harvey
Canada
May.16.2009
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "I am planning on going to Kracow in June. Is this a good time to go. how is the weather and is it easy to get around from Kracow airport to hotel near the main square" | Mas
United Kingdom
May.12.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "I am planning on going to Kracow in June. Is this a good time to go. how is the weather and is it easy to get around from Kracow airport to hotel near the main square" | Mas
United Kingdom
May.12.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "how wrong you are the food is horrendous but the weather is fab!!" | liz
Ireland
Apr.15.2009
rates this page 1/5 |
| | "going to krakow with my parents later this year, can someone tell me how much a taxi is from the main square to auschwitz. Thanks" | julie crimmins
United Kingdom
Mar.29.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "No Louise, we have just gone down from trees, we keep dragons in our backyards and we do not know what sport shop is.... Come on! Do you really think that in normal European country we do not have any sport shops? Unless it is a joke - as this post." | MIchał
Poland
Jan.12.2009
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Jane, for 6 people you have to pay 15 zloty extra for a larger cab, but then it's just the regular fare. However, you're better off taking a cab to the bus station and then taking a bus there, it will save you a fortune!" | Ania
Poland
Jan.12.2009
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "I was in cracowlast year and i must say your review on service is wrong,i was very impressed with all the service,quality of the staff ect.i will be definately going again and will recomend it to everybody.
" | frank higgins
United Kingdom
Jan.10.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "Can anybody tell me how much a taxi for 6 people would cost from Krakow airport to Pisarzowa on a Saturday morning?
Thank you." | Jane
United Kingdom
Jan.07.2009
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "hi my boyfriend is going to krakow on monday and he was wondering if there is any sports shops" | Louise O'Connell
Ireland
Sep.04.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "I have just found your site and have copied it as myself and friend are travelling to your city on 8/12/8 for some christmas shopping. looking forward to a good time by all accounts" | jacqui.mcghee
United Kingdom
Sep.04.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "This is my third visit to Krakow (Long weekends), and I still think I wont see all I want to see . I am amazed at the friendlyness of the people , they cannot do enough for you . Visiting the castle to walking round the town . it is just amazing . The forst time I was delayed a few days because of the fog . Called the hotel Kazimierz 11, got the room back for a few days . Cost a wee bit more than norm , but hey ,, still on Holiday . The Square is fab , just to sit and watch the world go by with a beer or a coffee , watching the street entertainers . Not to be missed . cant wait to go next week again " | Ron Ballantyne
United Kingdom
Aug.27.2008
rates this page 4/5 |
| | "Just returned from a wonderful visit to Krakow. Booked taxi from airport to hotel via this site, driver was waiting for us at arrival hall and was very friendly and gave us a guided tour on the way to the hotel ( price was fixed via e-mail ) Plenty of transport options whilst there, used buses, trains and taxis. Recommend taking a tour bus around the city, it was inexpensive and gives you an idea of where everything was. Everyone was friendly, spoke good English, food was great and all in all We thoroughly enjoyed our visit. Only downside was the British stag parties, avoid them at all costs, they give the Brits a bad name. " | Alan
United Kingdom
Aug.25.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "Hey Magda,i am a Scotsman due to visit your city in January 2009. Please dont associate us Scots men with the stupid English guys. We are more refined. Hope we have a great time. Maybe i will see you around lol. Rab" | Rab
United Kingdom
Aug.24.2008
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "To Magda from Poland.
You are my hero. I read what your reply to the brittish guy was, and I laughed so hard I cried. You rule, seriously.
Much love
/ Neo" | Neowen
Sweden
May.12.2008
rates this page 5/5 |
| | "hotel cracovia good,but if you are from scotland,dont forget to change youre scottish money into english money as they do not recognise scottish currency at all ,and no one ,not even the bank's will change it.our flight was canceld due to fog and we had to stay another two nights,with no cash.hotel excepted a phone call from friend,to pay ,but because we only had scottish money left ,and no credit cards with us we were stuck in hotel room with nothing to do for two days.theyre were seven flights canceld that day and we were not the only ones without money,some people with little children had to wait at airport for two days.and some could not get a flight till saturday,as ryanair does not fly every day to scotland.if we took a flight to london they were charging us 100pounds to fly from stansted to prestwick.ryanair did not even try to find accomodation for its stranded pasengers,we had to que up at airport for 7 hours to find out we could not fly for two days. i am writing this from the hotel,as we dont fly out untill tomorrow, if the wether is ok,(fingers crossed) the forecast looks ok but satuardays does not ,for the people who could not get a flight till satuarday ,if it is canceld they can not fly till tuesday,i feel for them.any way hope i get home tomorrow and i hope this is helpfull for anyone coming for a short breake to kracow.shirley" | shirley wotherspoon
United Kingdom
Nov.21.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "hey Stu, was your stuff stolen because you passed out drunk in the cab? because if so, the last thing we need in this city is more drunk british guys, i'm glad you'll be staying away!" | Magda
Poland
Nov.12.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "disgusted not even in city 5 hours and already had money and phone pinched some friendly place this is travellers beware taxi drivers pinch from your pockets if you fall asleep not good advert for decent people putting moey into your country will never return horrible place" | stu
United Kingdom
Nov.10.2007
rates this page 1/5 |
| | "AVOID CLUB "SIEDEM TON PIACHU" dangerous place !" | danka
United States
May.09.2007
rates this page 3/5 |
| | "after our two hour cruise on the boat ( vistula river ), which had been fantastic, we took a short walk to central square where most of us sat at an outdoor cafe and had a drink before heading back to the bus. The old square looked amazing in the moonlight and it was a very relaxing end to the great day." | kate
United States
Mar.16.2007
rates this page 5/5 |
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