My darlings, it is so nice to have you again dropping over to listen to my rantings. Today I wanted to continue the series of Things You Should Know About Krakow as it seems you have rather enjoyed the first post on this topic. So without any further ado, let me share with you my knowledge. I have lived in Krakow for over 10 years now, so… as I like to point out: SHARING IS CARING! 🙂
1. Save money with Krakow Card
Not only in Krakow but the City Cards can also be found in any of the big cities around the world. I have used them in Paris, in Vienna and London and they always come in handy. They come paired with a free map that holds all the hot spots that you should go to + discounts for the museums and specific shops + free public transport. Depending on your stay in this fair city, you can select a 1-day card at 25 dollars or a 2 day for 40 dollars or a 3 day for 45 dollars. The longer the stay the cheaper the card gets and the more discounts 😉 You can buy the card online or from any of the Info Points in Krakow. There are several Krakow Museums for free with it, so do make sure you look into this offer before you book your trip here!
2. Enjoy Krakow by Walking
There is no method better to really feel the beating heart of a city than by walking it and mingling with the locals! The Krakow Old Town – Kazimierz, the Jewish Quarter – Podgorze… they are all within walking distance. The pavements are good and the only problem you might encounter is if you will take high heels, as the streets in Old Town Krakow are cobblestoned. Wear flats or some sports shoes that you are comfy in and you are set up for the day. When I first came here – 10 years ago – I would roam the streets all day long, looking for new nooks and corners that brought up the magic of this city. I still do that… when time permits 🙂 If you are too tired, you can always grab a tram. They are fast and almost always on time (exception: when we have heavy rain/rainstorm and the streets tend to get flooded).
3. Experience Street Food
Street food in Krakow is not the regular street food you would think of. There are plenty of food trucks spread around the city that provide healthy snack options for everyone. Some offer meals in a jar – from local market products – some even offer hand-rolled fresh sushi! But the more traditional options include maczanka krakowska (kinda like a hamburger on a bun), zapiekanka (kinda like pizza, but on a half of a baguette, with loads of toppings), obwarzanek (kinda like a pretzel but… not quite), or paczki (kinda like donuts but without the whole in the middle).
4. The devil is in the small details
You need to be prepared in detail for this trip, before heading out to Krakow. We have here cobbled streets – so no high heels for you! We have the electricity supply at 220 V – so the visitors from the US/UK will need adaptors for their electronic devices! We have a pretty strict rule about medicine and most of it is sold on a recipe – make sure you bring your own, or else you will probably need a doctor to prescribe you something and there is a possibility that the drug you use might not be on the market here!
5. You must try the local cuisine
Obwarzanek Krakowski – Protected by the EU Traditional Foods list. It is kinda like a pretzel or a bagel but a different process to it and taste. To learn more about its history and significance, I encourage you to go to the Obwarzanek Muzeum in Krakow.
Oscypek – Highlanders Cheese, straight from the mountains. It can be smoked as well. Paired with zurawina (cranberry) jam is marvelous! You can find it at any of the fairs around Krakow and it is a #mustEat when in the area. Usually brought in from the Zakopane region.
Kremówka papieska – This classic dessert was a childhood favorite of Pope John Paul II – and when the people of Poland found out, they renamed it ‘Papal cream cake’ in his honor. It is a typical, traditional Polish dessert – very old-school. Everybody loves it!
Maczanka krakowska – crusty bun to be loaded with the tender, juicy pork, and soaked until dripping in delicious onion gravy. One of the best “hamburgers” you will have 😉
Zapiekanka from Plac Nowy
Yours very much truly,
The Twisted Red Ladybug That Loves Krakow
Recent Comments