Cracow is a place we get back to quite often… Sometimes for business, sometimes for leisure. For one or two nights or just for a walk and lunch… There’s even more reasons to visit Cracow in December thanks to their charming Christmas fair on the market squareI still remember a trip to the fair with my friends a few years back. We headed to the market square right after we got off the train and found ourselves in a kingdom of regional specialties, grilled oscypek cheese and obviously – mulled wine. There’s still two weekends left before Christmas so if you’re not planning on going to Christmas fairs in Germany, check Cracow out!
What can you do apart from seeing the fair, especially if you already checked all the main attractions on the list? Treat Cracow as a starting point and go see something beyond. As for Cracow – check its culinary attractions! Here’s our plan for 48 hours spent in Cracow and nearby!
FRIDAY
We arrive in Cracow late evening on Friday. This time we’re staying at Holiday Inn. A perfect place for a quick city break! Near the market square, near anywhere. They have a parking lot which is a great thing, since finding parking space on short trips to Cracow usually drives us mad. Holiday Inn is a typical business hotel, but they didn’t get their 5 stars for nothing and for me, the rooms are spectacular… cosy, pleasant, perfect if you want to just lie in the bed on Friday evening and do nothing. The hotel is also the place where we’re having our first meal – it’s late and we’re not feeling like going out. If you’re travelling with a child you’ll understand that a restaurant at the hotel might come in handy… especially if everyone’s tired after a few hours in the car and it’s cold or rainy outside.
can I have such bed every Friday, please? 😉
Friday and (Sunday’s too) evenings in hotel’s restaurant called IMPRESJA are quite unusual… they’re called Bel Canto evenings and include waiters singing opera and operetta arias while serving food! Sounds weird, doesn’t it?? We approach it with a reserve but the first performance proves that these waiters have quite a skill! They’re all music academy students and their work at Holiday Inn is part of an obligatory practice required to finish the semester. They sing beautifully, they perform scenes from the plays. Opera. It’s a place that will work great if you’re coming to Cracow with your parents and want to invite them for a nice and classic dinner. On Bel Canto evenings all guests are served four-course meals… We get salmon for starters (a bit disappointing one), very tasty and warming pumpkin soup, sea bass or lamb for mains and a chocolate fondant for dessert. We’ve already got quite bored with fondants but this one is really good and soury raspberry ice cream are one of my favourite sides to go with chocolate. A Bel Canto evening with dinner and a glass of wine costs PL 125 per person – not bad as for five stars!
autumn pumpkin soup
main course: lamb, puree and vegetables
main course: sea bass
great chocolate fondant
SATURDAY
Why not take a short trip if the weather’s good? Maybe to the mountains? Maybe a valley of some kind? Maybe a simple walk in Zakopane or a ride to Gubałówka mountain if you have an adventurous few-year-old with with you? We go for a walk on Krupówki street and nearby. Even though there’s plenty of irritating things in Zakopane, we still like getting back to this city. We always buy oscypek supplies, marinated mushrooms, bundz cheese and other specialties. And then, we go for lunch to Murzasichle. Yes, we let go off highlander’s inns and drive to Murzasichle to have some delicious Italian food in Le Chalet.
a must when you’re in Zakopane
the best!
marinated mushrooms
And when it gets dark and unpleasant, it’s best to hide somewhere. If you are a parent, Aqua Park in Cracow on ul. Dobrego Pasterza 126 is recommended. Reportedly it’s the biggest indoor aqua park in Poland! We haven’t been there yet, but we know that it’s a great place – also for little ones like Maks. Amazing place with giant dragons, lizards, a playground and slides for little ones as well as extreme attractions for adults. After swimming, you will be hungry. It’s already late so we’re looking for something light. Ramen Girl by Yellow Dog should work great! Asian, diverse, intriguing with soups that will warm you up on winter’s evening. Ramen with wontons is a great choice for the little one – almost like chicken soup at grandma’s 🙂
perfect for the big and the small
If your kid is a quiet pram sleeper, you have grandparents to help you out or are travelling without your child, hang around in the old town after ramen! It’s very lively, multicultural and it feels like some south country. It’s loud, there’s plenty of students and the party never stops. We love such places!
SUNDAY
Start with a tasty breakfast at Holiday Inn. There’s plenty to choose from – that’s really important! Cold, hot, sweet and savoury. There’s also a kids’ table with colouring books which will make your breakfast a calm one. Recharged we spend Sunday in Cracow. We hang around in places we don’t know, feed the pigeons on the market square an if the fair is already on, we enjoy the Christmas vibe which is one of the things I love Cracow for.
festive in Cracow
a walk around town
Maks looking for pigeons
the sun’s the only thing that’s missing!
Kraków Cloh Hall – a must when you’re in Cracow
Remember about lunch before you leave! We always prefer eating something tasty before leaving instead of having to choose between McDonald’s, hot dogs or some shady joints on the road. Ed Red and dry-aged steaks by Adam Chrząstowski should be a good choice. The service may not always be perfect but the meat makes it up for it.
ED RED: entrecote, green pepper and gorgonzola sauce with grilled vegetables
Prepared like that, we’re ready to get back… anywhere! 🙂 What a great weekend it was! A bit of travelling, lots of eating, a bit of sports and what’s the most important – time spent with the FAMILY!
* HOLIDAY INN hotel invited us to visit Cracow.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE HOTEL:
Holiday Inn Cracow City Center
ul. Wielopole 4
Booking: fbs@hik.krakow.pl
tel: (12) 619 03 55
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