Krakow: The heart and soul of Poland
Ten million Americans trace their roots to Poland. Many of those who visit their ancestral homeland for the first time feel as if they're coming home: from the comfort food their "Busia" cooked them to the kindness of distant cousins they encounter. But you don't have to be Polish to fall in love with Krakow's vibrant main squares, in-love-with-life pedestrian drags, and sophisticated shopping boulevards. This mingling of a rich historic and thriving contemporary scene makes Krakow the ideal place for the traveler to feel the beating heart of Polish culture.
IF YOU VISIT...
SLEEPING: Golden Lion Guest House is basic but well-located, with 11 small, dated rooms off the Main Market Square (budget, www.goldenlion.pl). Hotel Maltanski has 16 rooms in the beautifully renovated former royal stables (splurge, www.donimirski.com/hotel-maltanski).
EATING: Pod Nosem ("Under the Nose") is a smart choice for refined Polish cuisine in a sophisticated, less touristy atmosphere (Kanonicza 22, tel. 12-376-0014). Restauracja Samoobslugowa ("self-service") Polakowski is a low-key Kazimierz spot with country-kitchen decor and cheap, tasty Polish fare (Wszystkich Swietych 10, tel. 12-430-2156).
GETTING AROUND: While the urban sprawl is big, the tourist's Krakow feels small -- from the main square, you can walk to just about everything of interest in less than 15 minutes.
TOURIST INFORMATION: www.infokrakow.pl.
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(Rick Steves (www.ricksteves.com) writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio. Email him at rick@ricksteves.com and follow his blog on Facebook.)
(c)2017 RICK STEVES DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
