2018 has been the most amazing year for us and we're finishing it off in a way we've never done before, but always spoken about. We're going to Kraków in Poland to celebrate New Years. We've toyed with the idea of going to a lodge somewhere in Scotland, or to somewhere with a bit of sunshine but upon recommendation from quite a lot of people we're heading for a European city break in the southern Polish city.
I've never been to Poland before so there's a few things on my list of things to do that are standard tourist attractions, some places we couldn't go to Poland without seeing and some that are a little more specific to the time of year. Have you been to Kraków and have any tips or recommendations? Any restaurants, any shops?
New Years Eve at the Main Market Square
On New Years Eve, or Sylwester, there's a huge celebration at the Main Market Square with a light show and music. We're keen to get involved in the party which has free entry, starts at 8.15pm and ends at 2am. We're thinking about finding somewhere to go for dinner near the Main Market Square to help bring the plans altogether. I've been finding it a little hard to find out lots of information about it though.
Food and Drink Tour
We're starting our visit off with a food and drink tour which will help us suss out the city and sample some traditional Polish dishes. The tour is lead by an English speaking guide, lasts for two and a half hours and includes an appetiser, first and second course, snack, alcoholic drinks and local fruit drinks. The walking tour will take us to places that we might not have ventured towards and away from the usual tourist routes.
Salt Mine
The Wieliczka Salt Mine is one of the largest tourist attractions in Poland, over a million visit the UNESCO World Heritage site every year. The attraction includes shafts and passageways, displays of the historic salt-mining technology and statues carved by miners out of the rock salt. The attraction is 135metres underground, with 350 steps starting the tour and 20 chambers to explore. This is a tourist attraction packed full of history, culture and tradition. I'm intrigued to find out more.
Auschwitz Birkenau
Another UNESCO World Heritage Centre and a place we cannot go to Poland without visiting. This museum is obviously a haunting place and a symbol of the WW2 Holocaust but a place that must been seen for a thought-provoking experience. I'm especially keen to visit after learning bout WW2 as a pupil and now teaching about it for the past few years as a teacher.
Puro Hotel Kraków Stare Miasto
We're staying in a Puro Hotel which is central, modern and convenient. With so much to see and do it's good to have a hotel that's located in the city centre, it's also handy having one with free internet for doing any extra Trip Advisor searching. The soundproofed rooms are fantastic for recharging our batteries each night and the buffet breakfast will set us up for the day.
No comments