An autumn weekend in Krakow? Why not? It’s less than two hours away by plane from Schiphol and after all this time exploring Dutch towns and cities, why not go further afield for once. Krakow is one of the oldest and the second largest city in Poland with a population of some 800,000. Situated on the Vistula river, it was the capital of Poland until 1596 and the old town has been a Unesco world heritage site since 1978.
Krakow is increasingly popular as a tourist destination and it is not hard to see why. Easy to get to, it is a charming city which has done its best to preserve its heritage. When we were there, basked in the golden glow of sunny mid October days, we heard voices from all over the globe.
It was busy, but not too busy, with plenty of cultural things to entertain us, friendly faces and a cocktail on every corner. Five things to do Get lost in the old town The best way to appreciate any new location is just to hang out for a while. Main Market Square, which dates back to 1257, and the old town itself, offer an easy way to while away a few hours.
The square is lined with cafes when you can stop for a coffee or a cocktail and watch what ever is going on at the time – a demonstration, a choral performance, a group of students dancing. Off the main square there is a wealth of little streets to wonder around in, with a café on every corner and lots of small shops to browse. Stunning Christmas tree decorations and wooden toys are particular specialities, as is am.