Krakow, Wroclaw, Riga or ??? for November Weekend Break

Vikki_74

Edinburghlass wrote: »

Have you looked at Easy Jet for flights for Krakow?

Can't help with the other destinations but like the others I'd highly recommend Krakow.

Good suggestion but I've already checked and Easyjet flights are a fair bit dearer

I think we'll have to put Krakow to one side for another time when we can get cheaper flights....would definately like to go one day though, it looks lovely. Plan at the moment is looking like either Wroclaw Fri-Mon, or if we can get away with coming home on Tues (depends on some family plans we have that day) maybe flying into Wroclaw on Fri afternoon andd out of Poznan on Tues morning. Flights would be a bit cheaper that way, we'd get an extra night within the same budget and get to see a couple of different places. Apparently there's pretty good and cheap train service between the two, although I'm still trying to find a decent website with full details which isn't all in Polish!

briona

Vikki_74 wrote: »

Plan at the moment is looking like either Wroclaw Fri-Mon, or if we can get away with coming home on Tues (depends on some family plans we have that day) maybe flying into Wroclaw on Fri afternoon andd out of Poznan on Tues morning. Flights would be a bit cheaper that way, we'd get an extra night within the same budget and get to see a couple of different places.

I'm actually in Wroclaw right now and, from what I've seen so far, would definitely recommend it. There's plenty to see and do (albeit not today as it's a national holiday!) and it's got some amazing architecture - the Rynek (main square) is absolutely stunning. Tomorrow I'm off to see the Panorama, Cathedral island and the university district...

Be advised that there's a guitar festival on during your proposed stay which may affect accomodation prices/availability (Wroclaw is very popular at the best of times). Note also that attractions (churches excepted) only stay open till 15:00 or 16:00, although by the latter it's getting dark and cold anyway so you may have already called time on your sightseeing.

Vikki_74 wrote: »

Apparently there's pretty good and cheap train service between the two, although I'm still trying to find a decent website with full details which isn't all in Polish!

Here's a link to PKP (Polish trains) in English: http://rozklad-pkp.pl/?q=en/node/143. Choose Wroclaw Glowny (main station) and Poznan Glowny as the from/to destinations. The journey takes between 3 and 4 hours. When the train times come up, if you scroll down the page you can click on the relevant links to show the intermediate stops and the fare. Note that the fares change depending on which type of train you get. The cheapest option costs around £7 one way, which is quite a bargain!

Vikki_74

briona wrote: »

Here's a link to PKP (Polish trains) in English: http://rozklad-pkp.pl/?q=en/node/143. Choose Wroclaw Glowny (main station) and Poznan Glowny as the from/to destinations. The journey takes between 3 and 4 hours. When the train times come up, if you scroll down the page you can click on the relevant links to show the intermediate stops and the fare. Note that the fares change depending on which type of train you get. The cheapest option costs around £7 one way, which is quite a bargain!

That link is perfect, thank you so much...definitely easier than trying to guess what all the options in Polish mean!!

maestro2001

I've been to all three and would recommend Krakow as a must see but Wroclaw and Riga are also lovely. You actually could combine a visit to the two very easily. There is a regular train service and it takes about three hours. The services are very efficient. I visited both on one trip back in February, one thing to mention was that Wroclaw was about 5 degrees colder than Krakow, it was freezing. Have a great trip, I'm sure you'll love it.

boatman

Been to Krakow and Wroclaw. All i would say is don't worry, both are lovely, just go explore!! We were cheap skates and ate in a nice place with double height glass windows by the Uni, Bar Bazylia i think, after been in the uni grand hall and tower. The other side of the river is a nice walk by the the cathedral, the Bishop has a nice place!!

http://www.wroclaw.pl/
http://boogiehostel.com/en/ Just somewhere cheap
http://www.inyourpocket.com/poland/wroclaw

Mr_Wang

Sat in Krakow right now, first time here - Pretty dull, grim, lifeless place during the day. But how that changes at night! It becomes a stunningly beautiful place around the sq, full of character, charm and ranks highly on one of the most beautiful cities in Europe at night. Far better than Riga (not been to Wroclaw) Head to Oswiecem for Auschwitz during the day and make the most of this damn beautiful city at night.

Though the most bautiful city in Europe, probably the world, hands down would not be either of the three cities you mentioned - That goes to Florence.
I doubt many people would disagree with that either.

iaps

Free guide to Wroclaw in pdf http://www.thevisitor.pl/index.php?id=388
Unique, historic, panoramic painting worth visiting in Wroclaw http://www.panoramaraclawicka.pl/en/what_to_see.html
http://wroclaw360.pl/miejsce.php?q=220
Wroclaw is famous for it's jazz festivals - at present: http://www.jazztopad.pl/en/

Mr Wang - I agree - Florence is one of the most beautiful cities. But I disagree about Krakow - it is not a dull and especially not a grim city. Your short visit is on an autumnal day in November - every city looks better in spring or on a summer day.
Quoting the Krakow poet Piotr Skrzynecki:

We are an island in a sea of: bestiality, greyness, stupidity, villainy, cynicism, intolerance, and violence.

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=pl&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.piwnicapodbaranami.pl%2F&act=url

Please, indulge your son - this old brand belongs to Cadbury's
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=pl&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwedelpijalnie.pl%2Fnasze_lokale%2Fkrakow_-_czekoladowy_sklep%2F39

echox22

Krakow sounds like it would be ideal for you (but don't upset people while you're there by talking about Eastern Europe - decidedly Central!)!

Edit: Didn't see that you can't go to Krakow now! Poznan is quite nice, but smaller, with less going on. Less touristy which is either a good or a bad thing, depending on your opinion. One of the interesting things about Poland is that you can still get a feel for which parts used to be Austrian, Prussian and Russian (Krakow was Austrian and really feels like it, Poznan was Prussian). You can get the PKP between Poznan and Krakow as well, by the way.

Warsaw is also very fun.

Riga has an awesome drink called Riga Black Balsam.

Finally, whatever you do, don't go to Gdansk.

Have a nice holiday!

spiritus

echox22 wrote: »

Krakow sounds like it would be ideal for you (but don't upset people while you're there by talking about Eastern Europe - decidedly Central!)!

Edit: Didn't see that you can't go to Krakow now! Poznan is quite nice, but smaller, with less going on. Less touristy which is either a good or a bad thing, depending on your opinion. One of the interesting things about Poland is that you can still get a feel for which parts used to be Austrian, Prussian and Russian (Krakow was Austrian and really feels like it, Poznan was Prussian). You can get the PKP between Poznan and Krakow as well, by the way.

Warsaw is also very fun.

Riga has an awesome drink called Riga Black Balsam.

Finally, whatever you do, don't go to Gdansk.

Have a nice holiday!

I know this is now a three week old thread but I can't just let your last comment sit there unopposed like a bona fide fact !

I have been to Gdansk several times and would recommend it totally.

What did you not like about it ?

It should go without saying that a break to Gdansk is actually a break to three cities for the price of one as Gdansk is part of the Tri City area-a conurbation of three towns, Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot. One town's boundary blends into the other making all three town very easy to travel between.

Around a 45 minute drive away is the Hel Peninsula.

In the other direction is one of the largest castles in Europe-Malbork castle.

That's without me even mentioning the sights of the Tri City area itself.