2 weeks in Poland
Hi there! This is my first post on this forum, although I have been lurking around for a while. My boyfriend and I will be spending approximately 3 months travelling together in Asia and Eastern Europe from mid-November this year to the end of February '13. In January, we will have a little over 2 weeks in Poland.We are Australian, I am 22 and he is 25, and here are some of our interests (I'll try to be specific):
-I did a history degree and find medieval customs such as food, dress, daily life interesting
-libraries and books
-sports (especially the atmosphere of watching live or in a bar)
-trying new foods
-I enjoy crafts, especially knitting
-we both really like seeing live music
-hiking/scenic walks (although it will be winter so I don't expect to be able to do much hiking)
-I like to travel with a mixture of fun activities and sights, otherwise I get a bit church/museumed out after a while, and also with time here and there just to relax
With that information in hand, I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction as to some fun things to do while we're there!
My tentative plan of where to go (we'll be coming from Tallinn):
-Warsaw:
-Wroclaw
-Krakow
-Zakopane
Activities I already had my eye on were the Warsaw University Library and the Warsaw Rising Museum, possibly Project Riese if it's easy to get to (we'll be relying on buses/trains etc) and eating some hearty fare at a milk bar :) Also, the wieliczka salt mine.
I'd appreciate if you'd let me know of any particular sights/museums/cafes/bars/craft stores(where I could buy yarn) etc that you enjoyed or have heard good things about. Also, as my boyfriend speaks Polish fluently (translation duties!) he would like to go to Mass while we're there...any Churches to suggest?
Thanks so much for helping me out, any information will be much appreciated!
-Tessa
Edited by: tessajane
Edited by: tessajane
1
Piotr1981 and travelka, thank you both so much for your quick replies, this is exactly the type of advice I was looking for. Seeing and hearing about all the things that happen during the warmer months makes me think I will definitely have to plan a summer trip next!We've actually been waking up at 4am to watch the Euro 2012 here on TV! Will definitely have a look at the national stadium info and the concert websites closer to January to see if we can catch something, likewise for the historical reenactments.
All your recommendations have been put in my trusty notebook. The hike to Morskie Oko sounds fantastic, as do the lace making classes (although maybe not so exciting for my boyfriend...haha).
I did also have some slightly more boring questions r.e. transport between cities. I just wanted to know whether I have chosen the best option. What is 'the best' to me? I guess the cost to time/hassle ratio, as in ideally we'll be looking for the cheaper side of things and don't mind an uncomfortable trip and are used to long distances but we don't want to be missing out on too much time that could be spent eating pierogi! If the price difference isn't significant, we would probably prefer something quicker.
So, without further ado:
Warsaw to Wroclaw by bus (seems to take between 6 and 7 hours and costs 25-35zl which seems like a very good deal)
Wroclaw to Krakow by train (5-6 hours but couldn't see the fares)
Krakow to Zakopane by bus (just over two hours and about 15zl)
I must say, the tickets seem really cheap, at least compared to what I'm used to here in Australia, and everywhere seems pretty well serviced by train or bus.
Thanks again for your tips!
2
From WrocÅaw to Kraków the cheapest train costs at the moment 48 zÅ, so not that much, but trains are the most expensive in Poland, sometimes even plane is now less expensive, so be careful with them, though on other hand there are discounts and for example there are weekend tickets (but you have to buy them in person, otherwise go to https://bilet.intercity.pl/irez/) which you can use for as many routes as you want since Friday evening until Monday morning which cost 80 zÅ, so this is very good deal.Around Zakopane you will have minibuses.
Edited by: emd_two on Mar 5, 2013 8:44 AM
3
Good advice given in previous posts. I just wanted to mention one more sports event that attracts quite a bit of attention in Poland, which is the Ski Jumping World Cup. There will be two competitions held in Zakopane, on 11 and 12 January 2013. This is your best bet of watching live sports in a huge crowd of enthusiastic fans. Otherwise, as #1 already mentioned, volleyball matches are known for their superb atmosphere in Poland - the problem is none of the best teams play in the cities you plan to visit. There's also quite a good ice hockey team in Kraków - the Cracovia - they'll most probably be playing in January.4
Going yet back to yarn... I know 3 good shops in Warsaw, but I guess better for you to look around in Zakopane area (or Kraków, as it is closer to it - at main square they have something usually) as there you will have 100% natural wool from local sheep even just sold on street, will be cheaper there too. Nice patterns. They are famous for embroidery too.Folk art is great from other parts of Poland as well, for example paper cut-outs from Łowicz or pottery from Bolesławiec, but you should have no problem with finding them in any shops at tourist attractions or online.
5
yea, Ski jumping in Zakopane are very spectacular, because the jumps in them jumper of Zakopane, Kamil Stoch (5 in the overall standings after the season 2011/2012)6
Thank you all so much for this information, we'll try to get to Zakopane by the 11th in that case, sounds fantastic! And I'm liking the sound of that wool... :)8
Hey another Australian here. I did that same itinerary a few years back, albeit coming from Berlin. I found Poland to be a beautiful country, great food and very attractive and friendly people.The trains I found to be a little basic, and possibly in winter these could be very cold. Yes cheap but basic. I appreciate there are different standards e.g. IC EC R so perhaps always go for the better type of train IC where you can.
Lots of hotels around at good prices.
Finally I return to Poland and Torun this December...
