Poland --> Olomouc, CZ

p.s. I have never been to Poland. The above is a changed itinerary, cut down due to other circumstnaces. I really want to get to Krakow but that is a whole another trip.. or do you think 1 day in Krakow is better than 1 day in Katowice/another town?

Hi,
Cracow its beautifull city. Look at the website:
http://www.krakow.pl/en/turystyka/?id=wawel.html
In Cracow is many interessting places to see: big market squar, castle Wawel and many pubs, restaurants, caffee bars .... From Katowice are very good train or bus conection.

Katowice is not full of sites hot on the mass tourist trail, but it is full of interesting architecture ranging from 19th century tenement houses to 20th century socialistic monolith curiosities. As a university town, there are plenty of cool coffee shops and pubs around the center. It is the transport hub from the region, a part of Poland's largest urban agglomeration, and the cradle of Polish industrialism. And incidentally Oswiecim (Auschwitz) is not too far away. For one day of roaming around, it isn't too bad. Have fun.

1.you do not HAVE to stay in Kato-Krakow is just 70 mins furhter on and has the very same trains toward Olomouc
2.you can also take the scenic-but not fat and needs more changes-but its FAR cheaper-local trains to Opole-connect into the CZ former corridor trains Opava-Krnov-Jesenik (forgot the name of that PL town)-then other train or bus-via pass-to Olomouc. can do that in 1 day

Hi!

1 day for Krakow is too less! Dont go to Krakow - do it next time.
Katowice is not main tourist attraction, but it is interesting city. Good for walk, shoping and owernight stay.
You can go also throgh Opole and stay there for night. Opole is a nice city with old town.!!

Dear all,

Thank you for your input. I had a wonderful trip.

Wroclaw was very tourist-friendly with heaps of eateries and things to do, even counting the Christmas holidays factor.

I had a bit of a run-in with the great Polish train authorities as I got on the wrong train (the more modern and expensive ICC trains) to Katowice because they were about ten minutes within each other.

It rained the whole three days, which was a bit of a downer, but the festive nights certainly brightened up the atmosphere.

The stopover in Katowice was worth it, as the city itself was quite different from Wroclaw and also because the connection to Olomouc from it was super easy.

I found inyourpocketguide and the City-Spy maps to be invaluable for sights, eat outs and bars in both Wroclaw and Katowice.