Staying in Kazimierz at the slightly tired but acceptable Regent hotel. A first visit to the Wavel palace and Museum royal apartments in Krakow, but this time a muted Jewish festival. The salt mine was a trip on a wet Sunday morning, with some dancing at the Morskie Oko in the Plac Szczepanski square, then off by coach to Zakopane and some favourable weather.
Zakopane
The Sabala hotel in Zakopane is right on the Krupowki pedestrianised area, with some yes Chinese guests, strangely dressed in outdoor gear for breakfast and using the toaster to grill cold cuts of meat. A highlight could be the ascent of Swinica – the highest point outside Rysy, or it could not be. Phew..
A week? (1) Fly to Krakow, get the train to town and walk off the end of the platform to the IBIS (there are two: budget or 3 star). (2) Consider booking an early morning tour to Auschwitz, but maybe leave it to the end of your trip – the tours by mini-bus that take you there are fair value. (3) Walk across to the bus station for an early 2.5 hour coach trip to Zakopane. (4) Walk the Dolina Koscielska or the Morskie Oko for an afternoon then enjoy some evening music. (5) Take the cable car to the Kasprowy Wierch and walk down, (6) returning to Krakow the next day. Enjoy Kazimierz – Jewish quarter, the Wawel, walk the Planty, the Square, the Wieliczka Salt mine is worth a visit, the Schindler factory museum (book well in advance), the Cathedral and it’s golden dome, but don’t bother with the Royal Apartments of the Wawel.
