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Krakow City Breaks

Krakow City Breaks

Krakow city breaks offer an array of historical attractions, as Krakow was the only major European city to escape destruction in World War II and is now home to the most preserved medieval city centre in the continent. Once inhabited by European royalty, the city is now abundant with impressive churches, ornate palaces and architectural treasures from the golden ages of history and at the heart if the city lays the Old Market Square, which is Europe's grandest square.

Surrounding the ancient centre of the Old Town of Krakow is a beautiful green belt area, made up from leafy parklands. The Florian Gate is the main entrance to the city and joins the historical city walls, which are now an artist’s haunt. Krakow has had some of the nation's greatest artists, including writers, painters and sculptors residing in it over the centuries and today the city is the cultural centre of Poland.

On a Krakow city break visitors can explore the magnificent Royal Castle on Wawel Hill and the historic cathedral. Kings of Poland resided there for over seven centuries and the ancient buildings are home to many treasures from Polish history. Jewish history is also a strong presence in Krakow, with the historical ghetto area of Kazimierz and the memorial death camps from World War II, including Birkenau and Auschwitz in the west.

Today Krakow is a modern metropolis and Poland's third largest city, which is located on the banks of the Vistula River and home to Europe's oldest university. Krakow city breaks also offer a lively nightlife, with a large student population drawing a wealth of chic cafe bars, flamboyant nightclubs and excellent restaurants to the city.

 

 


Essential Information on Krakow

Money

The official currency is Zloty (PLN), divided into 100 groszy. Poland is essentially a 'cash country', and it is difficult to negotiate credit cards and travellers cheques in the cities, and well nigh impossible in rural areas. American Express, Diners Club, Visa and MasterCard are, however, accepted in places frequented by tourists. ATMs are also beginning to proliferate in Polish cities, where the sign 'Bankomat' indicates them. Money (preferably US$ or Euros) can be exchanged in the cities and larger towns at banks, hotels or bureaux called 'kantors', which offer the best rates. Banks are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and some are open on Saturday till 1pm.

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Passports / Visas

A passport valid for at least six months after arrival is needed for those who require a visa. Visa exempt nationals must have a passport valid for period of intended stay (other than EEA nationals). The borderless region known as the Schengen area includes the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. All these countries issue a standard Schengen visa that has a multiple entry option that allows the holder to travel freely within the borders of all.

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Communications

The international access code for Poland is +48. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). City/area codes are in use, e.g. (0)22 for Warsaw and (0)12 for Krakow. Cheap rates apply between 4pm and 6am, and on weekends. Mobile phones work throughout the country, local operators use GSM networks, which may not be compatible with some US cell phones. Internet cafes are available in most towns.

Source: www.wordtravels.com