Introducing Georgia

Getting to Krakow from Prague on the train proved to be quite a task for us! We had to get a connecting train, which we ended up missing due to our first train being over an hour delayed, and language barriers between us and the (very nice) lady who worked in the train station made it quite hard to get a new train time. Thankfully we managed to get it sorted after much turmoil and we arrived at our hostel in Krakow after a long 12 hours of travelling. We were tired to say the least, but that’s the nature of winging it!

We stayed at the Greg and Tom Hostel. There are three different hostels of the same chain in Krakow I believe; the Greg and Tom Hostel, Greg and Tom party hostel and the Greg and Tom beer hostel. We chose the standard Greg and Tom as, although we like a night out and a good time, we also cherish our sleep. In terms of budget, this was the most economical hostel we stayed at, and definitely the best value for money. It worked out at around £8 per night, and you got a free breakfast and free evening meal included. So you can’t really complain there! It was also very close to the main train station, the old town centre, and tour companies that go to the likes of Auschwitz and the salt mines.

Day 1

We chose to have a lazy morning after our long day the day before, getting up for breakfast and slowly getting ready to head out for the day. We went to the old town centre first.

The centre is full of beautiful traditional buildings with very photogenic architecture. There are shops and cafes around the town centre, and there is also a church. Right in the centre of the square is a building with an inside market. Inside you can buy traditional Polish souvenirs and clothing as well as other bits and bobs.

From the town centre you can walk to the castle (Wawel Castle) . I told you that we liked visiting castles… So, of course, we had a mosey on over to take a look.

In the castle grounds you can go inside various parts of the castle itself. You can buy tickets once there, and they are pretty reasonably priced, as is Krakow in general. We went inside the state rooms, the royal apartments and also had a look inside the cathedral. All were very impressive, and I would recommend that you go into these parts of the castle if you go there. I would have liked to go into the Dragon’s Den and the Lost Wawel, but the Dragon’s Den was only open seasonally, and due to time constraints we didn’t do the Lost Wawel. There are plenty of things to look at whilst you’re there!

Day 2

For our second day in Krakow we booked through our hostel a tour to Auschwitz. I think if you’re planning a trip to Krakow, or even other areas around the south of Poland you can’t miss out a visit to Auschwitz. I’m guessing most people know what Auschwitz is, but for people who don’t, it was a concentration camp used for the mass extermination of Jewish people by the Nazis during World War II. It is split into Auschwitz 1, 2 and 3. Auschwitz 2, known as Auschwitz-Birkenau is possibly the most well known, and is the most recognisable. The famous images of the gates to Auschwitz are taken here. 

The tour is very informative and interesting, and although quite a solemn day, it is so interesting and eye opening to see the historical location with your own eyes and try to understand the horrors that occurred here. You can visit Auschwitz yourself for free, and walk around at your own leisure, but we paid for the tour as you get transport from Krakow and a knowledgable guide to provide information as you walk around. I would 100% recommend visiting; I know it’s not exactly a fun day, but I think it’s important for people to see the place and remember what happened here.

Day 3

Our last day in Krakow was a relaxed one. We had a night train booked to take us to Budapest that night. That was some experience, but more about that in the next post… For the day we just explored the area a bit more, and walked back into the town square for a mooch around.

Next stop, Budapest!