Visiting Krakow in Poland.

[Andyvon]

My wife and I are staying in Krakow for two weeks at the end of the month. We have booked a hire car and we like walking too. We are going to visit the Wieliczka salt mine and Auschwitz and we stayed in Warsaw a couple of years ago. We do have a guide book but are there any other places in that part of Poland that anyone can specifically recommend please?

[amonty1144]

Nowy targ on a thursday (?) there is a market it's superb, you'll be amazed at what you can buy.
Krakow zoo.
Take a trip down to Zakopane and the Tatra mountains. You can ride on the funicular train up the mountains and there is a lovely walk along the top
Morskie Oko lake, also in the tatras.

[Andyvon]

Thanks amonty.

[thugulike]

Can recommend the Chimera in Krakow for lunch and the Polska in Warsaw for dinner. The Polska looks dreadful from the outside but persevere and when you go down the stairs to the restaurant a new world will be revealed. Possibly the best meal I've ever eaten. I know this isn't really what you wanted but it may be useful anyway. The Tatra mountains are a short drive away from Krakow and are beautiful

[Andyvon]

Thankyou as well thugulike.

I know what you mean from the outward appearance of many buildings in Warsaw. Isn't it called 'Socialist-Realist' architecture? We stayed in the Grand Hotel and that was the same. I also had one of the best meals of my life in Warsaw (Cossack Stew) but I can't remember the restaurant. We will definitely visit the Tatras I think.

[amonty1144]

An excellent place to eat near the Wawel Castle is La Strada on ulica Stradomska, kazimierz, excellent pizza, pasta and traditional polish meat dishes.

I forgot a visit to the Black Madonna at Czestochowa on the way to this, you would pass through the ojcow national parks, very nice castles and walks.