Will be in Warsaw at the beginning of Nov. for 4 nights - Arriving one afternoon then 2 full days to see sites plus a 3rd full day to visit Auschwitz. I would love recommendations for hotels near the square...not noisy if possible.
I have already made reservations for my Krakow leg of the trip at the Hotel Wielopole - any comments on this hotel?
Also, I wish to hire a car to drive me to Dresden - any suggestions or recommendations?
colleen, Auschwitz best visited from Krakow. Not a day trip from Warsaw. Krakow to Dresden is almost 300 miles - quite a taxi ride. Train or plane.
Hi, last year we found car with driver from krakow, driver pick up us from dresden to krakow than after 2 days we used him on transfer from krakow to warsaw. Driver dertails: 0048 530 800 009 or info@bekrakow.com
Hi colleen,
I must agree with stan. You should visit Auschwitz from Krakow, totally!
I recommend a trip conducted by a guide. http://www.discovercracow.eu/tours/details/id/795766/back/all_tours < there are many trips, you can choose what you want to see, when and a type of the tour too. If you ask about Hotel Wielopole, personally I have never been there because I live in Krakow permanently, but people are satisfied. Price are low and the localization is very good.
John
Thank you Stan and John, I must have dementia as I knew to tour to Auschwitz from Krakow.... We are arriving in Warsaw then spending two full days after that. We are then going to Krakow - I have allocated a full day for our trip to Auschwitz along with 3 other full days. My husband's goal has been to see all the DaVinci Paintings. Since he didn't do that many paintings we are close to the goal. He wants to see Lady with an Ermine, supposedly displayed at the Wawel Castle.
I asked about the car because I have friends that have used Mike's Chauffeur Service from Krakow to Prague, Prague to Budapest, and Budapest to Vienna and they were very happy. The driver spoke English and stopped to let them visit various places. We need to travel from Krakow to Dresden so I'm trying to figure out the best way to do it, I am not locked into a car. The train situation seemed pretty long, going thru Wroclaw. Anyone had any experience with that?
Hi. We stayed at the Hotel Wielopole a few years ago and we liked it very much. Easy walk from train station with luggage, through the Planty. Great location, quiet, a couple of minutes to the square, trams, ATMs, everything nearby. Extensive breakfast with pleasant servers (eggs to order if you like). They had coffee and cookies in the lobby all day...a BIG plus for us coffee addicts. We had reservations and when we arrived the clerk offered us a new, lower rate. Really! Using public transportation to Auschwitz did not appeal. We bought a door to door tour through the Wielopole and it was excellent. Shuttle pick up at hotel, tickets, tour, included Birkenau, and return to hotel or drop in town. I don't think the cost was much different that what we could have paid any agent in town. The hotel made the call, we chose the time, and it was done. I found the Wielopole on tripadvisor, and would happily return.
colleen, I am not sure since I did not see it when I was there last fall (regrettably) but I don't think the Lady with Ermine is at Wawel, I think it is in another place at the old market (Rynek). They are adjacent, but make sure you have right location., so please check.
Thanks Stan for the info - latest check says it in the west wing of the castle until the Czartorski is finished being remodeled but I will be sure and track it down! We have 5 days there so, hopefully, we'll find it!
The Lady with Ermine was at Wawel in May. We saw it there! You purchase a ticket to view it and the entrance was from the courtyard. Not sure when it is returning.
Thank you so much Donna - I will stay on top of it! Was it wonderful? I know it's small....
Colleen, I went to see The Lady with the Ermine yesterday at Wawel castle. It was wonderful! I actually like it better than the Mona Lisa, maybe it's because the subject is so pretty and I love the way she is posed with the ermine. Definitely worth making an effort to see.
I believe it will remain at the castle until the museum that used to house it is done with renovations sometime in 2015.
I had seen pictures of it in art books but did not know it was in Krakow until I read this thread so thanks for posting it.
Nancy! You are most welcome and I thank you for your post about the location and your impression - we will not miss it!
Got it George! Thank you so much! It's copied and in my travel folder!
In Warsaw, I stayed at Mamaison Hotel Le Regina. It is a very, very nice hotel and recommended by Rick Steves since you can sometimes find really great deals on their website.
Thanks Stephanie, I will check it out!
