Mary and I are both 63, like to walk, and have a couple drinks. Our hotel in Warsaw is near the Vistula River, so maybe a river cruise and/or walk in the park. We're also staying downtown in Krakow.
Perhaps a museum will be open in the evening.
Thank you in advance for any suggestions. We'll be there in mid-September.
I can’t answer, but am bumping this up because I would like to see what responses you receive. We will be in both of those cities in October.
BMWBGV, when you say downtown in Krakow, do you mean the old town area?
In Warsaw, the so-called Royal Way (the street name changes a few times) is the pedestrian only strolling area. Full of shops and restaurants, etc. You can walk all the way to the restored old town area and bck.
So the question is what to do in the evening in Warsaw and Krakow?
Maybe catch a concert in Krakow? You have your choice of classical, folk, Chopin, klezmer etc. https://cracowconcerts.com/
My favorite thing to do in the evening in Krakow is probably just sit on the main market square with a nice drink and people watch alfresco.
You also have a good selection of concerts in Warsaw too.
https://fryderyk.events/
https://filharmonia.pl/en
Andrea, FWIW I'll post a trip report upon our return.
Stan and Carlos, thank you for those excellent suggestions. We'll probably do some or all of those things, and perhaps include an evening river cruise, which only run for an hour.
Stan, yes, that's correct.
Mary has IBS so she has to be careful with what she eats. I see a lot of potatoes and onions on various menus, and that's fine. Unfortunately, it's not really worth experimenting with something new because of the possible outcome. Burgers, pizza, sandwiches, and big salads are usually fine.
If you want a good burger while you’re in Krakow, go to Antler Poutine & Burger, located at Wiśla, 8 not far from the Rynek Glówny. Huge burgers, the best fries. It’s a tiny place, with just a few tables. All the burgers are named after Canadian cities.
I did the Best of Poland this spring…
In Warsaw, there’s a nightly Chopin piano concert at Chopin Boutique B&B. The concert is open to the public and was lovely.
https://www.bbwarsaw.com/en/koncerty-chopin-salon
In Krakow, there’s a cafe with a terrace on the upper floor of Cloth Hall in the main square of Old Town. It’s not one of the best cafes in the city but has lovely views over the lively square and St Mary’s Church, and we enjoyed drinks and snacks there one evening.
Enjoy your trip!!
BMWBGV, In Krakow, the Old Market Square (Stary Rynek) was full of street music and acts while we were there, and the whole area is full of restaurants and shops, etc. So very strollable.
If you're in Warsaw on a Friday or Saturday night, there is a free multimedia show at the fountain:
https://www.inyourpocket.com/warsaw/multimedia-fountain-park-shows-concerts_1668e
I think I'm seeing that this year it's called Dancing Queen, featuring music by ABBA. Last year it was Disney.
Sorry, Andrea, it only runs through September.
Khrystia, now you're talkin'! Thanks. O Canada!
Accidental Southerner, that's where we're staying in Warsaw, so perfect. Also the cafe in Krakow sounds good.
Stan, we're definitely strollers, so that looks like fun. We'll probably stroll ourselves until we're lost. On a side note, I got up early one morning in the Marais district in Paris, and took off for a walk without my phone. Only by sheer luck did I find my way back to our apartment. I tried my pathetic French with some sanitation workers to find my way back, but that was a major failure. It wasn't at all funny at the time.
CWsocial, just so happens our guilty pleasure is ABBA. How did you know? Those two guys could write some catchy tunes and then the women brought the magic. This is great.
It will be a nice contrast to a Chopin piano recital.
Our last night is at the Air Hotel near the Warsaw Chopin Airport, so I'll have to arrange a taxi as public transport looks a little long (55 minutes) and a bit convoluted for my pea brain.
Oh, I’ll be there in September. Thanks for the idea CW!
CWSocial, now I've got "Dancing Queen" stuck in my head, and even more disturbing is I pretty much know all of the lyrics.
I'm singing right along with you, every verse and chorus!
I found the reference to it being Dancing Queen on the fountain's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/multimedialnyparkfontann/
Young and free only 17.... at heart!
Now I'm rethinking stopping by the ABBA Museum here in Stockholm ;-)
That would be an interesting change from the very good, all girls hard rock band last night at the Kultur Festival. Their encore rendition of Highway to Hell stood up very well to those other guys who sing it :-)
Mamma Mia, I digress....
In Warsaw, the so-called Royal Way (the street name changes a few times) is the pedestrian only strolling area.
This may suggest to some that Nowy Swiat, the first leg of the Royal Way above Jerusalem Avenue, is pedestrianized - that is incorrect. Only the segment up near Castle Square is closed to traffic. However, Nowy Swiat, and Foksal, the cross street, is a very lively stretch at night, with numerous restaurants and bars - and a few very young and VERY friendly young women who apparently wanted to get to know me better - as I walked back to the Chopin after the opera one evening [and the opera is another good evening option, and it IS walkable from the Chopin - maybe just one way].
If you have the RS guidebook you will see reference to several food halls - Hala Koszyki is in Srodmiescie, there is a large bar area surrounded by a number of food vendors representing a number of cuisines and ethnicities - should be easy to find pizza or burgers. It is near Plac Zbawiciela, which I walked through - I thought it was a case where Rick was a bit overly enthusiastic in his description. But nice to walk around on your way to the food hall. You may want to take a tram or bus one way, as it's a bit of a walk from the Chopin B&B. Also very lively at night.
The other food hall I visited was Fabryka Norblina, which is near the Uprising Museum. If you visit the museum, it's a logical stop for lunch. I would take the tram at least one way - there would still be walking involved from the tram.
I didn't make it to the food hall at Elektrownia Powisle, but that could be another good option.
The Jakdojade.pl app is invaluable for rapid transit in both cities - either to buy individual tickets if you don't have passes, or to plot your trips. A 72-hour paper pass may be just as easy to use for fares.
In Krakow, one thing off the beaten path would be the blue kielbasa van - Kiełbaski z Niebieskiej Nyski - two guys cooking kielbasa over an open fire in the evening, working out of a blue van, I believe a bit west of Kazimierz [look on YouTube]. At Plac Nowy in Kazimierz, in addition to the zapiekanek windows [which I didn't try], there are also two rows of stalls with a number of food vendors, including one featuring grilled meats, with a very good grilled kielbasa.
For other food ideas for Krakow, try Planet Krakow on YouTube.
markcw, that's a lot of good information for us traveling to Poland. Good stuff. Thank you.
But I'm still a little irritated at my wife for laughing at my pronunciation of Chopin.
CWSocial: It's young and "sweet," my friend. Please.
Chopin vs ABBA: Battle of the bands.
It's young and "sweet," my friend. Please.
Oh dear! Do you know that's one of those lyric lines that I've sung wrong all my life! Thank You For The Music-al correction..... though I'm not sure I can ever get it right now!!
