This fall, we will be spending 10 hectic days in St Peterburg and Moscow before traveling by plane to Eastern Europe. We will then have approximately 1 week before flying out of Krakow to return to Seattle. We definitely want to spend serveral days in Krakow, but we'd also like to visit a smaller city where we can relax a bit before hitting Krakow. Any suggestions? We are thinking maybe another town in Poland or a place nearby. We would like some pleasant sights with not too hectic or intense of an enviroment. Where we pick will determine where we fly to from Moscow. We figure we'll travel by train or bus to Krakow. Thanks for any suggestions!
Posted by
Washington DC Region, USA
7049 posts
I picked places that are nearest Krakow, since Gdansk is on the Baltic and I'm not sure if you're looking to go in a different direction from Krakow. Czestochowa/Jasna Gora is a very pretty town and major pilgrimage site for Poles - it has both historical and religious value http://www.staypoland.com/about_czestochowa.htm Also, Kazimierz Dolny is very lovely and relaxing, but it's closer to Lublin than Krakow. Check out some google images of the town - it's gorgeous - I highly recommend it if you can squeeze it in. http://www.staypoland.com/about_kazimierz.htm Of course you can also go to Zakopane as well if you enjoy the mountains http://www.discoverzakopane.com/
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17918 posts
Look at the Grand Kempinski in the Slovak High Tatras near Štrbské Pleso. Pretty prime relaxing territory with some interesting sights nearby; and easy to get to from Krakow.
Posted by
OP
seattle
2047 posts
Thank you all for the suggestions. We'll chevk them out as we plan.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
17918 posts
"... before traveling by plane to Eastern Europe ... We will then have approximately 1 week before flying out of Krakow" We could all do a better job for you with some details. Not knowing anything about your plans here are some of my favorite small towns in Central Europe: Cesky Krumlov (Czech Republic), Melk and the Wachau Valley towns (Austria), Eger, Gyor, Sopron, Szentendre (Hungary), Banska Bystrica, Banska Štiavnica, Kosice and Strbske Pleso (Slovakia), Plovdiv, Veliko Tarnovo (Bulgaria), Brasov, Sibiu, Sighisoara (Romania). Still my favorite town for unwinding and relaxing is more of a city; Budapest. Can't be beat, I head back 3 times a year when I get burned out on work and just need to watch the world go by. Plovdiv is my second choice. Another big factor is what time of year?