‘Enjoy the cold – are you crazy?’ One might well question the choice of Poland as a destination while struggling to keep warm in the present UK cold snap, but let’s take a fresh look at this historic city and consider for a moment why it makes sense to think local for winter breaks.
‘Winter sun’ is a concept that’s dominated the holiday industry for decades, while escaping the cold is seen as the ultimate goal in foreign travel. We’re persuaded each year that what we really want to do is ‘cheat’ the natural cycle of the seasons by getting as far away from home as possible, and that successful, savvy people simply skip the European winter to jet off to warmer climes.
But this mass winter exodus comes at great cost, both to the individuals who pay a premium to escape the cold and to the planet, as their long-haul flights criss-cross the globe.
Poland’s city of Krakow offers a wealth of attractions for travellers in the winter months, with plenty to do as long as you wrap up warm! Its cavernous salt mines, which have been described as being ‘no less magnificent than the Egyptian pyramids’, are an extraordinary spectacle that absolutely must be seen. Wawel Castle is beautiful to look at and houses some of the city’s artistic treasures, while the stunningly modern Galicja Jewish Cultural Heritage museum offers a sobering insight into the Holocaust and its victims while also celebrating the city’s Jewish heritage.
If you think you’ll be needing some hearty and warming sustenance on your visit, be sure to drop into the Jewish quarter, Kazimierz, which is full of nice little bars where you can sample the country’s exceptional vodkas. On weekend nights, locals and visitors alike head for the quarter’s market square to eat zapiekanka (pizza bread).
The most sustainable route to Krakow from the UK is by train, and there are plenty of exciting and comfortable rail options to choose from. Make the journey an integral part of your holiday by taking an afternoon Eurostar from London to Paris, then boarding the ‘Perseus’ sleeper train from Paris to Berlin. After enjoying breakfast and the early morning scenery en route, you can take an express train from Berlin to Krakow. The journey will take up a good 24 hours of your trip, but should be an exhilarating experience that will ease you gently into your break.
Photo: bazylek100
