The Karta mynight is accepted in restaurants, bars, clubs all around in Krakow. Using this card you get discounts for meals, drinks, special offers and also free entrance to some clubs.
The card is valid for one year. All the info (selling points, list of promotion etc.) is available here: www.kartamynight.pl
Good investment and a new promotion for every day of the week!
I hadn’t ridden a bicycle since I was maybe 14. I grew up in Albany, NY and it was not a very cycle friendly city… as is unfortunately the case as well with the majority of America. Now 13 years later I’ve been given a chance to be reintroduced to this great mode of transportation with a very unique type of bicycle.
On the way to Tyniec along the Wisla
First I looked for a used bike and went to visit a weekly used bike market in Krakow last summer. I had an idea of getting a cheap bike that I could afford having stolen, however, I found searching for one difficult and I had no way to be sure if the quality or price I would of paid was good. Paying more for a new standard sized bicycle would be too risky to lock up outside as a good bike thief can break even the strongest and most expensive locks within just a few minutes. I didn’t want to have to worry if my new bike was still locked up or if it’s chain had been cut so I started to look online for transport ideas that would make sense for me here in Krakow.
I considered various folding bikes I could take with me including the Dahon Curve, Birdy, Mezzo, Strida and even A-Bikes. After a good effort researching my decision was between a Bike Friday Tikit and a Brompton. The Tikit had a much faster fold but it’s fold was larger and not as neat. Though the Tikit has a better ride, has more gears and uses many more standard parts I knew for the bike I purchased to be used daily it would have to fold small and neat enough so that I could bring it with me wherever I went in the city. I also wanted it to integrate with the various other modes of transportation in Krakow such as trams, buses, and taxis. I needed a bike that I could comfortably bring into the various cramped restaurants and cafes in Krakow and for it to have a fold that would fit easily under a table neatly if need be. The Brompton folds into a secure 53 x 56 x 27cm square package making it the best fit for this task and after a good bit of difficulty I found a good contact in England and was able to import to Krakow.
Lunch break on Lake Balaton
I was also surprised to learn later that these little folding bikes are also used as touring bicycles for interesting new adventures around the world. What made the Brompton unique for tours was that it incorporated so easily with all other forms of public transportation which opens up a whole new realm of travel! Inspired by a Laura and Russ of www.pathlesspedaled.com and their multimodal trips a friend and I set off around Lake Balaton pedaling over 250km this past October for a great tour!
If anyone would like to learn more about these type of folding bikes check out a great review by clicking here: ecovelo.info and feel free to contact me at piotrgurin5@gmail.com. I’ve found cycling to be often the best and most practical way to get from point A to B in Krakow and I find the Brompton the best solution to theft as well as the most convenient. As a big fan I’m happy to help anyone who is interested in one! Cheers!
Mylna Cave is located about 10 km from Zakopane at an altitude of 1098 m above sea level. For visitors only 300 m is available, however the total length is more than 1500m.
This is a so-called semi-wild cave. To get through this cave you must have good equipment, especially because there is no electric light. Helmet is also recommended!
Getting to Zakopane via Krakow
From Krakow it's 100 kilometres and the public transport offers a good connection with the winter capital of Poland. One can choose from a train (which frequently leaves for Zakopane from Cracow Plaszow railway station), mini buses (running several times a day) or a coach bus by PKS, Szwagropol or Maxbus. All buses run from the same main station in Krakow, Krakowa dworzec RDA. The fare for Szwagropol and Maxbus is 18pln with a 2pln discount for students with ID. PKS runs a little cheaper but I don't recommend them unless you can't get a seat on the other two lines.
Bus tickets for all 3 lines can be purchased at the main ticket windows in the bus station. Additionally Szwagropol tickets can be purchased in the shop next to the main bus station in Krakow at 19 Kosciuszki Street (tel. 018 201 71 23). If after buying your Szwagropol ticket your plans change you can exchange your tickets for a different time an hour before departure for a 10% fee. Tips: - Trans-Frej bus company has gone bankrupt leaving Szwagropol and Maxbus your best bet for the approx 2 hour trip depending on traffic. - Buying tickets a day or two before hand lets you request any seats on the bus that you prefer. Seat location printed on the ticket. - Storage near the ceiling of the bus is a bit too narrow for a fill hiking backpack so unless you want put your back under the bus it's best to unpack your main bag into two or three shopping bags so you can put everything in above shelf. Returning to Krakow the bus travels across the south "most Grunwaldzki" bridge past AGH, Plac Inwalidow stops etc... on Aleja Adama Mickiewicza so if you don't have any baggage down below the bus you can ask the driver to let you off at any of the main bus stops along the way to save you some time getting home. Reserving your tickets in advance and sitting in the front of the bus near the driver makes this easier of course. Luggage can be left at the Szwagropol office in Zakopane bus station (18 201 71 23) for 7pln a day and 4pln for every day after. Also there is a left luggage service by PKS Zakopane bus station (18 20 144 53) for 5pln a day.
Zakrzówek Lake – quarry lake near the center. To get there you can go on foot or take one of following trams: 18, 19, 22. Get off the trams near Tesco and ask for the road. Photo Gallery by QuickGallery.com
1) Minibus from Nowy Kleparz or minibus parking place next to Galeria Krakowska is the cheapest option at 3.50pln one way. They drop you off in the center square of the near by town of Skala and from there you can take a pleasant 20 min walk past the church, past the school/hostel in the open field onto a trail into the woods that takes you directly to the visitor's center/main parking lot. An alternative but longer route (30+ mins) is to walk the main roads as you would if you were driving. Minibuses leave from Nowy Kleparz every 30mins with the last leaving Ojców at 21:00
Tips: There doesn't seem to be an accurate schedule for the minibuses between Krakow and Skala. Locals in Skala say that minibuses run every 15mins but to catch one Saturday 8pm return to Krak Twn I had to wait 45mins. Also there are 2 bus stops in the center square of Skala, one larger one with a glass shelter and another one with just a sign post next to the Leviathon grocery store. First we were told to wait by the Leviathon stop for outgoing minibuses to Krakow but the road around Skala center square are one way so inorder to catch a seat on the sometimes packed minibuses it seems the smart move is to join the locals and wait at the larger glass sheltered bus stop.
The Karta mynight is accepted in restaurants, bars, clubs all around in Krakow. Using this card you get discounts for meals, drinks, special offers and also free entrance to some clubs.
