Krakow and Berlin

For spring break 2024, we traveled to Krakow and Berlin with Kacey's parents. We have wanted them to visit Poland for a long time as he is one quarter Polish and grew up on some polish specialties. 

Krakow

We landed in Krakow around 1pm and got to our hotel around 2:30. We stayed in a 3 bedroom apartment right off Maly Rynek (little market) square, which is 1 block from the main square. The Easter Market had just started on the main square with loads of food and vendors. We got a few pierogi at Przypiecek and ice cream while walking around. Also ate some food at the market. In-laws arrived around 6 and we went for dinner at U Babci Maliny.

The next morning we got some pastries from Lajkonik for breakfast. Everyone but Nolan and Chris went to the St Mary's Basilica church. We all got more food at the market. This day we visited the Pinball museum, which also had lots of old arcade games. We did all you can play for 1 hour and had fun. For dinner, we had more market food.

We visited the Illusion Museum the next morning. Then once again hit the market for lunch food and booked Oskar Schindler's Factory museum tour at 2:15.

The next morning we visited Wawel Castle. We battled rain just a bit at the beginning. Several exhibits are closed on Monday but remaining were free. First we saw the Cathedral (not free) and went up bell tower. Then ate a snack. Then persian tents and then the armory. Last was Lost Wawel (still excavating areas). When leaving we walked down to view the Dragon.

Then more market food for snack. Dinner back at U Babci Maliny. The next morning we caught our direct flight to Berlin.

Berlin

Landed around 1:30 and took a taxi to Alexanderplatz. By 4pm we got to Hofbrau Munchen for german food and beer. Found Cuore di Vetro gelato that night, very good.

Woke up and taxiied to Berlin Wall Remains at Zimmerstrasse. Then walked to Checkpoint Charlie. After a snack walked to Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Walked past US Embassy to Brandenburg Gate. Just took in the view of Reichstag without visiting. We walked down to Potsdamerplatz for the Easter market, but it didn't start until the following day. So we ate some lunch at Lindenbrau. Then walked to gelato at Caffe e Gelato. Stopped by Spy Museum to buy tickets for the following day. Stopped in Mall of Berlin for the Lego shop. Walked to Neuhaus chocolate. Walked north then east toward Dom Cathedral. In laws and small kids took taxi back to hotel. We walked around the buildings of museum island and checked the TV tower entrance but saw it took 2 hours to wait. Found dinner at Bar Internazionale, good pizza. Then walked back to gelato.

Woke up and went to the cathedral (prebooked tickets night before). Organ was playing and nice views on the outside of the dome. Then went to German Historic Museum for the "Roads Not Taken" exhibit. Then taxi to Potsdamerplatz for lunch at the market. This Easter market much smaller than Krakow, but had a meat swing, dessert pizza stand, and a pesto pasta stand. Also some gluwein. Then we had 2:15 entry to Spy Museum. Nolan and I had dinner at Hofbrau and others went to asian food. Then back to gelato!

I took the boys up the TV tower the next morning (got 9am entry tickets). They enjoyed the views. Then we taxiied to Mauerpark. Looking for cherry trees in bloom but kids just played for a bit. Walked north looking for trees and found a few.  Taxiied to Berlin Wall Memorial. Nice exhibit. Walked to Restaurant Nuovo Firenze and spoke Italian for lunch. In-laws and Liana taxiied to the Olympic stadium. We walked by the Samuri museum (but expensive) and then walked past Sofia church and Jewish cemetery. Walked down to museum island and walked around a bit, played at the fountain. Then Nolan and I went to DDR museum, it was very busy. Everyone went to Hofbrau for dinner.

Krakow

Our last city to visit was Krakow. We wanted to visit Krakow four years ago, but didn't get to it. We are really glad we did now as this is a great city that we really enjoyed. We arrived in the afternoon in time to get to the hotel and get out for pierogi dinner. The first place we had read about was not open during July, and the second place was a bit hard to find. But U Babci Maliny was pretty good. A small place where you order at the window and wait in the little upstairs or downstairs for your number. It was pretty tasty, but three plates wasn't enough and we headed back to something we spotted earlier, a summer festival at Mały Rynek square. I asked the girl at the beer tent (as her english was quite good) and it was a food and misc festival that was there all week. Awesome! We ended up here every night! We had pan fried pierogi, sausage, beer, kraut, potatoes, kebabs, and grilled oscypek cheese.

Our first day we scheduled a tour of Auschwitz-Birkenau and the Salt Mines. We knew this would be a long day, but we had a private driver who took care of everything and made it a doable day. We started at Auschwitz for 1.5 hours and then headed to Birkenau for an hour. Our tour guide was from the area and she did a great job taking us through. All I really want to say is everyone needs to visit here. Thoughts of this place are permanently engrained in my head. (Pictures from Auschwitz are here). After these tours, our guide took us to Wieliczka to tour the salt mines. He dropped us next door for lunch (pierogi and a delicious Mocno Dojrzale polish porter) and we started that tour at 5pm. This place is pretty interesting and an UNESCO world heritage site. The miners took a lot of pride in their work and carvings, especially the cathedral! After the main lift breaking and walking out to another lift, we didn't get back to Krakow until 8pm. And guess where we ended up for dinner...

The next day our plans were to talk around Market Square and just take in the sites, and then walk around Kazimierz (Jewish quarter) a bit. We watched the opening of the alter in St. Mary's Basilica and this church was quite interesting. We also visited the little church next door (made from left over bricks from St. Mary's), which contains the tomb of Jakub Wujek, who translated the Bible to polish. I took a quick trip up the Town Hall tower, but the view is obstructed as you can't get outside; you only look through 3 small windows. After eating some food at, guess where, we stopped at the hotel for water and toilets and then walked to Kazimierz. We checked out a couple synagogues and got some ice cream (lody) at the place our guide said was the best in Krakow. The place is possibly called 'Pracownia Cukiernicza Stanisław Sarga'. Lines form in the summer, but our line was only about 5-7 minutes. They use real fruit and it tastes great! For dinner we went to Zapiecek for pierogi. Another great place!

Our last day we went to Wawel Castle. The ticket process is a little cumbersome, but we bought several different tickets and spent the afternoon visiting places. Getting food here is a bit tricky unfortunately. Some of the sites sell out, so don't come up at the end of the day. I think I liked the cathedral best of all, which doesn't sell out at all. The views from the Sandomierska Tower was not that great as you only get to look out a few small windows. We finished our day by walking out through the caves, known as the Dragon's Lair, which lowers you down to the river. At the end once you are outside, there is a stone dragon statue that breathes fire! We finished by going back to Zapiecek and then the food festival again. Then, it was time to catch our night flight back to Dublin.

Krakow was our favorite, and I think Poland is a place we could drive around for a week. Nice people, yummy food, a tough history with resilient people, and beautiful countryside. Also, it is easy on the pocket book!

Pictures from Krakow and the Salt Mines can be found here.