Rick Steves - Rick Steves Snapshot Kraków, Warsaw & Gdansk

SNAPSHOT

Krakw, Warsaw & Gdask

This Snapshot guide, excerpted from my guidebook Rick Steves Eastern Europe,introduces you a trio of grand Polish cities: historic Krakw, thriving Warsaw, and gorgeous Gda sk. Covering the best of Poland, this book offers an enjoyable cross-section of this proud nation.

Polands historical capital, Krakw, clusters around one of Europes biggest and most inviting market squares. Explore Krakws picture-perfect Old Townfilled with museums, restaurants, university life, and Old World charmand head to the Kazimierz neighborhood to learn about Polands Jewish story. Side-trip to the worlds most powerful memorial to the victims of the Holocaust at Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.

For a look at todays Poland, visit Warsawleveled in World War II, rebuilt soon after, and now rapidly gentrifying. Stroll through Warsaws reconstructed Old Town, promenade along newly spiffed-up boulevards, gape up at the communist-style Palace of Culture and Science, and dip into engaging museums on WWII history, native son Fryderyk Chopin, Polish painters, and much more.

On the Baltic Coast, Gda sk offers a vibrantly colorful main drag fronted by opulent old Hanseatic facades, plus inspiring tales from the toppling of communism at the shipyard where the Solidarity trade union was born. Nearby in Pomerania is a pair of medieval red-brick sights: the imposing Gothic headquarters of the Teutonic Knights, Malbork Castle; and the appealing, gingerbread-scented town of Toru .

To help you have the best trip possible, Ive included the following topics in this book:

Planning Your Time,with advice on how to make the most of your limited time

Orientation,including tourist information offices (abbreviated as TI), tips on public transportation, local tour options, and helpful hints

Sightswith ratings:

Dont miss

Try hard to see

Worthwhile if you can make it

No ratingWorth knowing about

Sleepingand Eating,with good-value recommendations in every price range

Connections,with tips on trains, buses, and boats

Practicalities, near the end of this book, has information on money, staying connected, lodging, restaurants, transportation, and more, plus Polish survival phrases.

To travel smartly, read this little book in its entirety before you go. Its my hope that this guide will make your trip more meaningful and rewarding. Traveling like a temporary local, youll get the absolute most out of every mile, minute, and dollar.

Szcz liwej podr yhappy travels!

Polska

Poland is a land of surprises. Many people imagine Poland as a backwards, impoverished land of rusting factories, smoggy cities, and gloomy natives. But these people are left speechless when they step into Krakws vibrant main square, Gda sks colorful Royal Way, or Warsaws lively Old Town. While parts of the country still do feel like a time warp, today's Poland also has a vibrant urbanity, an enticing food and design culture, dynamic history, and kindhearted natives.

The Poles are a proud peopleas moved by their spectacular failures as by their successes. Their quiet elegance has been tempered by generations of abuse by foreign powers.