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Kraków/Kazimierz

Kazimierz is a part of Old Town district of Krakow in Poland. Before World War II, it was a Jewish district.

Understand
Kazimierz was a city founded in 1335 by Polish King Casimir III on an island on the Vistula river. In the 19th century the river branch between Kazimierz and Old Town was dried and built over. After the end of 15th century Jews became an important part of Kazimierz' population as they fled Krakow because of antisemitism. The division of Kazimierz is still visible, the western part with pl. Wolnica and St. Michael's Church (Skałka) was Christian and the eastern with pl. Nowy and ul. Szeroka was Jewish.

Kazimierz became one of Krakow's districts in 1791. In 1943 all Krakowian Jews were forced by the Nazi occupiers to move to the ghetto located in Podgórze and later transported to death camps. After the war uninhabited houses in Kazimierz were populated by a poor and sometimes criminal element, so Kazimierz gained the reputation of the 'bad neighbourhood' in Krakow.

In the 1990s, however, a popular annual Jewish Culture Festival started, the city renovated old synagogues, and new cafes, clubs and galleries opened. In the early 21st century, the district underwent a typical gentrification process and these days rents are really high and small galleries and eateries have started to give way to luxurious hotels.

Get in
From the Old Town head south with ul. Stradom or Starowiślna. Easily accessible also from Podgórze thanks to Kładka Bernatka, pedestrian and bike bridge.

Synagogues and prayer houses

Before 1939 there were several dozen synagogues in Kazimierz. After the war most of them were destroyed or converted to residential or public use buildings and their previous function is, after remodeling, imperceptible. Some are still functioning as prayer houses or museums:

Churches

 * Bożego Ciała Church (Corpus Cristi Church) — corner of ul. Bożego Ciała and pl. Wolnica. Gothic Church erected by Kazimierz the Great in 1340. The greatest Italian artist of the Renaissance, Bartholomaeo Berrecci, is buried here. The interior is baroque with a marvelous, high baroque altar and maybe the most beautiful baroque stalls in Central Europe.
 * Katarzyny Church (St. Cathrine's Church) corner of ul. Augustiańska and Skałeczna — Gothic Church erected by Kazimierz the Great in 1363 for the Augustinian Order. There is a beautiful baroque altar and the Renaissance grave of bishop Spytek Jordan inside the church.
 * Church of Holy Trinity (Church of Merciful Hospitalers) - ul. Krakowska 48. Constructed in 1741 by the Trinities friars in late baroque style, according to a project of architect Franciszek Placidi. The interior of the church was ornamented with rococo stucco decorations and illusion style polychrome.
 * Church of Holy Trinity (Church of Merciful Hospitalers) - ul. Krakowska 48. Constructed in 1741 by the Trinities friars in late baroque style, according to a project of architect Franciszek Placidi. The interior of the church was ornamented with rococo stucco decorations and illusion style polychrome.

Buy
On ul. Józefa several funny galleries and small shops with hand-made souvenirs are located.

In the mornings head to plac Nowy to buy fresh fruits and vegetables from stalls. On Sunday morning there will be a flea market. Another, bigger Sunday flea market is located next to Hala Targowa on ul. Grzegórzecka.

Eat
Kazimierz has a place on Starowiślna street where the best ice-cream in Krakow are sold. ul. Starowiślna 83 (in summer you'll know the place by the queue standing outside).

Budget
Try typical Polish street fast food, zapiekanka. "Zapiekanki" sold from windows of Okrąglak building in the middle of Nowy square are the most popular in Kraków. In the evenings you will see queues of youngsters who just jumped out of bars for a quick bite. As an alternative you may go to Judah Square , ul. Świętego Wawrzyńca 16 to grab a burger or maczanka, local speciality in a street food form. Yet another place with food trucks is Plac Izaaka, corner of the streets: Izaaka, Jakuba and Ciemna.

Splurge

 * Ariel: though they ought to call it Arielayim because there's two of them, at daggers drawn. The longer established (open daily 10:00-00:00) is the white one at Szeroka 18: decent food, drink and ambience, but you're paying for the setting and live music. Then along came his brother and set up the creamy-yellow one of the same name, right next door at number 16. No reports available on this one.
 * Ariel: though they ought to call it Arielayim because there's two of them, at daggers drawn. The longer established (open daily 10:00-00:00) is the white one at Szeroka 18: decent food, drink and ambience, but you're paying for the setting and live music. Then along came his brother and set up the creamy-yellow one of the same name, right next door at number 16. No reports available on this one.
 * Ariel: though they ought to call it Arielayim because there's two of them, at daggers drawn. The longer established (open daily 10:00-00:00) is the white one at Szeroka 18: decent food, drink and ambience, but you're paying for the setting and live music. Then along came his brother and set up the creamy-yellow one of the same name, right next door at number 16. No reports available on this one.
 * Ariel: though they ought to call it Arielayim because there's two of them, at daggers drawn. The longer established (open daily 10:00-00:00) is the white one at Szeroka 18: decent food, drink and ambience, but you're paying for the setting and live music. Then along came his brother and set up the creamy-yellow one of the same name, right next door at number 16. No reports available on this one.

Drink
Two biggest clusters of drinking establishments are pl. Nowy and ul. Józefa, after opening of the footbridge to Podgórze ul. Mostowa is gaining momentum.

Clubs
This list includes places with designated dancefloors (dancing between tables in bars happens as well though).

title: Kraków/Kazimierz


text:
Kraków/Old Town

The Old City of Kraków, referred to in Polish as Stare Miasto, forms the historical kernel of this vibrant Polish city and is the first target for most travellers to the city for accommodation, eating out, entertainment, and attractions.

Orientation
The area of the Old City is bounded by the ring of lightly-forested parkland, known as the Planty, that used to mark the Old City walls and moat. The Wawel, the long-fortified hill at the southern end of the Old City, overlooks the River Vistula, and forms an integral part of this district. The centre of the Old City (and of Kraków itself) is the Rynek Główny (Main Market Square) from which all the main streets radiate.

This page also covers Śródmieście, the "Inner city". It was developed behind torn down medieval city walls on the grounds of surrounding villages and towns and today together with Old City forms the I district of Kraków. Śródmieście is bordered by the ring road Trzech Wieszczów to the west and railway tracks to the east.

The are just north of Old City, see Krakow main page for connections & facilities.

InfoKrakow Tourist Information Offices

 * Wyspiański Pavilion, pl. Wszystkich Świętych 2
 * ul. św. Jana 2
 * ul. Szpitalna 25 (in Planty park outside the underground passage leading from Train Station)
 * ul. Powiśle 11 (in the pavilion at the foot of Wawel hill)
 * Sukiennice, Rynek Główny 1-3

See
The museums and galleries in Old Town are mostly branches of either the Museum of Krakow or of the National Museum (Muzeum Narodowe), see main Krakow page.

Wawel
Wawel (say "Vavel") is the fortified citadel at the south tip of Old Town, perched on a limestone crag above the river. The complex contains the castle and the cathedral, and for over 600 years was the seat of power in Poland. Approach either up the ramp from the foot of Kanonicza, or up the longer gentler ramp from the foot of Grodzka. Both routes are wheelchair-accessible, but you may not bring bikes, scooters or Segways. The citadel is arranged around a grassy outer courtyard where a huddle of earlier buildings have been cleared away, and a graceful Italianate inner courtyard. These are both free to access daily from 06:00 to dusk; buy your castle ticket first because numbers are restricted, with timed entry slots for the various components. These sell out fast in summer and at weekends. In summer there's a separate ticket booth at the foot of Kanonicza, which may save you a fruitless climb up the hill. Use any long gap in your castle entries to tour the cathedral (separate ticket office), and see the Dragon's Den last if at all. There's a trattoria on the hill (open daily 09:00-17:00), a couple of cafes, toilets (2 zł) and an ATM.

 * Wawel Cathedral is known in full as Królewska Bazylika Archikatedralna śś. Stanisława i Wacława na Wawelu, or the "Royal Archcathedral Basilica of Saints Stanislaus and Wenceslaus on Wawel Hill". On 2 Nov 1946 a talented young priest called Karol Wojtyla conducted his first mass here, the day after his ordination; he went on to become the city's bishop, Pope John Paul II, and a modern Saint. The building is Gothic, built from 14th C. Several crypts and chapels house the remains of Poland's monarchs, nobility, heroes and poets. The Sigismund Tower, ascended by ricketty wooden steps, contains the huge Sigismund Bell. The main cathedral is not free, and open M-Sa 09:00-16:00, Su 12:30-16:00. It's 22 zł to enter the cathedral, royal crypts, Sigismund Tower and museum (which is closed Sunday).
 * Dragon's Den (Smocza Jama): the limestone hill is riddled with clefts and caverns, and one was said to be the lair of a fearsome dragon. ("Smok" finds echos in Tolkien's Smaug - he himself gave an obscure German derivation, but he had wide knowledge of European legends and languages.) The sons of King Krakus fed the dragon a calf stuffed with smouldering sulphur, and this proto-vindaloo killed it. Enter the cave from Thieves' Bastion on the eastern terrace. It's open April-Oct daily 10:00-17:00, 9 zł, but visit it last as it takes you out of Wawel. You descend 135 steps into the limestone cave, then through a passageway to emerge onto the riverbank promenade.
 * A seven-headed metal burps fire every few minutes: "must have been something I ate". It's on the public promenade next to the cave exit, you don't need to go through the cave or enter Wawel to see it.
 * A seven-headed metal burps fire every few minutes: "must have been something I ate". It's on the public promenade next to the cave exit, you don't need to go through the cave or enter Wawel to see it.

City walls
In the 13th century Kraków suffered two devastating attacks by the Tatars, so its centre (along with Wawel) was fortified with stout walls, towers and a moat, just in time to rebuff a third attack. In later years these defences were well-maintained, as the Ottoman Turks replaced the Tatars as a threat to Europe though they were stopped at Vienna. Then Austria-Hungary became the dominant power and eventually occupied much of Poland; the city lost its importance, the walls crumbled and the moat became a stinking rubbish tip. After the Napoleonic Wars, the Austrians ordered the walls to be taken down, but were persuaded to spare the attractive northern section. This included the Barbican and Florian Gate, while the rest became a horseshoe-shaped park, Planty.
 * Planty is nowadays a green, leafy corridor curving between the Old Town buildings and the buzz of traffic on the street beyond - this goes by several names but on the north side is Basztowa, "bastions". It's dotted with statues, benches and little cafes. To the south it approaches the riverbank promenade.
 * The Museum of the City of Kraków maintains the remaining walls. Admire the exteriors for free any time (and certainly by night, under floodlights) but you can only climb and go inside them April-Oct daily 10:30-18:00. Tickets (adult 9 zł) can be bought at the TIC in Market Square and at other branches of the City Museum.
 * The walls have three stout towers centred upon the, the town's medieval entrance leading onto the Royal Route via the market square to Wawel. It was built in the 13th century to be 33.5 m tall, and later a metre was added by a Baroque metal cap. The gate is always open to pass through (no vehicles), tickets for interior as above.
 * The Barbican stands a few yards out from the walls and Florian Gate, and was built in Gothic style in the 15th century to better defend them. It was connected to the gate by a fortified passage and bridge over the moat: those have gone so the Planty walkway now lies across the passage, and the Barbican stands in isolation. It contains a small museum, tickets as above.
 * Church of the Transfiguration (Kościół Pijarów pw. Przemienienia Pańskiego) is built onto the Walls just inside Florian Gate. It was built in 1718 in baroque style, copying Il Gesu church in Rome but with added decorative frolics.

Main Square
The main market square (Rynek Główny, say "rinek gwuvni") and its adjoining squares is the magnificent centre of the Old Town. It was first laid out in the 13th century but much embellished in the following centuries with churches, town houses and trading places. Several of the fronting buildings were palaces and mansions that nowadays are partitioned upstairs into offices and upscale apartments, while at street level they've become restaurants, cafes and beer cellars.
 * (Międzynarodowe Centrum Kultury) at Rynek Główny 25 has temporary art exhibitions, open Tu-Su 10:00-18:00. There's also a library and roof-top terrace with views of the city centre.
 * The block between Bracka and Grodzka was Pałac Zabarskich, now partitioned into various premises, including the excellent Cafe Wentzl.
 * At the northwest corner, Pałac Pod Krzysztofory fronts Szczepańska, while Pałac Pod Baranami (Palace of the Lambs) is on the southwest corner.
 * Along the north flank of St Mary's, what was once a cemetery has become the pleasant Mary's Square (Plac Mariacki), lined with yet more cafes. It leads through into the well-preserved medieval (Mały Rynek).
 * St Barbara Church in Little Market Square was founded in the 14th century by Mikolaj Wierzynek as a Gothic grave chapel, remodeled in early Baroque in 1583, and formerly housed a Jesuit college. By the main entrance is "Gethsemane", a complex of stone sculptures by Veit Stoss.
 * At the northwest corner, Pałac Pod Krzysztofory fronts Szczepańska, while Pałac Pod Baranami (Palace of the Lambs) is on the southwest corner.
 * Along the north flank of St Mary's, what was once a cemetery has become the pleasant Mary's Square (Plac Mariacki), lined with yet more cafes. It leads through into the well-preserved medieval (Mały Rynek).
 * St Barbara Church in Little Market Square was founded in the 14th century by Mikolaj Wierzynek as a Gothic grave chapel, remodeled in early Baroque in 1583, and formerly housed a Jesuit college. By the main entrance is "Gethsemane", a complex of stone sculptures by Veit Stoss.
 * St Barbara Church in Little Market Square was founded in the 14th century by Mikolaj Wierzynek as a Gothic grave chapel, remodeled in early Baroque in 1583, and formerly housed a Jesuit college. By the main entrance is "Gethsemane", a complex of stone sculptures by Veit Stoss.

South of Main Square
The spine of this part of town is Grodzka, leading down through All Saints Square. Two monasteries give their names to the cross street of Franciszkańska / Dominikańska where trams rumble through. The Old Town narrows as it approaches the foot of Wawel.
 * St. Francis Church (Franciscans) — Founded in the first half of the 13th century in Romanique style. In the 15th century, the church received its final Gothic form. In 1850, the grand fire of Kraków destroyed much of the church. The reconstruction and redecoration took several dozen years. The present secession interior was made by Stanislaw Wyspianski. The most authentic part of the church is the northern elevation of the transept, surviving almost intact in its 13th-century form. A place of special beauty are the Gothic cloisters surrounding the rectangular viridarium, dating mostly from the first half of the 15th century.
 * St. Francis Church (Franciscans) — Founded in the first half of the 13th century in Romanique style. In the 15th century, the church received its final Gothic form. In 1850, the grand fire of Kraków destroyed much of the church. The reconstruction and redecoration took several dozen years. The present secession interior was made by Stanislaw Wyspianski. The most authentic part of the church is the northern elevation of the transept, surviving almost intact in its 13th-century form. A place of special beauty are the Gothic cloisters surrounding the rectangular viridarium, dating mostly from the first half of the 15th century.
 * St. Francis Church (Franciscans) — Founded in the first half of the 13th century in Romanique style. In the 15th century, the church received its final Gothic form. In 1850, the grand fire of Kraków destroyed much of the church. The reconstruction and redecoration took several dozen years. The present secession interior was made by Stanislaw Wyspianski. The most authentic part of the church is the northern elevation of the transept, surviving almost intact in its 13th-century form. A place of special beauty are the Gothic cloisters surrounding the rectangular viridarium, dating mostly from the first half of the 15th century.
 * St. Francis Church (Franciscans) — Founded in the first half of the 13th century in Romanique style. In the 15th century, the church received its final Gothic form. In 1850, the grand fire of Kraków destroyed much of the church. The reconstruction and redecoration took several dozen years. The present secession interior was made by Stanislaw Wyspianski. The most authentic part of the church is the northern elevation of the transept, surviving almost intact in its 13th-century form. A place of special beauty are the Gothic cloisters surrounding the rectangular viridarium, dating mostly from the first half of the 15th century.
 * Palace of the Wielkopolskis ( Pałac Wielkopolskich) on pl. Wszystkich Świętych is nowadays Town Council offices.
 * St. Martin Church, Grodzka 58 — This church was raised in 1637 in Baroque style for the Discalced Carmelite nuns, but is now a Protestant church. The Gothic crucifix above the altar is one of the oldest in Poland.
 * St. Joseph Church — This church was built in 1694 at the place of the Tęczyński Palace in baroque style. It was damaged in the big fire of 1850 but the interior was saved.
 * St. Martin Church, Grodzka 58 — This church was raised in 1637 in Baroque style for the Discalced Carmelite nuns, but is now a Protestant church. The Gothic crucifix above the altar is one of the oldest in Poland.
 * St. Joseph Church — This church was built in 1694 at the place of the Tęczyński Palace in baroque style. It was damaged in the big fire of 1850 but the interior was saved.
 * St. Joseph Church — This church was built in 1694 at the place of the Tęczyński Palace in baroque style. It was damaged in the big fire of 1850 but the interior was saved.
 * St. Joseph Church — This church was built in 1694 at the place of the Tęczyński Palace in baroque style. It was damaged in the big fire of 1850 but the interior was saved.

North of Main Square

 * Reformatory Church of St. Casimir — Built in 1666, together with the monastery in baroque style. In the crypta are graves of the brothers with mummified bodies, due to the special microclimate.
 * St John's the Baptist and St John's the Evangelist Church — It was built by Piotr Wlast from Skrzynno in the 12th century in Romanesque style. In the 17th century, the church was altered in Baroque style. The high altar contains a Renaissance painting called "The Mother of God redeeming the Slaves".
 * Church Of Our Lady Of Snows on Mikołajska 21 — Constructed in 1632 founded by Anna Lubomirska as a vote to commemorate the victorious battle in 1621 in Chocim against the Osmans. It was destroyed during the Swedish invasion in 1655 and rebuilt in 1671. The main altar has the painting of the "Our Lady of Snows", the gift of Pope Urban VIII. Next to the church stands a cloister with some fragments of the defensive medieval architecture, like a brick tower from the 13th century.
 * St John's the Baptist and St John's the Evangelist Church — It was built by Piotr Wlast from Skrzynno in the 12th century in Romanesque style. In the 17th century, the church was altered in Baroque style. The high altar contains a Renaissance painting called "The Mother of God redeeming the Slaves".
 * Church Of Our Lady Of Snows on Mikołajska 21 — Constructed in 1632 founded by Anna Lubomirska as a vote to commemorate the victorious battle in 1621 in Chocim against the Osmans. It was destroyed during the Swedish invasion in 1655 and rebuilt in 1671. The main altar has the painting of the "Our Lady of Snows", the gift of Pope Urban VIII. Next to the church stands a cloister with some fragments of the defensive medieval architecture, like a brick tower from the 13th century.

University
All over Old Town you'll find campuses and departments of the Jagiellonian University, founded in 1364. You are free to enter all buildings at your leisure, along with the milling students.
 * Collegium Juridicum is Gothic and stands opposite the Peter and Paul Church. It has an attractive Renaissance yard with arcades and sculpture by Igor Mitoraj.
 * Collegium Medicum is a Renaissance building opposite St Anna Church, the university church since 1409. It has a fine Renaissance yard with arcades.
 * Collegium Novum is a beautiful Neogothic buildings It was built in the 19th century and has been the headquarters of the Jagiellonian University since then. The grand stairways inside the building are worth seeing.
 * Pope John Paul II Academy is a big neo-Gothic building just north of Wawel.
 * Pope John Paul II Academy is a big neo-Gothic building just north of Wawel.

Śródmieście
This is the "inner city" lying just outside the ring of Planty.
 * main building is just west of this area at the foot of Aleja 3 Maja - see west Kraków page. It's full of top names including Rembrandt and da Vinci.
 * main building is just west of this area at the foot of Aleja 3 Maja - see west Kraków page. It's full of top names including Rembrandt and da Vinci.

Theaters

 * Contemporary Theatre at ul. Starowiślna 21 is Old Theatre's second stage.
 * Camelot Theatre is a small repetory theatre at Tomasza 17, a block north of Main Market Square.
 * Contemporary Theatre at ul. Starowiślna 21 is Old Theatre's second stage.
 * Camelot Theatre is a small repetory theatre at Tomasza 17, a block north of Main Market Square.
 * Camelot Theatre is a small repetory theatre at Tomasza 17, a block north of Main Market Square.
 * Camelot Theatre is a small repetory theatre at Tomasza 17, a block north of Main Market Square.
 * Camelot Theatre is a small repetory theatre at Tomasza 17, a block north of Main Market Square.
 * Camelot Theatre is a small repetory theatre at Tomasza 17, a block north of Main Market Square.
 * Camelot Theatre is a small repetory theatre at Tomasza 17, a block north of Main Market Square.

Buy

 * The Rynek and the surrounding streets have fashionable clothing stores.
 * Galeria Krakowska is the big mall next to the main railway and bus stations. It's got clothes, souvenirs, bookstores, eating places etc.
 * Młoda Księgarnia is an art bookshop on plac Szczepański on the ground floor of the Szołayskich museum. It also has handmade toys and Polish designs. It's open Tu-F 09:00-17:00, Sa 10:00-18:00, Su 10:00-16:00.

Budget
There are several budget restaurants around.

Splurge

 * "Splurge" in this town means half what you'd pay for the equivalent meal in the west, so these places are great value.

 * Wentzl Restaurant is within Wentzl Hotel on Rynek Główny 19, open daily 13:00-23:00. Excellent upscale Polish & European cuisine.
 * Pod Aniołami at Grodzka 35 is great Polish cuisine. It's open daily 12:00-23:00.
 * Wentzl Restaurant is within Wentzl Hotel on Rynek Główny 19, open daily 13:00-23:00. Excellent upscale Polish & European cuisine.
 * Pod Aniołami at Grodzka 35 is great Polish cuisine. It's open daily 12:00-23:00.
 * Pod Aniołami at Grodzka 35 is great Polish cuisine. It's open daily 12:00-23:00.

Cafes
The Battle of Vienna in 1683 was the last serious assault of the Ottomans upon the west, and afterwards they were always in decline. The victorious Polish hussars helped themselves to piles of Turkish coffee and brought it home, to start a cafe tradition here.

Clubs
Dance venues are scattered around Old Town and are often down in the medieval cellars, especially along Szewska, św. Tomasza and Szpitalna.

 * Pod Jaszczurami, Rynek Główny 8. Legendary student club with live music, open Su-Th 09:00-02:00, F Sa 09:00-04:00.
 * Pod Jaszczurami, Rynek Główny 8. Legendary student club with live music, open Su-Th 09:00-02:00, F Sa 09:00-04:00.
 * Pod Jaszczurami, Rynek Główny 8. Legendary student club with live music, open Su-Th 09:00-02:00, F Sa 09:00-04:00.
 * Pod Jaszczurami, Rynek Główny 8. Legendary student club with live music, open Su-Th 09:00-02:00, F Sa 09:00-04:00.

Mid-range
Kraków offers a lot of two and three-star hotels, priced at €25-40 per night. The most expensive of these hotels are actually in the Old Town proper.

Connect
Half of bars and cafes have WiFi, just ask for the password while ordering.

Main library on ul. Rajska has free WiFi on the second floor.

There are few Internet cafes:

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Kraków/Old Town


text:
Kraków/South

Southern part of Kraków consists of six districts. Most interesting are Podgórze and Dębniki, located on the Vistula river bank opposite the Old Town. Districts further south (Łagiewniki, Kurdwanów, Bieżanów) are mainly residential.

Understand
Podgórze was granted city status in 1784 and until 1915 was an independent city. In 1915 it become a district Krakow and at that time it was one fifth of the whole Krakow city size.

In 1941 the Kraków Ghetto was established in Podgórze by Nazi occupation authorities. In 1943 the ghetto was 'liquidated' and inhabitants were moved to concentration camps. The monument located on the Ghetto Heroes Square (Plac Bohaterów Getta) is inspired by the moment when deported Jews were forced to leave their belongings (furniture, etc.) on the square before mounting trains headed to the camps. See Steven Spielberg's award-winning film Schindler's List, shot in Krakow in 1993, to catch a glimpse of life conditions in Krakow Ghetto and KL Krakow - Plaszow and understand the story behind Oscar Schindler's enamel factory. There are some props left from shooting the film in Liban work camp, but it's important to know those are not the real thing.

Podgórze to this day remains one of the most 'industrialized' districts in Krakow, but lately a kind of gentrification process takes place with new cultural (like Museum Of Contemporary Art Krakow) and housing projects appearing in former industrial areas.

Get in
Stroll from Kazimierz through the bike/footbridge called "The Father Bernatek's Footbridge" (in Polish "Kładka Bernatka") at the end of ul. Mostowa. This footbridge will deliver you nearby to the Rynek Podgórski (Podgórze Market) surroundings.

A small number of intercity calls as well as many regional trains call at Kraków Płaszów railway station. However in general it's much more convenient to take a train to the main station, Kraków Główny.

Podgórze

 * Ghetto walls. There are two places where you can still see remains of the wall shaped like a row of matzevas (Jewish tombstones). One at ul. Lwowska is fitted with memorial plaque, the other, less known, is behind the school at ul. Limanowskiego 60 - 62.
 * Ghetto walls. There are two places where you can still see remains of the wall shaped like a row of matzevas (Jewish tombstones). One at ul. Lwowska is fitted with memorial plaque, the other, less known, is behind the school at ul. Limanowskiego 60 - 62.
 * Ghetto walls. There are two places where you can still see remains of the wall shaped like a row of matzevas (Jewish tombstones). One at ul. Lwowska is fitted with memorial plaque, the other, less known, is behind the school at ul. Limanowskiego 60 - 62.
 * Ghetto walls. There are two places where you can still see remains of the wall shaped like a row of matzevas (Jewish tombstones). One at ul. Lwowska is fitted with memorial plaque, the other, less known, is behind the school at ul. Limanowskiego 60 - 62.
 * Ghetto walls. There are two places where you can still see remains of the wall shaped like a row of matzevas (Jewish tombstones). One at ul. Lwowska is fitted with memorial plaque, the other, less known, is behind the school at ul. Limanowskiego 60 - 62.

Museums and galleries

 * In Podgórze you can find pieces on modern art on the street: murals by Polish and foreign authors (including BLU on ul. Józefińska) and sculptures: a seesaw dedicated to Polish absurdist writer Witold Gombrowicz (ul. Józefińska as well) or Auschwitzwieliczka by Mirosław Bałka next to the passage below rail tracks.
 * In Podgórze you can find pieces on modern art on the street: murals by Polish and foreign authors (including BLU on ul. Józefińska) and sculptures: a seesaw dedicated to Polish absurdist writer Witold Gombrowicz (ul. Józefińska as well) or Auschwitzwieliczka by Mirosław Bałka next to the passage below rail tracks.
 * In Podgórze you can find pieces on modern art on the street: murals by Polish and foreign authors (including BLU on ul. Józefińska) and sculptures: a seesaw dedicated to Polish absurdist writer Witold Gombrowicz (ul. Józefińska as well) or Auschwitzwieliczka by Mirosław Bałka next to the passage below rail tracks.
 * In Podgórze you can find pieces on modern art on the street: murals by Polish and foreign authors (including BLU on ul. Józefińska) and sculptures: a seesaw dedicated to Polish absurdist writer Witold Gombrowicz (ul. Józefińska as well) or Auschwitzwieliczka by Mirosław Bałka next to the passage below rail tracks.
 * In Podgórze you can find pieces on modern art on the street: murals by Polish and foreign authors (including BLU on ul. Józefińska) and sculptures: a seesaw dedicated to Polish absurdist writer Witold Gombrowicz (ul. Józefińska as well) or Auschwitzwieliczka by Mirosław Bałka next to the passage below rail tracks.
 * In Podgórze you can find pieces on modern art on the street: murals by Polish and foreign authors (including BLU on ul. Józefińska) and sculptures: a seesaw dedicated to Polish absurdist writer Witold Gombrowicz (ul. Józefińska as well) or Auschwitzwieliczka by Mirosław Bałka next to the passage below rail tracks.

Cemeteries
Jewish cemeteries in Podgórze were destroyed during the occupation and today it's hard to find them. There are only symbolic monuments in grass fields in the area of Plaszow camp.

Dębniki

Dębniki
- one of the nicest recreational areas in Krakow. In summer lots of people go there to swim, have barbecues etc. The legality of these actions is disputable and the owner of the area wants to prevent them and builds fences.

Buy
If you really like going to shopping malls, you can visit Bonarka City Center mall located nearby Podgórze centre. To get there, you should approach Rondo Matecznego (Mateczny Roundabout) and take any bus going via Kamieńskiego Street. After two stops you will see a big building with a high chimney standing nearby. This chimney remains from the Bonarka chemical factory, located on this area in the 20th century. When it is after dawn, you can notice that the top of the chimney is illuminated with colourful lamps.

title: Kraków/South


text:
Kraków/West

In the early 20th century Kraków grew rapidly, engulfing surrounding neighbourhoods. This page covers those new areas north of the river, which are mostly west but include some north and east of Old Town. The places of interest to visitors are either in the ring a short walk from Old Town, or in the western parkland of Zwierzyniec (District VII, and not to be confused with the town of that name many miles to the east). The other districts are residential, though there's a strip of visitor accommodation along Highway 79 to the north. This page does not include western areas south of the river,  Kazimierz or the eastern post-war new town of  Nowa Huta.

Get in
is nearby to the west of the city, so it may be convenient to take a taxi direct to your accommodation instead of going downtown. The airport train stops at the suburban stations of Kraków Młynówka and Łobzów where you can change to other local transport.

The main are 500 m north of the Old Town bastions.

Trams run west along the riverbank as far as Salwator, and northwest to the end of Aleja 3 Maja at Cichy Kącik. The lines meet at Filharmonia west edge of Old Town, then rattle through the centre along Franciszkańska and Dominikańska. They emerge east side to run up the middle of Westerplatte then either branch east along Lubicz and Mogilska away out to Nowa Huta, or continue north and make a big loop to return to the west edge of Old Town. In late 2019 sections of track along Westerplatte are dug up.

See

 * is the extensive meadow west of Old Town. It was a swampy grazing land until the 19th century, then was drained to become a 48-hectare park suitable for large gatherings. World-shakers who have held mass audiences spellbound here include Napoleon Bonaparte, popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, and Céline Dion.
 * (where the trams turn around) has a group of interesting churches.
 * The Church of St Salwator on Bronisława Hill was built in the 10th century in Pre-Romanesque style, with later Romanesque and baroque additions. Its small graveyard was full by the 19th century so the large Salwator Cemetery was opened in 1865 some 300 m west. Notable burials here include science-fiction author Stanisław Lem (1921-2006).
 * The Parish of the Holy Saviour (or "Church of St Augustine and St John the Baptist") and the Norbertines convent are on the south side of the highway. Most of the complex was rebuilt in 1596 and the interiors renewed in classical style in 1777.
 * The Parish of the Holy Saviour (or "Church of St Augustine and St John the Baptist") and the Norbertines convent are on the south side of the highway. Most of the complex was rebuilt in 1596 and the interiors renewed in classical style in 1777.

 * Woods surround the Kościuszko Mound. To the west is a partly urban strip along Starowolska, then further west is Lasek Wolski. This forest encircling the Piłsudski Mound and Zoo has several hiking and biking trails.
 * at ul 28 Lipca 1943 17a is a 16th-century Italianate Renaissance mansion now used to host cultural events.
 * is an elegant baroque complex, still an active monastery, atop Bielany hill. The rich church interior may be viewed by male visitors daily 08:00-11:00 and 15:00-16:30, while women are only admitted on a dozen days such as Easter.
 * Rakowicki Cemetery, 400 m north of the main railway station, was laid out in the early 19th century and contains notables such as Helena Modrzejewska, Jan Matejko and Wisława Szymborska.
 * at ul 28 Lipca 1943 17a is a 16th-century Italianate Renaissance mansion now used to host cultural events.
 * is an elegant baroque complex, still an active monastery, atop Bielany hill. The rich church interior may be viewed by male visitors daily 08:00-11:00 and 15:00-16:30, while women are only admitted on a dozen days such as Easter.
 * Rakowicki Cemetery, 400 m north of the main railway station, was laid out in the early 19th century and contains notables such as Helena Modrzejewska, Jan Matejko and Wisława Szymborska.
 * is an elegant baroque complex, still an active monastery, atop Bielany hill. The rich church interior may be viewed by male visitors daily 08:00-11:00 and 15:00-16:30, while women are only admitted on a dozen days such as Easter.
 * Rakowicki Cemetery, 400 m north of the main railway station, was laid out in the early 19th century and contains notables such as Helena Modrzejewska, Jan Matejko and Wisława Szymborska.
 * Rakowicki Cemetery, 400 m north of the main railway station, was laid out in the early 19th century and contains notables such as Helena Modrzejewska, Jan Matejko and Wisława Szymborska.
 * Rakowicki Cemetery, 400 m north of the main railway station, was laid out in the early 19th century and contains notables such as Helena Modrzejewska, Jan Matejko and Wisława Szymborska.

Do

 * Football: the city's three soccer teams all have stadiums in this district.
 * KS Cracovia play in Ekstraklasa, the top tier. Their home ground is the Cracovia stadium, capacity 15,000, along Focha at the east end of Błonia park.
 * Wisła Kraków were relegated in 2022 and now play in I Liga the second tier. Their home ground is Stadion Miejski im. Henryka Reymana, capacity 33,000, north of Błonia park.
 * Garbania play in II Liga the third tier, and share Stadion Miejski.
 * KS Cracovia play in Ekstraklasa, the top tier. Their home ground is the Cracovia stadium, capacity 15,000, along Focha at the east end of Błonia park.
 * Wisła Kraków were relegated in 2022 and now play in I Liga the second tier. Their home ground is Stadion Miejski im. Henryka Reymana, capacity 33,000, north of Błonia park.
 * Garbania play in II Liga the third tier, and share Stadion Miejski.

 * Multikino is a multiplex cinema next to the waterpark.
 * Multikino is a multiplex cinema next to the waterpark.
 * Multikino is a multiplex cinema next to the waterpark.

Buy
Several larger and smaller shopping malls are located in the area. Big cluster of shops including IKEA and Galeria Bronowice lies next to the northern ringroad.

Drink
This area doesn't have many stand-alone pubs, head into Old Town for those. But you might try -
 * Whisky Bar Egon, a microbrewery at Urzędnicza 26 (a block south of Królewska), open daily 16:00-00:00.
 * Zielono Mi, a microbrewery at Królowej Jadwigi 4 (by Salwator tram terminus), open M-Th 14:00-00:00, F 14:00-03:00, Sa 12:00-03:00, Su 12:00-00:00.
 * Pub Amnezja for its beer garden and sausages at Kasztanowa 20 (near corner with Modrzewiowa), open 24 hours.

Budget

 * Student Hotel are a chain of college dorms that let spare rooms, especially during summer break but there may be availability throughout the year. Price, quality and convenience varies. As of Dec 2019 four are open: Bydgoska, Nawojka, Piast and Żaczek.
 * Żaczek is first choice as it's close to Old Town, just west of the National Museum on al 3 Maja. It has singles, doubles, triples, and quads available with and without bath. Price is from 100 zł single, 140 zł double.
 * Student Hotel are a chain of college dorms that let spare rooms, especially during summer break but there may be availability throughout the year. Price, quality and convenience varies. As of Dec 2019 four are open: Bydgoska, Nawojka, Piast and Żaczek.
 * Żaczek is first choice as it's close to Old Town, just west of the National Museum on al 3 Maja. It has singles, doubles, triples, and quads available with and without bath. Price is from 100 zł single, 140 zł double.
 * Student Hotel are a chain of college dorms that let spare rooms, especially during summer break but there may be availability throughout the year. Price, quality and convenience varies. As of Dec 2019 four are open: Bydgoska, Nawojka, Piast and Żaczek.
 * Żaczek is first choice as it's close to Old Town, just west of the National Museum on al 3 Maja. It has singles, doubles, triples, and quads available with and without bath. Price is from 100 zł single, 140 zł double.

Mid-range
There are a lot of hotels located next to the northern part of Kraków ring road.

title: Kraków/West


text:
Krak des Chevaliers

Krak des Chevaliers (also "Crac des Chevaliers" - 'Castle of the Knights') located near Homs in Syria is widely recognised as the archetypal Crusader castle. Described by T.E. Lawrence (of Arabia) as "perhaps the best preserved and most wholly admirable castle in the world", this somewhat isolated site is located magnificently (750 m or 2,300 ft above sea level) and is, indeed, extremely well-preserved. Today it represents one of the premier tourist attractions in central Syria and is one of the country's world heritage sites. The castle sustained some damage during the Syrian Civil War.

Understand
Krak des Chevaliers was the easternmost of five Crusader fortifications guarding the only major pass (known as the 'Homs Gap' in the Orontes river Valley) between Antakya in Turkey and Beirut in the Lebanon. The castle was built and expanded at Qal'at al-Hisn by the Order of the Knights of St John in the years between 1142 and 1271. It covers 3 hectares in area and, at the height of its powers, it housed a garrison of up to 2000 men. The castle held out against several fierce attacks (including one by the famous Saladin), and was rumoured to be impregnable. The Krak, however, was eventually lost by the naive crusaders to the Mamluk Sultan Baybars in 1271, who tricked the defenders into abandoning the castle by means of a faked letter from the Crusader Count of Tripoli.

The castle has two main parts: an outer wall with 13 towers and an inner wall and keep. The two walls are separated by a moat (now full of stagnant water), which was used to fill the baths and water the horses. Walk through the main entrance, an imposing gate in the 5m (16ft) thick wall and past the towers which defended the castle, and you enter a courtyard. A corridor covered in delicate carvings leads to a large vaulted hall, where you can see an old oven, a well and some latrines. The chapel in the courtyard was converted to a mosque after Sultan Baybars captured the castle - it still retains its pulpit (mihrab). The top floor of the Tower of the Daughter of the King is now a café with great views.

Get in
Krak des Chevaliers is an easy day trip from Tartus or Hama, the latter city being the most attractive base from which to visit, if somewhat more distant (one-way microbus trip just under 2 hours). Buses also run from Homs and will drop visitors off at the castle. Bus fares are less than US$1 and the trip takes less than an hour each way. A taxi from Damascus cost around US$60 round trip also including the driver waiting outside, depending on your bargaining skills. Some hotels in Damascus offer bus trips to the castle, but it constitutes a very long day out for the one site.

On the whole, it's best to arrive early as by mid-late morning the castle can be almost submerged in hordes of tourists from Damascus. Sunrise is also a great time to enjoy the view of the castle in a magnificent light. Ditto sunset.

See
The castle!

Do

 * Take a torch  with you when visiting the castle, as there are many interesting but dark tunnels and rooms within the walls.
 * Take care when exploring the castle: there are many places to fall off or into.
 * Check the last bus times if you intend to return to your point of departure, otherwise you could get stuck at the castle overnight!

Buy
Postcards, booklets and souvenirs are available to purchase at the ticket office and in the various restaurants nearby.

Eat

 * Restaurant al-Qalaa, tel: 740 493, 740 003. Housed in a solitary white two-storey building about 1 km south west of the castle on the adjacent hill top (follow the road west of the castle). Magnificent views. The good quality meals are based around grilled chicken and mezze. Alcohol available. The owner is hilarious, shouting at his guests in a dozen languages and adding to the festive atmosphere.
 * Des Chevaliers, tel: 740 411. Opposite the castle entrance. Serves fairly mediocre buffet meals of mezze, chicken, meat and fruit, or vegetarian options. Has a pleasant shaded patio for outdoor dining.
 * Castle Restaurant - inside the castle. The dining is in one of the towers on the top level of the keep. The food is mediocre although the prices are reasonable. Offers the standard mezze and meats. Attractive views.

Sleep

 * Bebers Hotel, tel: 741 201. Rooms are neat and appealing, all with ensuite bathrooms. Most have magnificent balcony views of the castle Singles US$20, doubles US$25.

Stay safe
The area's safety has definitely improved since ISIS and the Syrian rebels were driven out. Be careful, however, as holdouts and landmines may remain in the area.

title: Krak des Chevaliers


text:
Kraljevo

Kraljevo (in English "King's town") is a town and the administrative center of Raska District of Serbia. Kraljevo is located in central part of Serbia, at the confluence of the Ibar to the Zapadna Morava. It is, by its territory, the largest municipality in the Republic of Serbia.

By plane
Kraljevo is served by, 18 km northwest of the city. It has twice-weekly flight from Istanbul.

By bus
This is the most recommendable option when visiting Kraljevo. The drive from Belgrade lasts 3 hours and tickets can be purchased at Belgrade's bus station for about €10 round trip.

Go next

 * Belgrade
 * National Park Kopaonik (90 km south from Kraljevo) — its highest point, Pančić's Peak, is at 2,017 m. Flora is characterized by the Balkan beech, fir, spruce, yew, several kinds of maple, pine and oak. Fauna: many species of birds, such as rock partridge, scops owl, red-backed shrike, and the wood lark. There is the attractive and picturesque valley of the Samokovska River, characterized by its steep run, numerous rapids, falls and gorges. Also famous such as Ski Resort, with 68-km-long skipath and 28 lifts.
 * Novi Pazar and the nearby Saint George monastery and Sopocani monastery
 * Mountain of Zlatibor (120 km west from Kraljevo)— the mountain range spreads over an area of 300 km². Take a narrow gauge railway tour. Tourist facilities include modern hotels, holiday centres and cottages, sports grounds and skiing.

title: Kraljevo


text:
Kranj

Kranj (pronounced "Krah-n") is a city in Central Slovenia. It is the historical capital of Carniola.

By plane
Ljubljana's international airport is just south of town and is served by a regular bus service (look for the blue coaches operated by Alpetour), with tickets costing 1.80 Euro.

By train
There is a small train station located at Kolodvorska cesta, west of the centre of town, with a ticket office which is open during normal office hours. It is served by regular trains running between Ljubljana and Jesenice. There are also additional international trains (connecting to Villach, Austria), which run approximately every 4 hours.

By bus
The bus station is located where Bleiweisova cesta meets Stošičeva ulica. More information on buses can be found on the operator's website.

By car
The city is 25km north-west from Ljubljana on Hwy A2. There are 34 buses per day from Ljubljana, a one-way ticket costs 3.60 Euro.

Get around
Taxis can be found outside of the central bus station and the railway station.

See
Known by Grad Khislstein (castle) and poet Prešeren museum. Through the city flows the river Kokra in a deep canyon.

Šmarjetna gora is a nearby hill with hotel and restaurant on top, from which there's a nice view of Kranj and surrounding landscape. It's accessible on foot or with a car.

Buy
In the city are small shops, but out on the edge of town are more shopping centers! One is Majdičev log on the river Sava island, another on Planina, much bigger!

Eat
Out of the city:

title: Kranj


text:
Kranjska Gora

Kranjska Gora is a town in north-western Slovenia. It is a base for winter sports and is known for alpine skiing and ski jumping.

Get in
There are regular buses to and from Ljubljana and Jesenice (which has the nearest railway station). There are also two buses a day to and from Bled. Those with a car can also cross over the nearby border with Austria or Italy. In summer there is Bus connection from Bovec - Vršič pass - Kranjska Gora.

Get around
Kranjska Gora is very small; one can walk from one end to the other in under 15 minutes.

See
Kranjska Gora is a ski resort, and is therefore rather sterile. However, its surroundings are breathtaking. Nearby is a picturesque lake with a statue of the Zlatarog, the mythical guardian of Mount Triglav. His face appears on the Slovenian beer, Laško. 5 km from Kranjska Gora to Vršič Pass you can see a Russian chapel, where more than 110 Russian POWs died in an avalanche while building a road through Vršič Pass in World War I.

Do

 * Skiing and snowboarding at Vitranc.
 * Hiking and cycling in the summer. Walking maps are available locally. Warning regarding these maps- "paths" that are not recommended routes may well lead you to an impassable scree. Paths labelled as "rather difficult" tend to involve scrambling, sometimes in places with considerable exposure where hand-holds tend to be rather unreliable. Paths labelled "very difficult" are for the suicidal!
 * Mountain biking is available at the Fun Bike Park Kranjska Gora.

Eat
There is a supermarket in Kranjska Gora, as well as some bar-restaurants serving up pizzas etc. By the lake there is a rather nice, moderately priced restaurant serving Slovenian/ trans-European food.

Drink
There are a few bars in Kranjska Gora.

Sleep
Kranjska Gora itself has a number of hotels. About 2km away is the very pleasant small village of Podkoren, home to Pr'Tatko youth hostel, which is probably the cheapest place to stay in the area and is in a very nice old building. It has a fully equipped kitchen, friendly staff and a very friendly cat. Across the road is a hotel, which has a bar that is open to non-residents.

title: Kranjska Gora


text:
Krapina

Krapina is a city in Central Croatia.

Understand
Krapina is a small town in northern Croatia and also an administrative and cultural centre of Krapinsko-zagorska county. It is administrative centre of Krapinsko-zagorska county located approximately 55 km from Zagreb, Croatia's capital. The city is first mentioned in 1193 but has even longer history.

Get in
By train – a railway connects Krapina and Zagreb. The train ride takes from 1hr 30 min up to 2 hr depending on the train category, half a dozen trains daily, most requiring a change of train in Zabok. The price is (one way) By bus – the bus leaves from Autobusni kolodvor Zagreb and the ride takes about 1 hr. It will cost you. By car – it takes you about 50 minutes if you use an A2 highway (exit Krapina) but it will cost you about ; other route is on Zagorska magistrala (Zagreb-Zabok-Krapina). It takes longer (about 1hr 15 min) but you don't pay toll.

Get around
Getting around is not an issue you should be concerned by. Krapina is a very small town and you can see all the sights on foot. If you arrived by car you will have to pay for parking in the city.

See

Krapina Neanderthal Museum (Muzej Krapinskih Neandertalaca) – This is where you enter a time machine and go far back into the past. You will travel to Earth's history. Here you can find out all about the anatomy, culture and the environment of the Neanderthal. The museum is located in situ, in other words, on the prehistoric habitat. You will learn all about Dr. Kramberger, the man behind the epochal discovery. The museum has all sorts of multimedia content so it's a great place to visit with your family (your kids will love every minute).

Sleep
Krapina doesnt have any hotel in the city. Nearest hotels are in Krapinske Toplice, 15 km from Krapina.

title: Krapina


text:
Krasnaya Polyana

Krasnaya Polyana (Russian: Красная Поляна, KRUSS-nah-yah poh-LYAH-nah ) is one of the most expensive and popular (mainly at national level) winter ski resorts in Russia. Located 40 km away from the Black Sea coast and from the city of Sochi, it is, nevertheless, included in the Adler District of Sochi.

Krasnaya Polyana was the center of the Alpine cluster of venues for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, and includes venues for skiing, biathlon, luge, ski-jumping and snowboarding.

Understand
The climate is vastly changed by the mountains covering Krasnaya Polyana and making its winter warm, soft and comfortable. July has average highs of +23.2 °C (73.76 °F) with maximums going as high as +40 °C (104 °F). Average temperature in January is +0.4 °C. Snow cover can reach height of about a meter. Plants in surroundings vary from sub-tropical to alpine.

By bus/marshrutka
Bus route 105 goes to Krasnaya Polyana from Sochi central bus terminal via Sochi International Airport. Another option is to catch bus 135 from the center of Adler. Both routes have stops in Krasnaya Polyana settlement and Esto-Sadok, finishing at Alpika-Service. A one-way ride from Central Sochi will cost you 65 RUR, as of 2011.

Marshrutkas, or minibuses, of the same routes have more frequent service, the fare can be a bit more expensive.

By train
In preparation for the Games this new rail line was constructed and opened in November 2013. There will be 2 train stations in the area of Krasnaya Polyana: Esto-Sadok and Roza Khutor. The trains depart both ways 7 times a day and cost ₽119 and take 40 minutes (as of September 2015).

By taxi
Taxi is quite expensive, but still the most convenient way to reach Krasnaya Polyana. Expect to pay in average 1,500 RUR for a ride from Central Sochi or 1,200 from Adler / Sochi International Airport. Most hotels can arrange transfers as well; the price for that can be slightly more expensive.

By car
It is 40 km from Adler. The road will take 30 minutes to get from Adler/airport, or 1 hour from Central Sochi. If you want to rent a car, get it at Sochi International Airport, as there are no rental agencies in Krasnaya Polyana.

Sleep

Krasnaya Polyana differs from the rest of Sochi, as it has the hot season in winter (skiing and snowboarding time) and the off-season in summer (too far away from the Black Sea coast). The hotel prices react accordingly.

Connect
Internet access:

Free wi-fi:

Go next

 * Kardyvach lake - Mzymta river starts here, beautiful landscape.
 * On the way to Krasnaya Polyana next to kilometre 17 is a prehistoric human site.

title: Krasnaya Polyana


text:
Krasnodar

Krasnodar is the capital of Krasnodar Krai in southern Russia, with a popolulation in 2018 of just under 900,000. Its main industries are based on agriculture and food.

Understand
In the 18th century Russia expanded south under Catherine the Great, driving out Ottoman Turkey from control of the areas north of the Black Sea. The city that grew up here was called Yekaterinodar, Catherine's Gift, and became a diverse, entrepreneurial, attractive settlement. It was fought over in the Russian civil war, and since the Bolsheviks won, they got to rename it "Krasnodar", gift of the Reds. In 1942 / 43 it was occupied by the Nazis, with much destruction and death. However many of the old town buildings have been restored, though no-one could mistake the city's landmark hyperboloid tower for tsarist architecture.

By plane

From the airport, trolleybus 7 (1 hour) and minibuses 53 and 15 (40 minutes) operate service to main train station. Buses 1 and 1A operate service to the city centre. A taxi from the airport to the city centre should cost RUB500.

By train
Several trains per day operate between Krasnodar and the Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk (RUB650, 3 hours), Rostov-on-Don (RUB600, 3-4 hours), and Volgograd (RUB900, 14-16 hours).

By bus
Buses operate approximately every 3 hours between Krasnodar and the Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk (RUB350, 3.5 hours). Buses operate hourly to the Russian resort town of Anapa (RUB350, 3.5 hours). There are 6 buses per day to/from Rostov-on-Don (RUB400, 4-6 hours). There is also a daily bus to Sochi (6 hours).

By public transportation
Krasnodar has a dense network of trams, trolleybuses, city buses, taxis, the boat across the Kuban river and marshrutkas. Public transport fees are generally approximately RUB30.

See
Krasnaya (Red) Street is the main street of the city. Part of the street is closed to vehicles during evenings, when it becomes the center of nightlife.

Theater Square has largest splash fountain in Europe.

Monuments

 * Monument to Catherine the Great
 * Sculpture of Walking Dogs - Mira 35 - Built in 2007, it was inspired by a famous Russian poet that commented on the number of dogs in Krasnodar.
 * Monument to Shurik and Lida
 * Monument of Cossacks writing a letter to the Turkish Sultan
 * Monument to Kuban Cossacks
 * Monument Avrora
 * Monument A.S. Pushkin
 * Obelisk In Honor Of The 200th Anniversary Of The Kuban Cossack Army
 * I.E. Repin Monument
 * Monument A.V. Suvorov

Religious Buildings

 * St. Catherine's Cathedral
 * Alexander Nevskiy Cathedral
 * St. George's Church
 * St. Elijah Church
 * Holy Trinity Cathedral
 * Chapel of Alexander Nevskiy
 * Church of St. Nicholas
 * Church of the Holy Libor
 * St. Kazan Church

Do

 * Climb the steel lattice hyperboloid tower built by Vladimir Grigorievich Shukhov in 1928. The tower likely wouldn't pass a safety inspection in most first world countries, but it is the best place to get a view of the city. The tower is near the circus.
 * Watch football at Krasnodar Stadium. The home team is FC Krasnodar who play in the Russian Premier League, the top tier of Russian football. It was opened in 2016 with a capacity of 34,000. It's on the northeast edge of the city, 4 km from Krasnodar-1 main railway station (further out than the old "Kuban" Stadium). Take a bus to Vostochno-Kruglikovshaya Street.

Parks

 * Rozhdestvenskiy Park of Culture and Leisure
 * The Solnechny Ostrov (Sunny Island) Park
 * Safari Park - Includes a zoo, but the animals are treated poorly
 * Chistyakovskiy Grove Park
 * Botanical Garden of Professor I. S. Kosenko
 * City Botanical Garden
 * Park of the 30th anniversary of the Victory
 * City Park of Culture and Leisure
 * Marshal Zhukov's Park
 * Training Botanical Garden
 * Park Druzhby
 * Lynx Zoo

Theatres
Most are on Krasnaya Street
 * Children’s Puppet Theatre
 * Philharmonic Hall
 * Operetta Theatre
 * Operetta Theatre

Entertainment complexes
Around 20 entertainment complexes are open 24 hours/day. These complexes usually include bowling alleys, shopping centers, video arcades, casinos, and restaurants.

Water amusement parks

 * Equator
 * Aqualand

Eat
Krasnodar has many restaurants, pubs, eateries, sushi bars, hookah bars, pizzerias, coffee/tea houses and fast food places. The predominant Krasnodar cuisine is a mix of south Russian, Georgian, Armenian and Greek flavors with emphasis on fresh local grown produce minimally spiced and mostly flavored by parsley, dill and cilantro.

Fast Food
There are several American fast food restaurants including Subway (5/2 Zipovskaya St, 149 Krasnaya St, 39 Krainyaya St, 38 Mira St), McDonald's (100 Dzerzhinsky St), and KFC (104 Uralskaya St)

Drink
Many popular bars are clustered off the southern end of Krasnaya (Red) Street.

Consulates

 * 🇮🇹 Italy

Go next

 * Novorossiysk - Black Sea port city
 * Rostov-on-Don
 * Volgograd
 * Anapa
 * Sochi

title: Krasnodar


text:
Krasnodar Krai and Adygea

Krasnodar Krai is a region in Southern Russia, bordering Crimea to the west (across the narrow Strait of Kerch), Rostov Oblast to the north, Stavropol Krai to the east, and Georgia and Karachay-Cherkessia to the south.

Adygea, officially the Republic of Adygea, is an autonomous region in Southern Russia completely enclaved within Krasnodar Krai. Adygea is ethnically distinct, as Circassians are about 25% of the population while ethnic Russians represent 60% of it. However, for geographic reasons, we cover this republic along with Krasnodar Krai. Krasnodar Krai offers travelers Russia's premiere beach resorts as well as some of Europe's tallest mountains in its Caucasian south.

Cities

 * — capital and principal city of Krasnodar Krai
 * - the capital of Adygea and its biggest city
 * — an ancient Pontic Greek port, now a small, family-friendly Russian beach resort town
 * — small beach town east of Novorossiysk
 * — Russia's main Black Sea port, a must for World War II buffs, but it also has some nice sandy beaches
 * — a big resort city located in a simply beautiful area, where Russians come for fun in the sun (and in the nightclubs!)
 * — a big resort city located in a simply beautiful area, where Russians come for fun in the sun (and in the nightclubs!)

Other destinations

 * — a in the breathtakingly beautiful Western Caucasus, home to the newly reintroduced European buffalo
 * — a Western Caucasus ski resort and personal favourite destination of President Putin
 * Sochinsky National Park

Krasnodar Krai
Krasnodar Krai has the most fortunate climate conditions in Russia. Reasonably, it attracts many people to live there: with over 5 million population it has the 3rd place in Russia after Moscow and Moscow Oblast. The region is famous as "Granary of Russia": its agricultural production is feeding the whole country and being exported.

Krasnodar Krai also contains Russia's largest tourist industry by some measure, catering principally to domestic tourists. The region contains a full 25% of all Russia's registered hotels and resorts. For international travelers, the biggest reasons to visit it are to see the stunning and lush slopes of Western Caucasus mountains and to party po-russky at the beach! Anyone visiting a seaside resort should consider reading Bunin's Sunstroke (Солнечный удар), one of the most beautiful short stories ever written.

Krasnodar Krai encompasses two major distinct climactic regions. The northern two thirds of the region (north of the Kuban River) is covered by Russia's near ubiquitous steppe and has a continental climate. The southern part of the region, however, is much more exotic, ranging from a Mediterranean climate along the Black Sea coast to subtropical in the southeast to high alpine along the border with Georgia and Abkhazia.

Additionally, Krasnodar Krai encircles the enclaved Russian region of Adygea Republic — named for the mountain Adyghe people, also known as the Circassians.

Krasnodar Krai can be divided in three tourist regions:

 * The Black Sea coastline ("Russian Riviera")
 * The Azov Sea coastline
 * Inner Krasnodar Krai

Adygea

Adygea is one of only a few fully enclaved Russian Federation regions (the only other ones are the cities of Moscow and Saint Petersburg). All its territory is surrounded by Krasnodar Krai.

The most popular months to visit Adygea are September and October in the heart of autumn when the leaves change to vivid colors and the temperature is in the Goldilocks zone.

Talk
Everyone, including ethnic minorities, speaks Russian. Adyghe and Russian are the official languages of Adygea.

Krasnodar Krai
The principal rail service for the region comes from virtually any Russian city through Rostov-on-Don from the north to Krasnodar, Novorossiysk, and as far south as Adler. There are cheap express trains (~18–20 hours) from Moscow and Saint Petersburg to Krasnodar.

is serviced by flights from Vienna, Frankfurt, Thessalonika, and Istanbul, as well as by numerous domestic Russian flights. It is also easy to fly to Sochi or Anapa  from any major Russian city.

It is possible to arrive at Sochi or Novorossiysk by boat from numerous ports on the Black Sea.

Adygea
Direct buses from Krasnodar bus station, 170 руб, 2.5 hours.

Intercity buses from many other cities in Krasnodar krai, nearby regions and even from Moscow. Buses are very old and in poor condition, no air conditioning. Use trains if possible, especially in summer.

A number of trains (from Moscow etc.) stop at Belorechenskaya station, where bus and local train connections to Maykop are available.

Fast local train from Adler/Sochi goes once per day, scenic sea views between Sochi and Tuapse, 700 руб first class, 650 руб 2nd, timetable (stand Oct 2011): Maykop 05:50 - Sochi 11:30, Sochi 17:05 - Maykop 22:45.

See
Adygea is home to several cultural and natural museums, providing a glimpse into the region's history and wildlife respectively. There are also a number of mosques and churches, reflecting Adygea's diverse religious composition.

Do

 * Rafting is done on the Belaya River in Adygea.

 * Hiking is a popular activity in Adygea. Almost half of the republic is covered in forest, and there are many hiking trails.

Eat
Throughout Adygea, you will find restaurants serving traditional Adyghe cuisine, which has much in common with the food from the rest of the Northern Caucasus, in addition to Russian and international cuisines. Local specialties include mataz, which are dumplings filled with mashed potatoes, a meat mixture and fried onions, and haliva, a turnover filled with potatoes or Circassian cheese.

Adygea
Nightlife is present mainly in Maykop. Alcohol is unlimited, there are nightclubs and bars, but the residents of Adygea themselves prefer to have fun in the neighboring Krasnodar and Sochi, so draw your own conclusions.

Go next
Dombai, perhaps Russia's most beautiful resort, is in nearby Karachay-Cherkessia in the Caucasus mountains.

title: Krasnodar Krai and Adygea


text:
Krasnogorsk

Krasnogorsk is a small city in West Moscow Oblast that is best known for its 18-hole golf course, the Moscow Country Club Resort, where Moscow's finest come to play. But even with out the allure of 18 holes, the city is worth a visit for its two large classical estates, one of which (Arkhangelskoye) is one of the finest in Moscow Oblast.

By car
Take the Volokolamsk Shosse (Highway) from Moscow.

By train
By elektrichkas from Moscow's Rizhsky train station to Pavshino station.

By bus
The fastest way to get to Arkhangelskoye Estate is to take a bus 549 or 541 to "Arhangelskoye" stop or minibus 151 to "Sanatorii" stop from Tushino metro station. From Pavshino train station you can take buses 524 or minibus 24 to stop "Sanatorii".

See

Sleep
The most popular places to sleep might be at the Arkhangelskoye Estate and Le Meridien, but of course Krasnogorsk has hotels of its own:

But there are loads of better options in Moscow and Krasnogorsk makes an easy day trip.

Go next

 * Consider heading onwards from Moscow to historic Volokolamsk.

title: Krasnogorsk


text:
Krasnoyarsk

Krasnoyarsk (Russian: Красноя́рск kruhz-nah-YAHRSK) is a city in Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia. It is known for its beautiful nature nearby. However, the city sits in a mountainous basin and, when the wind isn't blowing, dangerous benzopyrene emissions from its aluminum smelter and power station result in black smog over the city.

Understand

Krasnoyarsk has a population of over 1 million people.

The Kacha River flows through the city before joining the Yenisey at the Strelka - the historical center of the city. The Krasnoyarsk hydroelectric dam, 20 km upstream, significantly influences the local climate; normally the river would freeze over in the bitterly-cold Siberian winter, but because the dam releases unfrozen water year-round, the river never freezes in the to  stretch of river immediately downstream.

The city was founded in 1628 as a fort on the confluence of the two rivers. It was founded as Krasny Yar, meaning "Red Steep Bank".

Many political exiles, including 8 Decembrists, were banished to Krasnoyarsk. The city was also an administrative center for the gulags.

Krasnoyarsk grew significantly during World War II, since industrial facilities were moved eastward to escape the war. After the fall of the Soviet Union, ownership of these facilities was transferred to oligarchs, and unemployment rose significantly.

The economy of the city is dependent upon its aluminum production facilities.

The famous 2005 Russian war film The 9th Company, directed by Fedor Bondarchuk and set during the Soviet War in Afghanistan, reputedly a favorite of president Vladimir Putin, has its story beginning at Krasnoyarsk.

By train
All Trans-Siberian trains stop at Krasnoyarsk.

Train timetables and fares can be found on the RZD website; enter "KRASNOIARSK, KRASNOYARSKAYA, [2038000]" as the station for Krasnoyarsk. There are several daily trains from Moscow (61 hours, ₽3300-10000), Irkutsk (18 hours, ₽1200-6400), Omsk (20 hours, ₽1400-6600), Novosibirsk (12 hours, ₽1000-6000), Ulan-Ude (12 hours, ₽1500-8400), Yekaterinburg (34 hours, ₽2000-5800), Perm (41 hours, ₽2400-6600), and Vladivostok (86 hours, ₽4000-20000).

The main station is, west of city center. There are left luggage services at the train station, but beware of long "breaks" taken by the operator. The service costs ₽100 per item per day. There are plenty of buses making the 10-minute ride between the train station and the city centre. The journey costs ₽25. A taxi should cost ₽130 if negotiated in advance.

By bus
Kransoyarsk Avtovokzal is the inter city bus station. Buses operate from nearby cities, including those in the Khakassia region. Buses from most nearby cities cost under ₽300. You may even go as far as Kyzyl in the Tuvanese Republic.

By car
The road connecting Vladivostok and Moscow, semi-officially called Moskovskyy Trakt (Московский тракт, Russian for the Moscow Way), passes through Krasnoyarsk. However, decent accommodation and eating establishments are hard to find along this road.

Get around
Google maps can be used to plan trips around the city.

By public transport
There are many public buses, costing ₽36 per trip. You may use the 2GIS app in order to know which bus to take, or simply ask a local. In large buses, the conductor walks among the passengers and asks for money from the new passengers. In a minibus, the conductor sits near the driver and gets paid before passengers exit (because of this the rear door is rarely opened). In a large bus, the conductor walks around with a roll of tickets in a hand, a belt purse and demands payment. PayWave contactless cards are accepted.

By taxi
Taxis are plentiful but drivers rarely speak English. Negotiate prices in advance.

See

 * Views of the Yenisey River and the nearby Sayan Mountains covered by taiga forest are quite picturesque.

Museums

 * and are the museums of the one of the greatest Russian painters who was born and lived in Krasnoyarsk until he moved to Moscow to become a member of the National Academy of Arts. The first is a two-story wooden house built in 1830 by the painter's father, Vasiliy Surikov was born and lived for many years in that house, the second is a later-built one-story house holding many of his works.

Monuments

 * Flower monuments are to be found all over the city. Large figures (2–5m) made of flowers can be seen only in summer. The first figure is a Bear, it stands near the mayoralty building known for its modernist Big Ben-like clock, a family of Giraffes on the Lenina str. behind the Regional Government building knows as the Grey House (Серый дом), a Rooster near the Theater of Musical Comedy (Театр Музыкальной Комедии), a family of Elephants on the Kopylova (Копылова) str.
 * Flower monuments are to be found all over the city. Large figures (2–5m) made of flowers can be seen only in summer. The first figure is a Bear, it stands near the mayoralty building known for its modernist Big Ben-like clock, a family of Giraffes on the Lenina str. behind the Regional Government building knows as the Grey House (Серый дом), a Rooster near the Theater of Musical Comedy (Театр Музыкальной Комедии), a family of Elephants on the Kopylova (Копылова) str.

Do

There are many hiking opportunities in the nearby forests, many of which offer nice viewpoints. It is recommended to have a guide for such an excursion as the trails are not well laid-out and there are plenty of dangers, including animals.

Festivals and events

 * The City Day is celebrated every year in June, it is a spectacular show with a street carnival of different topics each year and evening fireworks.
 * Lawnmower Racing Festival occurs in July and features races on lawnmowers, motorcycles, ATVs, jet skis, gliders, hang gliders, and helicopters. Also includes music concerts.
 * Krasnoyarsk Jazz-bike festival, 5 to 8 August . The first two days of this Program is jazz. Third day Program includes a lot of contests and music groups. Prepared interesting prizes. Special guest DJ "Elephant". Competitive program 7 August starting at 23:00. Walking rechargeable, Arm-wrestling, fight on Balance beam, Enduro, Swim on Rubber Women. Music program on August 7, launching at 19:00. Columns of bikers will gather at the sports complex on the island at 16:00 on 6 August.
 * Krasnoyarsk Jazz-bike festival, 5 to 8 August . The first two days of this Program is jazz. Third day Program includes a lot of contests and music groups. Prepared interesting prizes. Special guest DJ "Elephant". Competitive program 7 August starting at 23:00. Walking rechargeable, Arm-wrestling, fight on Balance beam, Enduro, Swim on Rubber Women. Music program on August 7, launching at 19:00. Columns of bikers will gather at the sports complex on the island at 16:00 on 6 August.
 * Krasnoyarsk Jazz-bike festival, 5 to 8 August . The first two days of this Program is jazz. Third day Program includes a lot of contests and music groups. Prepared interesting prizes. Special guest DJ "Elephant". Competitive program 7 August starting at 23:00. Walking rechargeable, Arm-wrestling, fight on Balance beam, Enduro, Swim on Rubber Women. Music program on August 7, launching at 19:00. Columns of bikers will gather at the sports complex on the island at 16:00 on 6 August.

Learn

After Novosibirsk and Tomsk, Krasnoyarsk is the most prominent scientific and educational center of Siberia with more than 30 higher education facilities, many of which are the branches of the Russian Academy of Science, and about 200 high schools. The most notable higher education institutes are:

 * Siberian Federal University (Russian abbreviation is SibFU), founded on November 4, 2006. The institution integrated four large higher education institutions (Krasnoyarsk State University, Krasnoyarsk State Academy of Architecture and Civil Construction, Krasnoyarsk State Technical University, State University of Non-Ferrous Metals and Gold)
 * Krasnoyarsk State University of Education (Russian abbreviation is KGPU), founded in 1932
 * Siberian State Technological University (Russian abbreviation is SibGTU), the oldest in the city, founded in 1930 as the Siberian Institute of the Forest
 * Siberian State Aerospace University (Russian abbreviation is SibGAU), founded in 1960
 * Krasnoyarsk State Medical Academy (Russian abbreviation is KrasGMA), founded in 1942

Similarly to Novosibirsk and Tomsk, Krasnoyarsk has a special city district called Akademgorodok (Academic Town in Russian) where many of the institutes are located. There, in the Institute of Biophysics, the experiment on ecological isolation of human beings called "Bios", similar to the US experiment Biosphere 2, has been successfully held in 1973-1985.

Work
Like any industrial center, Krasnoyarsk has a large number of employment opportunities. However, salaries are low (up to 500 USD/month is 'good', more than USD1000/month is 'very good'; higher salaries are available for top-managers or business owners only). Salaries net of taxes.

Buy
If you want to buy Siberian souvenirs or paintings of the Krasnoyarsk artists you can visit the Diana (Диана) art salon at Mira St. (ул. Мира) 51. You may try to speak English with merchants here. Another place to look for paintings of the local artists is the Khingan (Хинган) galleries at Mira St. (ул. Мира) 3, Vzlyotnaya St. (ул. Взлётная) 2 and Totmina St. (ул. Тотмина) 6. Siberian souvenirs are also sold in the Sibir-Etno (Сибирь-этно) galleries, the first of them is in the Krasnoyarsk railway station, the second is at Aviatorov St. (ул. Авиаторов) 19.

The one unique thing you're advised to buy is cedar nuts, because the Siberian region is the only region where the authentic variety of this delicacy can be purchased. Throughout the rest of the world cedar nuts are extremely expensive.

Other goods are the same as all over Russia. Chinese clothes could be slightly cheaper on the Chinese market.

Entertainment centers and shopping malls

 * Krasnoyarsk has a lot of huge trade-and-entertainment centers, similar to shopping malls, where you can find cinema theaters, restaurants, cafeterias and numerous large and small shops. The major centers are: Torgovyy Kvartal (Торговый Квартал, Russian for Trade Block) at Televizornaya Str. 1, Planeta (Планета, Russian for Planet) at Dyevyatogo Maya Str. 77 and Luch (Луч, Russian for Ray) at Karla Marksa Str. 149. Other large trading centers are Kvant (Квант, Russian for Quant) at Krasnoy Armii Str. 10, Yevraziya (Евразия, Russian for Eurasia) at Karla Marksa Str. 95-1 and Krasnoyarye (Красноярье, Russian for Places of Krasnoyarsk) at Krasnoyarskiy Rabochiy Str. 120.

Eat
There are plenty of restaurants in Krasnoyarsk. While there is no McDonald's, there are locations of KFC. There are many excellent Chinese restaurants on Mira street near the Theater of Musical Comedy.

Nightclubs
There are many nightclubs all over Krasnoyarsk, but it's better to avoid those located in suburbs (the clientele can be unpleasant), or very expensive luxury clubs and restaurants (frequented by local criminals). Most cinemas have nightclubs as well. Beware of drug traffickers, which are present in most nightclubs; however, they usually don't disturb others unless approached.

Sleep
Some hotels do not have English-speaking staff and may be in bad condition. Read reviews online and book in advance. It is also better to book accommodation in the city centre since certain outlying areas can be a bit dodgy.

Most hotels and hostels offer free WiFi and many have computer terminals. Almost all accept credit cards. Hotels and hostels will usually provide a visa invitation and registration for an additional fee.

Phone
The international code for Russia is +7, the code for Krasnoyarsk is 391.

For information on purchasing a SIM card in Russia, see Russia.

Note that SIM cards purchased elsewhere, such as in Moscow or Saint Petersburg, may be subject to roaming charges.

Internet
Free WiFi is available in most hotels, shopping malls, university buildings, cinemas, restaurants and cafes, and some public areas and parks. There are also plenty of WiFi hotspots for which you must pay. You can also buy a mobile GPRS card to enable data transfer via the cellular networks. For more information, see Russia.

Stay safe
Though generally safe for the experienced traveler, Krasnoyarsk can be a tricky destination for someone not familiar with the region and culture. The downtown areas are pretty much safe all night, but in the suburbs don't walk alone after dark. If you are 15–30 years old, the neighborhood of student dormitories (living blocks without balconies, usually 9-story), the inside of living districts and street cafes can be dangerous for you even at the day time due to the chances to meet drunk bullies who can be easily provoked, for example, by your unusual or not athletic look. Other places of higher risk are large market places and the railway station: be sure to keep your cash out of view and out of pickpockets' reach.

Avoid asking the police for help unless it is really necessary. If possible, communicate with the hotel staff and security first, because communication with local policemen may be unpleasant due to both the language barrier and their usual rudeness, or even dangerous, especially for non-European-looking foreigners (although police in Krasnoyarsk is far from being as dangerous as in Moscow and Saint Petersburg). Sadly, this is a national problem in Russia: there is not much difference between police and criminals.

Go next
The easiest way to travel from the city is to fly to Moscow first, and then to wherever necessary. However, there are some flights from the local airport Emelianovo to China and the nearest ex-USSR countries, or through Novosibirsk and Irkutsk which can be easily reached by train.

The neighboring region of Khakassia with its major city Abakan is 400 km South, reachable by car (M-54 road) and everyday train from the railway station.

The next stops of note on the Trans-Siberian Railway are Achinsk to the west towards Novosibirsk and Kansk to the east towards Irkutsk

During the summer there are 1-2 week cruises to the Northern part of the Krasnoyarsk Krai to the mouth of the Yenisey. Everyday connections exist only for the city of Divnogorsk, located 40 km west, near the Krasnoyarsk Hydroelectric Power Station.

title: Krasnoyarsk


text:
Krasnoyarsk (region)

Krasnoyarsk (region) is a region within Krasnoyarsk Krai. This region borders Taymyria to the north, Evenkia to the northeast, Irkutsk Oblast to the southeast, Tuva to the south, Khakassia, Kemerovo Oblast and Tomsk Oblast to the southwest, Khantia-Mansia to the west and Yamalia to the northwest.

Cities

 * — the administrative capital and Siberia's third largest city
 * — has a useful airport, located in the extreme north of the region, near Taymyria
 * — Krasnoyarsk Krai's second most important city
 * — Important Archaeological center and ancestral homeland of the Kyrgyz people
 * — one of the first cities of Siberia and a proposed Unesco World Heritage site
 * — a closed city
 * — another closed city
 * — another closed city

Other destinations

 * — a beautiful ski and nature resort located about 180km from Minusinsk (12 hour bus ride from Krasnoyarsk

Understand
Before Taymyria and Evenkia were assimilated into the greater region, the Krasnoyarsk region was known simply as Krasnoyarsk Krai. It is the population and cultural center of the Krai

Talk
Brush up on your Russian or otherwise you will need a guide for any extensive travel in this region.

Get in
Most arrive via the Trans-Siberian Railway; the major stops are, from west to east, Minusinsk, Krasnoyarsk, and Kansk.

Krasnoyarsk International Airport, Igarka Airport.

Get around
The Trans-Siberian Railway and its spokes are the fastest way to move around the southern part of the region, although there is also a cheap and extensive bus network. Going to the northern panhandle, however, is a long enough journey where it would be foolish not to fly to Igarka from Krasnoyarsk.

Do

 * Skiing/Snowboarding
 * Snowmobiling
 * Alpinism
 * Hiking/Biking

Go next
The next major stops on the Trans-Siberian Railway are Novosibirsk to the west and Irkutsk to the east. The Baikal-Amur Mainline will take you east to Bratsk.

Krasnojarsk (Region)

title: Krasnoyarsk (region)


text:
Krasnoyarsk Krai

Krasnoyarsk Krai (Красноя́рский край) is a vast, sparsely populated region in Siberia about three and a half times the size of Ukraine, comprising 13% of Russia's territory.

Other destinations

 * — The archipelago is very isolated; it was discovered in 1913, the last archipelago on Earth to be discovered, and has never had a permanent population. It is one of the world's most remote destinations. The name means "Northern Land".
 * — the location of the Tungussky event.

Understand
Krasnoyarsk Krai is located in the remote geographical center of Russia along the great Siberian river, the Yenisey (the world's fifth largest by length and volume), and its tributaries. West of the Yenisey, Krasnoyarsk Krai begins the unending flat sea of taiga and tundra that ends with the Ural Mountains, while the majority of the Krai (to the east of the Yenisey) is covered by the beautiful mountainous wild of the Sayan Mountain Range and the Putoran Plateau. For the truly adventurous, wilderness travel in this region is limited only by safety concerns and imagination, as the Soviet government deliberately kept most of Krasnoyarsk Krai closed and devoid of human presence.

The southern Krasnoyarsk region is the heart of this vast area and its most visited region as it contains the city of Krasnoyarsk, the third largest in Siberia and is a major stop on the Trans-Siberian Railway.

The remote Yenisei Basin served at the place of exile for a number of people throughout the centuries. During the Czarist era, Lenin spent a few years (1897-1900) in exile in Shushenskoye, one of the warmest place in the region; a few years later, Stalin served his term of exile in considerably colder Turukhansk. In the 1930s through the 1950s, numerous camps of the GULAG system were located in the region.

The post-WWII era saw rapid industrial development of the region. Two giant hydro dams (Krasnoyarsk and Sayano-Shushenkaya) were constructed on the Yenisey and coal strip mines opened along the Trans-Siberian line, their power used at aluminum refineries and at a number of military industrial facilities.

Climate
The climate is strongly continental: temperatures vary widely during the year. The Krai encompasses three climatic belts: arctic, subarctic and moderate. The winter average temperature in the north is −36 °C and −18 °C in the south. In summer the average temperatures are +10 °C and +20 °C accordingly.

Talk
These days, virtually everyone in the region speaks Russian, either natively or as a second language.

There are a number of indigenous languages spoken throughout the region, such as Evenki and Nenets, but travelers are unlikely to hear them unless they specifically seek them out. The Ket language, of which there are hardly 200 speakers left, is the only still surviving (barely) language of the Yeniseyan language family, which some linguists think may be related to the Na-Dené languages of northwestern North America (which include Apache and Navajo).

Get in
The usual manner in which travelers arrive to Krasnoyarsk Krai is undoubtedly at the Krasnoyarsk stop on the Trans-Siberian Railway. If you are planning a trip specifically to the region, however, it will save a lot of time to fly directly to Krasnoyarsk airport (from Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Khabarovsk, Rostov-on-the-Don, or virtually any airport in Siberia) and then transfer to Kras-Air to go to other destinations within the region.

For visitors to the northern parts of the region, there is a direct flight from Moscow to Khatanga and Norilsk (although this airport may be off limits to foreigners) in Taymyria as well as to Igarka in the northernmost part of Krasnoyarsk (region).

Get around
Because of the size and remoteness of the region, domestic flights combined with helicopter rides are often the best ways of getting around outside of the more populous southern region. Flights are most often connected to the Krasnoyarsk hub. To get straight into Evenkia, there is a flight from Krasnoyarsk to Tura.

See

 * Big Arctic Reserve
 * Sayano-shushensky Biosphere Reserve
 * Putorano Plateau Nature Reserve (UNESCO Heritage)
 * Stolby Reserve
 * Taimyr Reserve
 * Tungusska Reserve
 * Central Siberian Reserve
 * National Park "Shushensky Bor"
 * Nature Park "Yergaki"

Do

 * Sayan Ring (Саянское кольцо) - international festival of ethnic music in Shushenskoye

Stay safe
Heroin trade is extensive in the region and HIV infections are high as a result.

Go next
It will likely take a while to get out from any destination in the north. From Krasnoyarsk, however, Irkutsk is the next major stop on the Trans-Siberian Railway to the east after Kansk; to the west after Achinsk are Tomsk (on a branch line) and Novosibirsk. Bratsk is also reachable to the east via the Baikal-Amur Mainline.

title: Krasnoyarsk Krai


text:
Kratie

Kratie (ក្រចេះ, pronounced kra-chey) is a tiny town in northeastern Cambodia. Despite its small size, it is the capital of the province of the same name.

Understand
Kratie is one of the four provinces in northeastern Cambodia, and although it is relatively remote and not heavily visited, travelling here won't earn you points if your priority is to be a pioneer. There's no large-scale tourism, but plenty of backpackers pour through here during the peak season. The town has developed to meet this demand, with very good budget accommodation that is well known in backpacking circles.

Respect
The province is heavily rural, so be mindful of yourself and your behaviour. Do not add to the already overwhelming amount of litter and discarded rubbish visible in and around the town, and be mindful of local norms in dress sense, so don't go swimming in a bikini.

By road
From Kampong Cham (to the south) the road is in good repair. From Stung Treng (to the north) the road is sealed, but has fallen into disrepair and the journey can be uncomfortable and slow. If headed into Laos, visas on arrival are obtainable at the Lao border.

By bus
The bus/truck station is in the northwest part of town.

Buses from Stung Treng take about 3 hours. As with all forms of transport in Cambodia, get your bus ticket early, and show up even earlier to ensure you get a good seat, as buses will fill up fast as soon as they let people board. With the improving road conditions, bus services have improved and there are now a number of options between Stung Treng and Phnom Penh that stop at Kratie both ways.

There are daily buses from Siem Reap to Kratie. They leave at 07:00 and cost US$10. You will have to switch buses halfway through this journey at Skuon or Suong.

By taxi
Share-taxis and minivans serving Phnom Penh (4-5 hr), Stung Treng (2 hr), Kampong Cham (2 hr), Ban Lung (4 hr), Sen Monorom (4 hr), and a number of other small towns go from the taxi stand a block north of the market. Prices to Phnom Penh and Stung Treng are about 20,000 riel per seat. These are much faster than the large commercially operated buses and comparably priced, though slightly less comfortable. Purchase an extra seat or share 3 between 2 of you for comfort. From Phnom Penh or Kampong Cham share-taxis and minivans can save several hours buy taking a road directly south of Kratie that most of the commercial bus companies do not use and bypassing Snuol.

By truck
Trucks arrive from various neighbouring towns and provinces but you have to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of this form of transport carefully. They are less safe and often slower than buses, as well as being more expensive. The one (potentially) overriding positive is that riding in a truck you get the chance to have a much closer connection with local Khmers than if you were riding in a tourist bus, particularly as you'd be surprised how many Khmers in the provincial capitals are somewhat proficient in English. Expect to wait a couple of hours for the truck to fill up, assuming you're the first one there.

 * from Kampong Cham: 10,000 riel in the back, 15,000 riel in the cabin, 8-10 hr
 * from Stung Treng: 20–25,000 riel in the back, 25–30,000 riel in the cabin, 10-12 hr
 * from Ratanakiri: US$12 in the back or in the cabin, 12 hr

By boat
With the improvement of the roads, ferry services along the Mekong River from Kampong Cham no longer run. If you are feeling adventurous, you might find a rice-barge on its way north from Kampong Cham.

Get around
As the town is so small, ignore offers from touts to take you from the bus stop into town, since it's a walk of just a few minutes. If you feel compelled to hire a motodop to take you anywhere within town, you won't need to pay anything more than 500 riel for your short journey. To visit sites outside the town, you'll need to hire a motodop for a few dollars - standard prices are posted around the guesthouses, typically US$3–5 depending how far and how long you go for.

Bicycles are by far the best way to get around Kratie and enjoy the town at your own pace. Most guesthouses will organize you one, but they usually all come from the same shop - from the front of the market head south until the street ends across from the Ministry of Water Resources. On the corner there bikes can be rented from a lovely Khmer family for US$1 or 4,000 riel per day. Easy to spot this shop - look for all the bikes!

Motorbike rentals are available at just about any guesthouse. A 110cc Honda step through bike for US$6 per day. Given the tiny size of the town, you won't need one to do anything within Kratie, and the roads outside Kratie aren't in great shape, but it can be a great way to look around the country side a bit further afield.

See

Do

 * You can also see dolphins from Koh Rougniv Island, which nicely combines with a home stay in Koh Phdau. You get a private, and romantic sunset tour for US$7 per boat, no other tourists in sight.
 * The free trail guide (e.g. Community Development Tours) provides maps, transport and accommodation options. You can travel on a small part of the trail, or all of it. You can travel alone or with a group. There are many options along the 180 km trail, which runs between Kratie and the Cambodian/Laos border. Allow enough time to go with the flow of river life.
 * Along the trail, you will have the opportunity to see critically endangered Mekong River Dolphins, while minimising your impact on them and the habitats they rely on.
 * By using the Trail, you will also be assisting river communities, some of the poorest, but most welcoming, in Cambodia.
 * As advertised, cycling (as opposed to hiking) is maybe the best method to see the trail, as it allows to rapidly cover the long stretches of track were it is impossible to obtain drinking water.}}
 * By using the Trail, you will also be assisting river communities, some of the poorest, but most welcoming, in Cambodia.
 * As advertised, cycling (as opposed to hiking) is maybe the best method to see the trail, as it allows to rapidly cover the long stretches of track were it is impossible to obtain drinking water.}}

Eat
Eating at small food stalls offers a cheap alternative to restaurants, with fried noodles available, chicken rice porridge, foetal duck eggs and others. Servings are generally smaller than in nearby restaurants. The riverfront night market has been moved to the road out to PP. Follow the riverfront and keep going when it turns inland.

Drink
Watching the sun go down over the Mekong, with a cold beer or a tuk-a-lok (fruit shake) on the river front, is one of the joys of a visit to Kratie. There are many stalls which set up in the late afternoon to service that need (and stay open until midnight, unusually late for a Cambodian provincial town).

Red Sun Falling will stay open until the last person leaves, which can be pretty late, and the new Marlees Bar offers the other bar option in town.

Go next

 * Banlung - This town is near spectacular natural attractions, including waterfalls, volcanic lakes and natural parks, and hill tribe villages.
 * Chlong - A small town, about 30 km from Kratie.
 * Kampong Cham - the third largest city in Cambodia, full of colonial charm.
 * Stung Treng - The town most tourists pass through on the way to Laos.
 * Sambour district - a small and charming town along the Mekong river about 38 km from Kratie

title: Kratie


text:
Kratovo

Kratovo (Macedonian: Кратово) is a town of just under 7,000 residents in northeastern North Macedonia. It is on the western slopes of Mount Osogovo inside the crater of an extinguished volcano. In addition to its scenic location, it is best known for its medieval bridges and towers.

Understand
By Macedonian standards, Kratovo is not a major destination for tourists. By European standards, Kratovo is as far off the beaten path as you can get. But rest assured, if you venture out to this corner of the Balkans, you will find more history and character packed into Kratovo than other towns many times its size.

History
Some archaeological excavations suggest the Kratovo area was settled in Roman times or earlier, but it did not achieve great importance until it fell under the Kingdom of Serbia in the late 13th century when gold, copper, lead, silver, and iron were mined in and around Kratovo. Coins were also minted in the town during Serbian rule.

In 1390, Kratovo was taken over by the Ottomans. It would remain within the Ottoman Empire for the following five centuries. By the 16th century, it was among the most important mining centers of the Ottoman Europe. It was home to many wealthy and educated men. The mint of Kratovo, opened in the end of the 15th century, became the second-largest producer of coins in the empire. Some of these coins are on display at the Museum of Archaeology in Skopje.

The mint of Kratovo ceased operations around 1660. Seven mines, however, were still active in the town and its vicinity until the Hapsburg forces, after temporarily taking the town, retreated and burned it down. Mining activity in the region then shifted to Probištip and Zletovo. It only recovered within Kratovo around the early 1800s, though on a smaller scale. Its population was around 5,000 to 6,000. After the mines finally shut down for good in 1882, the population fell to 4,500, half of which were Turks. After Kratovo was taken by the Serbian army in 1912, much of the Turkish population left, leaving the town with under 2,000 inhabitants.

Now part of North Macedonia, Kratovo has about 6,900 residents and is the seat of the municipality of the same name which includes 30 surrounding villages. Virtually all of the residents of the municipality are ethnic Macedonians and Macedonian Orthodox Christians.

By taxi
A taxi from Kumanovo should cost no more than 1,500 denars, while a ride from Skopje shouldn't cost much more than. Make sure to agree on the price before getting into the cab.

Get around
Everything in the town of Kratovo is walkable and it happens to be the best way to see the town. Be prepared for some uphill and downhill walking on Kratovo's interesting terrain. If driving, parking can be a bit of a struggle in Kratovo's narrow streets.

Bridges
Bridges have connected the town across the Kratovo River and its tributaries for centuries. Five of the medieval stone bridges remain.

Towers
Kratovo once had 12 towers, five on the right side of the river and seven on the left. Today, six remain including Hadži Kostov Tower and the five below. Of these, the Clock Tower is the easiest to access as it houses exhibits of the Kratovo City Museum.

Neighboring villages
Kratovo Municipality contains several historic villages. Important sites within Kratovo Municipality:

Go next

 * Probištip is just south of Kratovo, home to Lesnovo Monastery in a neighboring village
 * Kumanovo is North Macedonia's third-largest city, home to some important churches in its surroundings as well as the prehistoric megalithic observatory Kokino.
 * Kriva Palanka is a small town in the country's northeast corner, near the Bulgarian border.

title: Kratovo