text:
Kozhikode

Kozhikode (Malayalam: കോഴിക്കോട്), commonly known as Calicut, is the second largest city in Kerala.

Understand
Kozhikode was the capital of Zamorin kings until the British made it part of the Madras province. Also called called Calicut, the city was a major port on the Maritime Silk Road, frequented by traders from Arabia, Persia and later Europe. The English word calico, a cotton textile, originated from this city's old name.

Kozhikode used to be a romantic location with the charm of centuries-old streets and the smell of local sweets in the air. Today, Kozhikode is a developed city with high tech malls and modern cafe's. The city is a center of commerce and trade.

Kozhikode has many important educational institutions including Calicut Medical College, Government Engineering College Kozhikode, Indian Institute of Management, National Institute of Technology and Nielt.

Kozhikode has a rich tradition in the folk arts. Thirayattam is one of the most outstanding ethnic performing art of Kozhikode district. This ritualistic annual celebration enacted in courtyards of sacred groves and village shrine of Kozhikode and Malappuram district. Thirayattam annual festival in between January to April.

By plane
The nearest airports is Kozhikode/Karipur International Airport, 27 km and Kannur , 93 km, both international airports.

By train
Direct trains are available from Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore and Thiruvananthapuram. For railway enquiries, you can find timetables, prices and other details at Indian Railways

By bus
Buses are available from all South Indian cities.

By road
Driving is tiresome as the roads are busy and traffic blocks are very frequent. Do not miss the aliut beach road with its natural surroundings. Bangalore road is closed during night time.

By bus
Buses charge ₹8.00 for 5 km.
 * City buses are green-coloured here and they are very punctual and cheap. All the city buses originate and terminate in the Mananchira Pond area. Buses going to Pavangad, Elathur, Nadakkavu areas originate from the Head Post Office side of Mananchira. Buses going to Medical College and Mavoor Road stop at the Income Tax side of Mananchira.  Buses going to Feroke, Kallayi and Beypore stop at the Girls School side of Mananchira.
 * Buses are very infrequent to the beach area. You have to walk the 2-km distance or take an auto-rickshaw.
 * Private buses originate from the New Bus Stand on Mavoor Road (1 km). Private buses to nearby villages originate from the old Bus Stand at Palayam (1 km).
 * Government buses originate from the New KSRTC Bus Station on Mavoor road. This modern bus station has traveller amenities. Parking is provided for 270 cars. They have slow-moving, low-floor, air-conditioned buses to nearby towns.  You can make use of these buses for travelling inside the city.

Bus numbers
Bus numbers for green city buses:

 * Bhat Road Beach. 110B
 * Chaliyam Seawalk. 215
 * Cheruvantta River.121
 * Kadalundy Jetty. 210K
 * Kalipoika Boating. 113
 * Kappad Beach. 9
 * Karad River. 223
 * Karuvan Thuruthy River. 213
 * Kozhikode City. K.0
 * Malikadavu River. 12
 * Mampuzha Bridge. 231P
 * Manakkadavu River. 246
 * Mananchira Squire. K1
 * Mukkathu Jetty. 211K
 * Odumbra Jetty. 242
 * Payyanakkal Beach. 239
 * Puthiyappa Beach. 105
 * Thamarassery Hill. 8

By auto rickshaw
The usual charge is ₹30 for every km.

By taxi
Because the weather is hot throughout the year and the humidity quite high, an air conditioned vehicle is one thing you cannot economize here. Uber and ola like call taxis are also available.

By car
There are many rental companies offering cars with drivers or self-drive. Traffic blocks exceeding one hour are common. Keep away from Kallayi Road and Wayanad Road as traffic is heavy and dead-slow.

By foot
Walking is near impossible as traffic is erratic and heavy. The noise created by endless motorcyclists is unbearably prominent even in interior roads. The long beach road from Beypore to Elathur (16 km) is the only peaceful area to walk.

See

 * CVN Kalari, a traditional Kalarippayattu institution for martial arts and marma chikitsa practiced and performed since 1945, Nadakkavu, Kozhikode.
 * CVN Kalari, a traditional Kalarippayattu institution for martial arts and marma chikitsa practiced and performed since 1945, Nadakkavu, Kozhikode.

Temples

 * Nochipra Shree Bhagavathy Kshetram (Temple), on People's Road, Near Indian Express Newspaper, West Hill, with almost 950-year-old Bhuvaneshwari Devi family temple.
 * Nochipra Shree Bhagavathy Kshetram (Temple), on People's Road, Near Indian Express Newspaper, West Hill, with almost 950-year-old Bhuvaneshwari Devi family temple.
 * Nochipra Shree Bhagavathy Kshetram (Temple), on People's Road, Near Indian Express Newspaper, West Hill, with almost 950-year-old Bhuvaneshwari Devi family temple.
 * Nochipra Shree Bhagavathy Kshetram (Temple), on People's Road, Near Indian Express Newspaper, West Hill, with almost 950-year-old Bhuvaneshwari Devi family temple.
 * Nochipra Shree Bhagavathy Kshetram (Temple), on People's Road, Near Indian Express Newspaper, West Hill, with almost 950-year-old Bhuvaneshwari Devi family temple.
 * Nochipra Shree Bhagavathy Kshetram (Temple), on People's Road, Near Indian Express Newspaper, West Hill, with almost 950-year-old Bhuvaneshwari Devi family temple.

Do

Buy

Budget

Splurge

 * Mezben Restaurant, ₹800 per head average
 * Mezben Restaurant, ₹800 per head average

Budget

 * Amrutha, Mavoor Road, near New Bus Stand. No Parking facility

Mid-range

 * Hotel Sasthapuri, M.M. Ali Road, near Palayam Bus Stand. Sasthapuri has a roof garden which opens from 5PM and is the only decent place (other than Sea Queen) that allows you to smoke while seated.
 * Sea Queen, Beach Road. Has a separate smoking area and is the one of the only decent places that lets you smoke while seated.

Night life
Nightlife is now visible in the Thondayad area and the city area. There are pubs attached to hotels like westway hotel Gateway and Raviz. There are many malls and shopping centers which are open to late night. Also there are many lounges and bars which also provide service to late night.

Sleep
Traffic snarls make day time travel very difficult in most parts of the Kozhikode city. It is advisable to take a room in a hotel near the beach where there are no traffic issues. The 18 km road between Beypore and Pavangad lies entirely on the beach and has very light traffic.

Go next
Long-distance buses originate from the KSRTC bus station on Mavoor road and it is better if you to reserve a ticket six hours before travel. Trains are available to all Indian cities if you can make an advanced reservation at least three days before travel. There is a Silverline bus from Kozhikode to Kottayam at 8:15PM. It stops only twice before the destination and reservations can be made online.

Tourist destinations

 * Kannur — beach city, fort, Theyyam dance, 92 km.
 * Malampuzha dam and gardens, 134 km.
 * Meppadi hills, tea estates, trekking possibilities and fine resorts. 79 km.
 * Mysore city. lots of palaces and lots of gardens. 177 km.
 * Ooty, major hill stations with many fine hotels, 157 km.

Nearby places

 * Beypore, sea walk, port and jankar ride, 13 km.
 * Feroke, Kadalundy bird sanctuary and Chaliyam fishing village, 13 km.
 * Kondotty, Arimbra Hills and old mosques, 28 km.
 * Kunnamangalam Mountains, Waterfalls and a Hanging bridge, 15 km.
 * Thamarassery, plantations, valley views and Tusharagiri waterfall, 30 km.
 * Vatakara Museums, Kuttiady dam and Peruvannamuzhi Gardens, 50 km.

title: Kozhikode


text:
Kozushima

Kōzushima (神津島) is a volcanic island in Tokyo prefecture, about 170 km south of Tokyo city in the Philippine Sea. It is one of the Izu Seven Islands group of the seven northern islands of the Izu archipelago. Kōzushima is also within the boundaries of the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.

Understand
The island is administered by Tōkyō and is about 30 km (19 mi) northwest of the Miyake-jima and 14 km (8.7 mi) southwest of the Nii-jima. Kōzushima is administratively part of Kōzushima Village under Ōshima Subprefecture of Tokyo Metropolis. As of 2017, the island's population was 1,952.

The island was recognized as a Dark Sky Island by Dark Sky (formerly International Dark Sky Association) in 2020.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

Get in
Tokaikisen operates a daily overnight ferry from Tokyo's Takeshiba pier, near the Daimon metro station. Leaving Tokyo at 22:00, and arriving 10:00 - prices vary seasonally but expect to pay around ¥6500 for a reclining seat.Ferry service is also available from Shimoda.

Eat
In low season, all the restaurants on the island might be closed. Bring your own food or have the ability to cook your own food if you are staying at a campsite. There are also a few shops in town where you can buy groceries.

Drink
Kozushima Shōchū

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

title: Kozushima


text:
Kpetoe

Kpetoe (pronounced Pay tway) is a town in the Volta Basin region of Ghana. Kpetoe is 25 km east of Ho, on the Ghanaian border with Togo.

Understand
Kpetoe is the capital of the newly created Adaklu Anyigbe District, It is a town with a beat. The town is built around kente, the clicks and clatter of the weaver as he draws the fly shuttle and opens the shed of his loom are this beat. Kpetoe is renowned throughout Ghana for the quality of its weaving.

Kente is the hand woven cloth that is the best known and most widely recognized African textile. It has been declared a world heritage treasure by UNESCO. If you haven’t seen and heard it being made you would still think it’s amazing but once you witness a weaver in action you will want to own some of your own. Bold designs, bright multicoloured patterns, a touch of geometry, and the insinuation of royalty make kente the icon of African cultural heritage around the world. While connected to all of Africa, kente weaving is so uniquely Ghanaian and so historically and culturally ingrained into their society that learning how to weave is learning about Ghana and its people. Its ability to evoke powerful emotions and symbolize some of the most fundamental human ideals connects it to its owners on a personal level. With over 500 weaving designs and counting there is a piece of kente for everyone. The clicks and clatter of a weaver as he draws the fly shuttle and opens the shed at his loom are the beat this village lives by.

Traditionally kente is a revered form of ceremonial bodily attire and is considered a luxury. It’s used to “dress the gods.” Kente is sometimes even used to create a physical representation of the gods of certain shrines. It is heavily used in funerals, weddings, puberty rights, and birth rituals. Often times the paramount chief will wear just a kente cloth. It’s an indispensable element of royal regalia. The president of Ghana has their picture taken in a special cloth made just for them. This was started by the first president, Kwame Nkrumah, who used the cloth to emphasize African pride during the era of decolonization. Since then heads of state have regularly worn kente especially to momentous occasions such as swearing-in ceremonies.

Kpetoe, UNESCO, NCRC, and US Peace Corps are working on building a visitor center to welcome tourists.

Do
The traditional area celebrates the Agbamexoza (“kente”) Festival annually the last week in August to first week in September.

Buy
There are great shops and a kente weaving centre. The shops sell directly off the loom so the quality and price are the best you will find. The products that are tailored out of kente are great Ghanaian souvenirs. They include purses, bags, hats, ties, bow ties, bookmarks, and placemats. The best variety of goods can be found at the Desiadenyo Store, off the main road in village. The weaving centre houses many weavers and is a great place to start your visit. It is next to the District Assembly just past town when coming from Ho.

title: Kpetoe


text:
Krabi

There is more than one place called Krabi:

Thailand

 * Ao Nang — the prime beach resort of Krabi Province that is colloquially referred to as "Krabi"
 * Krabi Province — a province in Southern Thailand known for its beaches and islands
 * Krabi Town — a town in Southern Thailand

title: Krabi


text:
Krabi Province

Krabi Province (จังหวัดกระบี่) is a popular beach destination on the Andaman Sea in Southern Thailand.

Cities

 * — Krabi's most developed beach, a long beach fringed by palm trees
 * (Long Beach) — the last untouched beach in Krabi Province, and perhaps the most spectacular with its views of Jum Mountain and Ao Nang's cliff walls
 * — the administrative capital and a common entry point into the region by boat or plane
 * — one of Thailand's important rock climbing destinations, a craggy peninsula with several small beaches
 * — cheapest bungalows in the area, preferred by backpackers away from the hordes of tourists and an easy walk to Rai Leh

Other destinations

 * - some caves here well worth a visit.
 * - group of islands between Krabi and Ko Yao, with the main island being popular for kayaking due to its picturesque lagoon
 * — peace & quiet for those looking for solitude
 * — sleepy island, the new escape for those who find Ao Nang/Rai Leh too touristy
 * — part of Krabi Province, but easier to reach from Trang
 * — Thailand's largest marine national park where The Beach was filmed
 * - known by tourists as "4 islands", it is an archipelago nearby Ao Nang and Rai Leh
 * — an eco-tourism place near the island of Ko Lanta
 * — rural Thailand with a difference

Understand

Krabi, a coastal province, abounds with countless natural attractions that never fail to impress tourists. Such attractions include white sandy beaches, crystal clear water, fascinating coral reefs, caves and waterfalls, as well as numerous islands.

The distinguishing feature of both Krabi and neighboring Phang Nga is the massive limestone karsts, rising vertiginously out of the flat rice paddies on land and as islands from the sea. Add in some gorgeous beaches, excellent scuba diving, and rock climbing, and it's little wonder that tourism in the area has been booming.

While less commercialized than neighboring Phuket, Krabi Province cannot be described as undiscovered: it receives two million visitors a year, and the major tourist areas cater to foreigners. The upside of Krabi, when compared to Phuket, is that many of the most beautiful beaches can only be accessed by boat, such that their coastal villages are far less urbanised and more laid back, a relief for those who do not want to see McDonald's or Starbucks and open air prostitution. The downside is the massive traffic of boats to these beaches, especially in high season, affecting the environment and the tranquility, to the point that it sometimes may be hard to find a spot in the beach to swim.

History
From archaeological discoveries, it is believed that Krabi was one of the oldest communities in Thailand dating back to the prehistoric period. It is believed that this town may have taken its name after the meaning of Krabi, which means "sword". This may have stemmed from a legend that an ancient sword was unearthed prior to the city’s founding.

Krabi Province was badly hit by the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004. Signs of the damage are now hard to find.

Climate
The best time to visit Krabi is between the months Nov-Apr when the area's climate is cooler. During this period the island gets a lot of dry northeasterly winds, delivering blue skies and starry nights. Down on the beaches one can enjoy nice sea breezes. From Jun-Nov the area gets a lot of rainfall, more on average than the rest of the country. During this period the island gets a lot of moist southwesterly winds, resulting in a mix of dry and wet days. The sea stays at a warm 29°C all year round. Off-setting the less favourable weather, visitors during this period will find it cheaper.

Geography
Bordering the Andaman Sea, Krabi is 814 km south of Bangkok and covers an area of 4,708 km². Its mountainous physical geography is broken by highlands and plains, covering more than 130 large and small islands, and abounding with mangrove forests. The Krabi River flows 5 km through the town and into the Andaman Sea at Tambon Pak Nam. There are also klongs (canals) such as Klong Pakasai, Klong Krabi Yai, and Klong Krabi Noi, which all originate from Krabi's highest mountain, Mount Phanom Bencha.

 * North:	borders Phang Nga and Surat Thani
 * South:	borders Trang and the Andaman Sea
 * East:	borders Nakhon Si Thammarat
 * West:	borders Phang Nga and the Andaman Sea

Talk
You can get around on English alone in the more visited areas, although a few words of Thai will come in handy off the beaten track and will be much appreciated everywhere. Dive shops are polyglot, speaking a number of other European languages.

Get in
The most popular way to enter this province is via its capital, Krabi Town.

By plane

Krabi International Airport is about 10 km from the city limits, 15 km from the city centre, 40 km from Ao Nang, and 23 km from Had Yao. Thai Airways operates daily direct flights to/from Bangkok, as does Air Asia from Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. Bangkok Airway flies to Ko Samui nearly every day of the week. Destination Air Shuttle, Thailand's only seaplane service, also routinely flies in and out of Krabi (Ko Lanta) from Phuket and to the numerous outer islands.

By car
Krabi is on Hwy 4. Shared songthaews from Ao Nang to Krabi are frequent and cost 60 baht. Originating in Bangkok, Hwy 4 links many of the province's districts. Other main routes include:

 * Hwy 4035 to Plai Phraya District (Krabi) and Phra Saeng district (Surat Thani)
 * Hwy 4034 links Ao Nang and Nopparat Beaches
 * Hwy 4037 to Khao Phanom District (towards Surat Thani)
 * Hwy 4038 links Klong Thom and Lam Thap Districts
 * Hwy 4206 links Klong Thom to Ko Lanta

From Bangkok:
 * Proceed along Hwy 4, passing Phetchaburi–Prachuap Khiri Khan–Chumphon–Ranong–Phang Nga to Krabi. The distance is 946 km.
 * Travel along Hwy 4 to Hwy 41 at Chumphon via Lang Suan and Chaiya, Surat Thani. Proceed towards Wiang Sa, change to Hwy 4035 for Baan Ao Luek, and switch back to Hwy 4 again to Krabi. This route is 814 km.

From Phuket: Proceed along Hwy 402 and 4. The distance is 176 km.

By bus
Krabi Province's bus terminal is in Krabi town.

There are regular direct bus services between Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal and Krabi (~500 baht), but probably the best option is to take a VIP bus, which for 250 baht more makes the 10 hour ride much more comfortable.

Buses from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal (Tel. ) to Krabi take about 12 hours and depart as follows:
 * VIP bus - 07:20 - 1,055 baht
 * First class bus - 19:00 - 680 baht
 * Second class bus - 07:30, 19:00, 19:30, 21:00 - 378 baht

By train
The nearest train stations are in Surat Thani and in Trang.

 * Surat Thani - 3-4 hours away from Krabi by bus.
 * Trang - 2-2.5 hours away from Krabi by bus.

Songthaew
Various tourist attractions can be conveniently reached by local songthaew. Destinations include Ban Huai To, Ban Nong Thale, Ban Khao Thong, Hat Noppharat Thara, Susan Hoi, Ao Nang, Ban Khlong Muang, Ban Nai Sa, Khao Phanom, Nuea Khlong, Khlong Thom, Ban Bo Muang, Ban Hua Hin, Ban Khlong Phon, Lam Thap, Baan Ao Luek, and Plai Phraya. Songthaews depart from the Vogue Department Store on Maha Rat Rd. Trips to other destinations can be made by taxi and rental car.

By boat
Krabi is mostly coast and islands, so you'll be spending quite some time on boats when getting around. The most common boat type for shorter hops is the longtail boat (reua hang yao), which true to its name has the propeller at the end of a long drive shaft stretching from the boat. This makes them supremely manoeuvrable even in shallow waters, but they're a little underpowered for longer trips and you'll get wet if it's even a little choppy.

See

 * Mu Ko Phi Phi (หมู่เกาะพีพี) Forty-two kilometres from the provincial town of Krabi, Mu Ko Phi Phi (Phi Phi Islands) are an archipelago, formerly called Pulao Piah Pi. The surrounding sea is home to a variety of underwater anemones, coral reefs, and marine life. The area is a popular destination for snorkelling. Attractions of Mu Ko Phi Phi:
 * Mu Ko Phi Phi (หมู่เกาะพีพี) Forty-two kilometres from the provincial town of Krabi, Mu Ko Phi Phi (Phi Phi Islands) are an archipelago, formerly called Pulao Piah Pi. The surrounding sea is home to a variety of underwater anemones, coral reefs, and marine life. The area is a popular destination for snorkelling. Attractions of Mu Ko Phi Phi:

 * Ko Phi Phi Don (เกาะพีพีดอน) Covers an area of 28 square km. Popular attractions are the twin bays with curving beaches of Ao Ton Sai and Ao Lo Da Lam.

 * Ko Phi Phi Lee (เกาะพีพีเล) Occupying an area of only 6.6 square kilometres, Phi Phi Lee Island is surrounded by limestone mountains and sheer cliffs plunging hundreds of metres to the sea. The sea is 20 meters deep and the deepest point in the south of the island is around 34 meters. Ko Phi Phi Lee has bays such as Ao Pi Le, Ao Maya, and Ao Lo Sa Ma. In the northeast is a large cave called Tham Viking.
 * Ao Nang (อ่าวนาง) Ao Nang Beach is Krabi's most developed beach. Fringed by palms, the long beach is backed by a wide range of accommodation including resorts, bungalows, and guesthouses. A large selection of bars, restaurants, and Western fast food chains can also be found here.
 * Hat Rai Leh (Rai Leh Beach East/West) Hat Rai Leh is bounded on two sides by limestone cliffs, thus isolating it from the mainland. It is only accessible by boat. Rai Leh West has a white sand beach and is the longest of the beaches in this area. Rai Leh East is popular backpacker hang-out and offers cheaper accommodation than the west side. Rai Leh East's beach has extensive stands of mangroves, making it less suitable for beach activities.
 * Pra Nang Beach (Princess Cave Beach) Adjacent to Rai Leh, has a good beach and is the site of a luxury resort.
 * Hat Ton Sai (Ton Sai Beach) Neighbouring Rai Leh West, popular with backpackers and climbers.
 * Khao Pra–Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary (เขตรักษาพันธุ์สัตว์ป่าเขาประ–บางคราม) At Tambon Khlong Thom Nuea. Composed of lowland forest, this area features the Emerald Pool or Sa Morakot, which are three hot springs with a temperature of 30–50 degrees Celsius. The forest is home to varied flora and rare birds like Gurney's pitta, rufous-collared kingfisher, and black hornbill. There is a 2.7 km nature trail known as the Tina Jollife (Thung Tiao) Trail, named after an English conservationist.
 * Pa Phru Tha Pom Khlong Song Nam Pa Phru or peat swamp forest of the canal of Tha Pom features a number of water sources, which originate from the Chong Phra Kaeo pool. Tha Pom is called "khlong song nam" by locals, which in Thai literally means "two water canal". Here, clear freshwater, in which the pool's floor and the roots of Lumphi the palm (Eleiodoxa conferta) are visible, meets seawater from the mangrove forest.
 * Khao Pra–Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary (เขตรักษาพันธุ์สัตว์ป่าเขาประ–บางคราม) At Tambon Khlong Thom Nuea. Composed of lowland forest, this area features the Emerald Pool or Sa Morakot, which are three hot springs with a temperature of 30–50 degrees Celsius. The forest is home to varied flora and rare birds like Gurney's pitta, rufous-collared kingfisher, and black hornbill. There is a 2.7 km nature trail known as the Tina Jollife (Thung Tiao) Trail, named after an English conservationist.
 * Pa Phru Tha Pom Khlong Song Nam Pa Phru or peat swamp forest of the canal of Tha Pom features a number of water sources, which originate from the Chong Phra Kaeo pool. Tha Pom is called "khlong song nam" by locals, which in Thai literally means "two water canal". Here, clear freshwater, in which the pool's floor and the roots of Lumphi the palm (Eleiodoxa conferta) are visible, meets seawater from the mangrove forest.
 * Pa Phru Tha Pom Khlong Song Nam Pa Phru or peat swamp forest of the canal of Tha Pom features a number of water sources, which originate from the Chong Phra Kaeo pool. Tha Pom is called "khlong song nam" by locals, which in Thai literally means "two water canal". Here, clear freshwater, in which the pool's floor and the roots of Lumphi the palm (Eleiodoxa conferta) are visible, meets seawater from the mangrove forest.
 * Pa Phru Tha Pom Khlong Song Nam Pa Phru or peat swamp forest of the canal of Tha Pom features a number of water sources, which originate from the Chong Phra Kaeo pool. Tha Pom is called "khlong song nam" by locals, which in Thai literally means "two water canal". Here, clear freshwater, in which the pool's floor and the roots of Lumphi the palm (Eleiodoxa conferta) are visible, meets seawater from the mangrove forest.

Folk entertainment
Like Pa (ลิเกป่า) An adapted play, Like Pa follows the adventures of an Indian merchant from Calcutta who married a local girl named Yayi. The story is then followed by other plays. Like Pa is accompanied by the music of folk instruments such as various kinds of drums, cymbals, and gongs. The lyrics are a mixture of traditional Manora and Buranyawa songs. With its long history of popularity in Krabi, Like Pa performers are abundant here. It is believed that the play originated in this province.

Shadow Plays (หนังตะลุง) This is Indian influenced. There are many shadow play or nang talung companies in Krabi.

Manora (มโนราห์) The performance is native to southern Thailand.

Rong Ngeng (รองเง็ง) and Phleng Tanyong (เพลงตันหยง) A Malaysian adaptation, which is of Portuguese origin, rong ngeng is a traditional folk dance and music customarily performed in noble houses. It was later performed by locals with Thai lyrics called phleng tanyong.

Do

 * Krabi Boek Fa Andaman Festival (งานกระบี่เบิกฟ้าอันดามัน) This is annually held in November to inaugurate the province's tourist season. Water sport competitions and cultural shows are on the agenda.
 * Laanta Lanta Festival (เทศกาลลานตา ลันตา) The festival is usually held in March every year in Lanta Old Town, which has a 100-year history. Ancient Chinese-style houses can be seen here. In this festival, tourists can see the traditional culture, previously unseen ceremonial demonstrations, local performances, folk games, water sports competitions, and taste foods provided by prestigious hotels on the island.
 * Sat Duean Sip Festival or Festival of the Tenth Lunar Month (งานประเพณีสารทเดือนสิบ) 	This is the traditional southern merit-making occasion to honour one's ancestors. Food such as khanom la, khanom chohu, khanom phong, khanom ba, and khanom kong or khai pla, are offered up to Buddhist monks.
 * Chak Phra Festival (งานประเพณีชักพระ) Traditionally, a waterborne procession, where Buddha images are put on elaborately decorated pulpits on boats pulled along the river. This has been replaced by a land procession. The festival used to be accompanied by a performance of traditional boat songs, but the traditional waterborne songs have disappeared.
 * Loi Ruea Chao Le Festival (ประเพณีลอยเรือชาวเล) This old ritualistic tradition takes place on Ko Lanta during the full moon of the sixth and eleventh month in the lunar calendar. This is a religious rite performed by the sea gypsies of Ko Lanta and neighbouring areas, who gather on the beach near Sala Dan Village. They dance their famous "rong ngeng" round the boats of misfortune to be set adrift. Ceremonies feature singing and dancing. This festival is expected to bring prosperity and happiness to the participants.

Buy
See city articles for listings.

Eat
Much of the cuisine has its origins in Malay, Indonesian, and Indian food. Favourite dishes from the south include Indian-style Muslim curry (massaman), rice noodles in fish curry sauce (khanom chin), and khao mok kai (chicken biryani). Unsurprisingly for a coastal region, seafood features prominently on the menu. Traditional southern Thai food includes milder coconut-milk based curries popularly associated with Thailand: the dry, Malaysian-influenced Panang curry and Indian-influenced massaman (Muslim) curry with potatoes and nuts.

The wing shell (หอยชักตีน) is Krabi's best-known dish. In addition, stir-fried spotted Babylon (หอยหวาน) with chilies and basil is also noteworthy.

Drink
See city articles for listings.

Sleep
See city articles for lodgings.

Connect
Krabi's more well-developed tourist centres offer Internet cafes and international calling cards. Free Wi-Fi is increasingly available in bars and restaurants and you can use any of the available application for finding shared WiFis like Instabridge.

Go next

 * Ko Samui - the paradise islands on the gulf coast, about 6 hours away by bus + ferry
 * Phang Nga - yet more beaches and strange limestone formations
 * Phuket - the original southern Thai beach resort island, two hours away
 * Surat Thani - mainland port serving tourist islands, wet forests, and Srivijaya Empire. 3 hours by bus.

title: Krabi Province


text:
Krabi Town

Krabi (กระบี่), the capital of Krabi Province, sits a little upstream from the mouth of the Krabi River and is mainly visited en route to the nearby beaches of Had Yao, Ao Nang or Rai Leh (aka Railay). Krabi is 784 km south of Bangkok by road.

Understand
Krabi Town is, in reality, two towns. There is the dusty strip-mall of a town that borders Rte 4. And then there is the quite congenial and pleasant town of Krabi proper. The town's 53,000 inhabitants (2010) see few of the droves of tourists that pass through on their way to the beaches. This is unfortunate, as those who stay find it a relaxed place that is worth exploring for a day or two, where they experience "the real Thailand", more so than in beach resorts.

Get in
Given its importance as a tourist hub, there are many direct connections by air, road and sea, but the nearest railway station arriving from the north is at Surat Thani, while arriving from the south it's Thung Song Junction.

By plane

Air conditioned buses link the airport with the town, and also with Ao Nang and Noppharat Thara beaches. Buses meet all arriving flights and will drop you off in front of the Krabi Provincial Court. The schedule to the airport is listed on the Ao Nang page.

Songthaews run from the town to the airport. Going to the airport, they will drop you at the departure terminal. From the airport, you will have to walk about 400 m and catch them on the main road to Krabi.

Motorcycle taxis are available outside the terminal.

National Car Rental has a branch at the airport.

Domestic flights

 * Bangkok has many daily flights via Air Asia, Bangkok Airways, and Thai Airways.
 * Ko Samui has one daily flight in each direction via Bangkok Airways.

International flights
Krabi has daily flights to the major regional hub of Kuala Lumpur via Air Asia. In summer there is a smattering of charter flights to cities across Scandinavia and Russia.

By train
Krabi does not have a railway station. Surat Thani has a station and you can transfer onto buses to Krabi from there. From Thung Song Junction railway station, hourly Minivans are available.

By bus

There are several daily daytime and overnight buses from Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal (, 12 hours).

For a bus from Krabi to Bangkok there is a choice of either a private bus company or BKS, the government-supervised bus company. Entering the Krabi Bus Station's front entrance, the BKS ticket vendor is to your left. The private company ticket sellers are to your right. You will have your choice of Bangkok destinations: the Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit) or the Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai). Mo Chit is the better choice if you are heading north immediately, say to Chiang Mai, as buses to the north leave from Mo Chit. Mo Chit is also marginally closer to downtown if you are staying in Bangkok.

Surat Thani—a major east-coast bus, rail, and ferry hub—is about 3-3½ hr away. Pantip Bus Company runs ten buses per day to Surat Thani from Krabi, the first at 04:30, then one just about every hour until the last at 16:00. Fare is 150 baht (2016). These buses stop frequently to let people on and off. A faster option might is a minivan. You will see a row of white minivans parked at the bus terminal. These travel to Surat Thani and other destinations regularly. Fare is 180 baht (July 2016). The journey will take 2-2½ hr. Beware of a little scam that the minivans like to play with their taxi driving pals: when in-bound, the minivans frequently stop at a tiny restaurant about 75 m from the bus station proper. Here you will be besieged by taxi drivers offering to take you to Ao Nang (where 90% of in-bound Krabi passengers want to go) for 400 baht. If you walk to the bus station (look for the big buses) you can catch a songthaew to Ao Nang for 60 baht (songthaew service stops at night).

Phuket airport has several buses direct to Krabi airport. There are also hourly mini-buses that make the two hour run (more likely to be 3 hours) from Phuket's bus station to Krabi town.

Thung Song bus station is 200 m from the railway station. Minivans leaving on the hour between 07:00 and 17:00 each hour (140 baht - February 2019). Travel time is about 2 hours.

Hat Yai is just over four hours away by minibus. Generally, they stop where you want.

Ao Nang is well-served by white songthaews that run from the bus station and the 7-Eleven on Maharaj Rd in Krabi Town via Klong Jilard, Sai Tai, Ao Nang Junction Village, and Noppharat Thara Beach. (60 baht until 18:00, 80 baht 18:00–22:00). They run every ten minutes during the day and every 30 minutes from 18:00-22:00.

Georgetown (Malaysia) via minivan or minivan+bus, switch at Hat Yai, RM120-130, 05:00, 08:00 or 08:30, 12:0], duration 7-9 hr depending on border and bus switch (Jan 2024).

By car
Krabi is just off Hwy 4. It is 784 km south of Bangkok, 165 km by road to Phuket, and 80 km to Phang Nga.

By boat
Several daily ferries connect Krabi with Ko Phi Phi, Ko Jum and Ko Lanta, though most depart in the morning. Tickets can be purchased at the dock or from tourist offices and most local guesthouses and hotels. The normal passenger ferry does not start from the centre of town anymore, but from a new passenger port about 3 km outside Krabi. Free taxi transfer to the pier should be included in the price of your ticket. If your boat starts from the old piers in the centre of town (Chao Fah Pier or Phi Phi Pier), you are most likely on a more expensive and longer tourist boat ride. Also, make sure that when you arrive at the airport the taxi driver takes you to the correct pier. Many times they'll take you to a travel agent near the old pier and sell you additional accommodations or services. Only buy the ticket you need. Prices often get cheaper the closer you get to your next destination.

Ferry tickets to Ko Phi Phi can be purchased at PP Family beside the pier in town. The fare includes the songthaew to the pier outside town.

The large displayed time-tables in the many travel agencies are just for show and the times are not to be taken literally. Ask. As of July 2007, there were two ferries a day from Krabi to Ko Phi Phi at 09:00 and 14:30. They add additional ferries during high-season.

The pier at Klong Jilad, for ferries to and from Ko Phi Phi has a taxi desk with posted prices.

Get around
You can use either the songthaew or a taxi. From the bus station to town center a taxi will cost 100 baht as it is about a 4 km trip. To the Tiger Temple from town, pay 200 baht for a taxi.

With a songthaew, opposite and a couple of hundred metres up from the pier, opposite the police station, is a songthaew stop at Maharaj Soi 7. Blue ones go to Tesco Lotus and other out of town places: this is on the way to the airport and Tiger Temple. Brown ones go to the bus station and charge 30 baht. Blue with white/yellow/red stripe go to the airport.

To get to and from Ao Nang, in the centre of Krabi town on Maharaj Rd (main road) near the traffic lights where male statues hold them up is the Vogue Department Store. A white songthaew goes from here to Ao Nang and costs 60 baht. It will come into Ao Nang along Ao Nang Rd. These white ones also start from the bus terminal. Fare from Ao Nang is 60 baht before 18:00 (Feb 2016). With the songthaew, push the button to stop where you want to get off, then pay the driver.

Renting a motorbike is the cheapest way to explore sites outside of Krabi town. A reliable bike for 24 hours costs 150-200 baht.

See

Do

 * Snorkelling, kayaking tours. Examples one-day tour: 4 islands, Hong island, Phi Phi islands for 1000-300 bhats depending if long-tail or speed boat. Include usually hotel transfer, snorkel mask, life jacket, lunch, frsh fruit, drinking water, basic insurance, and guide, sometimes dry bag.
 * Mangrove tour, half-day. 1500-2500 bhats.
 * Mangrove tour, half-day. 1500-2500 bhats.

Buy
Krabi Town is far cheaper than Ao Nang. This is reflected in the price of food and drinks especially. There are two night markets in Krabi Town that are worth a look, and on weekends there is the Walking Street market from 17:00-22:00.

Eat

At night there is a charming night market close to the promenade next to the piers. Food is good and cheap, with Muslim influences. From time to time the town organizes shows on a small stage next to the market.

An even better market can be found on Maharaj Soi 10 in the centre of town. This market has plenty of fresh fruit and lots of authentic cooked food. Only a few places have menus, otherwise point and enjoy. This market does not sell alcohol. There is also the new Walking Street night market, between Vogue Department store and Vieng Thong Hotel, F-Su 17:00-22:00 which sells food and general items such as clothes and handicrafts, and there is a largish seating area.

Not to be missed is the covered morning market (the biggest in south Thailand) on Maharaj Soi 9 (behind the Shell station). For early birds only. After 08:00 all the action is subsiding. Exactly at that time you can watch a show of national pride: the national anthem is played and almost everyone comes to a standstill for the duration. The best place to get all kinds of fresh fruit and vegetable, khao niao (sticky rice), Patong Khoo, cha rohn (sweetened Thai tea), or fresh hot soy milk. The section of fresh fish and meat sellers is for hardened stomachs only.

During low season very few restaurants open at all. The floating restaurant (RuenPae) is open as well as a couple near the tourist area towards the pier, but in the town very few at all. The floating restaurant does brilliant seafood at a reasonable price as well as providing mosquito coils to keep these pests away from your legs.

Drink
There are a number of bars and cafe bars in Krabi town centre that cater to tourists, expats and natives. A few of them will have live bands at the weekend belting out cover songs, though Rocky Bar has live music every night. Stick to the main areas and it is most unlikely you will have anything but a pleasant time.

Go next

 * Ao Nang
 * Baan Ao Leuk
 * Khao Lak
 * Khao Sok
 * Ko Jum
 * Ko Lanta
 * Ko Lipe
 * Ko Phi Phi
 * Ko Siboya
 * Rai Leh
 * Phuket
 * Nakhon si thammarat
 * Surat thani
 * Malaysia: Penang

title: Krabi Town


text:
Kragujevac

Kragujevac is a city in Serbia. With the population of 180 000, it is the fourth largest city in Serbia, the industrial center of the country, the main city of the Šumadija region and the administrative centre of Šumadija District. It is situated on the banks of the Lepenica River.

By plane
There is no commercial airport in Kragujevac. The closest ones are in Belgrade (150 km to the North) and Niš (150 km to the South).

By car
Located in the center of the country, Kragujevac has good connection to highway E-75, leading to Belgrade and Niš. Parking is not a problem in the city.

Walk
City center is quite compact and is best explorable on foot. All the major tourist attractions are within the walking distance, except for the memorial park Šumarice, which lies on the northern border of the city and is preferably reachable by either bus or taxi.

Taxi
Taxi service is extremely cheap, even in comparison to Belgrade. Expect not to pay more than €4, even for more distant destinations.

Public transit
Kragujevac owns an extensive and cheap bus network. Tickets can be purchased at driver.

See

Buy
Shopping areas are concentrated in the central streets Kralja Petra, Kralja Aleksandra and Lola Ribara and shopping malls.

Eat
If you are looking for some Serbian specialties, like pljeskavica, ćevapčići or Karadjordjeva šnicla, Kragujevac is with tones of restaurants and fast food bars great choice.

Restaurants
There are of course restaurants all over Kragujevac.

Drink
Kragujevac is a young  and cheap city where socialising and parties are always high on the agenda. You can find a lot of pubs and bars in the main street Kralja Aleksandra and center, especially in Lole Ribara street. Many of them are opened until late in the night. Unlike Belgrade, there is no curfew in Kragujevac and the drinks are way less expensive.

Cafes & Bars

 * Poslastičarnica Srce, Kneza Miloša 3, famous for ice-creams.
 * Peron, Kralja Petra I bb., popular cafe in the train wagon.
 * Caffe "Novak", dr Zorana Đinđića 13, coffeeshop owned by tennis star Novak Djoković.
 * Cocktail bar "Buena Vista",'Kralja Petra I 46, passage Bezistan, good selection of cocktails.

Clubs

 * Geto, Kralja Aleksandra I 45, famous night bar with no strict age groups. Opens at midnight, but gets packed usually at 3AM. Domestic and international pop & rock music.
 * Nemam Ve De, Kralja Aleksandra I 154, club with foreign rock music.
 * Twist, Cetinjska 14, popular place for live music and foreign pop & rock hits.
 * Tresor, Kralja Aleksandra I 73, pop music long in the night.
 * Akademija, Kralja Aleksandra I 134, a bit older crowd, selection of actual pop hits.
 * Rock star, Kralja Aleksandra I 75, nicely designed rock pub, live music and rock hits.
 * Casino, Kralja Aleksandra I 71, trendy place for younger generations, pop hits.
 * Gotham, Cara Lazara 18, alternative & indie pub.

Sleep
There are plenty of accommodation opportunities in Kragujevac and getting a hotel room is usually not a problem.

Stay safe
Kragujevac is generally a very safe city. It is one of the safest Serbian cities overall. Take the usual precautions and common sense (such as don't walk in parks alone at 03:00, don't leave your wallet, camera and mobile unattended) and you will most likely not encounter any crime at all. Do not get into conflict with locals after staying out late in the city, especially if they seem aggressive or drunk. Avoid sport fan groups of local team Radnički (djavoli or devils), they tend to be drunk and aggressive. Being a foreigner will not get you into any trouble, just do not show off, but try to make a local friendship instead.

Go next

 * Borač - village with beautiful landscape, one interesting destinations in Central Serbia.
 * Kraljevo - nice small nearby city which hosts Žiča Monastery.

title: Kragujevac


text:
Krakatoa

Krakatoa (Gunung Krakatau) is a volcanic island in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra in Indonesia. It is part of Lampung province in Sumatra.

History
The eruption of Mount Krakatoa in 1883 was one of the most violent volcanic events on record. A huge explosion (150 megatons of TNT) occurred as seawater hit hot magma and turned instantly to steam. The blast was heard over 4,000 km away in Australia and India. The Volcano Explosivity Index (VEI) of the eruption was 6 (colossal). See volcanoes for background.

The whole volcano was destroyed because of the massive explosion. Parts of the volcano fell into the sea and caused a giant tsunami (40 meters). The dust from the eruption reached the stratosphere and affected weather worldwide for several years. More than 35,000 people were killed by the tsunami and eruption. Only about a third of the pre-1883 island survived the blast.

From 1927 to 1930, there were several underwater eruptions on the site of the old Krakatoa volcano. On August 11, 1930, a new volcano and island appeared. This new volcano and island are called (Child of Krakatoa).

There was a combination of tsunami and high tides on December 22, 2018, with more than 400 people dead on both sides of the strait, Banten Province and Lampung Province and more than 150 people missing. The tsunami, which hit without prior detection, was caused by a landslide of 64 hectares from the slope of the volcano into the sea, due to heavy rains and tremors.

See volcanoes for more general information.

Landscape
The island of Anak Krakatau and the surrounding islands and seas are part of the national park of Ujung Kulon.

Get in
You can reach Anak Krakatoa Island using boats from Anyer beach or Carita Beach in West Java, or Lampung in Sumatra.

From Java
The easiest way to get in to Krakatoa is by chartering a boat from the west coast of Java (province of Banten). Tour operators can be found in most of the coastal towns, such as Anyer or Carita. The range of the tour fee will be around Rp750,000-3,000,0000, depending on the number of participants and the number of days. The price will include transport, food, accommodation in a tent, and a guide.

From Sumatra
A cheaper but more time-consuming way to get to Krakatau is through the island of Sumatra (Lampung province). Lampung can be reached from Java via the frequent ferry service from the port of Merak. From the port of Bakauheni in Lampung, a yellow-coloured angkot (public minivan) can take you to Kalianda for about Rp20,000, and from there to the small harbour of Canti by another angkot (about Rp10,000) or by ojek (motorcycle taxi, Rp20,000).

In Canti there is a small port where you can make a deal with a fisherman, either for a day trip to Krakatau, or for a one-way trip to one of the accommodations. One full-day boat rental will cost you about Rp1,500,000. Alternatively, there is a regular boat from Canti to island (daily departure 14:00, return trip at 07:30; one way Rp 20,000). Since 2019 there is also a small ferry boat free of cost to increase the number of visitors to Sebesi island to help the population after the tsunami 2018. It starts from Kalianda harbour (Dermaga Bom) on Wednesdays at 13:00, and turns back at 16:00. In Sebesi, you can also charter a fishing boat for a day, cheaper than in Canti, or simply observe Krakatoa from Gubuk Seng from 16 km distance. To get there have a walk on the main road going southwards (around 2 hr, passing three villages) or hire an Ojek (motocycle taxi) in the main village Tenjang. You may also stay overnight on Sebesi island. There are two homestays near the harbour or stay with a family (as for Pak Hayun).

Beware of strong current and large waves during August, September, October, and November.

Fees and permits
To enter the Krakatau area, tourists must obtain a permit from Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam (BKSDA).

See
Nearby forest-covered islands include Sebesi and. On the island of Sebesi, a small village houses a fishing community.

Lodging
Some people in Sebesi island also provide homestays for travellers. The price is negotiable. If you are adventurous enough, you can try this option.

Camping
Most of the tour operators in Labuan and Anyer have a camp during the night at Rakata island. You can view the eruption of Krakatoa at night from here.

Go next

 * Ujung Kulon National Park — the main part of the national park, on the mainland of Java and the island of Panaitan.
 * Cilegon — the nearest larger city, on the mainland of Java.

title: Krakatoa


text:
Kraków

Kraków (IPA: [ˈkrakuf]) is the chief city of Małopolskie Province in the south of Poland. At its core is a beautifully-preserved medieval town on the banks of the River Wisła or Vistula, and it's Poland's top tourist draw. The modern city, with a population of 780,000 (2021), stretches way beyond, including the communist-era "new town" of Nowa Huta.

Understand
In English the city's name used to be spelled "Cracow". But 21st-century visitors have discovered it via budget airlines and travel booking sites that always call it "Krakow" so the older spelling isn't used here. The diacritical mark over the "o" changes the pronunciation from "o" (IPA: [ ɔ]), to "u" (IPA: [ u]).

History
Kraków is one of the oldest cities in Poland, with evidence showing settlements there since 20,000 BC. Legend has it that it was built on the cave of a dragon whom the mythical King Krak had slain. However, the first official mention of the name was in 966 by a Jewish merchant from Spain, who described it as an important centre of trade in Slavonic Europe.

Through trade with the various rulers of Europe, it grew from a small settlement in 1000 AD to a large wealthy city, belonging to the Vistulans. However, through the 9th and 10th centuries, it fell under the influence of the Great Moravians, then the Bohemians, before being captured by the Piast Dynasty of Poland. In 1038, Kazimierz the Restorer made Kraków the capital of Poland.

In 1241, the city was almost entirely destroyed by Tatars. It was rebuilt to a design that remains largely unchanged to the present day. However, after more successful attacks by the Mongols in the late 13th century, Kazimierz the Great set about defending the city. Walls, fortifications, and the original Wawel Castle were added. The University was also established. King Kazimierz established the district of Kazimierz for Jews to live in free from persecution. This area remained mainly Jewish for centuries until the Nazi occupation.

The 16th century was Kraków's golden age. Under the influence of the joint Polish-Lithuanian Jagiellonian dynasty, Kraków became a centre of science and the arts. In 1569, Poland was officially united with Lithuania and as a result government activity started to move to Warsaw. King Zygmunt III officially moved the capital in 1609.

However, the 17th century was a return to troubled times for Kraków and Poland. After being invaded by Russians, Prussians, Austrians, Transylvanians, Swedes, and the French, it went through a phase of various forms of political control. These included being part of the Duchy of Warsaw, established by Napoleon, and becoming an "independent city". However, it mostly fell under the sphere of influence of the Austrian Habsburg Empire, in the province of Galicia.

In the First World War, Józef Piłsudski set out to liberate Poland and the Treaty of Versailles (1919) established an independent sovereign Polish state for the first time in more than 100 years. This lasted until the Second World War, when Germany and the USSR partitioned the country, with German forces entering Kraków in September 1939. Many academics were killed and historic relics and monuments were destroyed or looted. Concentration camps were established near Kraków, including Plaszow and Auschwitz; see Holocaust remembrance. After German withdrawal, the city escaped complete destruction and many buildings were saved.

In the Communist period, a large steel work factory was established in the suburb of Nowa Huta. This was seen as an attempt to lessen the influence of the anti-communist intelligentsia and religious communities in Kraków; see Cold War Europe. In 1978, UNESCO placed Kraków on the World Heritage Sites list. In the same year, the Archbishop of Kraków, Karol Wojtyła, was made Pope John Paul II.

The communist government collapsed in 1989 and Kraków has undergone another period of regeneration, with historic buildings being restored, but many of the dull post-war buildings still remain.

Climate
There are four definite seasons to Kraków - summer being hot and humid (average highs of 25°C) and winter always seeing Kraków under a blanket of snow with bitingly cold days (average lows of -3/-4°C). Due to little wind, Kraków suffers from high levels of air pollution from cars and coal stoves, which especially affects children and people with respiratory problems.

Economy
Kraków is the most popular tourist destination in Poland and this supports much of the local economy. However, the University and numerous local colleges mean education is an important employer as well.

The service and technology industry is strong, with many banks and IT companies, such as IBM, Cisco, Oracle, being located here. There is a large manufacturing sector as well, especially in steel (owned by Mittal), pharmaceuticals and tobacco, mainly as a legacy of the communist era.

Unemployment is lower than average (5%) for the rest of the country (9%) and it is considered an attractive investment opportunity, especially for those buying real estate. A new financial and business district is planned along with a new sporting complex in the Nowa Huta borough on the Vistula river. This is for the regeneration of the Nowa Huta area, the poorest district of Kraków.

Read
There is an English language monthly paper called Kraków Post available for free in clubs and culture venues throughout the city, where you can check the news, events taking place and new bars that opened in Kraków any given month.

Districts
Kraków consists of 18 districts. The historic Old City is situated in District I Stare Miasto. Even though the words Stare Miasto mean 'old town', it should not be confused with the historic old town of Kraków itself, as the medieval old town is only a small central part of District I Stare Miasto. Some of the communities around the edge of Kraków can show you real Polish life away from the tourist-focused economy of the centre.

The article for Kraków is divided into districts as follows:

By plane

To and from the city: These trains also call at the western suburban stations of Kraków Olszanica, Zakliki, Młynówka and Łobzów; change at Główny for all other destinations. Trains are sometimes replaced by buses (badged "SKA" and taking 30-40 min), which are in addition to the regular city buses. Pay as for the trains, cash on board is simplest else you have to go upstairs to the railway ticket machines then come down again.
 * Trains run between the airport (Kraków Lotnisko) upstairs hall and the main railway station (Kraków Główny). They run daily every 30 min between 04:00 and 00:30, taking 20 min. A single ticket costs 17 zł (return 34 zł), concessions half-price. Tickets can be purchased:
 * using cash on board (only Zloty and cards are accepted),
 * online from the regional rail company, you receive an e-ticket by email (the airport station is called Kraków Lotnisko, the main station is Kraków Główny),
 * ticket machines on the platform, the notoriously complicated ones have been replaced here so you should have no issue getting a ticket to Krakow Główny, the main station: choose the next train even if it's just about to depart, as your ticket will be okay on any train that day. Buy a return ticket at this occasion as only a few machines at the main station actually sell tickets to the airport - the PKP / Polregio machines cannot be used.
 * The airport bus stop is just outside Arrivals. The downtown terminus for 208, 902 and train replacement SKA buses is the forecourt that lies between the railway and bus stations outside the big Galeria Krakowska shopping mall - not the bus station itself. A single ride (day or night) costs 6.00 zł (3.00 zł for concessions eg ISIC/EURO 26 holders or age over 60). You need an "agglomeration ticket" valid for Zones I + II to cover the airport; city buses are cashless so you can't buy on boarding. Buy from a newsagent or from a ticket machine at the bus stop, and validate it immediately on boarding. For other types of tickets, see the ticket information of the operator MPK, and "Get around" below.

Other airports - where you might end up if you're diverted - include Katowice, Warsaw and Rzeszów. Closest is [[Katowice]], 100 km west of Kraków. It's a base for Wizzair and has flights all over Europe, including Kutaisi and Tblisi in Georgia. KTW airport is 30 km north of Katowice town, but there are connecting minibuses to town and direct to Kraków. You can easily day-trip from Katowice to Kraków and to Auschwitz, and the accommodation is a fraction of the price, but it's a drab place that you'd be unwise to pick for a romantic weekend.
 * Kraków Airport Taxi is the official taxi service, tel +48 12 258 0 258 or + 48 668 307 307 (open 06:00-22:00) or just rock up. There's a fixed fare per distance, posted on the airport website, reckon 90 zł to city centre. They're decent cars with decent drivers, and their big advantage is they can drop off and pick up within Old Town, which private cars can't.
 * Prebooked transfer: several internet platforms offer pre-booked cars from Kraków Airport. You know the price when you book, and often get a better vehicle.
 * Blacklane offer limousine transfers to town from about €40 / 180 zł one-way.
 * E-hailing: Free Now (formerly MyTaxi), Uber and Bolt operate in Krakow, but not Yandex.

By train
Kraków has good rail connections. Two direct trains run from Berlin via Wrocław: 7 h 30 min daytime, 10 hours overnight which continues to Rzeszów and Przemyśl on the Ukraine border. From London, Paris or Amsterdam change in Berlin.

From Prague there's one direct train, taking 7 hr 30 min via Olomouc, Ostrava and Katowice and continuing from Kraków to Rzeszów and Przemyśl.

From Vienna one daytime and one overnight train take 6 hr via Ostrava, with other connections at Katowice.

From Budapest one daytime and one overnight train take 9-10 hr via Bratislava, Ostrava and Katowice, where a portion divides for Warsaw. The Kraków portion continues to Rzeszów and Przemyśl.

From Vilnius and Kaunas a daily train takes 16 hours via Warsaw. You change at the border but it's a seamless service.

Trains from Kyiv and Lviv in Ukraine involve a change, immigration and customs at Przemyśl, because it's an EU border and change of railway gauge. Trains run every hour or two from Przemyśl taking 3 hours via Rzeszów and Tarnów.

Trains run nonstop every two hours to Kraków from Warsaw (all three main stations), taking 2 hr 40 min: these originate from Gdynia and Gdańsk. Trains from Poznań run via Wrocław and Częstochowa to Kraków, continuing via Rzeszów to Przemyśl.

Trains from Poznań run every hour or two, taking 5 hr 30 min via Katowice. Two direct trains from Łódź take 3 hr.

Trains from Oświęcim, better known as Auschwitz, take just under 2 hours; some are direct but most involve a change at Trzebinia.

By bus
Flixbus (which has taken over Eurolines) runs to Kraków direct from Vienna (7 hr), Budapest (8 hr), Prague (8 hr), Berlin (8 hr), Hamburg (12 hr), Munich (13 hr), Cologne (14 hr), Venice (15 hr via Zagreb) and Amsterdam (20 hr).

Ecolines run daily to Kyiv (15 hr) and Odesa (15 hr), and occasionally to Kaunas, Riga, Tallinn, Moscow, St Petersburg and Athens.

Intercity buses within Poland are nowadays mostly run by Flixbus, which has also taken over Polskibus. From Warsaw there are about a dozen buses daily taking up to 5 hours. There are also direct buses from Gdańsk (9 hr), Szczecin (9 hr), Poznań (7 hr), Wrocław (3 hr), Łódź (4 hr), Katowice (hourly, 75 min), Przemyśl (4 hr) and Zakopane (hourly, 2 hr 20 min).

The central bus station is on the east side of the railway station. You'll struggle to find any information, in any language, about where to find your bus. However the airport buses don't depart from here but from the little forecourt at the shopping mall entrance.

By car
The main highway to Kraków from the west is the A4 motorway from the German border, where it meets Autobahns A4 from Dresden and A13 from Berlin. There's a 20 zł toll on the section between Katowice and Kraków, pay by card or cash.

From Warsaw (300 km) use the E77, passing Radom and Kielce, and reckon 5 hours. It's a modern highway but has yet to be upgraded to or replaced by a motorway. For travelers flying out of Krakow, long-term parking facilities are available at Krakow-Balice Airport, providing a convenient option for those driving to the airport.

On foot
Depending on your level of fitness, you can see the whole of the city centre without needing any transport. There are some beautiful walking routes, try the Royal Way or the Planty park that surrounds the old city all the way from Florian's Gate to Wawel castle. It is very relaxing. There is also a well cared for river banks next to the castle just to stroll around.

However, in winter, snow is sometimes not removed from the sidewalks, resulting in a mixture of snow and mud. Be sure to bring waterproof shoes if you plan to travel by foot in the winter.

By bus and tram
During the day, there is an excellent system of public transportation consisting of trams and buses managed by MPK (Miejskie Przedsiębiorstwo Komunikacyjne). On their website you can check routes or stops. Easyway journey planner finds the routes and schedules for a given trip. Rush hours are mostly 07:00-09:00 and 15:00-17:00 and you can spend a lot of time in traffic jams.

The official phone application Jakdojade (iOS, Android) is available to route you around Krakow and other Polish cities. You can buy tickets directly on the app. You can also buy tickets online but you need to register in advance in Mobilet (iOS, Android) or Skycash (iOS, Android) mobile services and download appropriate mobile application.

It's best to buy tickets before you get on board in a kiosk or ticket machine on the tram/bus stop (these are present mostly in the city centre and provide help in few languages). Those trams and buses that are equipped with ticket machines are marked with large "A" sign above the entrance. If there is no ticket machine on board you can buy the 5 zł ticket from the driver but you have to pay him with exact change (the driver will not accept a higher amount than the ticket price). If buying a ticket after mounting the vehicle try to be fast. Ticket controllers are fairly common and fines are quite high (250 zł) and a hassle.

As soon as you get on, punch the ticket in the validation machine. Tickets need to be punched only the first time you get on, don't do it again after changing a tram/bus. You can use a single ticket for multiple rides as long as its time period hasn't expired.

Ticket prices: single-fare/50-minute 4.60 zł, 20-minute 3.40 zł, 90-minute 6.00 zł, 24-hour (15 zł within city limits, 20 zł with agglomeration), 48-hour 28 zł, 72-hour 42 zł, 7-day (56 zł within city limits, 68 zł with agglomeration), family ticket (Sa Su only, unlimited daytime traveling) 16 zł.

ISIC and Euro26 student holders that study outside Poland can use 50% discounted tickets which means: 20-minute 1.70 zł, single-fare/50-minute 2.30 zł, 90-minute 3.00 zł, 24-hour 7.50 zł/10 zł, 48-hour 14 zł, 72-hour 21 zł, 7-day 28 zł/34 zł.

When travelling to neighbouring villages or to the airport you need an agglomeration (zone) ticket. All buses that go outside the city limits have 2 or 3 at the beginning of their line number. Keep in mind that not all time passes mentioned above are valid outside the city, and you will need to purchase a zone ticket separately. Zone tickets are slightly more expensive than city ones and follow similar time system.

Night bus and tram lines start with 6 (or 9 when zone) at the beginning of their line number. Ticket prices during the night are the same. 24-, 48- and 72-hour, as well as 7-day tickets are valid on night buses.

Tram and bus stops show routes and most kiosks will be able to advise you on route numbers. Modern trams and most of the modern buses also display the route inside on the screens and announce each stop.

By car
Don't bother driving in the city centre. There's often a lot of traffic, parking spaces are scarce and can be expensive, and Polish driving takes a lot of getting used to. There are also rules around local 'driving zones', that ban non-resident's vehicles from entering them. Especially in the city center it's easy to enter such a zone without knowing - there are rectangle blue signs that mark the entrance to the zones. The taxis are cheap and it makes more sense to use them.

Taxis, reliable and fair play taxi drivers from the airport or for a longer transfer should be booked in advance by the Internet. For instance, Kraków airport transfer to Kraków costs around 70 zł. During the day, most fares will be around 20 zł. All taxis should have a 'Taxi' sign on the roof and a sticker on the rear passenger window with prices. There is an initial charge of about 5-7 zł, plus 2-3 zł per kilometre. Price list should be shown on the passenger side door.

iCar is one of the cheapest taxi companies and will quote you the prices in advance (based on the real distance between you and your destination). An 8 km ride will run you about 22 zł. Uber is also a great option as it can be cheaper than the local taxi services.

There are instances where drivers will overcharge tourists, especially those who don't speak Polish. Check on a map in advance how much it should be and if it goes much above that, debate the price.

If you really want to travel by car, you can use Traficar carsharing service, although if you're not a Polish citizen, you may need to register for a service in person on Rzemieślnicza 26 before the first use.

By bicycle
It is easy to get around the centre on two wheels, as there are some bike lanes, including through the 'Planty' that surround the Old Town. Some bike rentals also provide city and country tours.

By boat
You can take a cruise on the Vistula River. It is a good way to explore the city and learn about the history of Krakow's monuments. The shipowners offer cruises around Krakow and cruises to the historic monastery in Tyniec.

See

 * at the south tip of Old Town is a citadel perched on a crag. Within are the cathedral, and the Royal Castle which has several museum galleries and collections.
 * (Rynek Główny) is the grand centre of Old Town, with St Mary's Basilica and the Cloth Hall. The town walls have gone except for the bastions on its north flank.
 * was the Jewish quarter. The best of it is around Szeroka, with the Remuh synagogue and atmospheric old cemetery.
 * Museums are run by either the National or the City museum.
 * - The main building is at the foot of Aleja 3 Maja in west Kraków, ten minutes walk from Old Town. Other branches, all within Old Town, are Sukiennice Gallery, Czapski Museum and Pavilion, Matejko House, Szolayski House, Czartoryski Museum, Czartoryski Library, Menhoffer House, Erazm Ciolek Palace, and the Europeum Centre.
 * - The Museum of Krakow or City Museum runs Krzysztofory Palace, Old Synagogue, Oscar Schindler's Enamel Factory, Eagle Pharmacy, Pomorska Street, Hipolit House, Town Hall Tower, the walls (including Barbican, Florian Gate and Celestat), Nowa Huta, Nowa Huta underground, Zwierzyniec House, Rynek Underground, Theatre Museum, Thesaurus Crocovensis, Podgorze, KL Plaszow and Rydlowka.
 * - These are all rich, fascinating collections. To pick one highlight from so many: the Lady with an Ermine is an authentic Leonardo da Vinci portrait (in Polish Dama z gronostajem). She's been shunted hither and yon across Europe but nowadays resides in the Princes Czartoryski Museum just inside the Old Town walls.

 * Nowa Huta was built in Communist times for the workforce of the colossal steelworks there. It's a monument to their crass central planning, with huge buildings surrounding green parks. The Polish Aviation Museum is in this area, 5 km northeast of the centre.
 * Auschwitz-Birkenau is a simple day-trip from Kraków - lots of tours go there, but you can easily do it independently. It had offshoots all over the region, including a concentration camp in Podgórze district.

Do

 * Walk the Royal Way from St Florian's Gate down Floriańska, across the Main Market Square, then down Grodzka to Wawel.
 * Listen to the Hejnał Mariacki while sipping a coffee in the Rynek Główny. This five-note trumpet signal is played on the hour from the tower of St Mary Church, and it's said to be an alert cut short in homage to a trumpeter slain in mid-toot by a Tatar arrow in 1241. The Tatars would have needed a high-velocity rifle to get him at that range, and the legend only developed in the 20th century. "Hajnal" is Hungarian for "dawn", and more likely it was just the signal to re-open the city gates in the morning, sounded towards each of the four gates, and never part of a longer tune.
 * Walk around the Planty, the park that encircles Old Town.
 * Lounge and take in the sun on the banks of the Vistula river; at the foot of Wawel, a dragon breathes fire. Cross the footbridge Kładka Bernatka between Kazimierz and Podgórze.
 * Cruise down the river to admire Tyniec Abbey and Bielany Priory. In summer boats sail from the wharf below Wawel, and there's also a city-owned water tram.
 * Early on Sunday, go shopping at the open air flea markets at Plac Nowy and Hala Targowa.
 * Participate in a Mass in St. Mary's Church. The church is impressive and the devotion of the believers will bring you inside of the real religious spirit.
 * Learn about life in Kraków under Nazi German occupation in the original Schindler's Factory building in Podgórze district.
 * Take part in a city game which combines sightseeing of the city with adventure, integration and fun. You'll find them advertised in hostels.
 * Foreign visitors can find locals eager to practise speaking English and other languages at the English Language Club on the second floor at ul. Sienna 5, Wednesdays 18:00-20:00.

Events

 * Independence Day on 11 Nov is celebrated throughout Poland, but is an especially big event here. There are grand parades, and Wawel is closed to routine visits.
 * Christmas Market: this is the oldest such market in Poland, held from the end of November to the end of December in Main Market Square.
 * There are regular events at TAURON Arena (a large sports and concert arena) and ICE (a new congress centre).
 * Krakow Rugby Festival Held annually every 3rd weekend of June. A 2-day rugby festival for amateur male and female rugby teams (senior and Vets) from all over the world. Held at the Juvenia's stadium (Polish EkstraLiga rugby team) in Na Bloniach 7 street.
 * Independence Day on 11 Nov is celebrated throughout Poland, but is an especially big event here. There are grand parades, and Wawel is closed to routine visits.
 * Christmas Market: this is the oldest such market in Poland, held from the end of November to the end of December in Main Market Square.
 * There are regular events at TAURON Arena (a large sports and concert arena) and ICE (a new congress centre).
 * Krakow Rugby Festival Held annually every 3rd weekend of June. A 2-day rugby festival for amateur male and female rugby teams (senior and Vets) from all over the world. Held at the Juvenia's stadium (Polish EkstraLiga rugby team) in Na Bloniach 7 street.
 * Independence Day on 11 Nov is celebrated throughout Poland, but is an especially big event here. There are grand parades, and Wawel is closed to routine visits.
 * Christmas Market: this is the oldest such market in Poland, held from the end of November to the end of December in Main Market Square.
 * There are regular events at TAURON Arena (a large sports and concert arena) and ICE (a new congress centre).
 * Krakow Rugby Festival Held annually every 3rd weekend of June. A 2-day rugby festival for amateur male and female rugby teams (senior and Vets) from all over the world. Held at the Juvenia's stadium (Polish EkstraLiga rugby team) in Na Bloniach 7 street.
 * There are regular events at TAURON Arena (a large sports and concert arena) and ICE (a new congress centre).
 * Krakow Rugby Festival Held annually every 3rd weekend of June. A 2-day rugby festival for amateur male and female rugby teams (senior and Vets) from all over the world. Held at the Juvenia's stadium (Polish EkstraLiga rugby team) in Na Bloniach 7 street.
 * Krakow Rugby Festival Held annually every 3rd weekend of June. A 2-day rugby festival for amateur male and female rugby teams (senior and Vets) from all over the world. Held at the Juvenia's stadium (Polish EkstraLiga rugby team) in Na Bloniach 7 street.

Sports

 * Football: Cracovia play soccer in Ekstraklasa, the top tier. Wisła Kraków play in I Liga the second tier, and Garbania play in II Liga the third tier. All three are based in the west of the city.
 * Ice hockey: Cracovia play in Polska Hokej Liga the top tier. Their home rink Lodowisko Cracovii is on Michała Siedleckiego in Kazimierz district.
 * Golf courses near the city include:

Learn
Most of language schools now provide Polish for foreigners courses. Just a bunch Accent, Prolog, International School, Lingualand... there's more.

One that is more prestigious is the School of Polish Language and Culture of the Jagiellonian University because, well, it's Jagiellonian University, the oldest Polish university, founded in 1364.

Buy

 * Old Town is geared to tourists, selling clothes, jewellery and art, rather than staples though these can be found in small independent stores. The centre of it all is Rynek Główny which means "main market": the ground floor of Sukiennice (Cloth Hall) is a bazaar for art, amber, sheepskin and other craft souvenirs. Lots more on adjacent streets such as Floriańska and Grodzka.

 * Kazimierz is less touristy, though there's a similar collection of places in the streets around Plac Nowy. The big shopping mall here is Galeria Kazimierz at ul. Podgórska 34 on the riverbank, with a gourmet supermarket.

 * Galeria Krakowska at ul. Pawia 5 is next to the main railway and bus stations, 5 min walk north of the Old Town walls.

 * Other big supermarkets are quite far from the centre, eg Carrefour, Real, Tesco, Lidl, and Bonarka at ul. Kamieńskiego 11.

Eat
Kraków's cuisine has been influenced by the cultures that have inhabited central Europe, as well as the Austro-Hungarian empire.

The most popular dish from Kraków is obwarzanek (bagel). You can buy it at many stalls on the streets. Typical for Kraków is also maczanka, long-roasted pork. A local speciality from the voivodeship is oscypek - cheese from the Tatra Mountains.

If you want to try Polish simple cuisine for outstandingly good value prices (a big lunch for one person for about 8 zł) then find a 'Bar Mleczny' (a milk bar - a kind of cafeteria very prevalent in Communist times so called because it serves no alcohol). You can find one on the right side of ul. Grodzka (if you are going from Rynek Główny). They're not very posh and decorations are rather humble, but they offer classic Polish home food such as 'krokiety' at its best. An English-Polish dictionary is recommended when ordering.

Casual dishes:
 * Żurek is a soup based on fermented rye - it's sour and creamy and often has slices of kielbasa sausage or a hard-boiled egg added.
 * Barszcz is a soup made with beetroot—very savoury.
 * Kwaśnica is a soup made from pickled cabbage with a large proportion of sauerkraut and meat, usually eaten with potatoes or bread - while it's a less popular choice than barszcz and żurek, many visitors find it to be their favourite.
 * Chłodnik is another beetroot soup, served cold as a refreshing summer dish. It makes use of the beetroot greens as well as the roots and is flavoured with gherkins, dill and sour cream.
 * Pierogi are dumplings that are most often filled with "ruskie" ("ruskie" meaning "Russian" - with curd cheese and potato), meat, cabbage, mushroom, bilberries, apples, and strawberries. The fruit Pierogi are usually served with cream and sugar.

You won't see this in most guides, but one of the true joys of a trip to Kraków is a visit to the kiełbasa van. Basically, it's these two gruff Polish men who, every night M-Sa 20:00-03:00, set up a fire grill outside of their van (parked in front of the market east of the Old Town near the train bridge) and grill kielbasa. For 15 zł, you get your sausage, roll and a squirt of mustard, stand at the perch nearby and chow down with the locals in-the-know. It is delicious, especially after a night of exploring Kraków's bars. A fun experience free of the usual tourist crush and off the main path (ul. Grzegórzecka, opposite ul. Blich)

By far the oldest street food in Kraków is zapiekanka which is a large open-faced baguette with baked toppings (traditionally cheese, mushrooms, and a lot of condiments like ketchup or garlic sauce). The most popular, location for zapiekanki is on the Plac Nowy market in Kazimierz. It is busiest at night on the weekends where you can purchase them until the early hours of the morning.

In Kraków you can also buy one of the best Polish sausages - Lisiecka.

Drink
Bars, pubs, and cafes in Kraków are one of its biggest attractions. Not just their number or quality, but close proximity. It has been said that there are more than 300 eating and drinking establishments in the Old Town alone.

Local drinks

 * A tatanka is a unique (and delicious) Polish beverage made with apple juice and a special kind of vodka called żubrówka, which is flavoured with bison grass. It is also often referred to as a szarlotka, or apple cake. Tatanka is a Native American term for bison.
 * Wódka miodowa is a honey vodka, often served chilled in shots. Some of the better Polish-themed restaurants will have house brands.
 * Śliwowica, a plum brandy, is worth watching out for. There are two main variants: an 80-proof (40%) yellow tinged one and a 140-proof (70%) clear variety. While the 80-proof variety is often smooth and flavorful, some have compared the 140-proof to drinking gasoline. A good way to drink it is to deal with it like with an absinthe. Take a small spoon with sugar, put some Sliwowica on it and fire it. Let the sugar melt down for a while (10–30 seconds). Then, mix the flaming sugar with the rest of the drink. Let it burn for 5–10 seconds, then blow it and drink it. Watch out and don't burn your lips! You can also let it burn longer, but then use a straw to drink it to avoid burning your fingers or lips.
 * Grzaniec, a sort of heated wine with cloves and other spices, very popular around Christmas when sold on Market Square.
 * Wściekły pies, a shot of plain vodka with tabasco and raspberry sauces in the bottom. Must be drunk in one gulp. The name can be translated as rabid dog. Definitely worth trying.
 * Kamikaze, a set of several shots of vodka-based alcohol sold usually in clubs. It usually contains equal parts of vodka, blue curacao and lime juice. Should be drunk in one gulp, one shot after another.

Warning: If you party with Poles you should be aware that some of them consume bigger dosage of alcohol than you're used to. Don't try to keep up with your Polish friends and make sure you have plenty of breaks when drinking.

Bars
Thanks to their proximity to each other, Kraków's watering holes are ideal for bar hopping. Many locals and tourists have spent nights partying from the Old Town all the way to Vistula River at the end of Kazimierz. Walk down ul. Szeroka or head over to Plac Nowy for streets full of bars.

The newly-opened Tytano district offers a loft-style, London-like selection of cocktail-bars, restaurants and clubs. It's based in the proximity of the city centre on the corner of Dolnych Młynów and Czarnowiejska streets. If you're looking for a place to relax, there is plenty of bars to choose from there.

In the warmer months, Kraków's nightlife moves outdoors into hundreds of sidewalk cafes and beer gardens. When winter comes around, it moves underground into cellars all around the city.

Cafes
Kraków is not only full of cosy cafes but is also said to be the place of the first cafe founded in Europe. Most cafes offer good espresso and something to nibble at a very reasonable price. As a rule, international-looking places are much more expensive.

Sleep
As the number of tourists to Kraków increases rapidly, accommodation prices are rising. Try to avoid hotels and hostels located in the Nowa Huta district; most of them are former shelters for part-time industry workers and the district is quite distant from the city centre.

Campsites
There are few campsites in Kraków, most of them closed in colder months. All provide some space for tents and caravans as well.

Hostels
There are plenty of decent clean backpacker hostels in the Old Town and Kazimierz. Expect to pay 40-60 zł for a dorm bed, including breakfast (bread, jam, and cheese), laundry, sheets, lockers, and internet access.

Hotels
Kraków has lots of hotels all over the city. Big corporate ones (Sheraton, Qubus etc.) are near the centre, most often on Vistula banks. In the Old Town there are some reasonably priced and some pretty luxurious and expensive. A good alternative may be booking a hotel in the far ends of Kazimierz District or in Podgórze, by the Vistula river.

Private accommodation
A good way to stay in Kraków is to rent private accommodation. You can usually get a one bedroom for €60-90 a night, located in the Old Town. There are two agencies opposite the main railway station offering rooms. If you hang around the street outside the agencies for a while, some landlords will approach you and make an offer. This saves you the commission but may be a bit unsafe.

Stay safe
Like the rest of Poland, Kraków is generally a very safe city with strong police presence. Violent behaviour is rare and if it occurs it is most likely alcohol-related. While pubs and clubs are generally very safe, the nearby streets may be scenes of brawls, especially late at night. Try to avoid confrontations. Women and girls are generally less likely to be confronted or harassed since the Polish code of conduct strictly prohibits any type of violence (physical or verbal) against women.

Follow standard city travel rules: don't leave valuables in the car in plain sight; don't display money or expensive things needlessly; know where you're going; be suspicious of strangers asking for money or trying to sell you something.

Pickpockets operate, pay attention to your belongings in crowds, at stations, in crowded trains/buses (especially to/from the airport), and clubs.

In any case, do not be afraid to seek help or advice from the Police (Policja) or the Municipal Guard (Straż Miejska). They are generally helpful, polite and in most cases speak at least basic English.

Racism
As a result of Nazi German and Soviet terror, modern Poland is a very homogeneous society. Even though quite a few Asian and African migrants have settled in the larger cities (including Kraków) in the last couple of years, it is still quite rare to see non-Caucasians on the Polish streets. If you are a non-white traveller do not be surprised (or alarmed) if some people (especially young children) stare at you with curiosity. The overwhelming majority of Poles is composed of warm, hospitable people who are often curious to learn more about other cultures. Racist incidents are extremely rare, but, just like anywhere else in Europe, have taken place. If you are unfortunate enough to experience racism or too much curiosity, it is important not to get yourself involved in a confrontation. Walk away instead.

Scams
As in any major tourist city, there are people trying to take advantage of travellers. Generally, use common sense and follow simple precautions. Below is a list of the most common scams:

Bar scam
In line with its reputation as an inexpensive all-male trip destination, Kraków is unfortunately notorious for the bar scams typical of many popular tourist destinations. The scam, in short, involves being chatted up by attractive women and invited to join them in a club for drinks. The bill for the drinks then turns out to run up multifold of what one might have expected to pay. Two establishments notorious for perpetrating this are Saxon Club and Hard Candy, but you may be asked to follow your newly acquired company to nondescript premises not appearing to be a public open club as well.

Hotel scam
A few Kraków visitors have been victim to the hotel scam. After a long day of travel, the victim is awakened when their hotel room phone rings. It's the receptionist apologising for the late hour but asking to verify credit card details. The victim reads them out and drifts back to sleep. As Kraków guides know, there is a growing black market for stolen credit card numbers, and the chances are that even before the victim remembers this late night conversation there will be high charges to contest, possibly even ending their vacation early.

Taxi scam
When using a taxi always ask for a price for your journey before you leave. Scam taxis have been found to operate near to the main railway station. They are legally registered as "transportation services" and charge €20/km. The prices of regular taxis are limited by law, and the price list is easily visible. It should be around 2.30 zł per kilometre, with an initial fee of 7 zł (first kilometre included in price). Reliable licensed taxi companies include Taxi Barbakan, Taxi Dwójki, Lajkonik Taxi and Taxi 19191. While it is legal for "transportation services" to charge people as much as they like, their prices must be clearly displayed and must be clearly stated when you ask the driver. If you do not agree with the price, do not use the service. The best way to get a reliable taxi is to call them by phone (you can do it by yourself or ask hotel staff to do it for you).

A common scam at Krakow airport (and most Polish airports for that matter) is for taxi or Uber drivers to accost travellers before they leave the airport and offer them a ride. These usually charge abhorrently high fares compared to actual taxi drivers. If you see someone approach you when leaving the airport, simply say no and use the official apps of Uber or Bolt instead.

Currency exchange scam
Look very closely what the buy rate is when you exchange your currency into PLN, and ask for the exact rate in writing. Do not let the clerk point on the chart with rates; insist on their quoting the rate for you beforehand on a piece of paper. Very often the rate is displayed not on an electronic board, but with digits on small tiles; it may happen that a small tile with a zero is partially slid right under the comma in the "buy" rate, so e.g. instead of 3.45 zł the actual rate is 3.045 zł. This is difficult to notice and the clerks do not accept any complaints after you receive your money. Victims may lose up to 20% of the exchanged amount. This practice is definitely unfair and on the verge of legality. It has been described and condemned in the local press. However, if the tile with 0 is visible at least in half, the booth owner may escape responsibility, as your acceptance of the rates is assumed. Remember the rule of thumb - spread between the "buy" and "sell"rates should not exceed 2-3% of the "buy" rate on the main currencies (EUR, USD, GBP) and 5% on secondary currencies (CHF, JPY, SEK, NOK). Stick to banks (even if the rate is slightly worse, it is still perfectly acceptable) or large currency exchange points.

The currency exchange point at the railway station usually operates at rip-off spreads. Avoid at all costs, unless you are in a big hurry or selling złoty. Also avoid the exchange points at the airport, or exchange only the amount for the ticket to the city centre.

Best rates are available on Sławkowska Street, extending from the north-west corner of the Main Market Square.

Jaywalking enforcement
Jaywalking is enforced in Kraków. If you're jaywalking (crossing at a red light for pedestrian, outside of a zebra-crossing), even if it was perfectly safe (you looked on both sides, there was no car coming, etc.), there are chances that a police officer will wait for you on the other side of the street, and give you a 100 zł ticket for doing so: tourist or not, you will have to pay for it.

Consulates
As of Nov 2019, the following had consular services in Krakow:
 * 🇫🇷 France France, ul. Stolarska 15, +48 12 424 53 00.
 * 🇩🇪 Germany Germany, ul. Stolarska 7, +48 12 424 30 00.
 * 🇭🇺 Hungary Hungary, ul. Lubicz 18, +48 12 359 99 20
 * 🇷🇺 Russia Russia, ul. Biskupia 7, +48 12 422 26 47, but the Visa Office is at Krótka 1.
 * 🇺🇦 Ukraine Ukraine, ul. Beliny-Prażmowskiego 4, +48 12 429 60 66.
 * 🇺🇸 United States United States, ul. Stolarska 9, +48 12 424 51 00.

Go next

 * Auschwitz-Birkenau — Former German Nazi camp 2 km outside city of Oświęcim, 65 km from Kraków.
 * Getting there: Leave a whole day for this if you want to go. The Auschwitz camp and the much bigger Birkenau camp are a few kilometres apart. Frequent and inexpensive buses leave from the main bus station in Kraków, and trains leave approximately every two hours from the adjacent railway station. Most will let you out at the main Oświęcim station, a short walk from the camp (follow the signs to "Muzeum"). Alternately, a frequent PKS bus drops off and picks up directly in front of the visitor center—just check for destination "Oświęcim Muzeum." (You can buy a ticket from the bus driver.) You can find bus schedules at MDA and trains from rozklad-pkp. From Auschwitz, there is a free shuttle to Birkenau.
 * Tours and guides: There are many organised tours of the Auschwitz camp from Kraków, and they are heavily advertised. They can cost anywhere from 60 zl to 160 zł per person. Many hotels and travel agents in Kraków, as well as the Galicja Museum in Kazimierz, can direct you to reputable companies. Though the price tag might seem hefty for those on a budget, those tours include a bus, a guide, and lunch breaks. Otherwise, traveling to Auschwitz can be done using local trains or buses easily. The only thing you need to pay for when you get there is a guide (which is optional -  English language tours cost 110 zł and run every hour between 09:30 and 15:30. Tours may be joined at the site without prior reservation. Auschwitz II-Birkenau is open to unguided visitors all day) -- they have official tours available in many languages for a modest fee..
 * Wieliczka — 17 km from Kraków, is the location of ancient salt mines, one of the original 12 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and a definite must-see. Entrance to the mines (134 zł) is rather expensive compared to other tourist attractions in Poland. Bus 304 or 274 (6 zł, blue-and-white buses operated by Kraków city, the first stop of 304 is in front of Galeria Krakowska) makes frequent trips to and from the mines. There are 5 Wieliczka stops in total; get off at Wieliczka Kopalnia Soli (look for a giant "SALT MINES" sign). The ride takes ~40 minutes. There is also a train to Wieliczka that lets off a short (and well-marked) walk from the mine (last stop of the train).

 * Beautiful Renaissance castle in Niepołomice (25 km). Can be accessed by public transport - from Galeria Krakowska, take the 304 bus or the 3 tram, and get off at Bieżanowska stop, from where the 301 bus will take you all the way to Niepołomice Rynek stop (a zone ticket is required).
 * Kalwaria Zebrzydowska monastery (35 km southwest)
 * Bochnia — Historic salt mine, older than Wieliczka. 40 km from Kraków. Must see. SK-BUS minibuses from Kraków Main Railway Station (Dworzec Główny), or train (direction: Tarnów, Rzeszów, Stróże, Nowy Sącz/Krynica).
 * Wadowice — 45 km southwest is the birthplace of Karol Wojtyła, John Paul II.
 * Tarnów (80 km east) — The second largest city in region with a beautiful main market.
 * Bielsko-Biała — 85 km southwest city with cosy old town and many beautiful buildings from Austro-Hunagrian times. Many buses from Kraków Bus Station (RDA).
 * Zakopane — 105 km south in the Tatra Mountains is considered to be the Polish winter sport capital. Other winter sport centres near Kraków in the Beskids are Rabka-Zdrój (65 km) and Żywiec (90 km)
 * Częstochowa — 135 km northwest is the most important pilgrim's place in Central Europe. In the Pauline Monastery on Jasna Góra (literally: bright hill) you can pray in front of one of the most known icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa.

title: Kraków


text:
Kraków/East

The eastern part of Kraków consists of several districts, most known of which is Nowa Huta. It is east of the Old Town and north of Vistula River. Nowa Huta is a destination for tourists as a post-communist district with very typical socialist realist architecture.

Understand
The area of Nowa Huta was a fertile countryside landscape in the Middle Ages. In the 6th century a mound was erected there by the Vistula People, one of the Polish tribes. In the 12th century the monks erected a monastery in Mogiła. After Poland was liberated and occupied by the Soviet Union, the communists built the biggest European steel mill, called Nowa Huta (New Steel Mill), from 1949 to 1955. The new district was built around Plac Centralny (Central Square) and Aleja Róż (Alley of Roses).

Nowa Huta was a model city built to attract people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds to the region as a counterweight to the middle class of Kraków who had decisively rejected communism in the 1946 Polish People's Referendum. Nowa Huta became the largest steel mill in Poland but had little economic rationale: coal had to be imported from Silesia and iron ore from the Soviet Union, while most of the finished steel was shipped elsewhere as there was little local demand.

It is one of the best examples of socialist realist architecture in Europe. Nowa Huta became the first atheist district in Poland, and it was not until the 1970s when the first church was built there and sanctified by then-Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, later Pope John Paul II.

Andrzej Wajda's film Man of Marble shows the life of bricklayers building Nowa Huta in the 1950s and also the use of propaganda during the Stalinist period.

Get in
The easiest and cheapest way to get to Nowa Huta is to take tram number 4. It leaves from the stop Dworzec Główny, which is in a tunnel below the main railway station (Krakow Glowny) and is kind of tricky to find for non-locals. It's easiest to locate when you're coming from the Old Town: walk through the Galeria Krakowska mall and just when you enter the doors to the railway station, there are the stores Saturn, CCC and then Express on your left hand side, and McDonald's on you right hand side. Pass the doors to the train station and there's a McCafe (McDonald's) on the left and right in front of you are stairs, an elevator and escalator that go down to the tunnel.

Tickets for the tram can be purchased at ticket machines both at tram stops and inside the trams, though not all ticket machines inside trams accept card payments. At the ticket machine you can choose how long your ticket is valid. The trip from the city centre to Nowa Huta takes about 30 minutes, so it's best to get a ticket for 1 hour.

Architecture of the central part of Nowa Huta
The original complex of apartment buildings is built around axis which radiate out from the Central Square (Plac Centralny, which was re-dedicated to US President Ronald Reagan). Architects of the first apartments blocks mixed Renaissance style with Soviet Realism. Buildings constructed after 1956 are Modernist (of this period an interesting example is so called Swedish block at os. Szklane Domy nr 19c) while those built in the 1970s and 1980s are mainly 'plattenbau', a technique which used prefabricated concrete plates and was common in Eastern Bloc. The first buildings in Poland which were built using big block technique, one that later evolved into 'plattenbau', can be seen at os. Stalowe.

Do
If you are looking for professional private tours of the former Communism District take Crazy Guides or the Communism Guided Tour of Nowa Huta in original cars from the communist times. With the reference of the Historical Museum of the City of Kraków and official Guides of Kraków.

Sleep

 * Ibis Styles is along the street at 35a.
 * Ibis Styles is along the street at 35a.

title: Kraków/East