If you’re still not sure watch a Lonely Planet Travel Video and book your flights, tours and transfers operated by KrakowShuttle!

Lady with an Ermine by Leonardo da Vinci. Photograph: Edimédia/Corbis

Some Poles already forgot that famous Leonardo Da Vinci’ painting „Lady with an Ermine” is displayed by the Czartoryski Museum in Krakow. How come? Because our Lady is having International Tournee in Europe and – according to decisions made by XX CZartoryski Foundation will be still travelling in 2011. As you can imagine, this statement caused many complaints: first of all „Lady” is a cultural heritage of Poland and it should be displayed here, fiurthermore painting is very old and may be easily damaged during the transportation.

Nowadays, problem bacame international. You can ready about it in The Observer – to read the article please click here. The small portrait generally called The Lady with the Ermine was painted in oils on

wooden panel by Leonardo da Vinci.At the time of its painting, the medium of oil paint was relatively new to Italy, having been introduced in the 1470s. Leonardo was one of those artists who adopted the new medium and skillfully exploited its qualities. The sitter has been identified with reasonable security as Cecilia Gallerani who was the mistress of Leonardo’s employer, Lodovico Sforza, known as Lodovico il Moro.

If you are visiting Krakow in nearest future, don’t forget to ask about „Lady”- she is in Krakow right now, but not in Czartoryski Museum, only in Bishop Erasm Ciolek Palace- ask KrakowShuttle Staff for more details.

KrakowShuttle Team went to Zakopane last weekend- check out amazing views from Chocholowska Valley on our short movie and plan your visit in Zakopane soon!

Finally Krakow is covered with snow and it looks amazing! At the same it’s getting colder so probably you’re worried about how you will spend holidays in Krakow.

Here you can find few tips how enjoy winter in Krakow:

1. Visit Salt Mine which is situated in Wieliczka, few kilometres from Krakow. It is is one of the most valuable cultural monuments in Poland and of course it doesn’t snow undeground! The temperature in Salt Mine stays unifrm 15 degrees Celcius, round the year  so you will enjoy 2 hours visit in monument listed on UNESCO’s First World List of Cultural and Natural Heritage without getting cold.Check details on KrakowShuttle Salt Mine Tour offer on: http://www.krakowshuttle.com/krakow_salt_mine_tour.html

2. Go to Krakow’s Aquapark.Cracow’s Aquapark is one of the greatest of its kind in Europe.It offers marvelous fun for all the family, featuring attractions such as sauna,hydro-massage, jacuzzi, climbing walls and 800 meters of totally twisted slides! All useful information (how to get there, opening hours) you can find on: http://www.parkwodny.pl/eng/index.php

3. Taste famous Polish mulled beer or wine. In Polish it is called GRZANIEC  an you can find it on Christmas Market as well as in every restaurant and bar in Krakow. We promise that you will get warmer after one glass!

4.  Make a snowman on Planty or near the Vistula River. Once you will make it, post it on our  KrakowShuttle Facebook’s profile and win a voucher for KrakowShuttle services!

5.  Visit Zakopane. Check out why Zakopane is called „Winter Capital of Poland”. If you want to, you can even have a one-day ski & snowboard tour and enjoy winter sports in Tatra mountains.

]]> http://blog.krakowshuttle.com/winter-came-to-krakow-today/feed/ 0 http://blog.krakowshuttle.com/new-years-eve-in-krakow-what-to-do-where-to-be/ http://blog.krakowshuttle.com/new-years-eve-in-krakow-what-to-do-where-to-be/#comments Thu, 25 Nov 2010 10:02:48 +0000 sanak http://blog.krakowshuttle.com/?p=291

Planning to spend New Year’s Eve in Krakow this year? If yes, this post should help you with all dificulties!
If you have your tickets booked but your waiting for good deal for hotel or apartment reservation better get hurry. Most of the hotels are already sold out and if not prices won’t be lower anymore…and as it’s quite chilly (usually that means -5 and snow) so staying all night out may by pretty dangerous.
Anyway if you have already place to stay in Krakow you should think about what to on this special evening:
RESTAURANTS:
Most of the restaurant organize special „a la carte” New Year’s Eve menu. Usually that’s not a party but a dinner (yes, you will be eating until midnight) with a glass of champagne at 00:00. If you’re planning just to eat something before going out better make sure which restaurants will be regullary open „just for dinnig”. Anf if yes, most of them will be open only until 21h00-22h00-staff wants to party as well.
CLUBS:
Every club in Krakow organizes a special New Year’s Eve Party. House Party, Techno Party, Disco Party…you can choose your favoured style of music and listen to il all night long. At the moment all clubs are settling down New Year’s Eve line-up but programme and tickets will be available soon.
Don’t worry about booking places- usually even 2 days before it’s OK and tickets are available.
Of course, you can always drop an e-mail to KrakowShuttle office and we will be happy to help you with all arrangements.
MAIN SQUARE:
Like every year, Krakow’s City Hall and Mayor of Krakow invites for a party on the Main Square.
It is free of charge, everyone is invited. On this website you can finf full line-up and all practical information: http://www.wownight.eu/en/1/0/2/home-page.
This year it will be DJ’s night but you will also hear Kelis and R.I.O .. and of course great fireworks at midnight

…and day after, on 1st of January we have Bank Holidays so it means that all shops will be closed- better bay bottles of water, aspirine and something to eat day before:) in the afternoon and evening restaruants will be open again so no worries, New Year’s dinner will be unforgettable.
For those who like classical music, we suggets New Year’s Concerts: one in Slowacki National Theatre (Sw. Ducha Square, near the Market Square) or in Krakow’s Filharmony (also in the Old Town).

We’re looking forward to meet you in Krakow!

First one, Poland-Move your imagination shows the most charming places in our country and things you can do that- nightlife in Warsaw, romantic weekend in Krakow and many more:

The other, shows the development of Polish economy and it is called „The animated guide to Polish success”

Enjoy!

Fortunately or not, smoking ban began in Krakow yesterday, on 15th of November.

A lot of bars and pubs organised „Last ciggy” party to celebrate the last cigarette smoken inside the local. Starting from yesterday, all smokers who cannot imagine having a beer without Marlboro or Camel will have to go outside and -especially during the winter- get freezed. However, all people who do not smoke, finally will enjoy their nightlife without stinky clothes and red eyes.

And what about Krakow? Of course not all of nearly 500 bars will be non-smokers: some of them will provide special smoking rooms and the others are even considering to re-name for „tobacco clubs” where smoking will not be forbiden. Pub & bar owners are very concerned about a potential loss of clients-smokers who might prefer to stay at home. Results from other countries doesn’t look very optimistic: New York City saw a nine percent rise in business after the city banned smoking in bars.

Anyway, if you’re planning to come to Krakow and you’re a smoker don’t forget your scarf & hat as it might be useful during the „ciggy break”. Of course you can always ask KrakowShuttle drivers about the spots where it’s still possible to smoke and they will give you all useful tips.

Like every year, Krakow’s City Hall invites you to visit one of the most charming Cristmas Markets in Europe!

The Rynek Glowny what means Main Market Square, which is the huge market square in the Old Town provides the setting for the Christmas Market and is largely filled with wooden stalls offering various attractions. The Rynek is dominated by the ancient majestic Cloth Hall, which makes for a splendid backdrop for visitors shopping at the Christmas Market. Furthermore, during the winter Krakow is usually draped in snow what makes it even more charming.

From mouth watering delicacies to traditional items such as woollen clothes and locally-crafted jewellery, your are sure to find your perfect Christmas gifts. I’m pretty sure that your family and friends will be amazed by hand-made jewelry, wooden boxes and toys as well as by warm wollen slippers – probably the warmest gist ever.

You should try as well a selection of Polish meat and dumplings which is always served on the Square. And don’t forget to taste hot wine or beer – a classical Polish warm-up drink!

This year, Christmas Market starts on 1st of December and lasts until Christmas Eve, 24th. If you’re planning to come to Krakow in this period of time, make sure that you will have enough time to visit it!

If you visiting Poland during a winter season, you just can’t miss it. Only 120 km from Cracow there is a city which is called Poland’s winter capital – Zakopane (you can translate it as ‘buried with’, so why don’t ‘buried with snow’?). And it isn’t an exaggeration becuase Zakopane is one of the oldest and finest mountain resort in Poland. You can get there with Krakow Shuttle.

Have you already heard about a Sleeping Knight who is highly reposing over the town? If not, you should see it. First at photo:

You like it? It’s in Zakopane. There is also a legend story connected to this uniquely shaped mountain called Giewnot but it’s better to learn it yourself from a highlander.

A special mountains scenery is not the only one trump of the Zakopane. The city has also its own, original and very specific architectural style (called “Zakopane like style”) which has been developing since the end of XIX century when the city became very popular and fashionable destinations for artists and celebrities of those days.

With Krakow Shuttle you can visit Zakopane, taste an inimitable culture of Polish highlanders from Tatra Mountains and be delighted with really stunning views during one day trip for only 62 €.

The programme of the visit is determined by the individual interests and needs of customers. During the trip you will be able i.a. enjoy the ride with the cable car up to Gubalowka Mountain, check the city’s finest street Krupowki and buy some traditional crafts at the local market or visit the Tatra Museum. An English speaking driver will be happy to advise you the best spots in town, too. The trip lasts about 8 hours and starts at 8.30-9.30.

The price (student’s fare is 62€, regular – 64€) included door to door transportation, insurance, assistance of an English speaking driver and a lunch set.

See details at: http://www.krakowshuttle.com/.

Alicante (Spain) and Brussels-Charleroi (Belgium) are two new destinations which are going to be available directly from Balice from spring 2010 – it was announced at the beginning of December by Krakow Balice Airport authorities.

Flights to and from Charleroi, an airport located around 50 km from the capital of Belgium, will be operated by Ryanair. The Irish company is making a really serious preparation to the next spring-summer season, because connection to/from Belgium is sixth new in its offer which was recently announced.

Flights from Krakow to Brussels will be available from 31st of March 2010 three times each week (Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Prices are estimating from 59 PLN (around 15 euros; one-way, including taxes).

Also the second interesting spring Krakow connection will be operating by Ryanair. It is Alicante, a very nice Spanish town on the south of the country, also an important and comfortable changing point when you travel to/from Morocco. Flights to Spain are scheduled on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Prices starts from 79 PLN (around 20 euros).

Four left new Ryanair’s “cities of destination” are: Leeds Bradford, Rome-Ciampino, Trapani and Oslo Rygge.

Ok, maybe we don’t have our own low-cost carrier (all Polish companies which had been trying to gain the cheap-flight market bankrupted or suspendes their activity – Air Polonia, Centralwings and Direct Fly) but this Irish one is doing well.

See more at: http://www.krakowairport.pl/ and http://www.ryanair.com/.