EuroCheapo's Poland Articles

Zakopane: A visit to Poland’s premier mountain resort

Zakopane Poland train station
Zakopane's train station in deep winter. Photo © hidden europe

Feb 20 Is it not curious how some small communities have so powerfully shaped the European imagination? Sometimes it is merely one treaty or a single military encounter that propels a place to continent-wide recognition. Yalta, Solferino and Austerlitz are all good examples (though many of us might be hard-pushed to pinpoint these spots on a modern » Read more

Posted in Europe, hidden europe, Hikes, Krakow, Outdoors, Poland, Slovakia, Sports, Trip Planning

Summer 2012 Rail Services in Europe

Summer 2012 Rail Services in Europe

May 09 In mid-December each year most of Europe’s rail and bus companies revamp their schedules, but many also do some mid-year tweaking of their timetables. So here’s what is in store for the upcoming summer period. The new summer schedules will feature in the June 2012 edition of the Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable, which is » Read more

Posted in Berlin, Germany, hidden europe, Paris, Poland, Train, Trip Planning, United Kingdom, Vienna

Many Happy Returns: Why revisiting makes sense

Many Happy Returns: Why revisiting makes sense

Apr 25 “I’ve done central Europe and have no real interest in going back,” said the traveler we ran into on the train though Spain last month. Cities from Berlin to Budapest had, it seemed, been ticked off as done and dusted. It’s a common view that, as long as there is virgin territory waiting to be » Read more

Posted in Food, hidden europe, Poland, Practical Info, tips

European Train Schedules: New trains for 2012

European Train Schedules: New trains for 2012

Nov 30 Europe’s new rail schedules come into effect on Sunday December 11, 2011. And these new schedules will, for the most part, apply through December 2012. The latest monthly edition (dated December 2011) of the Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable has just landed on our desks, and we’ve been taking a peek at what rail travelers » Read more

Posted in Belarus, Budapest, Copenhagen, Denmark, France, hidden europe, Madrid, News, Poland, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Train, transportation

Szczecin: Prussian flavors in a Polish port city

Szczecin: Prussian flavors in a Polish port city

Feb 23 Unsung places are often the most interesting. Enter Szczecin, the Polish port city on the Baltic which lies just a shade east of the German border. This is Poland with a twist, for the city has a complicated history. One-time capital of Pomerania, Swedish until 1720 and then German until 1945, the city now known » Read more

Posted in Berlin, City Guides, Day Trips, hidden europe, Krakow, Poland, Warsaw

Missing Links: The Gaps in Europe’s Rail Network

Missing Links: The Gaps in Europe’s Rail Network

Oct 19 By Nicky Gardner and Susanne Kries— Chile wasn’t the only subterranean tale this past week. The news that engineers had burrowed through the Gotthard Massif to create a 57 km-long tunnel deep under the Alps was accompanied by plenty of news reports predicting a revolution in European rail transport. Don’t hold your breath. The first » Read more

Posted in Croatia, Dubrovnik, Europe, hidden europe, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland, Train, transportation

Ukraine’s Sleeping Lion: The City of Lviv

Ukraine’s Sleeping Lion: The City of Lviv

Aug 25 If Lviv were just 50 miles further west, it would be in the premier league of European tourist destinations. The problem is that while Poland oozes youthful chic from every cobblestone, Ukraine does not have the same hip reputation. Lviv’s attempts to style itself as the “the new Kraków” have yet to really bear fruit. » Read more

Posted in City Guides, hidden europe, Krakow, Poland, Trip Planning, Ukraine, Warsaw

Exploring Germany: Rail passes for local train services

Exploring Germany: Rail passes for local train services

Jun 30 June 30, 2010. As we have said before, it is not compulsory to take the fast train. On most routes through Europe, there are plenty of slow train alternatives, often more scenic and sometimes much cheaper. A great weekend bargain in Germany On the weekends, for example, travelers can roam the length and breadth of » Read more

Posted in Austria, Belgium, Budget Deals, Bus, Czech Republic, Day Trips, Europe, Germany, Hamburg, hidden europe, Netherlands, Poland, Practical Info, Switzerland, Train, transportation, Travel Smarts

Dark Tourism: Auschwitz and Srebrenica

Dark Tourism: Auschwitz and Srebrenica

Jun 09 “Dark tourism” has come of age. Yet traveling to encounter the macabre or the gruesome is not just a modern whim. Many medieval pilgrims headed for spots where martyrs were allegedly killed. In our home city of Berlin, thousands of visitors head for the Topography of Terror, a chance to stand at the very spot » Read more

Posted in Europe, Exhibitions, hidden europe, Ireland, Museums, New York, Poland, politics

Krakow: Three Cheapo-friendly restaurants

Krakow: Three Cheapo-friendly restaurants

Jun 03 If you’re looking for something tasty and cheap (a step up from zapiekanka, perhaps?) in Krakow, you’re in luck. Whether you want traditional Polish cuisine, some Italian-style grub or a healthy vegetarian meal, there are budget-friendly options galore. Here are some of our favorite picks: Polskie Smaki ul. Sw. Tomasza 5 Open daily from 8 » Read more

Posted in Cheapo night out, Food, Krakow, Poland, tips