Hotel Wielopole

The three-star Wielopole Guest Rooms is located just beyond the Planty greenbelt that encircles the heart of Old Krakow. And while it's slightly on the expensive side for Krakow, Wielopole offers safe and quiet rooms that are especially good for visitors who want a bit of distance from the action and a strikingly hearty breakfast.

The hotel’s 35 rooms may be prefab, but they're charming nonetheless. Cream walls, red-brown particle board furniture and utilitarian wall-to-wall carpeting set the tone. Single rooms, sitting at the far ends of each floor, occupy slightly awkward spaces that end up feeling strangely sliced up. Rooms facing the back of the building look out over an unremarkable courtyard. Front rooms face busy Wielopole Street. All are equipped with air conditioning, telephone, satellite TV and free Wi-Fi.

The breakfast buffet at Wielopole, called "Swedish Buffet" here and elsewhere in Krakow, is particularly fantastic, with an impressive range of meats, fruit, vegetables, dairy products and breads. It costs extra but is definitely worth the additional złoty. Also fantastic is the free high-speed Internet access. (Not so wonderful: the coin-operated Internet station in the small reception area.)