When I sat down to choose a destination for our first trip with the baby, I decided to pick a place we’d already been to and knew was easy: good roads, pleasant people, cool weather and attractions suitable for a baby. The chosen destination was southern Poland! After finding convenient flights, I sat down to put together an itinerary for southern Poland. The trip was in September, after a very hot summer at home, and it was important to me to include as much nature, streams and greenery as possible.
I found flights with Wizz Air out on Thursday evening at a convenient time to Krakow, and back on Monday evening at a convenient time from Katowice. Katowice is an hour’s drive from Krakow, but I preferred a bit more driving to a flight at a less convenient time.
We booked the car in advance and so saved ourselves the hassle of comparing prices and looking for a reliable rental agency during the trip.We added a car seat for Peleg to the booking and took out excess reimbursement insurance through our own insurance company.
Click here for everything you need to know about renting a car!
In total the trip ran from Thursday to Monday and cost us about 4,603 ILS, roughly 1,200 euros (I’ve included a breakdown of the costs at the bottom of the article).
A Southern Poland Itinerary
We landed in Krakow, one of my favorite cities, which I’ve visited more than 4 times.
We arrived late, so we popped into the old town center for a quick dinner at McDonald’s and went back to the apartment.
We chose to stay at an aparthotel, Fresh Apartments, located very close to the city center but not in the heart of the old town, because we came by car and didn’t want to deal with parking. The apartment was excellent and the staff were lovely. The only downside was uncomfortable pillows.
In the morning we started the day at Mo-ja Café & Bistro A highly recommended place for breakfast, served all day, alongside a choice of other dishes. Bob, my dear husband, crowned the breakfast he had there the best breakfast he’s ever eaten.
The service is friendly, the atmosphere pleasant, and the dishes beautiful and tasty.
Recommended hotels in Krakow:
Hotel Unicus Palace A 5-star hotel.
300 meters from Krakow’s Main Market Square.
A great hotel for lovers of pampering. The hotel has a spa and wellness center, including an indoor pool, a hammam and a hot tub.
All rooms have a wardrobe, a desk, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom.
Click here for more details and bookings.
Hotel Francuski A 4-star hotel.
400 meters from Krakow’s Main Market Square.
It offers Art Nouveau-style rooms with free internet, tea and coffee facilities and a minibar.
You can add breakfast to your stay.
Click here for more details and bookings.
Hotel Wawel A 3-star hotel.
Located between Wawel Castle and the Old Town square.
Very welcoming staff. Large, comfortable, clean rooms. Breakfast is included in the price.
Click here for more details and bookings.
From Krakow we drove to the town of Zakopane.
Zakopane: Poland’s Tourist Town
Zakopane, also known as Poland’s winter capital, is in the south of the country, close to the border with Slovakia. It sits in a valley at the foot of Poland’s highest mountains, the Tatras. In spring, summer and autumn you can enjoy hikes and treks among the spectacular Tatra scenery, rafting, a mountain coaster and other amazing attractions for the whole family.
On our first day in Zakopane we went hiking inTatra National Park.
On our previous visit to Zakopane we did a hike for keen walkers that included a 23-kilometer walk.
This time we chose an easy trail to suit our new lineup 👨👩👦
We took the White Valley trail (Dolina Białego), a relatively short valley on the outskirts of Zakopane. It’s an easy walking trail marked in yellow and suitable for the whole family. The trail runs along a flowing stream with small waterfalls and several wooden bridges. In my opinion the trail isn’t suitable for strollers (although there were a few families walking with strollers).
In the evening we went for a stroll along Krupówki Street, the beating heart of Zakopane. Most of Zakopane’s restaurants, pubs, clubs, discos and shops are along this street. It’s a lively street packed with tourists almost all year round.
Krupówki Street is about 1,100 meters long, lined with local stalls, shops, street performers and more.
We spent our nights in Zakopane atWilla Cytrynówka, a nice apartment not far from the town center.
A Quick Hop to Slovakia
On the second day we got up very early courtesy of a toddler who refused to sleep, so we decided to make the most of the early hour and drive toSlovakia. We drove to a ski area called Bachledka. It was summer and there was no snow, but there was loads of greenery and great attractions such as walking and cycling trails, mountain coasters, a walk on a wooden walkway above the treetops and more.
How much we enjoyed it!!
We came especially for the treetop walk.
A 600-meter walking route on a raised walkway at treetop level in northern Slovakia, a short drive from southern Poland.
A great attraction for the whole family! Suitable for strollers and young kids.
You can reach the walkway by chairlift from Bachledka station, or walk up on an easy forest trail (not accessible). There’s an organized paid parking lot next to the lift. The lift and the treetop walk cost 22 euros per adult as of September 2022 (there are discounts for children and students).
From there a wave of nostalgia took us to a disappointing restaurant in the neighboring village of Ždiar.
After we got back to Zakopane we decided to rest a little in the apartment.
In the evening we decided to make up for the disappointing lunch and went to an Italian restaurant in central Zakopane (it’s hard to go wrong with Italian food). Cristina Ristorante & Pizzeria is in the hotel of the same name, near the main street: a spacious restaurant, very tasty, beautifully presented dishes and excellent service. We ordered a pizza and a risotto and they were excellent.
Unfortunately we didn’t stay for dessert, because Peleg woke up and was less keen on sitting in a restaurant.
Starting the Journey Home
On the third and last day we set off toward Katowice International Airport.
When I planned the trip, according to Google Maps the drive should have taken about 3.5 hours with the two stops I wanted to make. In practice, we left the apartment at 9:00 and reached the airport at 14:30, about two hours before the flight. On the way we only made a short stop at a shopping center (Galeria Myślenicka) that we saw along the road, to stock up on winter clothes for Peleg.
Katowice airport is small, so there’s no point arriving more than two hours before your flight. The airport has a small, expensive duty-free shop, a smoking area and one restaurant.
Trip Costs in Southern Poland
Flights: 1,444 ILS, flights for a couple plus a baby with priority (boarding with a trolley bag).
Car: 599 ILS, including a car seat for Peleg and a cross-border card for driving into Slovakia.
Fuel: 130 ILS.
Airport parking back home: 180 ILS.
Accommodation: 894 ILS (booked through Booking.com).
The currency in Poland is the złoty (PLN). Cards are widely accepted, and ATMs are easy to find.
It was too short a trip.
Luckily we have plans for several more trips very soon!
Happy travels,
Shir-Yam
