MAGICFEST KRAKOW 2019 TRAVEL GUIDE CREATED BY: KAJA PĘKALA (TEXT) KONRAD WIECZOREK (LAYOUT) ZHENIA STARODIEDOV (UPDATES) TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTENTS INTRODUCING KRAKOW 3 VENUE & ACCOMMODATION 25 General information 3 Getting there 26 Money 4 Accommodation 27 Acquiring Złotys 4 Paying with Euros 5 TOURIST INFORMATION 28 Language 7 Places to visit 28 Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum 28 Weather 9 Main Square 29 Electricity 10 Old Town 30 ARRIVING IN KRAKOW 11 Wawel Hill 31 Kazimierz, the Jewish District 31 By plane 11 Salt mines 32 John Paul II International Airport Krakow-Balice (KRK) 11 Less typical places to visit 33 Katowice International Airport (KTW) 15 Cuisine 34 By train/bus 17 Pierogi 34 By car 18 Soups 35 GETTING AROUND THE CITY 19 Bigos 36 Zapiekanka 37 Public transport – tickets and fares 19 Other popular dishes 38 Planning your journey 22 Drinks 38 Taxi 22 Local game stores 39 Location & surroundings 25 CONTACTING LOCAL JUDGES 41 2 INTRODUCING CHAPTER 1 KRAKOW Krakow, officially Royal Capital City of Krakow, is located in the southern part of Poland, in a region called Małopolska. It is a former capital and the second biggest city of Poland, as well as a prominent economic, academic and cultural centre. GENERAL INFORMATION Telephone country code: +48 Time zone: Central European Summer Time (CEST) – UTC+2 (the same as most of Western Europe) Emergency number: 112 Time and date format: 24-hour clock (0:00 – 23:59), dd/mm/yy (or yyyy). 3 1 Available banknote values: districts). The most important points to keep MONEY 10zł, 20zł, 50zł, 100zł, 200zł. in mind: The currency in Poland is the Be aware that in 2014 the 1. “No commission” is just cheap airport-style zwoh-tee złoty (pronounced ), design of Polish banknotes marketing; we never pay it for exchanging abbreviated zł. Its ISO code was slightly refreshed, and money in Poland, so if the office asks for is PLN. Złoty is divided into therefore it’s perfectly natural commission - run away. If it doesn’t - it still 100 units called the grosz that you will encounter two doesn’t mean it’s a good deal. (abbreviated gr). notes of the same value, but 2. Watch the spread, i.e. the difference Available coin values: 1gr, with different look and feel. between the “buy” and the “sell” price. 2gr, 5gr, 10gr, 20gr, 50gr, 1zł, It’s the best indicator as to whether the 2zł, 5zł. Acquiring Złotys office is good or tries to rip you off. For Exchanging money is extremely the most common currencies – USD, EUR, easy, as there are many GBP, CZK, CHF – the spread shouldn’t be exchange officeskantor ( ) more than 0,05zł per unit (ten in case of around the city (especially CZK). Depending on the office (whether in the historic centre, but you’ll they deal with given currency frequently), find some everywhere – from spreads might be slightly less favourable shopping centres to suburban 4 1 for people from other countries, but then again, checking USD, As of June 2019, fair exchange rates EUR and GBP rates will usually be a good indicator for you. are approximately as follows: Beware places which only have the “sell” price displayed; they will buy your €/$/£ for ridiculously low price. • 1 EUR = 4,25 PLN • 1 USD = 3,74 PLN 3. Do not exchange money at the airport (except for a small • 1 GBP = 4,76 PLN amount for bus or snack, if you must) and in banks – they will • 1 CHF = 3,82 PLN rip you off. Best rates are often found either in small offices • 10 CZK = 1,66 PLN randomly appearing where you don’t even expect them, or in the most touristy places (although the latter are spiked with “traps” By the time of the GP they might be - offices that, instead of competing with others, have ridiculous slightly different, but this should give spreads aimed at this one tourist in ten who doesn’t bother to you a general idea. check). Again: just check spreads. Paying with Euros In some places it’s also possible to pay with Euro and, less frequently, with USD or GBP. This is mostly true for big supermarkets, some 5 1 restaurants and petrol stations. terminals are operated slowly disappears in favour of clients doing However, you shouldn’t count exclusively be cashiers (except it on their own, but don’t be worried if you on such possibility and be for introducing your PIN), encounter an “old school” place. aware that their exchange so don’t be surprised when Remember that if you wish to use your card rates are really, really terrible. they reach out for your card abroad, you might need to call your bank Also, in each case they will give only to swipe it or enter it to in advance and inform them about your trip. you the change in złoty. the slot for you. This behaviour A lot of places accept card payments, so unless your bank has terrible fees for international transactions or currency conversion, you should be good with a Visa or a MasterCard (American Express will be a bit trickier, although some places accept it too). Visitors from certain countries might be shocked that in many places card 6 1 Majority of people from Polish has very straightforward rules of LANGUAGE the young generation (up pronunciation, similar to those of Spanish The official language of Poland to ~30 years old) is able or German – so in most cases a letter will is Polish. It resembles other to communicate in decent be always pronounced in the same way, Slavic languages and can be English, and often at least and most often it’s the usual European way. particularly easy to understand one other language (German, Just watch out for these most commonly by people who speak Czech, French and Spanish being mispronounced letters: Slovak or Russian. It also has its the most popular ones). With • c – like ts share of “international words”, people older than that, you • j – like y in yellow such as hotel, restauracja never know – some will speak • ł – like w in war (restaurant), taxi, supermarket, English, some only speak • u, ó – like English oo (both written forms autobus, pub and words that Russian or German (English represent the same sound) are understandable to at least wasn’t always the first foreign • w – like English v some Europeans, like apteka language taught at schools), More letters might surprise you (Polish has (pharmacy) or bilet (ticket), so in and unfortunately some will quite a lot letters with diacritic signs), but some circumstances you might not speak any foreign language most foreigners pronounce them in a way even find your way without at all. Don’t be discouraged, that doesn’t make the word unrecognisable a guide nor asking for help. though – we’re no Scandinavia, by a native speaker, so don’t worry too much. but finding an English speaker shouldn’t be difficult. 7 1 And now time for a few simple Dworzec Autobusowy, already know, but also for ones that are very phrases and important words: abbreviated RDA or MDA) similar, and only have a different ending. • Dzień dobry – lit. “good • Lotnisko – airport Even plural is tricky, as there are usually two day” (used since morning • Nie rozumiem – lit. “I don’t possible plural forms, depending on the exact until evening) understand”, but it’s much number, for example: piwo (beer), dwa piwa • Dobry wieczór – good simpler than “I don’t speak (two beers), but pięć piw (five beers). evening/night Polish” and does pretty • Przepraszam – sorry, much the same job excuse me (when you • Piwo - beer apologise or want to ask Finally, it’s important for you about something) to understand that Polish • Sorry – less formal, but also grammar has a rich inflection, acceptable for apologising and therefore nouns and • Tramwaj – tram adjectives might have many • Autobus – bus different forms (even a dozen). • Dworzec Główny – Central If you’re trying to decipher Railway Station a Polish text, you need to look • Dworzec Autobusowy – not only for names (locations, Central Bus Station (also ingredients, etc.) that you Regionalny/Małopolski Dużo piw (dooj-oh peev): a lot of beers 8 1 outside during the evening WEATHER hours when the temperatures Summer has finally come to the reach their lowest point of the Krakow in July and during this day. During the day, short- month you will see the highest sleeves, light-weight long-sleeve average temperatures of the shirts, shorts and capris will year and the most sunlight keep you comfortable as you hours during the day. The city explore the many attractions in the south of Poland sees an that make this area amazing. average daily temperature of More rainfall falls this month 19°C, warm and pleasant to get than any other month in outside and enjoy the warmer the year. The chance of days, seeing the sights of the precipitation on any given day city. The highs for the month is about 50 percent, so bring reach all the way to 25°C and along your umbrella so you the lows drop down to 12°C. don’t get caught in the rain. As you’re packing for your trip, be sure to throw in a light jacket, especially if you’ll be 9 1 European countries, which ELECTRICITY use a similar, but incompatible Polish sockets provide F type. E type sockets have electricity in 230V, 50Hz a male grounding pin that can standard, which should be OK prevent an F plug from being for most of your appliances – inserted.