Venere Travel Blog - It's our business where you sleep!

Fortunately, Krakow (Cracow/Krakau) was spared the ravages of the Second World War and the many fascinating baroque and medieval buildings are one of the reasons that the city is oftentimes referred to as the Prague of Poland.

Unlike Prague, however, it is not suffering from excessive tourist pollution and the local population has not been driven of the historical center of Krakow.

The prices here are very much in line with the average pricing experienced in the other main Polish cities, and life itself still buzzes around the old Central Square. Make no mistake about it, there are times when there is a throng of tourists in the area, but its location far away from the surrounding European borders is the main reason that the area is yet to be inundated with foreign visitors.

Since the late 1980’s and the end of Soviet domination in Eastern Europe, the pub industry has improved dramatically. Suffice it to say, the standards exhibited by these pubs are not all of the highest quality and there are the dives that you want to avoid. However, still there are some good ones to be sure and visit while you are touring this lesser publicized Polish city. Here is a list of the more recommend Krakow pubs to visit despite some of the negative comments (all are noted for good beers and some even have a decent menu):

1. Piwiarnia pod brama

Located 2 stories below ground level, you’ll feel like a construction helmet should be worn as you enter this bricked-in underground vault. To say the least, it is one of the more frequented places but it is very tight quarters and not recommended if you’re the least bit claustrophobic.

2. Student’s Pub U Piwersow

Talk about a claustrophobic’s nightmare, this pub is located 100 meters below ground level. You might want to have a flashlight handy as you wind down the windy, dimly lit stairway. There is some beer paraphernalia, a dart board, and a pool table but these do not overcome the fact that the place is a bit dismal.

3. U Kakpra

Another below ground vault/pub, this one is furnished quite well with a lot of wooden amenities and serves good beer and meals. Unlike the two prior below ground locations, this one is well lit and traversing up and down the staircase is not the challenge that #’s 1 and 2 above are.

4. Piwnica Pod Ogródkiem

Decorated like the early 1970’s, this Krakow pub is sure to please despite being yet another underground location. The service is above average, the beer assortment is relatively decent, and the food is a nice mixture of both standard Polish cuisine and snacks.

Photo of “free beer man” in Krakow, Poland originally posted by leafar.