Kids in Prague

We have taken the traditional Carriage ride too. The Carriages stand on the Main square as well as in the streets nearby. The usual quote is 80-100 Zl for a 40 min ride and they do not negotiate. You can also get a ride around the main square for 35 ZL= 8 EUR. Fast, cheap and does the trick for kids.

Unless it is very, very cold the rides are available throught out the whole year and in winter you will get a blanket to cover up with. Lately the Townhall of Krakow came up with a new law on how to treat the horses and I like it a lot. The horses cannot be present in the centre when the temperature goes over 25 C between 12:00 and 13:00. There were 2 accidents this past year when some stallions couldn’t take the heat and drove into a crowd in one case, and then kicked a lady and broke her leg in the second case. They were thinking of banning stallions from this job but eventually they let them stay. I cannot help myself not to comment: Females are just stronger :-)

Very often they have little markets on the Main Square as well as traditional food kiosks and kids’ attractions. Do NOT miss out on the Grilled Osczypek (cheese) with Cranberry Jam. It’s to die for and is very Polish. They usually sell it in the small kiosks which you’ll find all around the tourist area. We usually need 3 servings to to fill us up. You can also order it in the restaurants.

PARK WITH PLAYGROUNDS IN THE CENTRE:

If your kids get bored of sightseeing then you can take them to a big park called Jordanski. It contains more than 4 playgrounds, and one of the biggest attractions in the summer months is a shallow artificial lake with electric boats for rent and suitable for kids. Both of our boys always got separate boats, matched to their size, and just adored it.

The Wieliczka Salt mine is also a very popular tourist destination right next to Krakow – it’s more suitable for older kids. You get taken 135m underground and go on a 3 hour walk through its paths and rooms all dug up in salt. Famous is the ballroom where some people even stage their weddings and where the walls, tables and even the chandelier are carved out of salt. Breathtaking. It is 3 degrees Celsius warmer there, so you can leave your coats above the ground.
                                                                                   

SHOPPING WITH KIDS IN KRAKOW:

If you are interested in doing some shopping in Krakow you have several possibilities. When my friends come to Krakow most of them are interested in typical Polish Markets known for their good prices and variety of goods. There are 2 main ones: Tandeta – closer to the Centre – but note that you won’t be able to get there on foot - and Tomex, which is based in the Nowa Huta district.

If you are in the centre, there are 2 main Shopping Malls: Galeria Krakowska (located right next to the Hotel Andels and the Main Railway Station) and Galeria Kazimierz – in the Kazimierz district. This district is known for its restaurants and clubs and apart from the main square, this is where you go to enjoy the night life.

Galeria Krakowska has a small Play Area with a slide in the kids shop called SMYK. This is where we would usually end up after mummy finished her shopping, finally letting the boys have some fun as well.

There is another Shopping Centre with a proper Indoor Playground called “SOLVAY”. with Babysitting from 3 years up. It is on the main street leading towards the famous mountains called Zakopianka. For that you will definitely need a car. You can leave your kid there and go shopping. That’s is the only shopping centre with Child Minding I know in Krakow. But – Solvay isn’t big and the choice of shops is limited here.

In general, there aren’t that many indoor playgrounds in Krakow – but slowly they are being opened. The biggest one is called “Anikino” and the second biggest is called “Kolkoland”

You might like to take a Balloon ride and see the whole of Krakow from a bird’s eye perspective. It’s an amazing experience! It can get a bit tricky though. We had to wait for an hour to get into the basket with another 13 people, the maximum being 15. Thrilled to be told that we could finally take off – they then told us that Nikki was too small to go in. I was furious. Eventually the whole family got torn apart and my Hubby had to stay on land with Nikki while I managed to smuggle Marcus in with me. You see, it said: ‘Kids pay from 4 years up’. What it didn’t say is, ‘Kids under 4 years will not be let in!!!’ Why, I don’t understand. I wish we had lied and said Nikki was 4. Too late now. In any case, just say your kid is 4 even if it isn’t, because it really doesn’t matter (unless your baby is a 3 months old, still as blind as a bat).

Another tricky thing is that if it gets too windy, you might get sent away. Yes, they will give you your money back, but it can be a bit disappointing if you get turned back just before your turn comes up, especially if you have been waiting for hours. Nothing for strong characters :-( yet again - if you do wait – it’s really worth it. The view of Krakow Castle and the river is breathtaking.

CAFE WITH INDOOR PLAYGROUND IN THE CENTRE:

Lo and behold, I did discover an Indoor Playground for our readers and right in the centre, next to the main square too! It is in the street “Grodzka” 13, on the first floor of the Cafe “Lodziarnia” and it is big !!! You pay the entrance by the hour and can count on having a good time together with your kid in here. First and foremost, it is a café but they do cook a few meals. Polish traditional “Pierogi” dumplings of thin dough filled with meat or potato mash or potato mash with mushrooms is suitable for any kid. The ones with potato mash inside are called “Ruskie” = Russian Pirogi - funny enought. See what they look like: http://www.warsaw-life.com/poland/polish-food

I ordered a Spicy pancake with chicken and olives and was happy too. Still, it’s a bit of a waste to eat here if you are in Krakow. I have to say that I prefer Polish food to Czech cuisine. The Poles know how to cook and the thought of their traditional meals makes me salivate. Their soups are also delicious. Here are some Polish dishes to whet your appetite and suggestions of where you can find them at various restaurants in Krakow.

HOW TO DINE IN KRAKOW:

Forget all the old jokes about Polish potatoes and boiled cabbage - Poles have been described as the Latins of the east, and know not only for how to party, but also how to eat in style. Krakow is jam-packed with a whole range of eating establishments, from the rock-bottomed priced milk bars (bar mleczny) to the most sumptuous gourmet restaurants. Be prepared to try everything!

Pierogi - I have already mentioned so let me get back to soups. Polish “Barscz” - beetroot soup with or without cream. You are supposed to drink it from a cup with something that is called “Kroketa (croquette)” a rolled-up pancake with minced meat – which is coated and fried. “Zurek” is another sour cream soup eaten with sausage and egg. ‘Rosol” is a plain broth usually served with noddles - but what a taste!!!!

More suggestions about typically Polsih dishes, can be found here

One restaurant that I can personally recommend is Miod i Malina (Honey and Raspberry) on the corner of Grodska and Poselska Street. The food is to die for and they have a garden with a small play area for kids. It is right next to the main square and the service there is always superb. Here you can taste traditional Polish dishes as well as having a decent international meal.

Another restaurant I have to mention form a historical prospective is the Ogniem i Mieczem. The Romantic Historical Book of the same name written by the famous Polish writer, Sienkiewicz. It will take you back to the 16th century and the times of Polish wars with the Turks, to the times of Polish knights fighting proudly for their country as well as for the Ladies of their hearts.

Built in the 16th century style, the staff wear the clothes of the period. You get no artificial drinks on the menu such as Cola and Sprite but only traditional drinks and meals of the Polish Knights, and the names on the menu are also original. We took all of our Friends here, as a part of their Krakow sightseeing tour, and all of us enjoyed ourselves tremendously. Nicolas was walking around the place ‘dying’ from hunger while waiting for his food, constantly repeating; Bread? Bread? (chleba) and before he knew it - he was holding a third of a loaf in his hand, just like a kid from old times would. Traditional, wasn’t it?

Enough has been written. You simply have come and experience Krakow for yourself. You won’t regret it!